The 2012 Toyota RAV4 has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,819,082 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 357 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the visibility/wiper. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS16V0960002016-02-191,123,752 affected
Defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats…
Consequence
A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0F.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper…
Consequence
Over time, the dripping water may cause corrosion and wear at the joint, potentially resulting in the separation of the wiper linkage. Once this occurs, the wipers would not function, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water diverter channel. In addition, a new wiper linkage with a wiper motor crank arm will be installed. The wiper linkage will have a protective cover over the wiper linkage joint to minimize water splash and a retainer ring to prevent the wiper arm from…
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)14V0540002014-02-12261,114 affected
Defect
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may…
Consequence
If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
EQUIPMENT13V1230002013-04-097,525 affected
Defect
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,…
Consequence
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.
SEATS13V0140002013-01-163,235 affected
Defect
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,…
Consequence
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.
Complaints by component
VISIBILITY/WIPER
53
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
49
12crashes4injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
34
11crashes1fires2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
30
2crashes3fires1injuries
SEAT BELTS
30
1crashes3injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
26
1fires
AIR BAGS
22
14crashes14injuries
ENGINE
22
2crashes
POWER TRAIN
19
3crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
14
4crashes1fires
Total complaints357
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The small pipe that's part of the upper radiator coolant hose connector adapter broke off and drained coolant from the vehicle. This small pipe had deteriorated and become brittle leading to the failure.”
“The windshield pump is not working front and back the wipers turn but no liquid comes out though the tank is full it does not make the sound it normally does when it pumps the windshield liquid dealer wants almost $200 just to look at it and verify the problem”
“My vehicle is a 2012 rav 4 sport, color barcelona red. Said color and model has been know to have clear coat and paint issues. My vehicles clear coat and paint in the top has been peeling at an alarming rate, a year or so ago it started, but the last 6 months have been excrutiating. This problem…”
“Unknown”
“While at the end of a car wash with the car in neutral, the car accelerated by itself. It reached 60 mph for over a half mile, and was unresponsive to steering and brakes. The left front wheel was severely damaged. Fortunately, there were no accidents.”
“While at the end of a car wash with the car in neutral, the car accelerated by itself. It reached 60 mph for over a half mile, and was unresponsive to steering and brakes. The left front wheel was severely damaged. Fortunately, there were no accidents.”
“While at the end of a car wash with the car in neutral, the car accelerated by itself. It reached 60 mph for over a half mile, and was unresponsive to steering and brakes. The left front wheel was severely damaged. Fortunately, there were no accidents.”
“Over the last several years, I have experienced a minimum of four, possibly one or two more, incidents of this vehicle accelerating at a high rate while I have had my foot on the brake. In all of these cases, I was braking to come to a stop - braking quickly and hard in a couple cases. While…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Toyota RAV4 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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