2012 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
260 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
25,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 163 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 53 of 260 complaints (20.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 78 | 30.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 53 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 49 |
| Service Brakes | 34 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Seat Belts | 30 |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
| Air Bags | 22 |
| Engine | 22 |
Visibility/Wiper: 53; Vehicle Speed Control: 49; Service Brakes: 34; Electrical System: 30; Seat Belts: 30; Unknown Or Other: 26; Air Bags: 22; Engine: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 80 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 33 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 80; 25,000 to 49,999: 33; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (80). 97 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 | 18 |
| 2013 | 29 |
| 2014 | 32 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 62 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2012: 18; 2013: 29; 2014: 32; 2015: 21; 2016: 62; 2017: 20; 2018: 17; 2019: 19; 2020: 10; 2021: 9; 2022: 2; 2023: 8; 2024: 3; 2025: 7; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 78 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 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 10449667 · 2012-02-29 (February 29, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THERE WAS A RAPID INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OPENED THE DOORS AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,009 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10461475 · 2012-06-13 (June 13, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,620. UPDATED 0…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472426 · 2012-08-24 (August 24, 2012)
MY 2012 HAS DONE THIS VIRTUALLY FROM DAY 1. WHEN BRAKING, THERE IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION FOR 1/4 TO 1/2 SECOND AT THE TIME THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. I ALSO NOTICE IT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND BRAKING. IT IS MORE DANGEROUS AT SLOWER SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING AT A LIGHT WITH SOMEONE IN FRONT OF YOU. IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE PRESSING BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. IT DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME. MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A DAY. I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW HARD YOU BRAKE AND WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING. IT IS MOST NOTICEABL…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462327 · 2012-06-19 (June 19, 2012)
THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE DOORS LOCKED AND THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP. SOMETIME BETWEEN 10PM AND 5:30AM THERE WAS A FIRE THAT CREATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT THE COATING ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND BLOW OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, MELT THE CENTER OF THE DASH AND THE AREA BETWEEN THE VISORS WHERE THE CONTROLS FOR THE SUNROOF AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE. IT ALSO CAUSED A SHORT IN THE WIRING THAT RESULTED IN TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH WAS OFF. WE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE CAR BATTERY TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. TOYOTA DID AN …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10617477 · 2014-07-30 (July 30, 2014)
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A TUES NITE IN NOV2012 AT 930EST. I HAD BEEN PLAYING BRIDGE AT A CLUB HOUSE . I ATTEMPTED TO START CAR(THIS IS A KEYLESS IGNITION SYSTEM)BY NORMAL PROCEDURE. PRESS BRAKE, THEN PRESS START BUTTON.NOTHING HAPPENED!I WAITED A FEW SECONDS, TRIED AGAIN,NO JOY. I GOT OUT TO MAYBE HITCH A RIDE, BUT ALL OTHERS HAD LEFT. I OPENED AND CLOSED ALL DOORS PLUS THETAILGATE. I GOT BACK IN AT THE CAR STARTED OK. ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATER AFTER ATTENDING A PIZZA PARTY AT WALMART PARKING LOT 3PM HOT DAY, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. I SLAM…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10617477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10544585 · 2013-09-20 (September 20, 2013)
ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR LOST POWER. THE ELECTRIC MOTOR STOPPED AND THE CHECK EV SYSTEM WARNING CAME ON. THERE WAS NO ENGINE POWER, POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THE CAR WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,552 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556032 · 2013-12-14 (December 14, 2013)
I HAD JUST GOTTEN ON A 6 LANE EXPRESSWAY WITH A 45 MPH SPEED LIMIT. HANDS AT TEN AND TWO - JUST WATCHING THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 40 MPH IN THE FAR LEFT LANE SO PEOPLE COULD TURN ON THE ROAD. I HAD BEEN HAVING A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN I WOULD PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY FOR AWHILE BUT DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I HAD JUST GOTTEN A 10,000 MILE OIL CHANGE AND AFTER REMOVING A TIRE WITH A NAIL IN IT FOUND THEY HAD TO ORDER THE TIRE, WHICH TOOK 3 WEEKS TO GET (APPARENTLY RUN FLAT TIRES ARE STILL IN JAPAN,,) SO, I BACK TO MY NEAR DEATH EXPERI…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10503053 · 2013-03-14 (March 14, 2013)
2012 RAV4, SECOND INCIDENT, 1ST WAS DISMISSED. WAS DRIVING APPROX 20 MPH IN A 35MPH BUSINESS DISTRICT ON 4 LANE STREET. PRESSED BRAKE WITH RIGHT FOOT TO DECELERATE FOR STOP LIGHT & CAR IN FRONT OF ME, CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD WITH ENGINE REVVING. I DEPRESSED BRAKE FURTHER WITH MORE STRENGTH AND TOOK LEFT FOOT AND PLACE ON TOP OF RIGHT FOOT. HAD THE FEELING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS MOVING AS WELL BUT WASN'T TOUCHING IT. CAR CONTINUED TO JERK FORWARD, ENGINE REVVING, WITH BRAKES PARTIALLY ENGAGED FOR APPROX. 20 FEET. THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF …
Owner-reported narrative. 7,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11174879 · 2019-02-06 (February 6, 2019)
I WAS COMING TO A STOPLIGHT AND PRESS THE BRAKES THE CAR CAME TO STOP THEN THE ENGINE REVVED UP VERY FAST. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES BUT THE ENGINE WAS REVVING VERY FAST THAT I HAD TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK THEN THE ENGINE STOP REVVING.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11174879 at NHTSA ↗