The Lemon Index2012 Toyota Highlander.
The 2012 Toyota Highlander is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 64 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 49, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about speed control, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 19 to 28 mpg combined. The best Toyota Highlander year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 191 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Highlander year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 20K to 80K miles on the car (136 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- steering complaints mostly came at 48K–88K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 17K–87K miles
Recalls 2
- equipment 2013
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight ad.
- airbags 2013
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…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 320 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Charging system inoperative
- HV Batteries have liquid filled cell modules, to prevent leakage from cells, it is very important
- The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedSteering column separation2018–2024
- ClosedUpper steering column separation2018
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Highlander SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Highlander HV SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2300–3400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.7L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
When stopping the auto on 3 occasions the engine began racing very strongly....updated 02/07/13
2012 Toyota Highlander owner · NHTSA complaint 10496355
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Toyota Highlander reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 49; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Highlander year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Highlander problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (17%), electrical (17%) and wipers & visibility (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Highlander have?
2 safety recalls (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Highlander get?
19 to 28 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Toyota Highlander safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Highlander problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,600 and 80,000 miles. The middle report was at 51,000 miles, from 136 complaints.
Does the 2012 Toyota Highlander have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2012 Toyota Highlander cost in fuel a year?
About $2300 to $3400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Toyota Highlander have?
2.7L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Highlander year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works