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Toyota YarisModel year report

2012 Toyota Yaris Problems

Compared with other Toyota Yaris years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

11/100 0.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
35filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
66,500miles, 22 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns 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
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
33 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 30 city / 36 hwy

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

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 2012 Toyota Yaris. The part named most often is air bags, with 18 complaints (51% of the total), followed by body and structure (5) and electrical system (4). 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 32% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 66,500 miles. Of all complaints, 12 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 11 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 200 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the inflator module and 25 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Body and structure complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 35 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 5 Toyota Yaris model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 11 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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: Seats (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “On my way home, a 70's truck hit my left side, the airbag came out blind me and made lost control of the vehicule. Is a miracle that im alive. Happened at pr132 km0.4 guayanilla pr 00656.”

NHTSA complaint #11337592, filed 2020-07, 163,600 miles

Body and structure: “My problem is with the rear hatch glass has blown out twice with no understanding how it could of happened both times was with the vehicle in a parked situation no pressure on the glass the second time my wife and dog were inside the car waiting for me in the afternoon to pick me up from work the first time it occurred it was just parked no one in it and it happened in the morning time and just shattered my wife said when it blew it was like a bomb going off the sound was very loud there was nothing against the glass in either incident this had cost me 375.00 dollars the first time and I…”

NHTSA complaint #11079924, filed 2018-03, 80,000 miles

Electrical system: “Was driving on the freeway at 70 MPH and had to brake for slower traffic ahead. When I depressed the brake pedal, the ABS system engaged, braking the left side of the car, then the right almost sending me off the road. After this had happened, the speedometer had started jumping to different speeds very rapidly and I was unable to tell my correct speed. The antilock brakes have continued to engage randomly when they are not needed, cause loss of braking control and the overall ability to come to a stop. The speedometer also jumps around every now and then. …”

NHTSA complaint #11383549, filed 2020-12, 87,600 miles

Vehicle speed control: “Brakes: left side rear brake shoe adjuster bar part replacement does not fit on brake. Dealer and pep boys both tried to replace it and the parts do not match, a right side adjuster bar had to be used in its place. Repairs were attempted several times over a period of approximately 10 months from nov 2016 to sept 2017. Speed sensor: I was driving 65 MPH on the interstate in the middle lane when the speed sensor stopped working, the car acted like it was in neutral and I could not get over or continue driving it. Had to get to the side of the road, very dangerous situation. …”

NHTSA complaint #11040648, filed 2017-10, 130,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

32% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,000 and 88,000 miles.

9%0–100%10–2523%25–5023%50–7523%75–10014%100–1509%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (22 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 66,500 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.

20132014201520162017142018201920202022
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 Yaris. 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
Yaris · hatchback FWD★★★★☆5 / 4544 · 13.6% risk
Yaris · sedan FWDnot rated———4 · 17.6% risk

Neighbouring years: 2013: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2012 Toyota Yaris 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
Yaris FWD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual303633$2,050
Yaris FWD1.5L 4-cyl4-speed automatic293431$2,150

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 Yaris → · 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. 200 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 200 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Yaris

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2020106,0001535—Not enough data
20192613,516353413 · FewerFalling
20171516,7503433—Falling
2016534,2502433—Not enough data
20151535,0004433—Falling
2013935,0001433—Not enough data
20123566,500543311 · FewerFalling
20112553,3713—310 · FewerStable
20109030,7669—3270 · MoreFalling
20099239,20010—3278 · MoreFalling
200821856,95010—3288 · MoreStable
200725868,00010—32Not compared (before 2008)Falling
2006511,0805———Not enough data

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

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Toyota Yaris have?

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 2012 Toyota Yaris as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Air bags is named most often, in 18 complaints (51% of the total), followed by body and structure with 5.

Has the 2012 Toyota Yaris been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2012 Toyota Yaris do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2012 Toyota Yaris 4 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Yaris get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Toyota Yaris (Yaris, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 33 mpg combined, 30 city and 36 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

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

Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 66,500 miles and the middle half falls between 36,000 and 88,000 miles; 32% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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.