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2012 Toyota Yaris: engine and transmission complaints

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
6%
1 of 16 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 Yaris. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 6% of relevant complaints.

Better than 99% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 19 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 3%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
1
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
35
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
12 crashes · 11 injuries

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS18 · 51%
STRUCTURE5 · 14%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4 · 11%
WHEELS4 · 11%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4 · 11%
SERVICE BRAKES2 · 6%

The years either side

2010
22%
9 of 90
2011
40%
2 of 25
2012
6%
1 of 35
2013
too few complaints
2014
too few complaints
2015
too few complaints
2016
too few complaints
2017
43%
10 of 31
2018
too few complaints
2019
54%
14 of 26
2020
too few complaints
2021
no data
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

ENGINE09/26/2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1…

Three of 1 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)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER 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, 2…
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…
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, IS…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2012 Toyota Yaris

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.

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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.