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: engine
124 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Nov 21, 2016
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY VEHICLE ENTERED "LIMP MODE," WHICH KEEPS THE CAR UNDER ABOUT 35MPH AND PREVENTS IT FROM ACCELERATING QUICKLY. THE CEL READ AS A SECONDARY AIR INTAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM (P2440 AND P2442). JUDGING BY THE MULTITUDE OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND, THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECTIFY FOR TACOMAS BUT HAS ALREADY ADMITTED TO FOR TUNDRAS. THIS IS A SERIOUS DANGER TO DRIVERS IF THE VEHICLE ENTERS "LIMP MODE" WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. IT ISEEMS ALSO RIDICULOUS FOR TOYOTA TO EXPECT TACOMA OWNERS TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR POORLY DESIGNED PART, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE PART IS NOT VITAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE.
Engine, Nov 21, 2016
CHECK ENGINE AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE ACCELERATION BECAME VERY SLUGGISH. I FELT THE VEHICLE BECAME A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT HAD ALMOST NO ACCELERATION . MERGING INTO TRAFFIC BECAME DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACCELERATION. HAD LOCAL SHOP CHECK TRUCK AND ERROR CODES RETURNED WERE P2440 AND P2442 WHICH THEY SAID INDICATED SECONDARY AIR INJECTOR PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. EST CHARGE ABOUT $2000!
Engine, Nov 3, 2016
2012 WITH 78,000 MILES, THREW CODES P2440, P2442. SAME AS EVERY OTHER TACOMA OWNER IN THIS YEAR RANGE. BAD VALVES AND PUMP ON THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION UNIT. COST TO REPAIR AROUND 1,000 DOLLARS DOING THE WORK MYSELF. VERY DISAPPOINTED AS THIS IS MY THIRD TACOMA AND HAD PLANNED ON KEEPING THIS ONE FOR A LONG TIME.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 20, 2016
TACOMA WENT IN "LIMP MODE" ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED; CAUSE THE CAR TO BE EXTREMELY UNDER POWER. VEHICLE EXTREMELY UNDER POWER CAUSING TO BE DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. CODE P2442 SECONDARY INJECTION SYSTEM FAILURE; COMMON TO OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES INCLUDING TUNDRA'S. TOYOTA ACTED RESUMABLE WITH TUNDRA'S WITH EXTENDING WARRANTY REPAIRING BUT AT THIS TIME REFUSES TO REPAIR KNOWN FAILURES IN TACOMA'S.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 7, 2016
SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SWITCHING VALVE FAILURE STUCK IN OPEN POSITION CAUSING LIMP MODE IN THE TRUCK. TRUCK IS NOT ABLE TO GET TO SPEED ABOVE 40 MPH. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ONTO A STATE ROUTE WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH AND CARS GOING WAY FASTER THAN THAT. THIS COULD POSE A DANGER IF SITUATIONS WHERE SPEED IT REQUIRED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ANOTHER CAR. TRUCK ONLY HAS 57K MILES ON IT. THIS IS A SUPPLEMENTAL EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE TRUCK TO BE USELESS IF FAIL.
Engine, Sep 6, 2016
57,000 MILES ON TRUCK WENT INTO LIMP MODE, P2440 AND P2442 CODE SHOWED SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE DEALER QUOTED $2000, SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER ANYTHING
Engine, Sep 5, 2016
THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP FAILED AT 62,000 MILES. FOR SPECIFICS IT SHOWED THE CODES P2440 AND P2442. THIS WAS KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE PREVIOUS MODEL TUNDRAS, THE SERVICE MGR AT RODLAND TOYOTA SAID THEY HAD ALREADY REPLACED THREE PUMPS ON TRUCKS OF THE SAME YEAR THAT WEEK.
Engine, Aug 29, 2016
THE SECONDARY INJECTION PUMP WENT OUT.
Engine, Aug 4, 2016
THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP AND SOLONOID...IT LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE ROADSIDE...24000 MILES ON A TRUCK IS NOT EVEN BROKE IN..RELIABILITY?..I HANDLED IT..ONLY BECAUSE IVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 25 YEARS...WHAT IF IT WAS MY WIFE AND KIDS BROKE DOWN IN GETTO TOWN...THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR MANY AND IS SO COMMON..IVE CLEARED THE CODES SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY ALWAYS REAPPEAR...THIS IS A DEFINATE RECALL...MAKE IT SO...24000 9N A TRUCK AND I CANT DRIVE IT...MY LOYALTY IS FADING FAST...TRY TO IMAGINE DRIVING YOUR TRUCK DOWN A ST.LOUIS 6 LANE FREEWAY AND YOUR TRUCK SAYS...NOPE YOU STAYING HERE..ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD...DONT GET OUT...YOULL GET RAN OVER...MAYBE TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE A DISPLAY ON THE INFO CENTER CONCOLE THAT TELLS YOU THAT...AND THEN WISHES YOU GOOD LUCK...
