KnownCarProblems2012 Toyota Yaris Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Yaris, most often about the air bags (51% of complaints, typically around 84,000 miles). It is 5th of 15 Yaris model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2012 Toyota Yaris problems
Air bags
18 complaints · 51%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
I received a recall notice on my airbag. Upon scheduling an appointment to have it replaced I was told not parts are available at any Toyota service department in ga and there is know none time frame in which the part will be available. The service department when asked, "what should I do." replied, "I don't know…
The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Yaris. The contact stated that while driving down the hill at 40 MPH, lost control and crashed into the tree in front. All the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted and was not made aware of the…
Body and structure
5 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: body.
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…
On 7/9/2017 @ 6:45pm while driving on highway 90 the rear bumper panel on my 2012 Toyota Yaris came unhinged and was flapping causing the right side to also detach. The plastic clips that hold the bumper are not holding! My car is in grate/excellent condition. It appears to be a poorly assembled and/or designe defect…
Wheels and tires
4 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
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…
On my way home, a 70's truck hit my left side, the airbag came out blind me and made lost control of the vehicule. Is a miracle that im alive. Happened at pr132 km0.4 guayanilla pr 00656.
Electrical
4 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: horn.
I was driving approximately 20 MPH making a left turn when the car abruptly powered down the inside lights, outside lights, heat, etc turned off. The vehicle continued to make loud noises as if I was trying to start the car, but I had taken the key out of the ignition. I then noticed the battery warning light was on…
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Yaris. While driving 65 MPH, the horn failed to sound. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to Toyota of santa barbara (5611 hollister ave, goleta, ca 93117) where it was diagnosed that the spiral cable failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.…
Speed control
4 complaints · 11%Brakes: left side rear brake shoe adjuster bar part replacement does not fit on brake. Dealer and pep boys both tried to replace it and the parts do not match, a right side adjuster bar had to be used in its place. Repairs were attempted several times over a period of approximately 10 months from nov 2016 to sept…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Toyota Yaris recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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).
Full defect summary
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.,
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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).
Full defect summary
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, pennsy
Body and structure: structure
Risk: If the vehicles are equipped with a headliner that does not meet the impact requirements, there is an increased risk of occupantl injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with a roof headliner that does not provide the proper occupant protection in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 201, " occupant protection in interior impact."
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk: If the power steering assistance shuts off, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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 coil windings. A short circuit in the relay could disable power steering assistance.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2012 Toyota Yaris
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Yaris?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (18 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); body and structure (5 complaints); wheels and tires (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Yaris have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Toyota Yaris?
- It is 5th of 15 Yaris model years by number of complaints, with 35 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.