2012 Toyota Highlander Steering Problems
NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How steering ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 181 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Toyota Highlander overview page.
What owners report
“STEERING SHAFT- AFTER EXPERIENCING CLUNKING AND POPPING WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN…”NHTSA complaint 11186161 — filed 03/12/2019
“WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER I EXPERIENCE A "POP" IN THE STEERING WHEEL. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A RECURRING…”NHTSA complaint 11185735 — filed 03/11/2019
“WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, CLUNKING AND POPPING NOISES ARE HEARD. VIBRATION AND PULSING FELT THROUGH STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. INFORMED DEALER. THEY…”NHTSA complaint 11164824 — filed 01/07/2019
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Steering complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Toyota Highlander have steering problems?
Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Toyota Highlander: 46 of 181 complaints on file (25.4%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2012 Toyota Highlander have in total?
181 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's steering category include?
NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.
