YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Highlander Electrical System Problems

NHTSA lists 30 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Toyota Highlander, 16% of that year's 182 total complaints. The median mileage at failure was 48,151, and no related recalls are listed for this problem area.

Electrical System complaints
30
16% of 182
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
48,151 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical electrical symptoms owners report

  • Door lock actuators fail on multiple doors, forcing owners to lock and unlock doors manually.
  • Key fob and door-button lock/unlock commands stop working, sometimes leaving all doors unlocked while driving.
  • Power window regulators or motors make clicking noises before failing, causing the glass to go off track or drop.
  • Trunk opens on its own even after replacing key fob batteries.

When 2012 Toyota Highlander electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 2, 2012, latest Jul 5, 2025.

2012 Toyota Highlander electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2012Jan 2015Jul 2015Feb 2017May 2019Jan 2020Nov 2022
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2012 to Jul 2025; peak Apr 2014 (2).

Electrical System recalls for the 2012 Toyota Highlander

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Highlander model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200533 (15%)
  2. 200633 (12%)
  3. 200723 (19%)
  4. 200847 (12%)
  5. 200922 (16%)
  6. 201059 (27%)
  7. 201127 (15%)
  8. 201230 (16%)
  9. 201329 (14%)
  10. 201437 (27%)
  11. 201561 (32%)
  12. 201622 (20%)
  13. 201750 (19%)
  14. 201828 (11%)
  15. 201960 (12%)
  16. 202018 (6%)
  17. 202133 (6%)
  18. 202225 (10%)
  19. 202312 (7%)
  20. 20246 (14%)
  21. 20251 (10%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2012 Toyota Highlander owners reported electrical system problems?
NHTSA lists 30 electrical system complaints for the 2012 Highlander, which is 16% of the 182 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Toyota Highlander electrical system?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the electrical system on the 2012 Highlander.
At what mileage do 2012 Highlander electrical problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 48,151 miles.
What electrical parts fail most often on the 2012 Highlander?
Owners most often describe door lock actuators and power window regulators failing, based on NHTSA complaint narratives.

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.