Worst Vehicles of 2012
The most problematic 2012 model year vehicles ranked by NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.
How scoring works: Each complaint counts as 1 point, each recall as 5 points, and each federal investigation as 10 points. Click any vehicle to view its full reliability profile.
#VehicleComplaintsRecallsInvest.TSBsScore
1#12012 Ford FocusCompact Cars
4,988 complaints8 recalls3 invest.127 TSBs
4,988831275,058
#22012 Ford FusionMidsize Cars
3,061 complaints6 recalls4 invest.51 TSBs
3,06164513,131
#32012 Ford F-150
2,450 complaints4 recalls4 invest.117 TSBs
2,450441172,510
#42012 Jeep Grand CherokeeSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2,336 complaints11 recalls7 invest.258 TSBs
2,3361172582,461
#52012 Hyundai SonataLarge Cars
2,284 complaints8 recalls7 invest.183 TSBs
2,284871832,394
#62012 Dodge Dart
1,533 complaints6 recalls152 TSBs
1,533601521,563
#72012 Ford EdgeSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
1,482 complaints3 recalls1 invest.71 TSBs
1,48231711,507
#82012 Chevrolet MalibuMidsize Cars
1,476 complaints3 recalls1339 TSBs
1,4763013391,491
#92012 Chevrolet CruzeMidsize Cars
1,354 complaints7 recalls3 invest.1817 TSBs
1,3547318171,419
#102012 Jeep WranglerSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
1,293 complaints10 recalls6 invest.244 TSBs
1,2931062441,403
#112012 Kia OptimaMidsize Cars
1,264 complaints5 recalls7 invest.241 TSBs
1,264572411,359
#122012 Kia SorentoSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
1,212 complaints5 recalls10 invest.233 TSBs
1,2125102331,337
#132012 Ford ExplorerSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
1,038 complaints7 recalls4 invest.88 TSBs
1,03874881,113
#142012 Dodge ChargerLarge Cars
957 complaints14 recalls3 invest.219 TSBs
9571432191,057
#152012 Chrysler 200Compact Cars
1,012 complaints4 recalls1 invest.171 TSBs
1,012411711,042
#162012 Dodge Ram 1500
983 complaints7 recalls1 invest.282 TSBs
983712821,028
#172012 Dodge DurangoSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
922 complaints10 recalls5 invest.207 TSBs
9221052071,022
#182012 Chevrolet EquinoxSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
947 complaints3 recalls3 invest.1847 TSBs
947331847992
#192012 Hyundai ElantraMidsize Cars
922 complaints4 recalls4 invest.122 TSBs
92244122982
#202012 Chrysler Town and CountryMinivan - 2WD
868 complaints5 recalls2 invest.188 TSBs
86852188913
#212012 Ford FiestaSubcompact Cars
834 complaints3 recalls3 invest.86 TSBs
8343386879
#222012 Dodge Grand CaravanMinivan - 2WD
818 complaints6 recalls2 invest.98 TSBs
8186298868
#232012 Dodge AvengerMidsize Cars
840 complaints3 recalls1 invest.108 TSBs
84031108865
#242012 Ford EscapeSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
799 complaints2 recalls2 invest.43 TSBs
7992243829
#252012 Toyota CamryMidsize Cars
811 complaints2 recalls553 TSBs
81120553821
#262012 Nissan VersaCompact Cars
673 complaints11 recalls7 invest.157 TSBs
673117157798
#272012 Volkswagen JettaCompact Cars
694 complaints8 recalls5 invest.1483 TSBs
694851483784
#282012 Volkswagen PassatMidsize Cars
664 complaints11 recalls3 invest.1573 TSBs
6641131573749
#292012 Kia SoulSmall Station Wagons
675 complaints3 recalls5 invest.132 TSBs
67535132740
#302012 Chrysler 300Large Cars
624 complaints9 recalls2 invest.261 TSBs
62492261689
#312012 Dodge JourneySport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
624 complaints6 recalls2 invest.224 TSBs
62462224674
#322012 Honda CivicCompact Cars
622 complaints3 recalls2 invest.76 TSBs
6223276657
#332012 Chevrolet TraverseSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
587 complaints5 recalls2 invest.1557 TSBs
587521557632
#342012 Jeep LibertySport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
552 complaints2 recalls6 invest.110 TSBs
55226110622
#352012 Ford MustangSubcompact Cars
573 complaints7 recalls1 invest.62 TSBs
5737162618
#362012 Nissan AltimaSubcompact Cars
581 complaints4 recalls1 invest.121 TSBs
58141121611
#372012 Toyota PriusMidsize Cars
546 complaints6 recalls3 invest.461 TSBs
54663461606
#382012 Jeep PatriotSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
554 complaints4 recalls3 invest.100 TSBs
55443100604
#392012 Chevrolet SonicMidsize Cars
522 complaints7 recalls2 invest.1589 TSBs
522721589577
#402012 Fiat 500Minicompact Cars
539 complaints4 recalls1 invest.132 TSBs
53941132569
#412012 Honda CR-VSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
515 complaints3 recalls3 invest.105 TSBs
51533105560
#422012 Dodge Ram 3500
504 complaints9 recalls1 invest.312 TSBs
50491312559
#432012 Honda AccordCompact Cars
508 complaints8 recalls1 invest.50 TSBs
5088150558
#442012 GMC TerrainSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
500 complaints4 recalls3 invest.1842 TSBs
500431842550
#452012 Hyundai Santa FeSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
479 complaints1 recall6 invest.101 TSBs
47916101544
#462012 Toyota CorollaCompact Cars
497 complaints5 recalls2 invest.350 TSBs
49752350542
#472012 Cadillac SRXSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
516 complaints3 recalls1 invest.1614 TSBs
516311614541
#482012 Kia SportageSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
454 complaints5 recalls4 invest.177 TSBs
45454177519
#492012 Kia ForteCompact Cars
407 complaints4 recalls4 invest.71 TSBs
4074471467
#502012 Subaru Outback
372 complaints16 recalls1 invest.325 TSBs
372161325462
Shopping for a 2012 model?
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Check Your CarBased on 2.1M+ owner complaints
Data sourced from NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.