IllustrationGOT INTO A SEVERE CAR ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT US WAS GOING APPROX 50MPH HEAD ON. OUR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY...UPDATED 03/15/16 *BF *TR
2012 Toyota RAV4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAV4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
800–25K
3325–50K
2150–75K
1475–100K
12100–150K
3150K+
163 reports with mileage · 97 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
36 crash reports4 fire reports17 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
22 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE CRASH SCE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE CRASH SCENE TO A DEALER WHERE THE BODY WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
I WAS TRAVELLING NORTHBOUND ON I-85 IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA AT AROUND 55 MILES PER HOUR. A CAR FROM THE HOV LANE ABRUPTLY CHANGED LANES AT HIGH SPEED AND HIT ME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS WAS A BIG IMPACT AND DUE TO THIS MY CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT LANE AND HIT ANOTHER MOVING TRUCK ON ITS DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY …
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I WAS TRAVELLING NORTHBOUND ON I-85 IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA AT AROUND 55 MILES PER HOUR. A CAR FROM THE HOV LANE ABRUPTLY CHANGED LANES AT HIGH SPEED AND HIT ME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS WAS A BIG IMPACT AND DUE TO THIS MY CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT LANE AND HIT ANOTHER MOVING TRUCK ON ITS DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY CONCERN IS THAT, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE IMPACT THE AIR BAGS OF THE CAR SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND THEY DIDN'T. THIS I THINK IS A LAPSE IN THE SAFETY OF THE CAR AND IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON 10/17/2015 AROUND 7:30 AM ON I-85N IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA. I HAVE ATTACHED THE POLICE REPORT FOR REFERENCE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE SAME.
DRIVING ON ROAD, HEADED TOWARDS HIGHWAY. LIGHT WAS GREEN AND I CONTINUED TO FORWARD TO GET ONTO HIGHWAY. A DRIVER A COUPLE CARS AHEAD STOPPED SUDDENLY BEFORE ENTERING ONRAMP TO HIGHWAY AND I SLAMMED INTO THE BACK END OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. THE TRUCK WAS JACKED UP SOME AND I HIT A STEEL BUMPER, WITH A TRAILER HITCH. MY C…
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DRIVING ON ROAD, HEADED TOWARDS HIGHWAY. LIGHT WAS GREEN AND I CONTINUED TO FORWARD TO GET ONTO HIGHWAY. A DRIVER A COUPLE CARS AHEAD STOPPED SUDDENLY BEFORE ENTERING ONRAMP TO HIGHWAY AND I SLAMMED INTO THE BACK END OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. THE TRUCK WAS JACKED UP SOME AND I HIT A STEEL BUMPER, WITH A TRAILER HITCH. MY CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE, FRONT RIGHT SIDE RECEIVED MOST OF THE DAMAGE, BUT MY CAR WAS DETERMINED TOTALED AS IT HAD MORE THAN $14,000 DAMAGE. THE ENGINE WASN'T DAMAGED, THE WINDSHIELD FLUID WAS STILL IN THE CONTAINER, THE BATTERY WASN'T DAMAGED, YET THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR TOOK OFF AFTER I HIT HIM. IN THE QUESTION ABOVE, I CHECKED THE AFFECTED PARTS AS THE AIRBAGS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE MY CONCERN IS. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I RECEIVED WHIPLASH WITH A TORN LIGAMENT IN MY NECK. I HAVE ADDITIONAL INJURIES ON MY KNEE, AS MY KNEE SLAMMED INTO SOMETHING, STEERING WHEEL, BOTTOM OF DASHBOARD OR SOMETHING. ALL ARE CONSIDERED MINOR INJURIES, AS I WALKED AWAY. BUT I'M STILL CURRENTLY IN PAIN, WITH REGULAR HEADACHES. DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE COULD BE SO MUCH DAMAGE ON MY CAR TO TOTAL IT AND YET THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T INFLATE. THE COLLISION SHOP WAS UNSURE AS WELL. *TR
MY TOYOTA RAV4 WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE IT WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER DOOR CAUSING MY CAR TO ROLL ON ITS SIDE, DEPLOYING THE CURTAIN AIRBAGS BUT THE SIDE AIRBAGS WERE NEVER DEPLOYED CAUSING ADDITIONAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. *TR
I HAD A SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD, STOPPED BY A PALM TREE. IT HIT THE CAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, PERHAPS FOR GOING TO SLOW OR NOT. I WILL SAY THAT THE PALM TREE STOPPED THE CAR. I WAS MOVING FORWARD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY THE TREE. I FRACTURED MY SHOULDER. I DISLOCATED MY …
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I HAD A SEIZURE WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD, STOPPED BY A PALM TREE. IT HIT THE CAR ON THE RIGHT FRONT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, PERHAPS FOR GOING TO SLOW OR NOT. I WILL SAY THAT THE PALM TREE STOPPED THE CAR. I WAS MOVING FORWARD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY THE TREE. I FRACTURED MY SHOULDER. I DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER, AND BRUISED SEVERAL RIBS. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. I WAS IN A HOSPITAL FOR FIVE DAYS, SURGERY TOOK PLACE THERE. I WAS UNABLE TO WORK FOR TWO AND A HALF MONTHS. *TR
LOST CONTROL ON A PATCH OF ICE ON ROAD. SLID AND HIT A TREE TOTALED FRONT END AND AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE LEFT COLLAR BONE DUE TO THE TIGHTNESS OF THE SEAT BELT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO THE LEFT COLLAR BONE DUE TO THE TIGHTNESS OF THE SEAT BELT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSES AND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED RIB AND STERNUM INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED RIB AND STERNUM INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,800. UPDATED 06/18/13*LJ UPDATED 06/20/2013 *JS
I READ IN THE NEWS TWO DAYS AGO THAT MY TOYOTA RAV4 PURCHASED 9/7/12 WAS PUT ON RECALL FROM THE TOYOTA COMPANY ON JAN. 16, 2013 FOR AN AIRBAG PROBLEM. NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME ON THIS MATTER. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT TOYOTA IN REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ONE HAS RETURNED AN ANSWER. PLEASE ADVISE [XXX] INFORMATION …
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I READ IN THE NEWS TWO DAYS AGO THAT MY TOYOTA RAV4 PURCHASED 9/7/12 WAS PUT ON RECALL FROM THE TOYOTA COMPANY ON JAN. 16, 2013 FOR AN AIRBAG PROBLEM. NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME ON THIS MATTER. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT TOYOTA IN REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ONE HAS RETURNED AN ANSWER. PLEASE ADVISE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Official recalls
516V096000 · Seat Belts:rear/other
Feb 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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
15V577000 · Visibility/wiper
Sep 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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
14V054000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Feb 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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
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.
13V123000 · Equipment:other:labels
Apr 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."
Consequence & remedy
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.
13V014000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seats
Jan 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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats
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.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.