2012 Toyota Highlander: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Toyota Highlander: 2 recalls, 182 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seats, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V014000 · 2013 · 3,235 vehicles
What's wrong: During modification by set to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest dvd systems, these vehicles May not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system May not operate as designed.
Why it matters: 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 the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag…
The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013.
Equipment Vehicle recall #13V123000 · 2013 · 7,525 vehicles
What's wrong: These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 110, "tire selection and rims."
Why it matters: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which May result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
The fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 13 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Steering (46): the most common themes are steering problems (41), noise or vibration (36).
- Electrical (29): the most common themes are door / lock issues (17), stalls / loses power (4).
- Other / unknown (23): the most common themes are noise or vibration (6).
- Body & structure (20): the most common themes are door / lock issues (6), noise or vibration (3), leaks (2).
The 2012 Toyota Highlander has 182 owner complaints, ranking #17 of 28 Highlander model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 205). Complaints peaked in 2019 (26 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 51,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (181 complaints, 5 recalls), 2013 (207 complaints, 3 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Toyota Highlander.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Toyota Highlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Toyota Highlander. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Highlander problems?
Owners have filed 182 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (46), electrical (29), other / unknown (23).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Highlander get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (2.7 L, Automatic (S6)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Toyota Highlander repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.