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2012 Toyota HighlanderProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 182 owner complaints about the 2012 Toyota Highlander, most often about the steering. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

2012 Toyota Highlander
60
CarFlaw IndexSolid year32% below the Highlander median · #17 of 24 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints18224 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage68kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 21, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2012 Toyota Highlander has problems

182 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering462
Electrical system290
Structure202
Engine172
Visibility/wiper140
Vehicle speed control147
Service brakes121
Air bags106
Power train71
14 other systems373

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2012 Toyota Highlander recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

Recall 13V-014 · Jan 16, 2013 · 3,235 vehicles

Risk. If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.

Mileage at failure

When do steering problems start?

68kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 39 steering complaints. 85% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
5under 30k miles33under 100k miles6100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2012 vs. every other Highlander year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Highlander median. How we score

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2012 Toyota Highlander safety ratings

2012 Toyota Highlander SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2012 Toyota Highlander frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2012 Toyota Highlander side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2012 Toyota Highlander side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2012 Toyota Highlander, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Steering Column SeparationEA18006 · closed Apr 2, 2024
    No recall
  2. Upper Steering Column SeparationPE18005 · closed Nov 20, 2018
    No recall
In owners' words

What Highlander owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Popping and clunking sound in steering or suspension. Can be produced at speeds and at stand still. Could it be this? https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2013/SB-10075792-2280.pdf https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Highlander/2013/steering/steering.shtml NHTSA Action Number: EA18006…
Complaint 11420336 · Jun 9, 2021
WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE YOU CAN HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAPPENS AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. WHEN MAKE A TURN RIGHT, OR LEFT YOU HEAR CLUNKING IS THE STEERING COLUMN. IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WANTS TO COME OFF, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATE TO FIX IT WILL COST OVER…
Complaint 11398404 · Mar 1, 2021 · 90,000 miles
STEERING SHAFT CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURN LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEED. CONFIRMED STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILURE BY IRA TOYOTA TECHNICIAN ON 7/31/2020. THIS IS 3RD TIMES FAILURE. 1ST FAILURE WAS JAN/2012 AND 2ND TIME FAILURE WAS 11/2013.
Complaint 11343172 · Aug 4, 2020

Own a 2012 Highlander?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.