Most common 2012 Toyota Yaris problems
Share of the 35 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Yaris complaints by model year
Best Yaris years: 2006, 2016, 2013. Years to avoid: 2008, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012. Compare all years →
2012 Toyota Yaris recalls (5)
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,…
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.
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,…
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.
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,…
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…
Structure
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 31, 2011, to February 9, 2015, and sold or registered in Puerto Rico.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headliner, free of charge. The recall began on June 22, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Steering › Electric power assist system
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 21, 2011, through August 31, 2011. A relay in the Power Steering Control Module of the electronic power steering system could experience a short circuit due to insufficient distance between terminals in the relay and moisture contamination of relay…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering control module. The recall began on July 31, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Toyota Yaris:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2012 Toyota Yaris owners say
Air bags
I was driving a 2012 yaris when I was in an accident that totaled the vehicles. I was hospitalized for 3 weeks which I believe the airbags had played a major role in the seriousness of the injuries I sustained but not sure how to prove that they failed to protect me and possible they made things worse with the scar across my forehead from being sliced open needing numerous staples as well as shattered pelvis. Is there any way by looking at the pictures can you tell me if the air bags did their job
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Yaris. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact struck something in the road. As a result, the vehicle drove off the road and crashed into a tree. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was later retrieved by the insurance company. The contact later received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V006000 (air bags). The manufacturer and the dealer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Body & structure
My car came to stop due to a car in front of me stopping suddenly my car did not touch the car in front. I had to brake quickly since car in front brake quickly. Car behind me hit me causing my car to hit the car in front. Car crashed into me in a approximate speed of 30 MPH I protected my head from hitting steering wheel with my own strength holding on to steering wheel. I was injured from my leg and ribs. No on else was injured. # cars were involved, including mines. Why did my airbag did not deploy? My glasses went flying and got damaged. My rear end is totally damaged and front as well.
My problem is with the rear hatch glass has blown out twice with no understanding how it could of happened both times was with the vehicle in a parked situation no pressure on the glass the second time my wife and dog were inside the car waiting for me in the afternoon to pick me up from work the first time it occurred it was just parked no one in it and it happened in the morning time and just shattered my wife said when it blew it was like a bomb going off the sound was very loud there was nothing against the glass in either incident this had cost me 375.00 dollars the first time and I haven't replaced the glass on the second time costly replacement is there any history or reports of this occurring to other Toyota hatchbacks mine is the 5 door model please advise the incidents happened in the summer months and they were 2 years apart and it happened the 2nd year I owned it still have …
Wheels & tires
My car came to stop due to a car in front of me stopping suddenly my car did not touch the car in front. I had to brake quickly since car in front brake quickly. Car behind me hit me causing my car to hit the car in front. Car crashed into me in a approximate speed of 30 MPH I protected my head from hitting steering wheel with my own strength holding on to steering wheel. I was injured from my leg and ribs. No on else was injured. # cars were involved, including mines. Why did my airbag did not deploy? My glasses went flying and got damaged. My rear end is totally damaged and front as well.
Driving down hwy 94....with 4 children in the vehicle and there was a massive chunk of some type of hard debris....the car thumped so hard and scared us all.!!!! We continued on to church at assumption in st paul afterwards we drove off to leave and felt the car flapping...we had to pull over in a turn lane downtown st paul got out and saw we had a flat tire...after a lot of work and time...waiting and getting help when we got the tire off the rim was bent!!! The small spare tire was put on...I had to have the rim replaced which had to be put on order and the tire had to be replaced that was only 2 months ago that I got it!! I have pictures of the tire and rim..they do not fit in the file here.
2012 Toyota Yaris engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 30 / 36 / 33 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 29 / 34 / 31 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Toyota Yaris a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Yaris rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Yaris at the same age. It is one of the Yaris years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Toyota Yaris?
The air bags — 18 complaints, 51% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette. Next are the body & structure (5) and wheels & tires (4).
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Yaris have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2012 Toyota Yaris, the most recent from October 17, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Yaris?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2016 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012. See the full Toyota Yaris years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Yaris problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 32% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.