Recalls
5campaigns
1 seat belt · 1 visibility · 1 brake
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
260filed
Owner reports, 2008–2017 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Crash tests
4★overall
★★★★☆ Frontal 4★ · Side 5★ · Rollover 4★
Source: NHTSA NCAP
Fuel economy
76mpg combined
$859/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
Electric· CVT
5 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Toyota RAV4. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 2012 Toyota RAV4. Not checked against your VIN.
Seat Belt Webbing may be Cut by Seat Frame
Seat belts · rear/other
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Toyota 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 rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.
- Consequence
- A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0F.
55.7% repairedof 1,123,752 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 16V096000
Listed for 2012 Toyota RAV4. Not checked against your VIN.
Windshield Wipers may become Inoperative
Visibility/wiper
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Toyota 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 onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.
- Consequence
- Over time, the dripping water may cause corrosion and wear at the joint, potentially resulting in the separation of the wiper linkage. Once this occurs, the wipers would not function, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water diverter channel. In addition, a new wiper linkage with a wiper motor crank arm will be installed. The wiper linkage will have a protective cover over the wiper linkage joint to minimize water splash and a retainer ring to prevent the wiper arm from separating from the wiper motor. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service number at 1-800-331-4331.
62.5% repairedof 423,456 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 15V577000
Listed for 2012 Toyota RAV4. Not checked against your VIN.
Brake Actuator Assembly may Disable ESC and ABS
Electronic stability control (esc)
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Toyota 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 electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
- Consequence
- If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
84.2% repairedof 261,114 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 14V054000
Listed for 2012 Toyota RAV4. Not checked against your VIN.
Inaccurate Load Carrying Capacity Labels
Equipment · other · labels
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Southeast 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 Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
- Consequence
- An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
- Remedy
- Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Repair progress not yet reported7,525 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 13V123000
Listed for 2012 Toyota RAV4. Not checked against your VIN.
Occupant Sensing System Calibration
Air bags · frontal · sensor/control module-inactive
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Southeast 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 year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
- Consequence
- If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
- Remedy
- Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Repair progress not yet reported3,235 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 13V014000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (260)
260 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The visibility/wiper is mentioned most often.
36involved a crash
4involved a fire
22injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 260 |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/wiper | 53 | 20.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 49 | 18.8% |
| Service brakes | 39 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 30 | 11.5% |
| Seat belts | 30 | 11.5% |
| Unknown or other | 26 | 10% |
| Air bags | 22 | 8.5% |
| Engine | 22 | 8.5% |
| Power train | 19 | 7.3% |
| Structure | 15 | 5.8% |
How 2012 compares with other RAV4 years
Best and worst RAV4 years →2008575
2009327
2010400
2011287
2012260
2013257
2014197
2015305
2016240
2017307
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 575 | 14 |
| 2009 | 327 | 15 |
| 2010 | 400 | 14 |
| 2011 | 287 | 11 |
| 2012 | 260 | 5 |
| 2013 | 257 | 2 |
| 2014 | 197 | 4 |
| 2015 | 305 | 4 |
| 2016 | 240 | 3 |
| 2017 | 307 | 3 |
This year (2012)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Overall★★★★☆
Frontal crashDriver 4★ · Passenger 4★★★★★☆
Side crashDriver 5★ · Passenger 5★★★★★★
Side pole★★☆☆☆
RolloverRollover risk 18.5%★★★★☆
Compare fairly. Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Ratings apply to the tested configuration.
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2012 Toyota RAV4 suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 76 mpg combined
76
mpg combined
78
city
74
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,000
- CO₂ tailpipe
- —
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
$859per year
$72per month
197gallons a year
Miles ÷ 76 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric · CVT | Front-Wheel Drive | 78 / 74 / 76 | $1,000 | — |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.5 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2012 RAV4 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2012 Toyota RAV4 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 16V096000 (seat belt), 15V577000 (visibility), 14V054000 (brake), 13V123000 (equipment), 13V014000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota RAV4 problems?
Owners filed 260 complaints with NHTSA. Visibility/wiper (53), Vehicle speed control (49), Service brakes (39) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 get?
EPA rates the Electric · CVT version at 78 city, 74 highway and 76 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2012 Toyota RAV4 get?
NHTSA rated the 2012 Toyota RAV4 suv fwd 4 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (18.5% rollover risk).
How does the 2012 RAV4 compare with other years?
Among the 2008–2017 Toyota RAV4 model years at least five years old, the 2014 drew the fewest complaints (197) and the 2008 the most (575). The 2012 drew 260. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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