2012 Toyota Highlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#11 most-complained of 16 Highlander years
The 2012 Toyota Highlander ranks 11th out of 16 model years, with 182 complaints and a Complaint Index of 33, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Highlander years. Steering issues are the top concern, with 46 complaints and a median failure mileage of 68,000.
- Complaints
- 182
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 16 / 3
- Injuries / deaths
- 13 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 24 hwy
Top 2012 Toyota Highlander problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Steering46 (25%)
- Engine31 (17%)
- Electrical System30 (16%)
- Structure & Body27 (15%)
- Other24 (13%)
- Visibility & Wipers19 (10%)
- Brakes15 (8%)
- Airbags10 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (4%)
What owners report
- Some drivers report unexpected sudden acceleration while parking at low speed, resulting in forward collisions.
- Owners describe brake pedals that failed to stop the vehicle during low-speed parking maneuvers, sometimes with the gear shift unexpectedly moving between drive and neutral.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in frontal or side-impact crashes even when the vehicle sustained heavy damage.
- At highway speeds around 50 mph, some owners report the rear of the vehicle swaying with a loss of steering control, leading to crashes.
- A few complaints describe the engine compartment catching fire after minor incidents, including one after the vehicle became stuck in wet sand.
- One owner reported a front tire going flat shortly after a low-mileage drive, following a dealer inspection.
2012 Toyota Highlander recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 13V123000Apr 9, 2013Other7,525 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
- NHTSA 13V014000Jan 16, 2013Structure & Body3,235 vehicles
Seats
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
2012 Toyota Highlander fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 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 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Toyota Highlander reliable?
- Relative to other Highlander model years, the 2012 is rated 'Good,' ranking 11th out of 16 years with a Complaint Index of 33 and 182 NHTSA complaints.
- What is the top problem area for the 2012 Highlander?
- Steering is the top problem area, accounting for 46 complaints, 25% of all complaints, and 2 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 68,000.
- Does the 2012 Highlander have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2012 Highlander, one covering a labeling issue and another involving Structure & Body occupant detection sensors; neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2012 Highlander compare to the 2011 and 2013 model years?
- The 2011 Highlander has a lower Complaint Index of 20 and a 'Best' verdict, while the 2013 has a higher index of 53 and a 'Caution' verdict, making 2012 fall between them.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Highlander?
- EPA rates the 2012 Highlander at 20 mpg combined (18 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.