The Lemon Index2012 Toyota RAV4.
The 2012 Toyota RAV4 is better than average by owner complaints: 104 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 56, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about speed control, and it has 5 recalls. The best Toyota RAV4 year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 266 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota RAV4 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 8K to 55K miles on the car (168 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- wipers & visibility complaints mostly came at 9K–78K miles
- speed control complaints mostly came at 4K–50K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 6K–38K miles
Recalls 5
- seat belts 2016
In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.
- wipers & visibility 2015
In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.
- brakes 2014
In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder.
Show all 5 recalls
- 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 332 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Squeak noise which is heard coming from the front
- Squeak noise which is heard
- A key part to maintain the proper function and safe operation of the vehicle's braking system…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota RAV4 SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1000–2900 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
Accelerating from a stop light, the car lost power. The electric motor stopped and the check ev system warning came on. There was no engine power, power steering or power brakes. The car was stopped in the middle of the street.
2012 Toyota RAV4 owner · NHTSA complaint 10544585
More owner reports
Abrupt speed changes in normal speed and cruise control, radio and clock flashing occasionally, low tire pressure constantly, damage in air conditioning.
NHTSA complaint 10493030
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.8× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 56; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota RAV4 year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota RAV4 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (30%), brakes (20%) and electrical (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 have?
5 safety recalls (latest: seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2012 Toyota RAV4 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 RAV4 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,000 and 55,000 miles. The middle report was at 25,000 miles, from 168 complaints.
Does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 cost in fuel a year?
About $1000 to $2900 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Toyota RAV4 year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2022 and 2015.
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