10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,782 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Mar 022022

RAV4

  • miles

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

Check EV System - Have your vehicle checked by a dealership immediately Warning has come on several times in the past few days. RAV4 EV forum indicates this is a problem that can make the vehicle stop while driving - very dangerous. There was a recall issued for this problem in 2015, and your site indicates there are no outstanding recalls on this vehicle. Please help resolve this potentially severe problem. Thanks.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #28

Dec 142021

RAV4

  • miles
Inaudible turn signal prompt: Older drivers who drive for miles with their turn signal on is the subject of many a cartoon and common source of highway frustration. It is also a safety issue when a vehicle does not perform the turn that it is apparently signaling to make. I find myself being one of those older drivers who leaves their turn signal on. I have moderate hearing loss and do wear hearing aids, but not all the time. Perhaps my RAV4's audible prompt is quieter than others, but with road noise and the radio on I often do not hear it. A simple solution to this problem would be the ability to control the volume of the audible turn signal prompt so it could be "cranked up" to be easily heard. If dashboard lights have a dimmer control, why don't turn signal prompts have a volume control? It seems like a simple solution and with today's touch control panels one that could be added for very little cost. Thanks for considering my recommendation. It is a common safety problem that has a simple and low-cost solution.

- Saint Paul, MN, USA

problem #27

Oct 172021

RAV4

  • miles
My rav4 caught fire by its self not running in the battery compartment and burned completely to the metal

- Champlain, NY, USA

problem #26

Jan 062021

RAV4

  • 100,000 miles

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

I have just begun having the issue that many others complain about - the check engine light + 4WD + trac lights all came on (2012 Toyota Rav4, 100,000 miles). We tried some simple fixes at home, based on the many online posts about this issue (checked/refastened hoses, battery connections, etc.), and the lights came right back on. Took to our usual mechanic, and they diagnosed O2 sensor problems, both bank 1 & bank 2. paid $750 for them to replace both sensors. The 3 dashboard lights came back on as I was driving home after picking up my car from the service. The sensors were replaced with genuine Toyota parts. The car is now back at the mechanic - they said the same O2 sensor codes are coming up when they check the diagnostics. This appears to be a chronic problem for Toyota, and really needs to be investigated and dealt with. I had the same problem with an earlier Toyota sienna, and spent much time and money trying to fix the issue, which was never resolved. There are more than 15 years of complaints about this issue - please help us, the consumers!

- Concord, NC, USA

problem #25

Jun 152020

RAV4

  • 86,000 miles
My 4wheel drive light traction light and engine light cone on. I was afraid to drive it but I had it checked out and it's a sensor problem. This has been a problem since 2007

- Green Lane, PA, USA

problem #24

May 252019

RAV4

  • 85,000 miles
2012 Rav4 - for no apparent reason my check engine light, trac off light and 4X4 light have been coming on for a few days, then off, then on, etc. We got a code of P0607, but the car is showing no symptoms associated with that code error. The vehicle is driving fine. I have checked the battery connection and the gas cap. Based on a large number of online complaints, I would ask that NHTSA seriously look into this issue and strongly consider a recall that will actually fix the problem for owners. There have been a number who have taken the vehicle in for repair, only to have the lights back on a few days later. Please hold Toyota accountable for this.

- Burnettsville, IN, USA

problem #23

May 202019

RAV4

  • 47,000 miles

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

Four-wheel drive, traction stability, check engine light all went on and will not shut off. Driving in 4-wheel drive put strain on engine. Plus there are many complaints about this situation. $545 for service is cost for common to this car issue. See forum link: Https://www.google.com/amp/S/http://www.rav4world.com/forums/96-4-3-general/196945-4WD-stuck.html%3famp=1

- Patchogue, NY, USA

problem #22

Nov 122018

RAV4

  • 60,000 miles
O2 sensor and other sensors keep lighting

- Tupper Lake, NY, USA

problem #21

Jul 262018

RAV4

  • 89,000 miles
I could not start my vehicle on 7/26/2018. I called road side assistance and got a jump start from a power device. I was driving towards Toyota service. Suddenly my vehicle stopped on the middle of the road. It was completely disabled: No power stirring, not even alarm signal working. If this happened on a highway, more likely, I would not be alive today. Same driver who would hit me from behind, because disabled vehical stoped in a moment. I am sure, nobody must drive Toyota Rav4 2012. If battery is not functioning, there must be indication on the dashboard before the vehicle get disabled, but there was nothing to tell me that vehicle is not drivable. For reference : a) battery. True star battery. Waranty 2 years. Died in 10 months. B) the incident filed in Toyota as #1808151393. No resolution. C) service. Fred haas Toyota. 22435 sh 249, houston, tx 77070. C) attached: Toyota owner's manual malfanctioned battery indicator.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #20

Jan 042018

RAV4

  • 62,655 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. While driving approximately 30 mph, the 4-wheel drive, traction control, and the check engine indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to capitol Toyota (783 auto group ave, ne, salem, Oregon 97301) where the technician turned off the check engine indicator and performed an oil change; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 62,655.

