2012 Toyota Corolla MPG
EPA ratings for the 2012 Toyota Corolla run from 26–27 mpg in town to 33–34 on the highway, or 29 combined, depending on which of its 2 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 29 mpg combined. That is 1 mpg lower than the best gasoline 2011 version (30 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corolla | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 34 | 29 | Regular · 306 g CO₂/mi |
| Corolla | 1.8 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 33 | 29 | Regular · 306 g CO₂/mi |
2012 Toyota Corolla fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2012 Toyota Corolla costs about $2,250 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (29 mpg combined), or roughly 15 cents a mile.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2012 Toyota Corolla specs
The EPA lists one engine for the 2012 Toyota Corolla: a 1.8 L 4-cyl. It came with automatic and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Compact Cars" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L | 4 | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2012 Toyota Corolla problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 446 owner complaints about the 2012 Toyota Corolla.
Air bags are the most-reported area (74% of component mentions), followed by steering (4%) and vehicle speed control (3%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 30 complaints a year: fewer than the 2011 (36 a year) and more than the 2013 (14 a year).
That ranks 6th of 17 Toyota Corolla model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 446, 41 mention a crash, 1 a fire and 24 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 370 | 74% |
| Steering | 19 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 3% |
| Structure | 14 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 2% |
| Power train | 8 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 7 | 1% |
| Seats | 5 | 1% |
| Engine | 4 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | <1% |
| Suspension | 3 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 2 | <1% |
| Visibility | 2 | <1% |
| Wheels | 2 | <1% |
| Equipment | 1 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 1 | <1% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
I got a car accident on Oct 30,2024. The air bag didn't deployed and my head has been injured.
I turned my car on and every light on the dashboard is practically on. It’s saying my (EPS) has failed and now it’s become hard to steer the vehicle. …
The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while parking in a post office parking lot and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle experienced sudden and unintended acceleration, crashed into a tree, and shut off. …
2012 Toyota Corolla recalls
The 2012 Toyota Corolla has been the subject of 5 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 20V024000 from January 2020, concerns air bags.
All 5 campaigns concern air bags.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Corolla years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V024000 | January 17, 2020 | Air bags | 2011–2019 |
| 19V741000 | October 17, 2019 | Air bags | 2008–2013 |
| 19V005000 | January 9, 2019 | Air bags | 2010–2013 |
| 17V006000 | January 9, 2017 | Air bags | 2009, 2012 |
| 13V014000 | January 16, 2013 | Seats, Air bags | 2010–2013 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2012 Toyota Corolla; the best overall score is 4 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Toyota Corollas can be compared fairly. Among other 2012 models in the EPA's compact cars class, the 2012 Honda Accord (27 mpg), 2012 Honda Civic (32 mpg) and 2012 Volkswagen Jetta (32 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 30 | 1,459 | 81 | 13 |
| 2010 | 30 | 1,244 | 73 | 17 |
| 2011 | 30 | 584 | 36 | 9 |
| 2012 | 29 | 446 | 30 | 5 |
| 2013 | 29 | 201 | 14 | 5 |
| 2014 | 34 | 269 | 21 | 2 |
| 2015 | 34 | 220 | 18 | 1 |
Every Toyota Corolla model year compared →
Similar 2012 models
FAQ
Is the 2012 Corolla a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2012 Toyota Corolla has 30 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (6th most of 17 model years), 5 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 4 stars and up to 29 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2012 Corolla problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are air bags (370), steering (19) and vehicle speed control (16). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2012 Corolla have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Corolla get?
The EPA rates the versions at 29 mpg combined (26–27 city, 33–34 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Corolla per year?
About $2,250 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).