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What 35 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Yaris

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)

13 of 35 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

May 13, 2022Seat beltsCrash2 injuries

The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Yaris The contact stated that while slowing down and coming to a stoplight, a second vehicle traveling 54 mph crashed into the rear of the vehicle. During the crash, both the driver-side and passenger-side seat belts malfunctioned and did not secure the occupants. The driver sustained head and torso injuries and the front passenger who was the driver's wife sustained broken ribs, and head and spine injuries. Medical attention was received. The vehicle was destroyed. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,200.

NHTSA ODI 11464461

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

Mar 18, 2018Speed controlCrash

I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED IN FRONT OF A RESTAURANT.

NHTSA ODI 11080007

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

Oct 23, 2017AirbagsCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 11035712

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

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 8, 2015Body & structureWheelsCrash1 injury

MY CAR CAME TO STOP DUE TO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPING SUDDENLY MY CAR DID NOT TOUCH THE CAR IN FRONT. I HAD TO BRAKE QUICKLY SINCE CAR IN FRONT BRAKE QUICKLY. CAR BEHIND ME HIT ME CAUSING MY CAR TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT. CAR CRASHED INTO ME IN A APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 30 MPH I PROTECTED MY HEAD FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL WITH MY OWN STRENGTH HOLDING ON TO STEERING WHEEL. I WAS INJURED FROM MY LEG AND RIBS. NO ON ELSE WAS INJURED. # CARS WERE INVOLVED, INCLUDING MINES. WHY DID MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY? MY GLASSES WENT FLYING AND GOT DAMAGED. MY REAR END IS TOTALLY DAMAGED AND FRONT AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10715410

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

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

Dec 6, 2013Electrical systemFire

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY POWERED DOWN THE INSIDE LIGHTS, OUTSIDE LIGHTS, HEAT, ETC TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE LOUD NOISES AS IF I WAS TRYING TO START THE CAR, BUT I HAD TAKEN THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I THEN NOTICED THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND THEN I SMELLED SMOKE. I WAS STUCK IN THE INTERSECTION WITH THE CAR STUCK IN PARK I KEPT PRESSING THE BRAKE, TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS OR EVEN TURN ON AT THIS POINT. I CONTINUED TO SMOKE AND I SMELLED FIRE SO I GRABBED ALL OF MY THINGS AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. IT WAS RAINING AND A GOOD SAMARITAN POPPED THE HOOD AND THE HARD COLD RAIN PUT OUT THE FIRE. I WAITED UNTIL A TOW TRUCK TOLD THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY AND STARTER CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10555063

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 verdict →