2012 Toyota Yaris reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Yaris over 15 years — 1 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Yaris years here — under the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Inflator, Structure, and Electric power steering.

2012 Toyota Yaris hatchback — Photo by OSX, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (18 of 35), then Structure (5) and Electrical system (4). The most filings arrived in 2017 (14 of 35). Those filings include 12 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, 9 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Yaris has 9 complaints, 2 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Toyota Yaris. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (5)

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2019-10-17 · NHTSA campaign 19V741000

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.

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. 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.

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2018-01-09 · NHTSA campaign 18V025000

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., that previously received a like-for-like interim air bag inflator replacement. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

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. 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).

Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2017-01-09 · NHTSA campaign 17V006000

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, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

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 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).

Recall Structure 2015-03-09 · NHTSA campaign 15V134000

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."

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.

Recall Electric power steering 2013-07-03 · NHTSA campaign 13V292000

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.

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.

Complaints by component (35 total)

Air bags

Structure

Electrical system

Speed control

Wheels

Service brakes

Visibility and wipers

Engine

Seat belts

Seats

Suspension

Tires

Show 4 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Yaris The contact stated that while slowing down and coming to a stoplight, a second vehicle traveling 54 mph crashed into the rear of the vehicle. During the crash, both the driver-side…"
Seat belts · filed 2022-05-13
"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…"
Air bags · filed 2022-05-02
"WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AND HAD TO BRAKE FOR SLOWER TRAFFIC AHEAD. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED, BRAKING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR, THEN THE RIGHT ALMOST SENDING ME OFF THE ROAD.…"
Electrical system, Service brakes · filed 2020-12-15
"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."
Air bags, Structure, Wheels · filed 2020-07-06
"SALUDOS CUANDO ME DETENGO LAS REVOLUCIONES BAJAN MUCHOS EL CARRO EMPIEZA A TEMBLAR Y HACE COMO PARA APAGARSE"
Speed control · filed 2020-03-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 Toyota Yaris 4 DR FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	4 stars
2012 Toyota Yaris Liftback 3 HB FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2012 Toyota Yaris Liftback 5 HB FWD	4 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Yaris	1.5L, 4-cyl	Automatic 4-speed	Front-wheel drive	29	34	31 MPG	$2100
Yaris	1.5L, 4-cyl	Manual 5-speed	Front-wheel drive	30	36	33 MPG	$1950

Specs and fitment

Third generation (XP130), 2012–2014

Body styles Hatchback, Sedan

Oil 0W-20 , 3.4 qt capacity

Tire size 215/55R17

Known issues for this generation

Recall 19V-741 covers certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2007-2012 Yaris, and many other Toyota and Lexus models that had driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under an earlier recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling. Recall 13V-292 covers certain model year 2012 Yaris vehicles: a relay in the electronic power steering control module could short circuit, disabling power steering assistance.

Compare

Next year 2013 Toyota Yaris See every Toyota Yaris model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Toyota Yaris reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Toyota Yaris?

Is the 2012 Toyota Yaris more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Yaris has 9 complaints, 2 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Toyota Yaris been recalled?

The 2012 Toyota Yaris has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Toyota Yaris?

Owners have filed 35 complaints about the 2012 Toyota Yaris with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Toyota Yaris get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Toyota Yaris is 32 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a 2015 Toyota Yaris use?

0W-20 full synthetic; about 3.4 quarts with a new filter.

Did Toyota recall the Yaris for Takata air bags?

Recall 19V-741 covers certain 2007-2012 Yaris among many Toyota and Lexus models whose previously replaced frontal inflators may still rupture; earlier 2012 Yaris also appear under 13V-292 for EPS relay short circuits.

What recalls affect 2019–2020 Toyota Yaris models?

Recall 21V-617 covers certain 2019-2020 Yaris, Hatchback, and Sedan for a low-pressure fuel pump impeller that can crack; 19V-244 covers certain 2019 Yaris sold through Gulf States Toyota for illegible load-capacity labels.