2012 Toyota RAV4: engine and transmission complaints
NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
22%
46 of 213 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Toyota RAV4. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 22% of relevant complaints.
Better than 84% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 53 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 17%).
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
What owners reported
POWER TRAIN09/25/20121 INJURED
I PARKED MY CAR IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND PROCEEDED TO CROSS STREET WITH MY CAR PARKED BEHIND ME. THANKFULLY A MAN FACING CAR YELLED "YOUR CAR!" MY NEW CAR WAS ROLLING DOWN THE STREET BACKWARDS, GAINING SPEED DOWN THE INCLINE, HEADED FOR CURB, SIDEWALK AND HUGE TREE. I CHASED THE CAR DOWN THE STREET, GOT DOOR …
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE02/02/2026
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Auto Zone, where it was s…
ENGINE11/30/2025
The small pipe that's part of the Upper Radiator Coolant Hose Connector Adapter broke off and drained coolant from the vehicle. This small pipe had deteriorated and become brittle leading to the failure.
Three of 46 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (5)
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 …
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, t…
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-201…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2012 Toyota RAV4
No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
5 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle.