Engine, Aug 4, 2016
I WAS DRIVING ON A50MPH HIGHWAY AN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND TRUCK SLOWS TO 40MPH WONT GO ANY FASTER.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 20, 2016
MY 2012 TACOMA WITH 45,000 MILES GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND "TRAC OFF" LIGHT WHEN I STARTED IT TO GO HOME. I WAS MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND UNABLE TO GO ABOVE 40 MPH. THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE SO I EXITED AND TOOK IT TO A DEALER. THEY CITED TROUBLE CODES P2440 AND P2442 AND SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE (PN 25710-31022) FOR A TOTAL COST OF $940! ACCORDING TO FORUMS AND THE NHTSA.GOV SITE, THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL. I JUST BOUGHT THIS LAST JULY AND I NEVER EXPECTED TO HAVE TO REPLACE PARTS ANYTIME SOON.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 16, 2016
MY 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA PRERUNNER 2WD HAS 54,640 MILES. I JUST GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND "TRAC OFF" LIGHT YESTERDAY. MY TRUCK WOULD ACCELERATE TO JUST 25 MPH WHEN MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND TOP SPEED WAS AROUND 50 MPH. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THIS KNOWN PROBLEM UNDER THE STANDARD 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. AUTOZONE RAN THE DIAGNOSTIC SCAN AND CAME UP WITH TROUBLE CODES P2440 AND P2442. THESE ARE TIED TO THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM AND SWITCHING VALVES. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WOULD COST ME CLOSE TO $2000 TO REPAIR. I PAID $30,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW JUST 4 YEARS AGO. THIS NEEDS TO BECOME A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SO THAT A SAFETY RECALL IS ISSUED FOR TOYOTA TO REPAIR THIS KNOWN DEFECT FOR FREE.
Engine, Jul 7, 2016
AIR PUMP AND VALVES ON THE EMISSION SYSTEM FAILED. TRUCK WENT INTO LIMP MODE WITH LIMITED ACCELERATION AND SPEED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 2012 TACOMA. TUNDRA AND SEQUOIA VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND REPAIRS COVERED BY TOYOTA. HOWEVER, TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE TACOMA.
Engine, Jun 27, 2016
CODES P2440 & P2442 THESE ARE FOR THE AIR INJECTION SYSTEM ON START UP. THE VALVES FAIL AND THIS IS A EMISSIONS PART. OUT OF WARRANTY AND ONLY HAVE 65,000 MILES. TUNDRA HAD THIS ISSUE AND GOT A 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE COMPONENTS.
Engine, Jun 22, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 17, 2016
AFTER STARTING TACOMA, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND "TRAC OFF" LIGHT CAME ON, WENT INTO LIMP MODE, COULD ONLY GO 30MPH. TACOMA JUST HIT 34,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE STUCK CLOSED BANK 1 (CODE P2441). WAS TOLD PUMP AND VALVES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT $2100, INCLUDING LABOR. CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE, TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN OR EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THIS ISSUE ACTUALLY FIRST OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. PULLED INTO A FIRESTONE AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALSO CODE P2441. THEY RESET IT AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. THIS TIME THE CODE WOULD NOT RESET, WARNING LIGHT WON'T TURN OFF AND REMAINS IN LIMP MODE.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 11, 2016
SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE FAILURE AT 53K MILES, TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER UNDER MY POWER TRAIN OR EMISSION WARRANTY. TRUCK WAS PUT INTO LIMP MODE WHEN THE FAILURE HAPPENNED AND WAS UNDRIVABLE.
Engine, Dec 9, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILIABLE.
Engine, Nov 6, 2015
ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AND FLASHES A FEW TIMES AFTER STARTUP, BEYOND THE NORMAL TIME FOR ALL THE OTHER LIGHTS WHILE IN THE STARTING MODE, DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE
Power train, Engine, Nov 6, 2015
VEHICLE LUNGES WHEN YOU COME TO COMPLETE STOP, BETTER HOLD THE BRAKE WITH SOME FORCE ANY TIME STOPPED, TOYOTA SERVICE SAYS IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, ITS NORMAL !!
Power train, Engine, Nov 6, 2015
AT APROXIMATE 40 MPH AND AT A CONSTANT SPEED THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHUTTER OR SHAKE, FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO DOWN SHIFT OR UP SHIFT MAYBE ITS CONFUSED. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE 2 TIMES
Equipment, Engine, Apr 11, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ADDED OIL TO THE VEHICLE AS DIRECTED BY THE OWNER'S MANUAL BUT THE ENGINE OVERFLOWED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERFILLED BY 19.2 OZ. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INFORMATION LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL WAS CORRECT. UPDATED 6/17/14*CN
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 20, 2014
AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS AT HIGHWAY SPEED (65) MPH I EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO A INTERSECTION WITH A RED LIGHT. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP A COLLISION BY PUTTING THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL . I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE BY ONLY USING THE BRAKES. THE ENGINE OVER REVOLUTIONS BUT CAME BACK TO A IDLE IN JUST A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. I WAS NOT TOWING ANYTHING AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LOADED WITH ANY ADDITIONAL WEIGHT. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER. I CONTINUED ON WITH MY TRIP AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS AGAIN AS OF THIS DATE. 02/20/2014 *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Aug 19, 2013
THE TRUCK STARTED TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN REACHING 15MPH. TOOK IT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. THEY SAID TO TRY DIFFERENT GAS NOT CHEAP GAS. "I WAS ALREADY USING SHELL GAS" BUT I DID WHAT THEY SAID. STILL MAKING THE NOISE NOW FROM 20-40MPH. TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER NOW THEY TAKE A TEST DRIVE WITH MYSELF TO VERIFY THE NOISE. COMES BACK THAT IT HAS A TAS CASE# THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I CALL TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO FIND OUT THERE IS NO REPAIR AND THEY WILL NOT TOUCH IT TILL IT BECOMES A RECALL. JUST TOOK IT BACK FOR THE THIRD TIME BECAUSE THE RATTLING IS LOUDER AND LONGER. STILL DID NOTHING. THE RATTLING CAN GET SO LOUD THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO FALL OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *TR