NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
This page covers 6 recalls, 35 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Toyota Yaris.
31–33 mpg combined
7.1–7.6 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2012 Toyota Yaris, the largest share of complaints centers on the airbag and restraint system. Owners most commonly report that airbags either deployed unexpectedly or failed to deploy as expected during collisions, and several describe seatbelts not securing occupants properly in crashes. These reports span both frontal and side-impact events. The next most-noted area involves vehicle speed control, where owners describe the speedometer jumping erratically and displaying incorrect readings, sometimes following hard braking. A handful of complaints mention the ABS behaving unpredictably during braking, engaging in a way that felt uneven side-to-side and made the vehicle difficult to control. Wheel-related complaints appear in a smaller cluster but don't point to a single consistent symptom across reports. The speedometer fluctuation after ABS activation is the most specific recurring pattern outside of the restraint system complaints.
35
Total Complaints
12
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
9
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Toyota Yaris has 6 recalls, the most serious being a Takata passenger-side airbag inflator that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a risk of serious injury or death.
This airbag defect has been filed across multiple campaigns covering vehicles registered in high-humidity states and territories as well as the broader national population, but the underlying hazard is the same: the inflator can explode rather than inflate normally, scattering sharp metal shards toward the driver and passengers. Prior repair attempts in some cases did not fully resolve the issue, which is why multiple rounds of this recall exist for the Yaris.
On the steering side, the electric power steering control module contains a relay that can short circuit and stop providing steering assistance. When this happens, the steering wheel warning light comes on and a buzzer sounds, and the system falls back to fully manual steering. At low speeds or in parking lots, this makes the wheel noticeably heavy and much harder to turn, raising the risk of a crash. This issue appears across two separate campaigns covering slightly different production date ranges.
There is also a structural concern affecting vehicles sold or registered in Puerto Rico: the roof headliner in certain examples does not meet the required impact protection standard, meaning it provides less cushioning to an occupant's head in a crash than it should.
At a glance
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 3 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
Driver or passenger front airbag inflators previously replaced under an earlier recall may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to humidity, high temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the affected front airbag inflator, assembly, or sub-assembly depending on vehicle model.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal air bag inflator may rupture during deployment due to propellant deterioration from prolonged humidity and temperature exposure.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly with an alternate inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator or air bag assembly at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The roof headliner may not protect occupants properly during a crash, failing to meet Federal safety standards for interior impact protection.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the headliner at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A relay in the electric power steering control module can short circuit and fail, causing sudden loss of steering power assist. The vehicle will revert to manual steering, requiring greater driver effort, especially at low speeds.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electric power steering control module with an updated version.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A relay in the power steering control module can short circuit due to insufficient terminal spacing and moisture in the coil windings, which may disable power steering assistance.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the power steering control module to restore proper steering function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
