2012 Toyota Highlander
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Steering
Steering leads by volume: 47 of 191 complaints (25%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (9) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 186 in 2011 to 191 in 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–3,300 | 2,250–3,300 | 2,250–3,300 | 2,250–3,300 | 2,250–3,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–26 | 19–28 | 19–28 | 19–28 | 20–28 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–27 / 23–27 | 17–28 / 22–28 | 17–28 / 22–28 | 17–28 / 22–28 | 18–28 / 24–28 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 342–468 | 317–468 | 317–468 | 317–465 | 313–437 | |
| Complaints filed | 238 | 186 | 191 | 211 | 137 | |
| Recalls issued | 11 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 19 | 14 | 16 | 26 | 5 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 15 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Highlander have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Toyota Highlander?
Steering: 47 of 191 NHTSA complaints (25%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA rates it 19–28 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
EPA estimates $2,250–$3,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.7L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 20 mpg | 25 mpg | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S5) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 18 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 444 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S5) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 17 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | $3,300 (high) | 468 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 28 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | 28 mpg (high) | $2,250 (low) | 317 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 47 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 16 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 30 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 13V123000 · Apr 9, 2013
Defect: 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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE; SEATS · Campaign 13V014000 · Jan 17, 2013
Defect: 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.