2012 Toyota Tacoma
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 295 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 26 Tacoma model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 16 involved a crash. 6 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, body, hood, hinge and attachmentsJul 3, 2017
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET17B.
Campaign 17V425000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsAug 4, 2014
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
If the spare tire is inflated to the incorrect pressure provided on the placard, tire failure may occur while it is being driven on, increasing the risk of a crash.
For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 14V475000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/moduleFeb 12, 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 adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.
If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 14V054000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, temporary/emergency spare tireOct 17, 2013
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Tacoma vehicles equipped with 18" Maverick Alloy Wheels. In the affected vehicles, the spare tire requires the use of a different style of lug nut to attach it to the vehicle than the other wheels use. These lug nuts were not provided with the vehicle.
If the spare tire/wheel is installed on the vehicle using the lug nuts from another wheel, damage to the wheel could result and may eventually lead to a loose wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners, and dealers will: (a) Install a Warning Label on the spare tire/wheel, (b) supply a bag containing proper spare wheel lug nuts, and (c) place an Owner's Manual Addendum in the vehicle's glove box. The recall began on January 23, 2014. Owners may contact SET at 1-954-429-2000.
Campaign 13V494000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsApr 9, 2013
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Campaign 13V123000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveJan 16, 2013
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Campaign 13V014000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsApr 10, 2012
GULF STATES TOYOTA (GST) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 TACOMA TRUCKS. THE TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION PLACARD ON EACH VEHICLE CONTAINS INACCURATE SPARE TIRE SIZE AND COLD INFLATION PRESSURE INFORMATION. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110,TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.
AN INCORRECT PLACARD COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER SPARE TIRE USE OR REPLACEMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
GST WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND SEND EACH OWNER A CORRECTED PLACARD, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 5, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC. AT 1-713-744-3465.
Campaign 12V158000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
19 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Jan 22, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 51,350 and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 212,400. The VIN was not available
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 27, 2021
HORN WILL NOT WORK WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CENTERED. IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL 90% TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE HORN HAS WORKED SOMETIMES. TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER TACOMAS BUT NOT FOR THE 2012. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS SAYING THAT ITS MOST LIKELY THE CLOCK SPRING.
Electrical system, Jan 6, 2021
HORN WILL NOT WORK WITH THE STEERING WHEEL CENTERED. IF YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AND PUSHING THE HORN IT WILL WORK. TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2005-2009 TACOMA BUT NOT FOR THE 2012. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK SPRING THAT THEY WON'T ADDRESS ON THE 2012'S.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 5, 2020
SUN VISOR , SPRING INSIDE VISOR BREAKS. MAKING THE VISOR HANG DOWN. WIRE HARNESS FROM AC BLOWER MOTOR, SO SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OVERHEATS AND MELTS WIRING SO THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPS WORKING.
Electrical system, Air bags, Oct 3, 2020
TOYOTA HAS KNOW THAT THE CLOCK SPRING HAS BEEN FAILING FOR YEARS. THEY ISSUED A RECALL FOR MODEL YEARS 2005-2009. TRUCKS IN THE MODEL YEARS 2010-2012 ARE ALSO AFFECTED. PROBLEMS - LOSS OF HORN, LOSS OF AIRBAG. OPTIONAL IF EQUIPPED - LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL AND/OR LOSS OF RADIO CONTROLS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! LOSS OR HORN AND LOSS OF AIR BAGS ARE A VERY, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION!!! THE CLOCK SPRING FAILS RANDOMLY SO YOU MIGHT NOT BE AWARE UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE!!!
Electrical system, Jun 10, 2019
DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. OPEN CIRCUIT.
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 5, 2018
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRAC OFF LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE, PULLED OVER, AND TOOK MY 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH 78,000 MILES TO THE MECHANIC WHERE I LEFT IT OVERNIGHT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT IN THE MORNING. RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC THEY FOUND CODE P2443 - SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SWITCHING VALVE STUCK. I ASKED IF THEY HAD DEALT WITH THIS BEFORE AND THEY SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE DONE RECALLS ON BOTH THE TUNDRA AND SEQUOIA MODELS THAT HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES, BUT THE TACOMA HASN'T HAD A RECALL YET, EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS TO BE JUST AS COMMON WITH THE SAME PARTS. THEY SAID THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR WOULD BE AROUND $2,000. WHEN I ASKED THEM IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE OFF THEIR LOT THEY SAID THESE CODES CAN CAUSE THE TACOMA TO GO INTO "LIMP MODE" WHERE YOU CAN LOOSE POWER, ACCELERATION, AND WON'T BE ABLE TO GO OVER 45MPH. I HATE TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD KEPT MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND TRIED TO GET UP TO SPEED ONLY TO "LIMP" INTO TRAFFIC OR IF THIS HAD HAPPENED A MINUTE LATER ON THE INTERSTATE! EVERY THREAD I READ ONLINE FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES SHOW PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES FROM AS LOW AS 1,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE ISSUES WITH THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP AND SWITCHING VALVES SEEMS MOST COMMON BETWEEN 50,000-80,000 MILES, BUT EVENTUALLY DOES HAPPEN IN THE 2012-2015 TOCOMA MODELS.
