YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Sequoia Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

92/100

#2 most-complained of 13 Sequoia years

The 2012 Toyota Sequoia has a Complaint Index of 92, ranking 2nd worst of 13 model years, with 20 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Brakes are the top problem area, making this year a relative Avoid compared to later Sequoias like 2015 and 2016.

Complaints
20
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13 city / 18 hwy

Top 2012 Toyota Sequoia problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Traction control, VSC, and slip indicator lights activate together with a beeping noise and momentary lockup while driving.
  • Traction control light illuminates randomly with no clear trigger.
  • Fuel pump issues cause the engine to stall, with owners reporting their vehicle was excluded from related recalls.
  • Rear hatch develops rust around the wiper assembly and latch area, worsening even after one repair attempt.
  • Electric door locks fail on multiple doors, sometimes repeatedly, preventing locking or unlocking via fob or switch.
  • Camshaft housing sub-assembly develops an oil leak on the 5.7L V8 engine, reportedly linked to insufficient sealant during production.
2012 Toyota Sequoia complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2012Nov 2013Sep 2014Jan 2016Jan 2021Sep 2022
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2012 to Jul 2025; peak Nov 2012 (3).

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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid10031915
2011Good4217615
2012Avoid9220315
2013Good2512215
2014Caution5017215

All Toyota Sequoia years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
Compared with other Sequoia model years, the 2012 ranks 2nd worst out of 13 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 92 and 20 NHTSA complaints, so it is rated Avoid relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Sequoia?
Brakes account for 40% of complaints (8 of 20), followed by Electrical System and Engine issues at 25% each. Median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 27,500 miles.
Does the 2012 Toyota Sequoia have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Sequoia, covering a power steering gear assembly issue, an incorrect label, and an occupant detection sensor sensitivity problem. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2012 Sequoia compare to other years?
The 2012 model's Complaint Index of 92 is close to the worst year, 2010, which scored 100. Better years include 2015 and 2016, both rated Best with Complaint Indexes of 8 and 17.
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.