2012 Toyota RAV4 problems and recalls

Owners have filed 266 complaints on the 2012 Toyota RAV4, and NHTSA has issued 5 recalls. The most cited component is the Visibility/Wiper (54 complaints).

266
Complaints
5
Recalls
39
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
23
Injuries
116.1
Severity index

Severity index 116.1 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 116.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 7 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 95% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 54 complaints (20.3%)54 20%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 50 complaints (18.8%)50 19%Service BrakesService Brakes: 39 complaints (14.7%)39 15%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 31 complaints (11.7%)31 12%Seat BeltsSeat Belts: 31 complaints (11.7%)31 12%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 26 complaints (9.8%)26 10%EngineEngine: 23 complaints (8.6%)23 9%Power TrainPower Train: 22 complaints (8.3%)22 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
VISIBILITY/WIPER5420.3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5018.8%
SERVICE BRAKES3914.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3111.7%
SEAT BELTS3111.7%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER269.8%
ENGINE238.6%
POWER TRAIN228.3%

Complaints filed per year

032632012: 182013: 292014: 342015: 232016: 632017: 212018: 172019: 192020: 102021: 92022: 22023: 82024: 32025: 72026: 3 (partial year)12131415166317181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201218
201329
201434
201523
201663
201721
201817
201919
202010
20219
20222
20238
20243
20257
2026 (year to date)3
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (18 against 21).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V09600019/02/2016SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHERToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rea
14V05400012/02/2014SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULEToyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electric
15V57700018/09/2015VISIBILITY/WIPERToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip o
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 RAV4 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.