Print this page

5.9

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,004 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Toyota RAV4 accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Toyota RAV4:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2012 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #50

Dec 272021

RAV4

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Poor winter visibility: This is an issue with this vehicle but also with almost all other vehicles with internal combustion engines. During cold weather the defroster is ineffective until the engine warms up and provides heat. This results in two unsafe conditions 1) warming the engine up while parked, which exposes the vehicle and driver to theft ("carjacking" is an increasing crime in our area) and increases carbon emissions, or, 2) driving the vehicle while the engine is cold and having poor forward visibility. If defrosters were equipped with electric heating elements, defroster heat would be provided almost immediately. I was told that VW provided this feature for several years and it was very effective. The electric heating element could be thermostatically controlled so it would turn off once the engine starts providing heat. Since a household toaster can be purchased for $25, it should not cost manufacturers more than $15 to add an electric heating element to the defroster. Thank you for considering this recommendation. I am embarrassed to admit to the times when I drove while peering through a small patch of clear windshield... reasonably safe for seeing directly forward but definitely not safe for seeing side traffic or crossing pedestrians.

- Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #49

Sep 012016

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V577000(visibility). When she received the recall notice, she drove the vehicle to city world Toyota (3333 boston rd, the bronx, NY 10469, 888-258-4365) and was informed that the part was on backorder and was not available. The contact stated that her windshield wipers were leaking an unknown substance and did not operate. The dealer called the contact to have the recall serviced; however, once she arrived, she was informed again that the part was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #48

Aug 152019

RAV4

  • 72,000 miles
Driver side sun visor blocks vision while driving due to visor sagging down from it's non-use state. The spring or mechanism in the sun visor won't keep the visor in the non use position. This has to be a recall / defect because this is happening on my current 2012 Rav4 and also my previous Rav4 that was a 2007 model year. Sun visor is dangerous due to blocking view and or when braking your head will hit the visor as well. See more info in these threads: Https://www.rav4world.com/threads/can-anyone-tell-me-how-to-fix-this-[xxx]-hanging-visor.78000/ parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #47

Jul 212019

RAV4

  • 78,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I turned the wipers on the other day when it was raining, they came on and made one wipe up and stopped on the downward wipe. I got out and pulled on one side and they wiped several more times then stopped again. I pulled on them again and they moved but very slowly then they stopped completely. I tried to pull them down again but they wouldnt budge. The vehicle was sitting in.my driveway at this time

- North Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #46

Jan 122019

RAV4

  • 85,000 miles
My 2012 Toyota Rav4 driver side visor started falling down about 6 months ago, later would fall down and wouldn't go back up and stay. Then is was very loose. I would move it to the side because I couldn't see to drive. This last time I tried to move it to the side it completely fell off. My passenger side is doing it as well and making it hard for the passengers to see and even myself because it's constantly blocking my view of that side. I'm very aggravated because I called customer care and they will not do anything about it. This is a very dangerous safety hazard. I'm very disappointed in Toyota! my vehicle wasn't cheap but apparently the parts they put in them are. I am including the first picture of me at a 4way red light to show my view driving and at a red light, I can't see and have to bend down to do so. Also the light no longer works on the driver side mirror because of this defect. I also included pictures of the fabric bubbling off. My vehicle was garbage kept for 6 years and for the last year or so it's been outside. Also, my wipers pop and get stuck when trying to use them. Even if it's raining or just cleaning my windshield off. They will go and then it's like it can't and gets stuck but it literally will make a pop sound and bounce when trying to use them. It sounds ridiculous and everyone complains about them when riding with me. I'm so frustrated with it. They have done it the whole time I've owned it and I'm the only owner of it.

- Hendersonville, TN, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #45

Mar 012018

RAV4

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. While operating the vehicle, the driver's side sun visor would not remain secured and fell down, which was a visibility hazard for the driver. The vehicle was taken to mike kelly Toyota (1 mary jane wood dr, union town, pa) where it was diagnosed that the visor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

- Fayette City, PA, USA

problem #44

Nov 122018

RAV4

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

O2 sensor and other sensors keep lighting

- Tupper Lake, NY, USA

problem #43

Jun 042017

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V096000 (seat belts) and 15V577000 (visibility/wiper). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to bohn brothers Toyota (located at 3800 lapalco blvd harvey, la, 70058) on three separate occasions who stated that the recall remedy parts were unavailable. The attempted to call the manufacturer, but the wait time was long and the line disconnected. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Ama, LA, USA

problem #42

Apr 062017

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V577000 (visibility/wiper); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #41

Jun 152013

RAV4

  • 8,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. While driving 40 mph and attempting to clean the windshield, the fluid failed to exit the windshield washer reservoir. Also, while attempting to brake in the snow at 5 mph, the ABS failed to engage and the contact had to repeatedly depress the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. Additionally, the tire pressure indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.

- Mendon, MA, USA

problem #40

Nov 262016

RAV4

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V577000 (visibility/wiper); however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Fort Myers, FL, USA

problem #39

Sep 152016

RAV4

  • miles
I recieved a recall notice in September that said I would get second notification but I never got one. When will I get a letter to fix this recall on my car"??"

- Rehoboth, MA, USA

problem #38

Feb 222016

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V577000 (visibility/wiper) and 16V096000 (seat belts). The parts needed for the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #37

Sep 172015

RAV4

  • 9,000 miles
This recall was initially issued on Sept.17, 2015. As of Oct. 11, 2016 no fix has been issued. A year is more than sufficient time for Toyota to come up with a repair method and implementation. To date, nothing has been done.

- Land O Lakes, FL, USA

problem #36

Sep 172015

RAV4

  • miles
I received a recall notice regarding water dripping onto the windshield wiper motor link. Over time this problem can cause corrosion & wear @ the wiper motor link joint resulting in separation of the wiper link from the wiper motor crank arm. Recall date was 9-17-15 (over a year). I would like to have this remedied immediately to avoid loss of my wiper and a corrosion problem.

- Maple Valley, WA, USA

problem #35

Oct 042016

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V577000 (visibility/wiper) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Ararat, VA, USA

problem #34

Sep 282016

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V577000 (visibility/wiper); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #33

Feb 012016

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V577000 (visibility/wiper); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- New London, OH, USA

problem #32

Sep 302015

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V577000 (visibility/wiper); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Crested Butte, CO, USA

problem #31

Aug 082016

RAV4

  • miles
Received recall notice in late 2015. Part needed to satisfy recall as of Aug. 2016 is still not available at local dealer. Worried about possible failure of wipers during travel.

- Bayport, NY, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?