2012 TOYOTA AVALON Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota Avalon. This model year has 30 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Structural Problems.
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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 Avalon Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Structural Problems
Airbag Malfunctions
Electrical Faults
Considering a 2012 Toyota Avalon?
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 Avalon. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Problems | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 6 | 4 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Brake System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 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 Avalon. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 30 most recent complaints
While entering the highway on ramp, as I accelerated and turned on the left turn signal, the engine stopped. The steering became very hard. I stopped, put the transmission in park and started the engine, with no problems. This is the second time in3 months this has happened whe…
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Avalon. The contact stated that while it was hot outside, or whenever there was direct sunlight on the dashboard, the dashboard would become very sticky. The contact stated that the glare on the windshield from the reflection of the dashboard made i…
There is a rear windshield shade that comes up automatically during a bright or hot day. It has a button to manually bring it up or down also. Just last month the gear inside the shade is broken and it does not come down. If I manually put it down it will come up automatically wh…
REAR SUNSCREEN REMAINS IN UP POSITION, WHEN LOWERED IN REVERSE, IT MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. HAVING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT PRESENTS A PROBLEM WITH VISIBILITY WHEN THE SUNSCREEN REMAINS IN THE UP POSITION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN AN 18 WHEELER COLLIDED INTO THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELLING AT 65 MPH. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE HOSPITALIZED WITH SPI…
ANOTHER DRIVER RAND A RED LIGHT AND I (T-BONED HIS PASSENGER SIDE) WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. I WAS BREAKING AT THE TIME, BUT STILL IMAGINE I HIT HIM AT BETWEEN 30-40 MPH. THE FRONT END CRUMPLED AS EXPECTED BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FIREFIGHTERS CUT POWER TO PREVENT THE AI…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED ON ITS OWN. THE MOTOR WAS EXTREMELY LOUD AND WAS A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD TURN OFF THE ENGINE, IT WOULD SOMETIMES RESTART ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT CALLED BOWLING GREEN…
MY VEHICLES AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY I WAS HIT BY AN 18 WHEELER AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAD AT LEAST 2 REAR END HITS BY THIS 18 WHEELER ESTIMATED AT A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 25 MILES PER HOUR FASTER THAN MINE (I WAS GOING AT 70MPH NORTHBOUND ON US 75, NINE MILES SOUTH …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE WATER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND CARPET. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A MOLD ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREEDOM TOYOTA OF HARRISBURG (6060 ALLENTOW…
REAR DECK SUNSCREEN ACTIVATES AND COMES UP WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTIVATING IT. AND IT WILL NOT GO BACK DOWN WITHOUT MANUAL ASSISTANCE. WITH ASSISTANCE WHEN IT DOES GO DOWN THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THEN IT WILL COME BACK UP. TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF …
THE REAR WINDOW SUN SHADE SCREEN DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. STICKS IN UP POSITION BLOCKING SITE OUT REAR WINDOW. WITH SCREEN DOWN WHILE CRANKING CAR, PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE CAUSES A LOUD NOISE OF GEARS STRIPPING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON THE INTERNET COMPLAINING OF THIS PROB…
AIR BAG ON PASSANGER SIDE OF VEHICLE IS DISABLED AND WILL NOT RESET/ACTIVATE. VEHICLE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. DEALER STATED WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING COMPLETED.
THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT HEADREST HAS BECOME A LIABILITY THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT HEADRESTS ARE SET AT SUCH AN ANGLE THAT IF I SIT CORRECTLY IN THE SEAT (BACK/SHOULDERS AGAINST THE SEAT BACK) MY HEAD IS POSITIONED SO THAT MY EYES ARE AIMED AT THE FLOOR AND NOT AT THE ROAD. I'VE ADJ…
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT SPEED LIMIT. LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND. SUN ROOF HAD SHATTERED. DIDN'T THINK TO TAKE A PICTURE. WAS 1,000 MI FROM HOME, SO COVERED WITH PLASTIC AND CARDBOARD, AND DROVE HOME. PICTURES ARE FROM INSIDE VEHICLE, UNFORTUNATELY NOT SHOWING MUCH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE …
THE SUBWOOFER RECALL IS BOGUS. WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE IS THAT THEY PUT A PLASTIC COVER AROUND THE SUBWOOFER TO PREVENT WIRES FROM TOUCHING THE CHASSIS; THEY INSTEAD REPLACE THE JBL AMPLIFIER. THE WORK DRASTICALLY ALTERS THE SOUND. I NO LONGER HAVE A PREMIUM …
2012 TOYOTA AVALON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RADIO SUB-WOOFER RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE ISSUE. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE DEALER STATED THE HAD NOT RECEIVED THE MEANS OR THE INFORMA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL R…
I ATTEMPTING TO PARK . THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A HANDICAP SIGN AND THEN STRUCK THE BUILDING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE SUB-WOOFER AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO REPAIR …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Toyota Avalon.
Recalls for 2012 Toyota Avalon
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Toyota Avalon. 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 Avalon — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Toyota Avalon reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2012 Toyota Avalon has 30 NHTSA owner complaints, 8 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Structural Problems (6 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Avalon?▾
#1: Structural Problems (6 complaints). #2: Airbag Malfunctions (6 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (4 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Toyota Avalon?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2012 Toyota Avalon?▾
The 2012 Toyota Avalon has 8 crash-related complaints and 1 fire reports out of 30 total NHTSA complaints. 6 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2012 Toyota Avalon have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Toyota Avalon. The largest issue: AIR BAGS. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2012 Toyota Avalon?▾
The 2012 Toyota Avalon has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Structural Problems 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 Avalon reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2012 Toyota Avalon
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.