2012 Toyota Corolla Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 1%of 446 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 38,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Toyota Corolla, 1% of the 446 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 38,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Takata recall I was involved in an accident where I was rear-ended by a speeding vehicle and knocked into a vehicle in front of me. I was stopped at the time of impact on a 4-lane roadway in a business district where the speed limit is 35 MPH. The vehicle that hit me was speeding. No airbags deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #10992675, filed 2017-06, 60,000 miles“I have experienced this since the beginning of the purchase. I use the air condition. If I am done, I turn the AC off. After using the AC, there is a foul odor that arises. I have tried to open up the vents. I have checked underneath the car. I have opened the front where it leads to the cabin filter. I have changed the cabin filter several times. The odor still persists. The only thing that the car dealers have told me to do was to run the heater after using the AC. It is redundant if I have to run the heater in a hot day.”
NHTSA complaint #10785010, filed 2015-10, 25 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10584534, filed 2014-04, 18,000 miles“My car is equipped with a 2zr-fe engine and it is known issue for all those engines as it exhibit a mil on with DTC p219a (bank 1air-fuel ratio imbalance) present. Same issue with most 2012-2014 Corolla which has above engine plus 2012-2013 matrix (Toyota) vehicles this is very dangerous as whole engine vibrats and it makes trac off plus car will breakdown any time on the road way resulting critical situations”
NHTSA complaint #11406825, filed 2021-04, 58,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11005119Jun 19, 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- 11005061Jun 19, 2024This Service Bulletin provides updated non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 – 2025 model year Toyota vehicles.
- 10164330Jul 1, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections…
- 10119410Sep 11, 2017TSB: Some 2009 ? 2017 model year Corolla vehicles equipped with the 2ZR-FE or 2ZR-FAE engines may exhibit a condition in which engine oil leaks between the engine block and…
- 10149217Sep 14, 2016TSB: Supersession Notice. Flash reprogramming allows the ECU software to be updated without replacing the ECU. Flash calibration updates for specific vehicle models/ECUs are…
- 10134223Sep 15, 2015TT: The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been interrupted.
- 10096556Sep 15, 2015Tt: the vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the engine ecm has been interrupted.
- 10132529Aug 24, 2015TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 6% |
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2024 | 6 | 9% |
| 2023 | 13 | 18% |
| 2022 | 14 | 14% |
| 2021 | 41 | 22% |
| 2020 | 111 | 36% |
| 2019 | 39 | 19% |
| 2018 | 16 | 12% |
| 2017 | 10 | 6% |
| 2016 | 13 | 6% |
| 2015 | 17 | 8% |
| 2014 | 18 | 7% |
| 2013 | 16 | 8% |
| 2012 | 4 | 1% |
| 2011 | 19 | 3% |
| 2010 | 33 | 3% |
| 2009 | 91 | 6% |
| 2008 | 21 | 7% |
| 2007 | 33 | 4% |
| 2006 | 24 | 3% |
| 2005 | 29 | 3% |
| 2004 | 9 | 2% |
| 2003 | 16 | 2% |
| 2002 | 5 | 4% |
| 2001 | 2 | 2% |
| 2000 | 3 | 2% |
| 1999 | 1 | 1% |
| 1998 | 2 | 1% |
| 1988 | 1 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2012 Toyota Corolla
370 complaintsSteering
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
16 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsSeat belts
7 complaintsSeats
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsSuspension
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Toyota Corolla
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology