YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Sequoia Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2012 Toyota Sequoia has a Complaint Index of 71, ranks 6th worst of 18 model years, and carries a Caution verdict with 20 complaints, 3 recalls, and a top problem area of Brakes (40% of complaints, median failure mileage 12,500).

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
71/100
#6 of 18 Sequoia years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
20
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2013
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13 city / 18 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2012 Toyota Sequoia problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes8 (40%)
  2. Electrical System5 (25%)
  3. Engine5 (25%)
  4. Fuel System3 (15%)
  5. Structure & Body3 (15%)
  6. Other1 (5%)
  7. Steering1 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (5%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Brakes shake or vibrate violently when braking downhill at highway speeds, with dealers citing warped rotors not covered by warranty.
  • Traction control and VSC warning lights turn on unpredictably, sometimes accompanied by a beeping noise and momentary lock-up.
  • Engine idle and acceleration behave erratically, with surging RPMs and unexpected downshifting that owners say make the vehicle hard to control.
  • Ignition key sticks in the switch, requiring replacement of the ignition assembly.
  • Wiring harnesses get chewed by rodents, reportedly due to soy-based wiring insulation, disabling side airbags and other electrical functions.
  • A loud thump or noise occurs when shutting off the engine, traced by dealers to air injection pump components after a software update.
2012 Toyota Sequoia complaints: complaints filed per month2Nov 2012Nov 2013Sep 2014Jan 2016Jan 2021Sep 2022
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2012 to Jul 2025; peak Oct 2014 (2).

2012 Toyota Sequoia recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V920000Nov 23, 2021Steering22,462 vehicles

    Steering:rack and pinion

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

    Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.

  2. 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.

  3. 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 Sequoia fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,300
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 Sequoia years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid7631915
2011Good4117615
2012Caution7120315
2013Best1812215
2014Good3517215

All Toyota Sequoia years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
NHTSA data give the 2012 Sequoia a Complaint Index of 71 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst out of 18 model years for this model. Brakes are the top complaint area at 40% of reports.
What is the main problem with the 2012 Toyota Sequoia?
Brakes are the most reported issue, making up 40% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 12,500. Owners describe rotor warping causing violent shaking when braking downhill.
Does the 2012 Toyota Sequoia have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 Sequoia, covering steering, structure & body, and another component. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2012 Sequoia compare to other model years?
The 2012 model's Complaint Index of 71 is worse than 2011 (41, Good), 2013 (18, Best), and most years after 2013, but better than 2005-2008 which carry Avoid verdicts with much higher indexes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Toyota Sequoia?
EPA rates the 2012 Sequoia at 15 mpg combined (13 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300.

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.