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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Toyota YARIS: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

35 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

66,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 35 complaints (48.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior411.4%
Electrical and battery issues12.9%
Steering behavior12.9%

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.

Air Bags
17
Electrical System
4
Structure:Body
4
Vehicle Speed Control
4
Wheels
4
Service Brakes
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Visibility/Wiper
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags17
Electrical System4
Structure:Body4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Wheels4
Service Brakes2
Unknown Or Other2
Visibility/Wiper2

Air Bags: 17; Electrical System: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Wheels: 4; Service Brakes: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Visibility/Wiper: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 13 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.

2013
3
2014
1
2015
4
2016
1
2017
14
2018
5
2019
2
2020
3
2022
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20133
20141
20154
20161
201714
20185
20192
20203
20222

2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 14; 2018: 5; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2022: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10515391 · 2013-06-06 (June 6, 2013)

MAJOR WINDSHIELD GLARE. NOT SURE IF IT'S THE ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, THE BRUSHED-PLASTIC TYPE DASH THAT SEEMS HIGHLY REFLECTIVE, OR A COMBINATION OF THE TWO... BUT WHEN SUNLIGHT HITS THE DASHBOARD, IT CREATES A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD. DEPENDING ON THE ANGLE OF THE SUN, IT CAN BECOME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH AND POSES A HIGH RISK AT ANYTHING IN A SHADED AREA (LIKE DRIVING FROM SUNNY ROAD THROUGH SHADED PATCH). THE GLARE IS NOTICEABLE IN LOW LIGHT AND AT NIGHT WHEN PASSING STREET LAMPS/TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ON A SCALE OF 1-10... THE NIGHT/L…

Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515391 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10546453 · 2013-10-01 (October 1, 2013)

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AT DELIVERY, DEALER HAS HAD MANY EXCUSES NOT TO REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 28,820 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546453 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10555063 · 2013-12-06 (December 6, 2013)

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY POWERED DOWN THE INSIDE LIGHTS, OUTSIDE LIGHTS, HEAT, ETC TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE LOUD NOISES AS IF I WAS TRYING TO START THE CAR, BUT I HAD TAKEN THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I THEN NOTICED THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND THEN I SMELLED SMOKE. I WAS STUCK IN THE INTERSECTION WITH THE CAR STUCK IN PARK I KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKE, TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS OR EVEN TURN ON AT THIS POINT. I CONTINUED TO SMOKE AND I SMEL…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555063 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10586651 · 2014-05-05 (May 5, 2014)

THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER CORNER BY A CAR DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE 2012 4 DOOR YARIS WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET WHEN STRUCK. THE YARIS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NONE OF THEM. THIS MODEL HAS DUAL FRONT SIDE-MOUNTED AIRBAGS AND FRONT AND REAR HEAD AIRBAGS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586651 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10671643 · 2015-01-11 (January 11, 2015)

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY AIRBAG. UPON SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPLACED I WAS TOLD NOT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AT ANY TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN GA AND THERE IS KNOW NONE TIME FRAME IN WHICH THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEN ASKED, "WHAT SHOULD I DO." REPLIED, "I DON'T KNOW, SORRY" NOW I AM DRIVING A DEFECTIVE CAR THAT MY CAUSE FURTHER INJURIES IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671643 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10715092 · 2015-05-07 (May 7, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SPINE, SHOULDER, AND NECK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT ALSO SUFFERED FROM HEAD PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10715092 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10715410 · 2015-05-08 (May 8, 2015)

MY CAR CAME TO STOP DUE TO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPING SUDDENLY MY CAR DID NOT TOUCH THE CAR IN FRONT. I HAD TO BRAKE QUICKLY SINCE CAR IN FRONT BRAKE QUICKLY. CAR BEHIND ME HIT ME CAUSING MY CAR TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. CAR CRASHED INTO ME IN A APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 30 MPH I PROTECTED MY HEAD FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL WITH MY OWN STRENGTH HOLDING ON TO STEERING WHEEL. I WAS INJURED FROM MY LEG AND RIBS. NO ON ELSE WAS INJURED. # CARS WERE INVOLVED, INCLUDING MINES. WHY DID MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY? MY GLASSES WENT FLYING AND GOT DAMAGED. …

Owner-reported narrative. 56,125 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715410 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10816080 · 2018-04-10 (April 10, 2018)

2012 TOYOTA . CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE REPLACEMENT PARTS ISSUES. CONSUMER HAS DIFFERENT VEHICLE ISSUES IN ARTEMIS. *SMD *CN

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10816080 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

13V292000 · Steering:Electric Power Assist System

Reported: 2013-07-03 (July 3, 2013)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 21, 2011, through August 31, 2011. A relay in the Power Steering Control Module of the electronic power steering system could experience a short circuit due to insufficient distance between terminals in the relay and moisture contamination of relay coil windings. A short circuit in the relay could disable power steering assistance.

Consequence: If the power steering assistance shuts off, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering control module. The recall began on July 31, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
15V134000 · Structure

Reported: 2015-03-09 (March 9, 2015)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 31, 2011, to February 9, 2015, and sold or registered in Puerto Rico. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with a roof headliner that does not provide the proper occupant protection in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 201, " Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."

Consequence: If the vehicles are equipped with a headliner that does not meet the impact requirements, there is an increased risk of occupantl injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headliner, free of charge. The recall began on June 22, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V006000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2017-01-09 (January 9, 2017)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V025000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2018-01-09 (January 9, 2018)

On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. As of January 30, 2018, Toyota is additionally recalling 3,347 model year 2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles located in states listed above. Also included in this recall filing is 98,194 model year 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles, located throughout the U.S., that previously received a “like-for-like” interim air bag inflator replacement. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0R (Zone B), and H0A (Zone C), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A).

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V741000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2019-10-17 (October 17, 2019)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.

NHTSA campaign record ↗