- Dallas, OR, USA

problem #19

Jul 212017

RAV4

  • 113,000 miles

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

The check engine, trac off and 4WD lights will all come on together and stay on for a day or two and then go off again. This keeps happening

- Clay, NY, USA

problem #18

Sep 012015

RAV4

  • 38,000 miles
Power door lock actuators in all doors have failed. The drivers door actuator failed first. The actuators in each remaining door including the tailgate door have subsequently failed as well. (the date used in this report to indicate when the problem happened is approximate and refers to the initial problem with the driver's door.) two different Toyota service centers have determined the actuators need to be replaced. One dealer noted that they had seen this issue in many other Toyota vehicles. A quick internet search turns up several pages discussing this issue. A search of this site also revealed similar complaints with other model year Rav4's. each Toyota service center estimated a cost of approximately $400 for each actuator plus labor costs to replace the part. It is important to note that while the front and rear drivers-side and passenger-side doors have manual latches inside the vehicle, the tailgate door does not. The lack of a manual latch and keyed lock in the tailgate door means that the tailgate door cannot be opened at all. This is very problematic for both convenience and safety, particularly in those Rav4's with the third row seat. In the event of an accident or vehicle fire, passengers in the third-row seat would be forced to either exit through one of the other doors or break a window to exit the vehicle. When I contacted Toyota regarding this issue, I was told initially to have my local Toyota service center evaluate the problem and call back to Toyota to discuss and see if Toyota would be able to help at all. When I called back to Toyota, I was put on hold for an inconvenient amount of time, then simply told that Toyota would not help, presumably because my vehicle's warranty has expired. I hope that Toyota will work with the NHTSA to take a proactive approach to rectify this problem for all affected Toyota vehicles and owners.

- Boalsburg, PA, USA

problem #17

May 252017

RAV4

  • miles
2013 Toyota Rav4 w/ 40K miles had third actuator power door latch fail on a third door in 5 months. Looking at other recent complaints, of a similar nature, this may indeed be the result of a manufacturing defect. Please consider issuing a recall. Most recent failure is the door my 2 year old uses, I would hate to think of an emergency where I couldn't get her out of the car because it was locked. When the first door, driver, went out (Dec 2016), I had it fixed at my mechanic thinking it was a fluke. When the second door, passenger, went out Mar 2017, I contacted Toyota & was told to get the problem confirmed by the dealership, which I did. They offered me a goodwill pymt for the second door only, not the first, despite how recently the first door failed. In May 2017 the third door, back driver, is now failing & the Toyota customer service rep said they "are declining to offer me any assistance in fixing this actuator or any future actuator locks because they go out like lightbulbs every 4 years." I cannot believe Toyota knowingly manufactures vehicles w/ a part that it 'expects' to fail every 4 years, leaving their customers with a $2500 bill that frequently. We escalated this from the initial "cust service" rep, alex S., to his supervisor, ashley, and they both said they are choosing not to help us any further with this problem on door number 3 (or 1) or doors 4 and 5 when they inevitably go out as well. My husband also owns a 2013 Rav4, so we are being told to expect to pay $5000 every 4 years if we want our doors to lock. We have purchased Toyota based on their reputation of quality and I am baffled Toyota is knowingly sticking their customers with expensive parts that fail with this frequency. It is also worth noting, my car isn't even 4 years old yet and was just over 3 years old when the I experienced the first failure Dec 2016.

- Woodstock, GA, USA

problem #16

Mar 282016

RAV4

  • 108,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. When the contact attempted to drive the vehicle, the check engine, trac off, and 4WD warning indicators remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.

- Porter, TX, USA

problem #15

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 #14

Feb 262017

RAV4

  • 131,000 miles
Driver side rear quarter panel started on fire. This occurred after an approximately 4 mile drive. I believe the fire started on the drive. I parked the vehicle in a parking lot with only one other vehicle. When I was walking into the store I smelled burning plastic but did not relate it to my car burning. I was in the store about 5 minutes. When I walked out I saw the fire. There was no outside influence to the fire and nothing inside the vehicle vehicle. The only thing in that area of the vehicle is wiring.

- Lowville, NY, USA

problem #13

Jul 222015

RAV4

  • 24,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the air conditioning unit failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was discovered that the parts needed for the repair were not available. The contact was advised by the dealer that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V577000 (visibility). The dealer stated that the parts were not yet available to any of the dealers. A recall notice was also received for NHTSA campaign number: 16V096000 (seat belts). The contact called the dealer and was advised that the parts for the recall were also not available and could not provide a time frame in which the parts would become available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,000. Updated 06/23/16

- Iseilin, NJ, USA

problem #12

Jan 032016

RAV4

  • 36,000 miles
Wiring harness that controls normal 2wd/4WD has been chewed by rodents leaving vehicle stuck in 4WD. Vehicle was parked on garage apron when wires were chewed.

- Fort Scott, KS, USA

problem #11

Apr 152015

RAV4

  • 19,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the avs warning light remained illuminated. The failure recurred once. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V054000 (electronic stability control, service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,000.

- Cedarhurst, NY, USA

problem #10

Jan 302015

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 21,418 miles
This problem has to do with the Rav4 gear shifter sticking and/or deformed. The problem is addressed for years 2013-2015 in Toyota tsb 0145-14; however, the problem also exists in the 2012 model. The 2012 Rav4 can have a sticking or deformed gear shifter. This could be caused by coffee having been spilled into the area.

- Arlington, TX, USA

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