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ProblemsByVinFile / 2012-TOYOTA-4RUNNERNHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Toyota
2012 Toyota 4Runner problems
The 2012 Toyota 4Runner has 3 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 96 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2012 Toyota 4Runner has 96 NHTSA owner complaints and 8 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 70 complaints, typically surfacing around 65,340 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Below average for the segment. Multiple systems have recurring complaints.
3
Critical
5
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2012 4Runner?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 5.0/10 — around the segment average
8 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
NHTSA crash-test safety ratings
4 / 5 overall
Overall★★★★★4/5
Frontal crash★★★★★4/5
Side crash★★★★★5/5
Rollover★★★★★3/5
Driver-assist features on the tested model:
Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2012 Toyota 4Runner SUV 2WD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Buying a used 2012 Toyota 4Runner? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
airbags — 70 owner reports
· tends to show around 65,340 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
brakes — 5 owner reports
· tends to show around 32,888 mi · ~$450 to fix
steering — 5 owner reports
· tends to show around 21,000 mi · ~$700 to fix
electrical — 3 owner reports
· tends to show around 61,667 mi · ~$850 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged
severe on this model
, showing up around 65,340 mi.
Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 8 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 5.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
fuel system (~$1,200) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2012 4Runner· brakes
The brakes of the vehicle slip. When you are on the freeway and you need to stop for accidents and you brake the vehicle slips and almost wants to role over. When the vehicle comes to complete stop after a few seconds it moves forward almost 6 inches. There could be several…
The backup camera does not work consistently. While not moving and then shifiting into reverse, the screen does not change or changes to something other than the camera. It usually stops working after several stops and shifts into reverse. Sometimes it goes 2 or 3 days without…
"takata recall" I contacted the auto dealer who sold the vehicle, in order to address the air bag issue. That was a couple of months ago. As of todat (dec 15, 2017) the dealer takes no action to fix it.
The wiring in my steering column connected to the horn in the clock spring has caused my horn to not work . I got my car diagnosed and they said that the clock spring needs to be replaced. It cost $1020.31 to get fixed. They told me it was nothing I caused or could have…
Had a problem with your 2012 Toyota 4Runner?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
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
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
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
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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).
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 5.0 out of 10 based on 96 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Toyota 4Runner has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2012 Toyota 4Runner?
The 2012 Toyota 4Runner is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 5.0/10 — around the segment average; 8 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2012 Toyota 4Runner?
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 70 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 65,340 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2012 Toyota 4Runner a good used car to buy?
It scores 5.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 96 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 65,340 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2012 Toyota 4Runner?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 70 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 65,340 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 65,340 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Toyota 4Runner has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Toyota 4Runner?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 96 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Toyota/4Runner.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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