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
4,950 complaints7 recalls3 invest.126 TSBs
4,950731265,015
#22012 Ford FusionMidsize Cars
3,024 complaints6 recalls4 invest.51 TSBs
3,02464513,094
#32012 Ford F 150
2,417 complaints4 recalls4 invest.116 TSBs
2,417441162,477
#42012 Jeep Grand CherokeeSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
2,312 complaints11 recalls6 invest.256 TSBs
2,3121162562,427
#52012 Hyundai SonataLarge Cars
2,246 complaints8 recalls7 invest.175 TSBs
2,246871752,356
#62012 Dodge Dart
1,533 complaints6 recalls152 TSBs
1,533601521,563
#72012 Ford EdgeSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
1,466 complaints3 recalls1 invest.71 TSBs
1,46631711,491
#82012 Chevrolet MalibuMidsize Cars
1,462 complaints3 recalls1334 TSBs
1,4623013341,477
#92012 Chevrolet CruzeMidsize Cars
1,343 complaints7 recalls3 invest.1813 TSBs
1,3437318131,408
#102012 Jeep WranglerSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
1,269 complaints10 recalls6 invest.244 TSBs
1,2691062441,379
#112012 Kia OptimaMidsize Cars
1,239 complaints5 recalls7 invest.240 TSBs
1,239572401,334
#122012 Kia SorentoSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
1,194 complaints5 recalls10 invest.232 TSBs
1,1945102321,319
#132012 Ford ExplorerSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
1,013 complaints7 recalls4 invest.88 TSBs
1,01374881,088
#142012 Dodge ChargerLarge Cars
956 complaints14 recalls3 invest.218 TSBs
9561432181,056
#152012 Chrysler 200Compact Cars
1,006 complaints4 recalls170 TSBs
1,006401701,026
#162012 Dodge Ram 1500
968 complaints7 recalls1 invest.282 TSBs
968712821,013
#172012 Dodge DurangoSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
914 complaints10 recalls4 invest.203 TSBs
9141042031,004
#182012 Chevrolet EquinoxSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
939 complaints3 recalls3 invest.1842 TSBs
939331842984
#192012 Hyundai ElantraMidsize Cars
910 complaints4 recalls4 invest.114 TSBs
91044114970
#202012 Chrysler Town And CountryMinivan - 2WD
863 complaints5 recalls1 invest.188 TSBs
86351188898
#212012 Ford FiestaSubcompact Cars
831 complaints3 recalls3 invest.86 TSBs
8313386876
#222012 Dodge Grand CaravanMinivan - 2WD
813 complaints6 recalls1 invest.98 TSBs
8136198853
#232012 Dodge AvengerMidsize Cars
836 complaints3 recalls107 TSBs
83630107851
#242012 Ford EscapeSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
788 complaints2 recalls2 invest.43 TSBs
7882243818
#252012 Toyota CamryMidsize Cars
803 complaints2 recalls553 TSBs
80320553813
#262012 Nissan VersaCompact Cars
672 complaints11 recalls7 invest.155 TSBs
672117155797
#272012 Volkswagen JettaCompact Cars
691 complaints8 recalls5 invest.1467 TSBs
691851467781
#282012 Volkswagen PassatMidsize Cars
657 complaints11 recalls3 invest.1555 TSBs
6571131555742
#292012 Kia SoulSmall Station Wagons
662 complaints3 recalls5 invest.130 TSBs
66235130727
#302012 Chrysler 300Large Cars
617 complaints9 recalls2 invest.258 TSBs
61792258682
#312012 Dodge JourneySport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
620 complaints6 recalls1 invest.223 TSBs
62061223660
#322012 Honda CivicCompact Cars
612 complaints3 recalls2 invest.76 TSBs
6123276647
#332012 Chevrolet TraverseSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
587 complaints5 recalls2 invest.1553 TSBs
587521553632
#342012 Ford MustangSubcompact Cars
572 complaints7 recalls1 invest.61 TSBs
5727161617
#352012 Jeep LibertySport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
551 complaints2 recalls5 invest.110 TSBs
55125110611
#362012 Nissan AltimaSubcompact Cars
575 complaints4 recalls1 invest.119 TSBs
57541119605
#372012 Toyota PriusMidsize Cars
530 complaints6 recalls3 invest.461 TSBs
53063461590
#382012 Jeep PatriotSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
550 complaints4 recalls2 invest.99 TSBs
5504299590
#392012 Chevrolet SonicMidsize Cars
518 complaints7 recalls2 invest.1585 TSBs
518721585573
#402012 Fiat 500Minicompact Cars
536 complaints4 recalls1 invest.131 TSBs
53641131566
#412012 Dodge Ram 3500
498 complaints9 recalls1 invest.309 TSBs
49891309553
#422012 Honda AccordCompact Cars
502 complaints8 recalls1 invest.50 TSBs
5028150552
#432012 Gmc TerrainSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
496 complaints4 recalls3 invest.1837 TSBs
496431837546
#442012 Honda Cr VSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
499 complaints3 recalls3 invest.105 TSBs
49933105544
#452012 Toyota CorollaCompact Cars
494 complaints5 recalls2 invest.350 TSBs
49452350539
#462012 Cadillac SrxSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
510 complaints3 recalls1 invest.1610 TSBs
510311610535
#472012 Hyundai Santa FeSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
468 complaints1 recalls6 invest.95 TSBs
4681695533
#482012 Kia SportageSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
450 complaints5 recalls4 invest.174 TSBs
45054174515
#492012 Kia ForteCompact Cars
397 complaints4 recalls4 invest.70 TSBs
3974470457
#502012 Subaru Outback
366 complaints16 recalls1 invest.305 TSBs
366161305456
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.