YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Sienna Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2012 Toyota Sienna has a Complaint Index of 53, ranking 8th worst of 16 model years, with a Caution verdict. Airbags (34% of complaints) and Structure & Body (32%) are the top problem areas, backed by 9 recall campaigns.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
53/100
#8 of 16 Sienna years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
247
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
9
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
10
reported in complaints
Fires
4
Injuries
13
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2016
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 24 hwy
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0

Top 2012 Toyota Sienna problems

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

  1. Airbags84 (34%)
  2. Structure & Body79 (32%)
  3. Other30 (12%)
  4. Electrical System29 (12%)
  5. Engine21 (9%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires21 (9%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain17 (7%)
  8. Steering15 (6%)
  9. Brakes12 (5%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers7 (3%)

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

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in frontal crashes at highway speeds, sometimes causing facial injuries.
  • Some vehicles stalled or lost braking power at highway speed, with one case followed by smoke filling the cabin.
  • Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration even while braking, in at least one case at highway speed.
  • Electrical surges caused dashboard lights to flash and the vehicle to shut off unexpectedly, sometimes followed by smoke or fire.
  • The transmission allowed the van to roll away while parked, even with the gear lever in park and the brake applied.
  • Brake system warning lights (ABS, VSC, TRAC) appeared just before a reported braking failure that led to a collision.
2012 Toyota Sienna complaints: complaints filed per quarter372012 Q12013 Q42015 Q42017 Q32019 Q22021 Q12023 Q4
247 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q2 (37).

2012 Toyota Sienna recalls

9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V741000Oct 17, 2019Airbags928,220 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.

  2. NHTSA 19V553000Jul 25, 2019Brakes303 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    Vantage Mobility International, LLC (Vantage) is recalling certain 2012-2018 AMS Genesis wheelchair vans, built on a Toyota Sienna vehicles. The rubber brake hoses that attach to the rear wheel assembly may be too short, causing them to rub against the rear axle trailing arm.

    Risk: The contact may cause failure of the rear brake hoses, resulting in a loss of vehicle control and reduced braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Vantage will notify owners, and dealers will install a set of rear brake hoses that will provide the proper clearance, free of charge. The recall began December 16, 2019. Owners may contact Vantage customer service at 1-800-488-9082.

  3. NHTSA 19V005000Jan 9, 2019Airbags1,299,448 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.

See all 9 recalls for the 2012 Toyota Sienna →

2012 Toyota Sienna fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
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 Sienna 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
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution47172818.5
2011Avoid876141420
2012Caution53247921
2013Good33183621
2014Good27163620

All Toyota Sienna years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Sienna reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2012 Sienna a Complaint Index of 53 and a Caution verdict, ranking 8th worst among the 16 model years with data. Airbags and structure/body issues are the leading complaint categories.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Sienna?
Owners most often reported airbag issues (34% of complaints, median mileage 58,200) and structure/body issues (32% of complaints, median mileage 48,000), according to NHTSA.
Does the 2012 Toyota Sienna have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2012 Sienna, covering airbags, structure/body sliding door wiring, brakes on wheelchair-van conversions, and a remote starter issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2012 Sienna compare to other Sienna years?
The 2012 Sienna's Complaint Index of 53 is better than 2005 (100), 2006 (93), and 2011 (87), which are rated Avoid, but worse than 2013 through 2020, which range from Caution down to Best.

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.