Steering, Electrical system, Jul 29, 2017
HORN QUIT WORKING, ONLY WORKS WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT, FUSES ARE GOOD AND SO ARE THE RELAYS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jul 10, 2017
DRIVING AT HIGH WAY SPEED; THE ABS LIGHT, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT, LOST POWER TO WINDOWS, A/C, RADIO, POWER STEERING, ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE FOR DRIVERS NOT PAYING ATTENTION. TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE ROOT CAUSE WAS A BAD CELL IN BATTERY THAT CAUSED THE IGN#2 FUSE TO BE BLOWN. THESE BATTERIES HAVE KNOWN ISSUES TO BE BAD FROM THE FACTORY. REPORTED EARLIER ABOUT 30000 MILES THE FACTORY BATTERY WOULD NOT START VEHICLE AND DEALER SAID THEY REPLACED BECAUSE OF A BAD CELL. I OWN A 2008 TOYOTA TACOMA ALSO , SAME MODEL AND MAKE AS BEING REPORTED AND THAT BATTERY HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES FOR SAME REASON.
Electrical system, May 16, 2017
MY 2012 TACOMA HAS A SPIRAL WIRE ISSUE THAT DEALER REFUSES TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THIS PART IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TAKATA RECALL IN PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS WONDERING WHY THE RECALL STOPPED AT 2011 AND DOES NOT COVER THE ISSUE WITH MY TRUCK. CURRENTLY ONLY AFFECTIN THE USE OF MY HORN BUT AS SEEN IN PREVIOUS RECALLS COULD AFFECT MORE LTHINGS LATER ON.
Electrical system, Mar 3, 2017
HORN STOPPED WORKING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. MY RESEARCH SHOWED IT WAS SAME PROBLEM WITH 2010 TACOMA'S,AND THEY WERE RECALLED! READ THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE SPIRAL CABLE IN STEERING WHEEL. CALLED TOYOTA WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO DEALER, BUT WOULD HAVE TO PAY,AND MAYBE BE REIMBURSED. DON'T HAVE THE MONEY BEEN UNEMPLOYED FOR 4 YEARS.
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 16, 2017
SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE STUCK OPEN CAUSING LIMP MODE. HAPPENED NEAR VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION AND LOST ALL POWER IN TRUCK. AS OTHERS HAVE STATED, TRUCK ONLY HAS 50K MILES AND REQUIRED A $500+ REPAIR (PART ONLY) FOR A COMPONENT OF THE EMISSION SYSTEM WHICH IS ONLY USED ON STARTUP AND INCLUDES A WARRANTY OF ONLY 2 YEARS.
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 16, 2017
ENGINE/ALL POWER IS LOST WHEN ENGINE HAS REACHED A CERTAIN RPM. CODE READER STATES "CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR "A" CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION".
Electrical system, Dec 29, 2016
SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE STUCK CODES P2440,P2442. TRUCK GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND YOU CAN ONLY GO A MAX OF 40 MPH.TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 18, 2016
WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK THE OTHER NIGHT MY 2012 TACOMA WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND PRESENTED THE CEL AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS ON THE DASH. AFTER REVIEWING THE MANY BLOGS ON THE SUBJECT AND TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANICS, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE SECONDARY AIR VALVE IS LIKELY STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE MECHANIC HAS QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $1,142 ($780 FOR THE PART) TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SYSTEM (VALVE NOT SOLD SEPARATELY). I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TUNDRAS/SEQUOIAS AND 2012 TACOS. HOWEVER, ONLY THE TUNDRAS ARE UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY. I BOUGHT A TACOMA BECAUSE THE LAST TWO TOYOTA'S HAVE RUN 300K MILES + WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS TYPE OF EXPENSIVE REPAIR DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING IS LUDICROUS AND SHOULD BE A WARRANTY ISSUE. I GUESS TOYOTA WANTS TO BE TERRIBLE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. GREAT. *TR
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, May 31, 2016
THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEMS SEEMS TO FAIL QUITE FREQUENTLY ON THESE 2012 TACOMAS WITH LITTLE TO NO HELP FROM TOYOTA TO TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE AS A RECALL. THESE ARE KNOWN TO FAIL RIGHT AFTER YOUR OUT OF WARRANTY AND TO CHARGE IT'S LOYAL CUSTOMERS OVER $1000 FOR A PART THAT SHOULD NOT FAIL OR A PART THAT SHOULD BE COVERED IS ABSURD. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER MY WHOLE LIFE BUT THE ISSUES OF THE TACOMA ARE MAKING ME RETHINK MY DECISIONS AS AN AUTOMOTIVE CONSUMER
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 6, 2015
FUEL SYSTEM CAN BE HEARD HOURS AFTER THE TRUCK IS PARKED, FEW TIMES A WEEK AND SOMETIMES DAILY .AND RUNS 2 TO 15 MINUTES. CONTACTED DEALER AND SAYS IT NORMAL FOR FUEL EVAP TO DO A SYSTEM CHECK. ONGOING STARTED BEFORE 3000 MILES
Electrical system, May 26, 2015
DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT RODENTS ARE THRU THE WIRING FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR. CEL & TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER NOW FOR ONE WEEK. PROBABLY BE ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE I GET IT BACK.
Electrical system, Air bags, Structure, Feb 18, 2015, crash
DRIVING MY TOYOTA TACOMA, I WAS APPROACHING A STEEP DECLINE. I TAPPED ON THE BRAKES AND CONTINUED DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 27 MPH WHEN I DOWN SHIFTED TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE SNOWY ROAD. AS I WAS DOWN SHIFTING THE TRUCK LOST CONTROL AND SLID SIDEWAYS CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TO HIT A SNOW BANK. ONCE THE TRUCK STRUCK THE SNOW BANK IT FLIPPED OVER ON ITS DRIVER SIDE. THE SIDE AIR BAGS ON BOTH SIDES CAME OUT BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE DRIVER SIDE BAGS WERE TORN. I FOUND EVIDENCE OF THIS WITH SHREDDED PIECES OF THE AIR BAG FOUND IN THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED..UPDATED 03-02/15 *BF.....UPDATED 03-11-15 *BF UPDATED 9/22/2017*CN