Home · 2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback · Complaints

What 35 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (35)Crash / fire / injury (13)Airbags (18)Body & structure (5)Electrical system (4)Speed control (4)Wheels (4)Brakes (2)Visibility & wipers (2)Engine (1)Seat belts (1)Seats (1)

18 of 35 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters

May 2, 2022AirbagsCrash1 injury

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 worse with the scar across my forehead from being sliced open needing numerous staples as well as shattered pelvis. Is there any way by looking at the pictures can you tell me if the air bags did their job

NHTSA ODI 11463081

Jul 6, 2020AirbagsBody & structureWheelsCrash1 injury

ON MY WAY HOME, A 70'S TRUCK HIT MY LEFT SIDE, THE AIRBAG CAME OUT BLIND ME AND MADE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICULE. IS A MIRACLE THAT IM ALIVE. HAPPENED AT PR132 KM0.4 GUAYANILLA PR 00656.

NHTSA ODI 11337592

Jun 8, 2019AirbagsCrash1 death

[XXX] ON JUNE 3,17 WAS IN A FATAL AUTO COLLIONS THAT COSTED HER LIFE.THE AUTO WAS TOWED TO HAYS TOWING IN SAN BERNADINO CA. AT:5486 INDUSTRIAL PKWY. SAN BERNARDINO CA 92407. POLICE REPORT [XXX]*DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11218675

Dec 27, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HILL AT 40 MPH, LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE TREE IN FRONT. ALL THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERAL BRUISES AND SUFFERED FROM CHEST CONGESTION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11056740

Nov 27, 2017Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE ON 3/24/2017 AND 6/7/2017 AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11048591

Nov 24, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS) ON JANUARY 9, 2017, BUT THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE INTERIM RECALL NOTICE LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO. MOTORWORLD TOYOTA (150 MOTORWORLD DR #4, WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702, (866) 652-1257) STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO WAIT FOR A SECOND LETTER BECAUSE THE REMEDY AND PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT A LOANER VEHICLE WOULD BE PROVIDED IN THE INTERIM UNTIL THE REMEDY AND PARTS WERE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO DETERMINE IF A LOANER WAS AVAILABLE AND WHEN THE REMEDY AND PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11048210

Oct 23, 2017AirbagsCrash

MY CAR WAS IN WRECK THAT TOTALLED THE CAR OUT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ODI 11035712

Jul 10, 2017Electrical systemAirbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF SANTA BARBARA (5611 HOLLISTER AVE, GOLETA, CA 93117) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11004071

Jul 3, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER RETRIEVED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11002869

Jun 20, 2017Airbags

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL; THE LETTER STATED THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH MY AIRBAG INFLATORS. I TRIED CONTACTING A FEW TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS, AND THEY MADE MY ISSUE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MY SAFETY, SEEM LIKE IT WAS NOT THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER NEW PARTS BUT THAT WOULD TAKE TWO MONTHS. IF THEY RECEIVED IT EARLIER THEY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE ME A CALL. SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE GONE BY, AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A CALL. MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, BREDEMANN TOYOTA @ (847) 655-1435 HAS NOT CALL ME BACK FOR 3 MONTHS OR SO. I RECEIVED THIS LETTER BACK IN JANUARY, AND IT IS NEARLY JULY. ALMOST HALF A YEAR HAS GONE BY, AND MY SAFETY HAS BEEN AT RISK EVERY SINGLE DAY. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX] OR [XXX] AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DO NOT WANT TO RISK MY LIFE FOR ANY LONGER BECAUSE OF A DEALERSHIP'S CARELESSNESS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11000291

Apr 10, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10971681

Apr 4, 2017Airbags

TAKATA RECALL - CALLED MY TOYOTA DEALER WALNUT CREEK CALIFORNIA. THEY SAID NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE OR JULY, IN 2 OR 3 MONTHS. TOLD ME NOT TO LET ANYONE SIT IN PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THEN. COULD NOT TELL ME IF OTHER TOYOTA DEALERS HAD PARTS. I CALLED TOYOTA DEALER IN CONCORD, CA. EXPLAINED MY REASON FOR CALLING. THEY PUT ME ON HOLD FOR 10 MINUTES, THEN DISCONNECTED ME.

NHTSA ODI 10970594

Mar 15, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10966136

Feb 23, 2017Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10956630

Dec 28, 2015AirbagsCrash2 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FENDER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLAR BONE AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN STERNUM THAT BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ODI 10816441

May 7, 2015AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA YARIS. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SPINE, SHOULDER, AND NECK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT ALSO SUFFERED FROM HEAD PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10715092

Jan 11, 2015Airbags

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY AIRBAG. UPON SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPLACED I WAS TOLD NOT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AT ANY TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN GA AND THERE IS KNOW NONE TIME FRAME IN WHICH THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEN ASKED, "WHAT SHOULD I DO." REPLIED, "I DON'T KNOW, SORRY" NOW I AM DRIVING A DEFECTIVE CAR THAT MY CAUSE FURTHER INJURIES IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10671643

May 5, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER CORNER BY A CAR DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE 2012 4 DOOR YARIS WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET WHEN STRUCK. THE YARIS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NONE OF THEM. THIS MODEL HAS DUAL FRONT SIDE-MOUNTED AIRBAGS AND FRONT AND REAR HEAD AIRBAGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10586651

Working with the data? Download all 35 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Toyota Yaris Hatchback verdict →