YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

53/100

#8 most-complained of 16 Highlander Hybrid years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid has 9 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 53 out of 100 — #8 highest of 16 Highlander Hybrid model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is structure & body (3 complaints, 33% of the total).

Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28
28 city / 28 hwy

Top 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body3 (33%)
  2. Fuel System2 (22%)
  3. Brakes1 (11%)
  4. Electrical System1 (11%)
  5. Other1 (11%)
  6. Steering1 (11%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain1 (11%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers1 (11%)
2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2013Jul 2014Mar 2018Nov 2018Jun 2019
11 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2013 to Jun 2019; peak Feb 2015 (2).

2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
28 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
28 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Highlander Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10022426
2011Good335128
2012Caution539028
2013Good405028
2014No verdict132128

All Toyota Highlander Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid ranks #8 of 16 among Highlander Hybrid model years (Complaint Index 53/100, verdict: Caution). It has 9 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (3 complaints), fuel system (2 complaints), and brakes (1 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 86,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid at 28 MPG combined (28 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.