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Toyota SequoiaModel year report

2012 Toyota Sequoia Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
27,500miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 4.6L 8-cyl RWD · 14 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Toyota Sequoia (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2012 Toyota Sequoia. The part named most often is brakes, with 6 complaints (30% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and electronic stability control (4). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 57% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 27,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 322 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 45 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “My vehicle began shaking violently when braking downhill at around 60-65 MPH. This started at 15000 miles on the vehicle. Toyota dealer said the rotors were warped. Toyota dealer and corporate customer service say they feel the brake wear is normal and they said the vehicle requires a brake job. The braking shakes the whole vehicle so violently I am afraid I will lose control of the vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10644747, filed 2014-10, 15,000 miles

Electrical system: “Electric door locks failed on all 4 doors. Two were replaced by Toyota under warranty. They made me pay to replace one and they refused to replace the other. Now the drivers door lock has failed again. The drivers door will not lock or unlock when using the fob. The rear drivers side door will not lock or unlock using the fob or any other lock / unlock switch in the car. This means the car cannot be opened using the fob at all. It's a safety hazard and Toyota will not take responsibility to replace them.”

NHTSA complaint #11005497, filed 2017-07, 40,000 miles

Electronic stability control: “As I was driving, the anti-slip brake light came on, followed immediately by the brake light. The conditions were dry and I was on a straight city street so there was no reason for it to light up. Since it was concerning the braking system, I pulled into a parking lot as soon as I was able. The brakes seemed to be working properly. My owners manual gave me steps to reset it, none of which worked. At the dealership, they finally figured out it was the anti-skid brake ecu. …”

NHTSA complaint #10763811, filed 2015-09, 58,000 miles

Engine: “Toyota has developed what is becoming an infamous oil leak on their 5.7 v8 engines that is coming from the camshaft tower (camshaft housing sub assembly). Apparently in production they use a silicone where this attaches to the head and in many cases they did not get enough silicone. Research has shown me that many, many of these have this issue and that when the vehicle is fairly new that Toyota will stand behind it in limited cases. My vehicle has 150,000 miles on it so they will not do anything to stand behind it and claimed to not be aware of the problem. …”

NHTSA complaint #11387479, filed 2021-01, 150,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

57% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,741 and 70,000 miles.

29%0–1021%10–257%25–5021%50–757%75–1007%100–1507%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 27,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2012201320145201520162017202120222025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Toyota Sequoia. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Sequoia · SUV 2WDnot rated———4 · 18.5% risk
Sequoia · SUV 4WDnot rated———4 · 18.5% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Toyota Sequoia version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Sequoia 2WD4.6L 8-cyl6-speed automatic142016$4,200
Sequoia 2WD5.7L 8-cyl6-speed automatic131815$4,450
Sequoia 4WD4.6L 8-cyl6-speed automatic131815$4,450
Sequoia 4WD5.7L 8-cyl6-speed automatic131714$4,800
Sequoia 4WD FFV5.7L 8-cyl · flex-fuel6-speed automatic131815$4,450

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2012 Toyota Sequoia → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 322 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 322 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Sequoia

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2019722,3005—15—Not enough data
2018202,6844—15—Falling
2017731,0002—15—Not enough data
20161133,5002—15—Not enough data
2015921,5002—15—Not enough data
20141739,3002—15—Rising
20131232,5002—15—Not enough data
20122027,5003—16—Falling
20111760,0006—16—Falling
20103162,5009—16Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20096117,8208—15—Not enough data
20086760,0008—15Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
200713673,0007—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200620289,0008—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200535287,0009—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200438095,0006—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200356584,0006—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2002666111,5006—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2001531119,2631—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Toyota Sequoia model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Toyota Sequoia have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 2012 Toyota Sequoia as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Toyota Sequoia is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 6 complaints (30% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 2012 Toyota Sequoia been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Sequoia get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Toyota Sequoia (Sequoia 2WD, 4.6L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Toyota Sequoia reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 27,500 miles and the middle half falls between 9,741 and 70,000 miles; 57% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.