2012 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Visibility/wiper is the leading concern among 266 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 39 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seat belts, rear/otherFeb 19, 2016
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.
A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V096000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility/wiperSep 18, 2015
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V577000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/moduleFeb 12, 2014
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.
If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 14V054000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsApr 9, 2013
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."
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.
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.
Campaign 13V123000 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: visibility/wiper
54 reports, newest first. Show all
Visibility/wiper, Jul 1, 2013
2012 TOYOTA RAV4 REAR CARGO DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED, AND GLASS FELL INSIDE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED, AND THE DRIVERS DOOR WAS BEING CLOSED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN GARAGE, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO REAR WINDOW HAD BEEN NOTED. I FEEL IT IS A DEFECT IN THE GLASS, AS SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE BEEN REPORTED; HOWEVER TOYOTA FEELS DIFFERENTLY, AS I CAN'T PROVE THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE GLASS, SINCE THE GLASS IS IN A MILLION PIECES INSIDE MY VEHICLE AND ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. I AM FAIRLY SURE A SPACE ALIEN CAME DOWN AND HIT THE BACK GLASS SHARPLY, EXACTLY AT THE MOMENT I WAS CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR...BUT I CAN'T PROVE THAT EITHER. *TR
Visibility/wiper, May 25, 2013
THE REAR SIDE WINDOW (NOT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW - THE STATIONARY ONE TO THE TRUNK) SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHEN I CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AFTER GETTING INTO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY ENCLOSED GARAGE. THERE WAS NOTHING HITTING THE WINDOW AND THE WINDOW WAS NOT CHIPPED OR CRACKED BEFORE THE EXPLOSION. 90% OF THE GLASS IS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR INDICATING AN EXPLOSION VS IMPLOSION. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN RUNNING AT THE TIME. AIR PRESSURE INSIDE AN ENCLOSED CAR SHOULD NOT CAUSE A WINDOW TO EXPLODE. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE 62. THE CAR WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD! *TR
Visibility/wiper, Sep 4, 2012
I OPENED THE VEHICLE TRUNK TO PLACE A SMALL BOX INSIDE. WHEN I SHUT THE TRUNK DOOR, THE GLASS ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE, REAR QUARTER PANEL SHATTERED. THE LOCATION WAS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING BECAUSE THE WINDOW WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND MY INFANT'S CAR SEAT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR SCRATCHES OR CRACKS ON THE PANE. ALSO, THERE WAS NOTHING ON OR NEAR THE GLASS THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Jun 25, 2012
VEHICLE IS ONLY A FEW WEEKS OLD AND THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN DEVELOPING A CRACK FROM THE PASSANGER SIDE SPREADING TOWARDS THE CENTER OF AND DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSANGER SIDE. *TR