2012 Toyota RAV4 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 266 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota RAV4. The most-reported areas: Visibility/Wiper (54), Vehicle Speed Control (50), Service Brakes (39).
Key takeaways
- 266 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 39 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 23 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 54 | 20% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 50 | 19% |
| Service Brakes | 39 | 15% |
| Electrical System | 31 | 12% |
| Seat Belts | 31 | 12% |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 | 10% |
| Engine | 23 | 9% |
| Power Train | 22 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 22 | 8% |
| Structure | 16 | 6% |
| Steering | 10 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Toyota RAV4 SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2012 Toyota RAV4 SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Structure - filed 2026-06-17
My 2012 Toyota RAV4 (Super White / Blizzard Pearl paint) is experiencing severe and recurring paint peeling caused by a known manufacturing defect in which the factory paint primer failed to properly adhere to the base metal layer. The peeling first began in 2023 following freezing weather in Austin, TX. It occurred ag...
Structure - filed 2026-05-04
My vehicle is a 2012 rav 4 sport, color Barcelona Red. Said color and model has been know to have clear coat and paint issues. My vehicles clear coat and paint in the top has been peeling at an alarming rate, a year or so ago it started, but the last 6 months have been excrutiating. This problem poses a risk to me as i...
Engine And Engine Cooling,engine - filed 2026-02-02
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Auto Zone, where it was s...
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More for the 2012 Toyota RAV4
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.