2012 Toyota RAV4 Problems: 266 Complaints, 6 Recalls

Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2012: 1 electric configuration(s), excluded from the figures and bar above; 2 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	vs. 2012 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
Annual fuel cost ($)	2,600–2,950	2,600–2,950	2,600–2,850	2,400–2,500	2,400–2,600
Combined MPG	21–24	21–24	22–24	25–26	24–26
City / Highway MPG	19–22 / 26–28	19–21 / 25–28	19–21 / 26–28	22–23 / 28–30	22–23 / 28–30
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	370–423	370–423	370–404	338–358	338–363
Complaints filed	400	287	266	262	207	Not compared
Recalls issued	14	11	6	5	7	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	57	44	39	22	20	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	3	8	4	29	25	Not compared
Injuries reported	27	20	23	15	22	Not compared
Deaths reported	0	0	0	1	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	2	2	2	1	1

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 have?

6 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 RAV4?

Visibility & Lighting: 62 of 266 NHTSA complaints (23%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota RAV4 get?

EPA rates it 22–24 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Toyota RAV4?

EPA estimates $2,600–$2,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (5)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Automatic 4-spd	4	2.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD	21 mpg (high)	28 mpg (high)	24 mpg (high)	$2,600 (low)	370 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2	Automatic 5-spd	6	3.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD	19 mpg (low)	26 mpg (low)	22 mpg (low)	$2,850 (high)	404 g/mi (high)
Configuration 3	Automatic 4-spd	4	2.5L	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD	21 mpg (high)	27 mpg	23 mpg	$2,700	386 g/mi
Configuration 4	Automatic 5-spd	6	3.5L	All-Wheel Drive	Regular	Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD	19 mpg (low)	26 mpg (low)	22 mpg (low)	$2,850 (high)	404 g/mi (high)
Configuration 5	Automatic (variable gear ratios)	—	—	Front-Wheel Drive	Electricity	Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD	78 MPGe	74 MPGe	76 MPGe	$1,000	0 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries
Engine	24	2	0	0
Transmission & Drivetrain	22	5	0	1
Fuel System	9	1	0	0
Electrical	31	3	3	1
Brakes	44	13	1	2
Steering	10	2	0	0
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	9	0	0	0
Airbags & Restraints	51	14	0	15
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	50	13	0	5
Body, Seats & Latches	19	5	1	0
Visibility & Lighting	62	1	1	1
Other	29	0	1	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 (6)

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER · Campaign 16V096000 · Feb 19, 2016
Defect: 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.
VISIBILITY/WIPER · Campaign 15V577000 · Sep 18, 2015
Defect: 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.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM · Campaign 15V143000 · Mar 13, 2015
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Rav4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. Due to a software issue within a component of the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly, the electric propulsion motor may shift to "neutral" resulting in a possible loss of drive power.
Consequence: A loss of drive power may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly software, free of charge. The recall began on September 10, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE; ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · Campaign 14V054000 · Feb 12, 2014
Defect: 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.
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.