YearToAvoid

2012 Toyota Yaris Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2012 Toyota Yaris carries a Caution verdict with a complaint index of 64, ranking 6th worst out of 15 model years. NHTSA lists 35 complaints, 5 recalls, and 12 crashes tied to this year, with airbags making up 51% of reported problems.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
64/100
#6 of 15 Yaris years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
35
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
12
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
11
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2020
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
32
29.5 city / 35 hwy
Injuries / deaths
11 / 1

Top 2012 Toyota Yaris problems

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

  1. Airbags18 (51%)
  2. Structure & Body6 (17%)
  3. Engine5 (14%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (14%)
  5. Electrical System4 (11%)
  6. Brakes2 (6%)
  7. Other2 (6%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers2 (6%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (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 reportedly failed to deploy in frontal and rear-end crashes at highway and city speeds, in some cases contributing to serious injuries.
  • Owners report the vehicle suddenly lost electrical power while driving, with interior and exterior lights shutting off along with unusual starter-like noises and smoke smell.
  • Some drivers describe the car unexpectedly surging or lurching forward while parking at low speed, resulting in a crash.
  • Seat belts reportedly failed to secure occupants during a rear-end collision, leading to head and torso injuries.
  • Owners report severe windshield glare caused by the dashboard reflecting sunlight, making it hard to see the road.
  • Tire pressure monitoring systems reportedly did not work from the time of delivery and were not promptly repaired.
2012 Toyota Yaris complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2013Jan 2015Feb 2017Jul 2017Mar 2018Feb 2019Dec 2020
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2013 to May 2022; peak Jul 2017 (3).

2012 Toyota Yaris recalls

5 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 18V025000Jan 9, 2018Airbags116,126 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. As of January 30, 2018, Toyota is additionally recalling 3,347 model year 2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles located in states listed above. Also included in this recall filing is 98,194 model year 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles, located throughout the U.S., that previously received a “like-for-like” interim air bag inflator replacement. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity 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, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0R (Zone B), and H0A (Zone C), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A).

  3. NHTSA 17V006000Jan 9, 2017Airbags577,875 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in 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." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).

See all 5 recalls for the 2012 Toyota Yaris →

2012 Toyota Yaris fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29.5 MPG
Highway
35 MPG
Combined
32 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,025
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 Yaris years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid7990931.5
2011Caution5725331
2012Caution6435532
2013Good369132.5
2014No verdict03132.5

All Toyota Yaris years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Yaris reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2012 Yaris a complaint index of 64 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst among the 15 model years with data. Airbags are the top reported problem area, making up 51% of complaints.
What are the main recalls on the 2012 Toyota Yaris?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2012 Yaris, covering airbags (three separate campaigns), a headliner issue in the Structure & Body system, and a power steering control module relay problem.
Did the 2012 Yaris have airbag deployment failures?
Yes. Airbags account for 18 of the 35 complaints (51%) for this year, including several reports of airbags failing to deploy in frontal and rear-end crashes, some involving injuries.
How does the 2012 Yaris compare to other Yaris model years?
The 2012 Yaris (complaint index 64) is less problematic than the 2007-2010 model years, which all carry Avoid verdicts with complaint indexes between 79 and 100, but worse than years like 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2020, which rate Good or Best.
What is the median mileage for airbag complaints on the 2012 Yaris?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 84,000 miles at the time airbag-related complaints were filed for the 2012 Yaris.

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.