try.vin
Log in

NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Toyota Yaris Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2012 Toyota Yaris has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 35 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Toyota Yaris, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2012 Toyota Yaris owner complaints

Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Yaris, describing incidents dated September 1, 2012 to April 15, 2022.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 18 complaints
  • Structure 5 complaints
  • Electrical System 4 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 4 complaints
  • Wheels 4 complaints
  • Service Brakes 2 complaints

Of the 35 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 35 complaints, owners report 11 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11464461 · Filed

    The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Yaris The contact stated that while slowing down and coming to a stoplight, a second vehicle traveling 54 mph crashed into the rear of the vehicle. During the crash, both the driver-side and passenger-side seat belts malfunctioned and did not secure the occupants. The…

  • ODI #11463081 · Filed

    I was driving a 2012 yaris when I was in an accident that totaled the vehicles. I was hospitalized for 3 weeks which I believe the airbags had played a major role in the seriousness of the injuries I sustained but not sure how to prove that they failed to protect me and possible they made things…

  • ODI #11383549 · Filed

    WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AND HAD TO BRAKE FOR SLOWER TRAFFIC AHEAD. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED, BRAKING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR, THEN THE RIGHT ALMOST SENDING ME OFF THE ROAD. AFTER THIS HAD HAPPENED, THE SPEEDOMETER HAD STARTED JUMPING TO DIFFERENT SPEEDS…

Read all 35 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2012 Toyota Yaris in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode

NHTSA #19V741000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported October 17, 2019 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 928,220 vehicles

Repair completion: 72.6% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign J0A, J0B, J0C, JLI · Owners notified November 20, 2019 · Vehicles built March 6, 2006 – August 1, 2012 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode

NHTSA #18V025000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 9, 2018 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 116,126 vehicles

Repair completion: 82.93% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Toyota campaign G0R, H0A, J0A · Owners notified January 29, 2018 · Vehicles built July 31, 2009 – March 30, 2012 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. As of January 30, 2018, Toyota is additionally recalling 3,347 model year 2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles located in states listed above. Also included in this recall filing is 98,194 model year 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles, located throughout the U.S., that previously received a “like-for-like” interim air bag inflator replacement. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0R (Zone B), and H0A (Zone C), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A).

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture

NHTSA #17V006000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported January 9, 2017 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 577,875 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.58% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified February 1, 2017 · Vehicles built July 31, 2011 – August 30, 2012 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Safety consequence

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Manufacturer remedy

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).

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Roof Headliner Requirements/FMVSS 201

NHTSA #15V134000 · Structure · NHTSA notice

Reported March 9, 2015 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 16,582 vehicles

Repair completion: 63.61% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified June 22, 2015 · Vehicles built August 31, 2011 – February 9, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 31, 2011, to February 9, 2015, and sold or registered in Puerto Rico. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with a roof headliner that does not provide the proper occupant protection in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 201, " Occupant Protection in Interior Impact."

Safety consequence

If the vehicles are equipped with a headliner that does not meet the impact requirements, there is an increased risk of occupantl injury in the event of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headliner, free of charge. The recall began on June 22, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Power Steering Assistance Failure

NHTSA #13V292000 · Steering — Electric Power Assist System · NHTSA notice

Reported July 3, 2013 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 74 vehicles

Owners notified July 31, 2013 · Vehicles built August 21, 2011 – August 31, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 21, 2011, through August 31, 2011. A relay in the Power Steering Control Module of the electronic power steering system could experience a short circuit due to insufficient distance between terminals in the relay and moisture contamination of relay coil windings. A short circuit in the relay could disable power steering assistance.

Safety consequence

If the power steering assistance shuts off, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering control module. The recall began on July 31, 2013. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Toyota Yaris model years

Check your 2012 Toyota Yaris VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Yaris at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Toyota VIN