2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota 4runner. This model year has 96 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Airbag Malfunctions.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2012 Toyota 4runner Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbag Malfunctions
Brake System
Electrical Faults
Considering a 2012 Toyota 4runner?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Toyota 4runner. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag Malfunctions | 70 | 3 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 5 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Toyota 4runner. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 96 most recent complaints
Consistent steering wheel shake between 60-65 mph. This is a very well known issue on the 2010-2024 4Runners and it drives me and many others crazy, and feels unsafe to drive with. Will happen almost anytime I’m on the highway. My vehicle only has 48k miles. This needs to be addr…
Vehicle radiator light came on, shortly thereafter (5-10 min) vehicle overheated. Waited for vehicle to cool down, then drove home. The following day drove the vehicle to dealership. After an inspection the dealer stated the heads are cracked and needed to be replaced. When…
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota 4Runner. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The Police Department called and arranged for the vehicle to be towed to an authorized dealer to be diagnosed. The c…
I was driving on the expressway, at about 70 to 75 miles. Suddenly the vehicle just slowed down to 40 miles per hour. I almost got hit from the back by a truck. But, then it suddenly picked back up. this has happened several times but the shop nor the dealer could tell me what wa…
2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TAKATA FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE A RECALL NOTICE MAILED TO A CURRENT ADDRESS. *JS
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 DI…
MY VEHICLE FRAME AND GAS TANK PROTECTOR SHIELD IS RUSTING ABNORMALLY WAY FASTER THAN IT SHOULD BE. *TR
LEAVING THE SONIC DRIVE IN PARKING LOT MY VECHILE DIED AS I WAS TURNING ON THE STREET. IT SHOWED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD A 1/4 TANK OF GAS BUT THE TANK WAS EMPTY
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER WHICH HAS A CURRENT AIR BAG RECALL. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE BEFORE OUR MILITARY PCS TRANSFER OVERSEAS. THEY BECAME AVAILABLE AFTER MY MOVE OVERSEAS, BUT TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST IN REPLACING MY AIRBAGS. I AM NOT GETTING R…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 51 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISON, HE SWERVED, LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE SLIDING INTO A TREE IN THE SNOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, WHILE IT WAS RAINING, WITH A VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE ONCOMING LANE, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROADWAY NOT TO PREVENT A CRASH WITH THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE TIRE HIT A PATCH …
APPROXIMATELY 7:45 AM ON 9/18/19, MY SON WHILE COMING HOME FROM WORK, HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT WITH HIM AT THE TIME. WHEN HE SHOWED UP AT HOME AFTER THE INCIDENT, HE EXPLAINED HOW HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. HE ARTICULATED THA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V005000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LARRY H. MILLER COLORADO SPRINGS (15 E MOTOR WAY, COL…
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SUN TOYOTA (3001 US-19, HOLIDAY, FL 3…
"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 PREVENTED…
TAKATA RECALL WITH NO INCIDENTS
TAKATA RECALL
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN FEBRUARY OF 2017. THE DEALER (ERNIE PALMER TOYOTA, 1290 …
TAKATA RECALL
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Toyota 4runner.
Recalls for 2012 Toyota 4runner
8 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Toyota 4runner. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2012 Toyota 4runner — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Toyota 4runner reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2012 Toyota 4runner has 96 NHTSA owner complaints, 5 crash-related, and 8 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Airbag Malfunctions (70 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota 4runner?▾
#1: Airbag Malfunctions (70 complaints). #2: Brake System (7 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (6 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Toyota 4runner?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2012 Toyota 4runner?▾
The 2012 Toyota 4runner has 5 crash-related complaints and 1 fire reports out of 96 total NHTSA complaints. 9 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2012 Toyota 4runner have any recalls?▾
Yes — 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Toyota 4runner. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2012 Toyota 4runner?▾
The 2012 Toyota 4runner has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Airbag Malfunctions issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Toyota 4runner reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2012 Toyota 4runner
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.