2012 Toyota Highlander Engine Problems
NHTSA lists 31 engine complaints for the 2012 Toyota Highlander, 17% of all complaints filed for that year. Median mileage at failure was 12,750 miles, and 7 crashes and 2 fires are linked to this component. No related recalls are listed for this area.
- Engine complaints
- 31
- 17% of 182
- Crashes reported
- 7
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 12,750 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking or backing up, resulting in crashes into walls, cabinets, or other vehicles.
- Some drivers report the vehicle surging forward or backward without warning even with the foot on the brake, requiring the engine to be shut off to regain control.
- Several complaints mention smoke or fire coming from under the hood while driving or during difficult conditions like sand.
- Owners report engine stalling during certain turns, sometimes with the oil warning light coming on and oil consumption noted at 86,000 miles.
- One owner noted a persistent oil leak developing shortly after purchase, with oil stains appearing on the ground and on the weather seal at 160,000 miles.
When 2012 Toyota Highlander engine complaints were filed
First complaint Feb 16, 2012, latest Dec 29, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2012 Toyota Highlander
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Highlander model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many engine complaints does the 2012 Toyota Highlander have?
- NHTSA lists 31 engine complaints for the 2012 Toyota Highlander, which is 17% of the 182 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Toyota Highlander engine?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine area on the 2012 Toyota Highlander.
- At what mileage do 2012 Highlander engine problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this component is 12,750 miles.
- Did the 2012 Highlander engine issues cause crashes or fires?
- NHTSA data links 7 crashes and 2 fires to engine-area complaints on the 2012 Toyota Highlander, with 0 injuries reported.
- How does the 2012 Highlander compare to other years for engine complaints?
- The 2012 model's 31 engine complaints (17% share) is close to 2010 (36 complaints, 17%) and 2011 (33 complaints, 18%), but lower than 2013's 58 complaints (28% share).