2012 Toyota YARIS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota YARIS has 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: the car was hit in the front passenger corner by a car doing approximately 45 mph. the 2012 4 door yaris was making a left turn onto a side street when struck. the yaris airbags did not deploy. none of them. this model has dual front side-mounted airbags and front and rear head airbags. *tr. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 15 crash reports 14 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

18 complaints

38%

• THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER CORNER BY A CAR DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE 2012 4 DOOR YARIS WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET WHEN STRUCK. THE YARIS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NONE OF THEM. THIS MODEL HAS DUAL FRONT SIDE-MOUNTED AIRBAGS AND FRONT AND REAR HEAD AIRBAGS. *TR
• 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." REPLIE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SPINE, SHOULDER, AND NECK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT ALSO SUFFERED FROM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 9 crashes

“THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER CORNER BY A CAR DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE 2012 4 DOOR YARIS WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET WHEN STRUCK. THE YARIS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NONE OF THEM. THIS MODEL HAS DUAL FRONT SIDE-MOUNTED AIRBAGS AND FRONT AND REAR HEAD AIRBAGS. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

11%

• 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 W
• TL* 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 VE
• TL* 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 VE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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 W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

5 complaints

11%

• 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 FR
• 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
• MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR HATCH GLASS HAS BLOWN OUT TWICE WITH NO UNDERSTANDING HOW IT COULD OF HAPPENED BOTH TIMES WAS WITH THE VEHICLE IN A PARKED SITUATION NO PRESSURE ON THE GLASS THE SECOND TIME MY WIFE AND DOG WERE INSIDE THE CAR WAITING FOR ME IN THE AFTERNOON TO PICK ME UP FROM WORK THE FI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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 FR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

4 complaints

• TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AT DELIVERY, DEALER HAS HAD MANY EXCUSES NOT TO REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM. *TR
• 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 FR
• DRIVING DOWN HWY 94....WITH 4 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A MASSIVE CHUNK OF SOME TYPE OF HARD DEBRIS....THE CAR THUMPED SO HARD AND SCARED US ALL.!!!! WE CONTINUED ON TO CHURCH AT ASSUMPTION IN ST PAUL AFTERWARDS WE DROVE OFF TO LEAVE AND FELT THE CAR FLAPPING...WE HAD TO PULL OVER IN A T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AT DELIVERY, DEALER HAS HAD MANY EXCUSES NOT TO REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

4 complaints

• 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 N
• I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED IN FRONT OF A RESTAURANT.
• 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. CONSUMER WRITES TO RECOMMEND RECALLING VEHICLE MODEL BECAUSE OF ITS MANY MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. *AS *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 47 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER CORNER BY A CAR DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE 2012 4 DOOR YARIS WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET WHEN STRUCK. THE YARIS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NONE OF THEM. THIS MODEL HAS DUAL FRONT SIDE-MOUNTED AIRBAGS AND FRONT AND REAR HEAD AIRBAGS. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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 W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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 FR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AT DELIVERY, DEALER HAS HAD MANY EXCUSES NOT TO REPAIR. THIS SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ITEM. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)