ToyotaRAV4 EV2012Electric/toyota/rav4-ev/2012/electric/

2012 Toyota RAV4 EV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 RAV4 EV.

Body SUVEngine Electric

The 2012 Toyota RAV4 EV Electric is a battery-electric SUV that pairs an SUV body with an electric powertrain. Within the 2002–2014 complaint record, the 2012 model accumulated 266 owner complaints and six recalls, with visibility and wiper issues standing out as the top complaint area. That complaint volume sits below the period's 2002 peak of 555 complaints and well above the 2013 low of five, placing the 2012 RAV4 EV in the middle of the model's reliability history rather than among its cleanest years.

Model year20192018201720162015201420132012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9672335028. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-55R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9672335028 alt 9030179006
Engine air filter17801YZZ06
Spark plug9091901233 alt 9091901247
Battery2880054020 alt 2880028080
Front wiper blades852220R040 alt 852120R040
Serpentine belt99367K1550 alt 9091602668
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 90916A3002
Cabin air filter8713950100 alt 8713902090

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length179.1 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height68.9 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight3360 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 61 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.3
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.1 Pints
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid90W-90 · GL-5 · 80W-90
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity1.1 Pints

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.90-1.25 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.95 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca
Standard BCI Group Number24F

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.984 in / 1.102 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.984 in / 1.102 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.866 in / 0.984 in / 0.413 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In the federal record, the 2002 and 2003 model years logged 555 and 326 complaints respectively, whereas 2013 saw only 5 complaints before rising to 188 in 2014, indicating a wide fluctuation in reported issues across the generation. The 2012 RAV4 EV, for which yearly totals are not provided, recorded 39 crash‑related complaints and 4 fire‑related complaints, with the leading problem areas being Visibility/Wiper (41), Vehicle Speed Control (31), Seat Belts (20) and Air Bags (16). Because the JSON does not supply a total complaint figure for 2012 or specify root causes for these issues, the data cannot confirm whether the 2012 year follows the low‑complaint trend of 2013 or aligns more closely with the higher‑complaint early years. The presence of a notable number of crash and fire complaints, alongside recurring visibility and speed‑control concerns, suggests potential reliability considerations. Consequently, unless a thorough pre‑purchase inspection verifies the condition of those specific systems, the 2012 RAV4 EV is a less attractive choice compared to the notably low‑complaint 2013 model.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
448
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
266
Owner complaints
39 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 266 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility/Wiper41
Vehicle Speed Control31
Seat Belts20
Air Bags16
Service Brakes14
Unknown Or Other12
Power Train11
Electrical System9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V096000Seat Belts:Rear/OtherReported 19/02/2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota…

14V054000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/ModuleReported 12/02/2014

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 448 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
T-SB-0061-23 Rev22024-12-05StructureToyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to…

VIN tools

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2012 RAV4 EV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.