2012 Toyota Corolla
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 446 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 Corolla model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 41 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 28 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleJan 17, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
Campaign 20V024000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleOct 17, 2019
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Campaign 19V741000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleJan 9, 2019
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
Campaign 19V005000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleJan 9, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).
Campaign 17V006000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveJan 16, 2013
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 13V014000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
8 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Nov 18, 2020
CORROSION TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER HOSE OCCURRED IN THE METAL PIPE PORTION OF THE COOLER LINE, SPECIFICALLY THE TOP LINE, (NOT SURE IF THAT'S 'IN' OR 'OUT') CAUSING A LEAK IN ATF. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT CORROSION TO BOTH BOLTS THAT HOLD THIS LINE IN PLACE AND CAUSED THE BOLTS TO SNAP WHEN TRYING TO REPLACE THIS LINE.
Power train, Jun 15, 2019
POWER CONTROL VALVE GETS STUCK CLOSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACK LIGHT COMES ON THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WHEN I GOT THE CALL NEW IT HAS 30 TIMES T CANT USE MY CRUZ CONTROL AFTER 50 MILES IT IS RESET ITSELF ALL GOES BACK TO NORMAL OR I PUT A SCAN TOOL ON AND RESET IT
Power train, Apr 4, 2018
2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *SMD *CN
Power train, Nov 2, 2014, crash
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FROM STOP. PUT CAR IN DRIVE AFTER BACKING OUT AND IT SHOT FORWARD ABOUT 25' INTO A TREE. MAJOR DAMAGE TO CAR. NO INJURIES. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Apr 23, 2014
WHILE WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT TO CHANGE AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DESPITE SHIFTING TO PARK AND PULLING ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CAR CONTINUED TO REV VERY HIGH FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. JUST PRIOR TO ACCELERATION, THE CAR'S BRAKES BECAME VERY SOFT AND SUNK ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR AS IF SOMEONE HAD DEPRESSED THE POWER IN THE BRAKE LINE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE ENGINE RACED AGAIN AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND THE CAR SET AT "PARK." I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AND WAITED FIVE MINUTES. THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY AND I THEN CALLED MY WIFE TO PICK ME UP. SHE DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME AND NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE VERY MUSHY AND SHE FELT A SLIGHT ACCELERATION. WE TOOK IT TO OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND ASSERTED THAT I DEPRESSED BOTH THE BRAKE AND THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 18 MONTHS AND NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. THERE WERE MORE THAN FIVE WITNESSES TO THIS AS I HAD BLOCKED TRAFFIC AT THE LIGHT'S INTERSECTION WHILE OTHER CARS WENT AROUND ME WHILE THE CAR WAS RACING. I HAVE FILED AN INCIDENT REPORT WITH TOYOTA BUT IT DOES NOT LOOK AS IF ANYTHING WILL BE DONE WITH THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE. I AM A FORMER LAWYER AND I TAKE MY COMPLAINTS VERY SERIOUSLY. PLEASE HELP. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Vehicle speed control, Feb 27, 2014
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN OFF OF A BUSY STREET, THE CAR SLOWED TO AN UNSAFE SPEED AND WAS DANGEROUSLY SLOW TO ACCELERATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN WITH THE MOST RECENT ON FEBRUARY 11, 2014. TOYOTA MAINTAINS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BECAUSE IT HAPPENS AT INTERMITTENT TIMES AND CAN'T BE DUPLICATED IN THE FOUR TIMES IT HAS BEEN TAKEN IN. *TR
Power train, Jan 7, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE TRIED TO DRIVE IN REVERSE, THE PARKING GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Power train, Aug 21, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *TR