2012 Toyota Highlander problems and recalls

Owners have filed 191 complaints on the 2012 Toyota Highlander, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Steering (47 complaints).

191
Complaints
2
Recalls
16
Crash reports
3
Fire reports
13
Injuries
84.9
Severity index

Severity index 84.9 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 84.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 30 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 77% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

SteeringSteering: 47 complaints (24.6%)47 25%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 30 complaints (15.7%)30 16%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 24 complaints (12.6%)24 13%StructureStructure: 22 complaints (11.5%)22 12%EngineEngine: 17 complaints (8.9%)17 9%Service BrakesService Brakes: 15 complaints (7.9%)15 8%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 15 complaints (7.9%)15 8%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 14 complaints (7.3%)14 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
STEERING4724.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3015.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2412.6%
STRUCTURE2211.5%
ENGINE178.9%
SERVICE BRAKES157.9%
VISIBILITY/WIPER157.9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL147.3%

Complaints filed per year

014272012: 132013: 132014: 182015: 202016: 132017: 172018: 262019: 272020: 122021: 92022: 82023: 52024: 32025: 52026: 2 (partial year)12131415161718192720212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201213
201313
201418
201520
201613
201717
201826
201927
202012
20219
20228
20235
20243
20255
2026 (year to date)2
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (13 against 29).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
13V01400016/01/2013AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVESoutheast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model ye
13V12300009/04/2013EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSSoutheast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota L

Other Toyota Highlander model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-27. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.