Problems · by component

2012 Toyota RAV4 visibility/wiper problems

54 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota RAV4 cite visibility/wiper, 20% of all 266 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
54
20% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the visibility/wiper

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The windshield pump is not working front and back The wipers turn but no liquid comes out though the tank is full It does not make the sound it normally does when it pumps the windshield liquid Dealer wants almost $200 just to look at it and verify the problem”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2025Visibility/wiperODI 11687761
“I have a 2012 Toyota Rav-4 Limited . I have had the vehicle since 2020. Ever since I bought the vehicle it fogs up. All the windows fog up and it does not matter what setting I have it on, de-foggers, fan, fresh air, AC, etc. nothing resolves the problem.It is very dangerous as I cannot see where I am going. I cannot use the front de-foggers in bad weather because it makes the afore mentioned problem worse.I have to put the windows down to see and this remedy is not feasible. I have researched and a lot of other people are experiencing this same safety issue in this model vehicle. I love the vehicle but dread bad weather as it is a struggle to see . Please help.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2025Unknown or other, Visibility/wiperODI 11675227
“The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that upon activating the windshield wipers, the wipers responded erratically. The contact stated that the wipers moved significantly slowly, changed direction, and paused in the center of the windshield. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V577000 (Visibility/Wiper) however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 112,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2023Visibility/wiperODI 11528402
“Poor winter visibility: This is an issue with this vehicle but also with almost all other vehicles with internal combustion engines. During cold weather the defroster is ineffective until the engine warms up and provides heat. This results in two unsafe conditions 1) warming the engine up while parked, which exposes the vehicle and driver to theft ("carjacking" is an increasing crime in our area) and increases carbon emissions, or, 2) driving the vehicle while the engine is cold and having poor forward visibility. If defrosters were equipped with electric heating elements, defroster heat would be provided almost immediately. I was told that VW provided this feature for several years and it was very effective. The electric heating element could be thermostatically controlled so it would turn off once the engine starts providing heat. Since a household toaster can be purchased for $25, it should not cost manufacturers more than $15 to add an electric heating element to the defroster. Thank you for considering this recommendation. I am embarrassed to admit to the times when I drove while peering through a small patch of clear windshield . . . reasonably safe for…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2021Visibility/wiperODI 11445409
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V577000(VISIBILITY). WHEN SHE RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE, SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO CITY WORLD TOYOTA (3333 BOSTON RD, THE BRONX, NY 10469, 888-258-4365) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE LEAKING AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE AND DID NOT OPERATE. THE DEALER CALLED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICED; HOWEVER, ONCE SHE ARRIVED, SHE WAS INFORMED AGAIN THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2019Visibility/wiperODI 11253615
“DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BLOCKS VISION WHILE DRIVING DUE TO VISOR SAGGING DOWN FROM IT'S NON-USE STATE. THE SPRING OR MECHANISM IN THE SUN VISOR WON'T KEEP THE VISOR IN THE NON USE POSITION. THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL / DEFECT BECAUSE THIS IS HAPPENING ON MY CURRENT 2012 RAV4 AND ALSO MY PREVIOUS RAV4 THAT WAS A 2007 MODEL YEAR. SUN VISOR IS DANGEROUS DUE TO BLOCKING VIEW AND OR WHEN BRAKING YOUR HEAD WILL HIT THE VISOR AS WELL. SEE MORE INFO IN THESE THREADS: HTTPS://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/THREADS/CAN-ANYONE-TELL-ME-HOW-TO-FIX-THIS-[XXX]-HANGING-VISOR.78000/ PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2019Visibility/wiperODI 11245870

Showing 6 of 54 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Visibility

Free remedy

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.

Visibility/wiperReported Sep 18, 2015NHTSA 15V577000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.