2012 Toyota COROLLA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
445 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
36,509 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 115 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 370 of 445 complaints (83.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 20 | 4.5% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 3.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 1.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 0.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 370 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Structure:Body | 9 |
| Power Train | 7 |
Air Bags: 370; Steering: 18; Vehicle Speed Control: 15; Electrical System: 13; Service Brakes: 11; Unknown Or Other: 10; Structure:Body: 9; Power Train: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 45 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 45; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 330 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 313 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2012: 15; 2013: 15; 2014: 19; 2015: 13; 2016: 7; 2017: 313; 2018: 14; 2019: 9; 2020: 12; 2021: 8; 2022: 3; 2023: 13; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10457587 · 2012-05-06 (May 6, 2012)
THE COMPONENT/SYSTEM IS KNOWN IN THE INDUSTRY AS ELECTRIC POWER STERRING(EPS). I PURCHASED MY NEW COROLLA S ON 26 MARCH 2012. I TRADED IN MY 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA BASE THAT DID NOT HAVE EPS. MY COROLLA S WAS ORDERED AND I WAITED APPROX 2 MONTHS BEFORE IT ARRIVED. I DID NOT TEST DRIVE THE 2012 MODEL(I TRUSTED THE MODEL) AND HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A CAR WITH EPS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. SINCE I AM A PRIOR OWNER OF A COROLLA I CAN WRITE THIS WITH VERY GOOD CREDIBILITY. I STARTED NOTICING THIS OVER STEERAGE AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE CAR AT LENGTH AND DISTANCE AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459193 · 2012-05-21 (May 21, 2012)
I TEST DROVE A NEW 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA LE TODAY AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (65 MPH), THE STEERING DID NOT TRACK WELL (LIKES TO DRIFT SIDEWAYS, BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY) AND MY CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTIONS SEEMED TO JERK THE VEHICLE (AND DRIVER) SIDE TO SIDE SLIGHTLY. THE SLIGHTEST STEERING CORRECTIONS CAUSED MY BODY TO JERK SLIGHTLY WITH THE CAR (MAYBE IT'S CAUSED BY A TIGHT SUSPENSION COMBINED WITH TIGHT STEERING). THIS JERKING WAS NOT A COMFORTABLE FEELING. YOU NEED TO BE "VERY" STEADY ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID WHAT S…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10476876 · 2012-09-24 (September 24, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SHE TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE THEN SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE SENDING FURTHER INFORMATION TO HER VIA MAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10476876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10490200 · 2012-12-27 (December 27, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A LOW PARKING SPEED, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A FENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED AND THAT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 01/30/13*LJ UPDATED 1/31/2013 *JS...UP…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563585 · 2014-02-09 (February 9, 2014)
ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN TRYING TO PARK TOYOTA COROLLA 2012 IN A GRASS PARKING SPACE. DRIVER (ME) BEGAN TO BRAKE TO GET INTO THE DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED (AS IF IT HAS A "MIND OF ITS OWN") UNTIL IT STRUCK THE VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT, DRIVER CONTINUED TO APPLY BRAKES BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING; THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE ALSO PARKED. DRIVER TRIED TO STOP THE CAR BY SHIFTING TO "PARKING" BUT IT JUST MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,711 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10567411 · 2014-03-05 (March 5, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT A RODENT HAD BREACHED THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGED WIRES TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AS WELL AS THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11012690 · 2017-08-03 (August 3, 2017)
HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO. THE ELECTRONIC LOCKS ON BOTH FRONT DOORS ONLY WORK SPORADICALLY. THEIR ISSUES STARTED HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME. OPERATING THE LOCKS MANUALLY IS FINE. IT'S THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS THAT OFTEN DON'T WORK, WHETHER BY KEYCHAIN OR CONTROLS ON THE DOOR. THE REAR DOORS WORK AS EXPECTED MOST OF THE TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, FIGURING THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONSIDERING BOTH FAILED AT ONCE. THEY MENTIONED THAT THE REAR ACTUATORS ARE FINE, BUT DUE…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11012690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10760290 · 2015-08-31 (August 31, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAD RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. MA 10/22/2015 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760290 at NHTSA ↗