2012 Toyota RAV4 Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 33,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The windshield pump is not working front and back The wipers turn but no liquid comes out though the tank is full It does not make the sound it normally does when it pumps the windshield liquid Dealer wants almost $200 just to look at it and verify the problemOwner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that upon activating the windshield wipers, the wipers responded erratically. The contact stated that the wipers moved significantly slowly, changed direction, and paused in the center of the windshield. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 112,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 11,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

Over the last several years, I have experienced a minimum of four, possibly one or two more, incidents of this vehicle accelerating at a high rate while I have had my foot on the brake. In all of these cases, I was braking to come to a stop - braking quickly and hard in a couple cases. While braking and slowing, my engine…Owner complaint, filed 2025

I was coming to a stoplight and press the brakes the car came to stop then the engine revved up very fast. My foot was on the brakes but the engine was revving very fast that I had to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle from moving forward. I put the car in park then the engine stop revving.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 43,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a delay for the vehicle to stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact had to put a lot of pressure while depressing the brake pedal for the vehicle to stop. An independent mechanic was made aware of the failure. The mechanic…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 139,435 miles

I started having problems 04/06/2015 with my brakes grinding and vibrating the front of my 2012 rav 4. I took it in to the dealership and they put new brake pads and resurfaced the front rotors. 42,968 miles on the car.. I was told these new brake pads had a life time warranty on them.. Again dec. 2016 I started having the same issues so…Owner complaint, filed 2017

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 24,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

We received a recall notice and been calling the dealer repeatedly. They state as of today they still can not correct the defect as they have no parts and have not been trained. Nor will they schedule to repair into the future. This recall effects the seat belts in the back seat, which is where my children sit.Owner complaint, filed 2017

The contact owns a 2012 toyota rav4. The contact stated that the rear passenger side seat belt pretensioner tightened independently. The failure occurred without warning. The contact stated that the seat belt had to be cut by another driver. The seat was replaced by the contact's husband. The [VIN] was notified of the failure. A toyota…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 49,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 33,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Over the last 4 years I have had 2 prior occurrence where I've lost power turning or stopping, causing the engine to stall. Both times the vehicle was taken to our mechanic and he replaced the connectors to the battery. On January 18th, 2024, while turning off of a rural highway onto the street we live on I again lost power and the…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Check EV System - Have your vehicle checked by a dealership immediately Warning has come on several times in the past few days. RAV4 EV forum indicates this is a problem that can make the vehicle stop while driving - very dangerous. There was a recall issued for this problem in 2015, and your site indicates there are no outstanding…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 34,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

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 scanned with an OBD2…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 138,000 miles

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.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 65 MPH, the air bags deployed without warning or impact. The driver sustained burns to the neck, skeletal injuries, and bruises. The passenger sustained skeletal injuries, cuts, bruises, and throat issues. Medical attention was provided to both…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 132,000 miles

I noticed that the 'pass air bag off' light was on even though a passenger was sitting in the front passenger seat. I took it to the toyota dealership that diagnosed it. They said the sensor in the passenger seat belt buckle had gone bad and needed replacing. What bothers me is the fact that the airbag light on the instrument panel…Owner complaint, filed 2019

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

No accident but dealer mechanic says I need a new transmission as torque converter is the problem. . Car has 107500 miles and has had routine maintenance. I have since learned that there were dealer service bulletins on this issue and some owners got repairs. My vehicle, a 2012 RAV4, was not included in the bulletin. I read many…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Both front drive axles exhibited signs of severe corrosion damage leading to complete loss of lubricant and had to be replaced at 34,056 miles. The vehicle is garaged and not subject to any unusual operating conditions. Symptoms included severe cracking and popping noises on turns.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 34,056 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 34,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (14).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

My 2012 Toyota RAV4 (Super White / Blizzard Pearl paint) is experiencing severe and recurring paint peeling caused by a known manufacturing defect in which the factory paint primer failed to properly adhere to the base metal layer. The peeling first began in 2023 following freezing weather in Austin, TX. It occurred again in 2024 after…Owner complaint, filed 2026

My vehicle is a 2012 rav 4 sport, color Barcelona Red. Said color and model has been know to have clear coat and paint issues. My vehicles clear coat and paint in the top has been peeling at an alarming rate, a year or so ago it started, but the last 6 months have been excrutiating. This problem poses a risk to me as if the issue…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 27,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

While at the end of a car wash with the car in neutral, the car accelerated by itself. It reached 60 mph for over a half mile, and was unresponsive to steering and brakes. The left front wheel was severely damaged. Fortunately, there were no accidents.Owner complaint, filed 2025

I took the Rav4 to the dealership for a oil change and wheel alignment 0n 6-6-23. On 6-9-23 I took it back because on the freeway sometime it would start wobbling. They check it out and said the tow arms have play and movement. I said you gave it a 4 wheel alignment and didn`t see that. He recommend to change both rear tow arms and…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 53,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The car lost all power to the wheels without warning. Fortunately the car was stopped at a red light but still had to be pushed out of the way in traffic with the help of strangers. The car was inspected by a Toyota service specialist who said that the splines had sheared off of the rotor and the entire motor would need to be replaced.…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Unknown. Vehicle is having problems with fuel system. Vehicle intermittently runs rough like engine is not getting enough gas.Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The left rear toe arm bracket became detached from the rear subframe. This caused the vehicle to drive erratically. There is minimal to no rust on the vehicle. The failure happened without warning after hitting a small pothole.Owner complaint, filed 2023

When making a left turn from a stand still the back end of the vehicle feels very loose and wobbly as if a wheel was about to come off. In addition the vehicle is producing a vibrating or thumping that appears to be coming from the back end of the vehicle. This seems to be a progressing issue. The vibration/thumping has been going on for…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 156,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Not sure of date, but the outside housing of spare tire came off going thru car wash... This was an automatic wash no brushes was used. Now it is possible that this could had happen on the road and I'm just wondering if this has happen to other toyota vehicles... I did take it the fox toyota and they fixed the inner housing because the…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 8,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 toyota rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v284000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available and only stated that they had…Owner complaint, filed 2016