2012 Toyota Corolla
The 2012 Toyota Corolla earns a fair Throttlebook Ownership Score of 58/100. Expect about $36,456 to own it for five years, or $608 a month. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns that may apply, so check the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy. Owners have filed 446 complaints.
- Recalls
- 5
- Complaints
- 446
- 5-yr cost
- $36k
- MPG (EPA)
- 29
2012 Toyota Corolla vs nearby years
Compare this year with the model years next to it on the same hub.
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5 recalls may apply
For the 2012 Toyota Corolla. NHTSA matches recalls by model and year — confirm by VIN.
What's wrong: 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 vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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 at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
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5-year cost to own
Estimated $10,000 price, 20% down, 11.19% APR for 60 months (Experian avg.), 12,000 mi/yr.
| Depreciation | $1,633 |
| Insurance (national avg.) | $12,000 |
| Fuel / charging | $6,930 |
| Maintenance | $7,500 |
| Repairs | $4,000 |
| Loan interest | $2,793 |
| Taxes & fees | $1,600 |
Estimate, not financial advice. How we calculate.
Owner complaints & safety
What real owners reported to NHTSA for this model year.
- Air Bags370
- Steering18
- Vehicle Speed Control16
- Structure14
- Electrical System13
- Unknown Or Other11
Complaint counts scale with how many were sold; compare against similar models.
- Overall
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Frontal
- 4 out of 5 stars
- Side
- 5 out of 5 stars
- Rollover
- 4 out of 5 stars
Rated as: 2012 Toyota Corolla 4 DR FWD
What to check on a used 2012 Toyota Corolla
Ordered by what owners of this model year reported most. Reports are not proof of a defect.
- Airbags
- The airbag light should come on at start-up and then go out.
- Ask for proof that any airbag recalls were completed.
- Steering
- Does the car drift or pull on a straight road?
- Turn the wheel lock to lock and listen for clunks or whines.
- Engine and transmission
- Cold start: listen for knocking, ticking or rough running.
- Shifts should be smooth with no slipping or jerking.
If anything in a safety area feels wrong (brakes, steering, airbags, tires), stop driving and get it inspected before you buy or drive it further. Paste a VIN above for the full printable checklist.
Common 2012 Toyota Corolla problems
Cheaper alternatives
FAQ
- Is the 2012 Toyota Corolla a good car to buy?
- The 2012 Toyota Corolla earns a fair Throttlebook Ownership Score of 58/100. Expect about $36,456 to own it for five years, or $608 a month. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns that may apply, so check the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy. Owners have filed 446 complaints.
- Does the 2012 Toyota Corolla have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2012 Toyota Corolla, including Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module; Air Bags › Air Bag/Restraint Control Module; Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-Inactive. Recalls are matched by model year, so check your exact VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
- What are the most common 2012 Toyota Corolla problems?
- Owners filed 446 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are air bags (370), steering (18), vehicle speed control (16), structure (14).
- How much does a 2012 Toyota Corolla cost to own for 5 years?
- About $36,456 over 5 years ($608/month) at an estimated $10,000 purchase price and 12,000 miles a year, including depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, loan interest and taxes. Run a VIN report to personalize it.
Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and NCAP ratings; EPA fueleconomy.gov. Data refreshed weekly. Complaint counts scale with sales volume.