Model year guide

2012 Toyota Yaris

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2012 Toyota Yaris is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 304 on record.

2012 Toyota Yaris — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2012 Toyota Yaris at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints35
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined32 mpg
Typical price$8,312

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2012 Toyota Yaris recalls 5

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #19V741000 · 17/10/2019

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 veh…

Fix: 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…

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #18V025000 · 09/01/2018

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 Hampshir…

Fix: 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 …

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #17V006000 · 09/01/2017

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 …

Fix: 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 cus…

Structure NHTSA Campaign #15V134000 · 09/03/2015

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 …

Fix: 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.

Steering:electric Power Assist System NHTSA Campaign #13V292000 · 03/07/2013

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.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2012 Toyota Yaris common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Wheels
Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

2012 Toyota Yaris safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2012 Toyota Yaris Liftback 5 HB FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2012 Toyota Yaris MPG & running costs

Combined32 mpg
City30 mpg
Highway35 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$1,925

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2012 Toyota Yaris worth?

Low
$6,400
Typical price
$8,312
High
$10,200

From 304 comparable 2012 Toyota Yaris listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 Toyota Yaris costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$9,625
Depreciation (5 yrs)$4,300
Total$13,925
Per mile$0.19

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($8,312) with the same model 5 model-years older ($4,018), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2012 Toyota Yaris trims & engines on record

Trims
Fleet · LE · L · SE
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl 106 hp

2012 Toyota Yaris vehicles on record

Other Toyota Yaris model years

2012 Toyota Yaris — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Toyota Yaris have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2012 Toyota Yaris. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Yaris?

Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, structure, vehicle speed control.

What is the 2012 Toyota Yaris safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2012 Toyota Yaris an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Yaris get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2012 Toyota Yaris at about 32 mpg combined (30 city / 35 highway).

How much is a 2012 Toyota Yaris worth?

Comparable 2012 Toyota Yaris listings run roughly $6,400–$10,200, typically around $8,312 (from 304 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.