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: power train
35 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Jan 22, 2016
THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE TRUCK COMES TO A STOP AND THE BRAKE PRESSED THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITH A SURGE AND FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS BUMPED YOU FROM BEHIND BUT THERE WILL BE NO ONE BEHIND YOU. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BUT I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK WITH 1200 MILES.
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
Power train, Dec 15, 2014
MY 2012 TACOMA IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT IS SHIFTING VERY HARD AND A BIT ERRATIC WHEN DRIVING, AND WHEN I AM COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE TRUCK WILL SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY SURGE FORWARD MAKING IT FEEL LIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE HAS HIT ME FROM BEHIND. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN IT IS COLD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT, AND THIS IS NORMAL FOR A TOYOTA. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO SAID THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS, ALL TOYOTAS DO IT (EVEN THE BRAND NEW ONES), AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. MY TRUCK IS STILL COVERED BY THE TOYOTA 5 YEAR WARRANTY AND THE LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY OFFERED FROM THE DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT HONORING THEIR WARRANTY. IF THIS IS TRUE AND TOYOTA IS NOT CORRECTING THESE ISSUES, GUESS I WON'T BE BUYING THAT 2015 4-RUNNER I REALLY WANT! *TR
Suspension, Power train, Structure, Apr 22, 2014
I WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AT A DOWNWARD ANGLE AND WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I WAS GOING APPROX. 15PMH WHEN IT STARTED AND IT DIDN'T STOP SHAKING UNTIL I GOT DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THEM. THEY GOT THE VEHICLE TO REPRODUCE THE VIBRATIONS AND I HAVE PAPERWORK STATING THIS. IT HAS BEEN A FULL YEAR LATER AND THEY HAVEN'T REPAIRED IT YET. THEY CONTINUALLY TELL ME PARTS ARE BEING DESIGNED. JUST WAIT. THAT'S ALL THEY KEEP SAYING. I FOUND OUT THAT THEY MADE A FIX FOR THE V6 MODEL WITHIN 7 MONTHS, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE 4 CYLINDER MODEL TO WARRANT REDESIGNING PARTS. I WAS TOLD THIS BY THE SERVICE TECH AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
Power train, Feb 20, 2014
LOUD WHINNING NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30MPH AND HIGHER. *TR
Power train, Nov 2, 2013
THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE ENTIRE DRIVE TERRAIN WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE VIBRATION ONLY OCCURS FROM A STOP AND BETWEEN 5-20 MPH. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED IN MARCH OF 2013 AND THE DEALER (MIDDLE TOWN TOYOTA) AND US CORPORATE TOYOTA WERE MADE AWARE, BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE. AS OF TODAY, THE VIBRATION APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY LOSS OF CONTROL YET OF MECHANICAL FAILURES, BUT WITH THE VIBRATION GETTING WORSE, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE FAILURES START OCCURRING. *TR
Power train, Mar 5, 2013
3-5-2013 TACOMA 2012 TRD 4X4 AUTOMATIC NEW, I NOTICED A VIBRATION ON ACCELERATION IN 1ST GEAR THROUGH 2ND GEAR IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF PURCHASE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF MY JOB TRAVEL AND JUST BEING LAZY I NEVER DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY. THE 1ST TIME I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALER WAS 31 JAN 2013 13,433 MI. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE VIBRATION AND SAID TOYOTA WILL ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A THREE TIER FIX. 1. THEY ORDERED ENGINE MOUNTS PER TSB. 2. FEB 2013 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK THEY INSTALLED THE MOUNTS, DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AS PART OF THIS TIER FIX, WHILE IN FOR REPAIR THEY ALSO REPLACED REAR SPRING ASSY. RIGHT & LEFT AND THE FINAL STEP 3. REPLACING STEERING WHEEL DAMPER SHA PER TSB. THE DEALER SAID ALL THIS DID NOT HELP. 28 FEB 2013 14,325 MI, I RETURNED AFTER PUTTING MORE MILES ON THIS TROUBLED VEHICLE. THIS TIME THEY REMOVED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND DROVE THE VEHICLE IN 4WD AND VIBRATION GONE. THEY INSTALLED A DRIVE SHAFT FROM A NEW TACOMA 2013 AND THE VIBRATION RETURNED. THEY SAID THEY CREATED A TAS CASE #. THE ( PRODUCT ENGINEER) ?? SAID THIS VIBRATION IS NORMAL AND CANNOT BE FIXED AT THIS TIME AND IS UNDER REVIEW. I MUST SAY THAT MY DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY ACCOMMODATING KUDOS-KUDOS. I FEEL THAT ANY VIBRATION IN THE DRIVE TRAIN OF ANY VEHICLE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH TOYOTA FOR A WHILE SO IT SEEMS AND I ASK WHY, WHY,WHY. TOYOTA KNOWS THE ABOVE FIXES DO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM IN ANY WAY. SO WHY ARE THEY STILL DOING IT ??
Power train, Sep 21, 2012
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
Suspension, Power train, Mar 6, 2012
AT 300 MILES I NOTICED UPON DOWNSHIFTING ( I BELIEVE 3-2 OR 2-1) A RUMBLESTRIP VIBRATION FEELING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. IT STILL OCCURS EVERYTIME I DOWNSHIFT (SOMETIMES STRONGER FEELING THEN OTHER TIMES) I RESEARCHED PREVIOUS YEARS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT.. IT CANT BE HEALTHY FOR THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCHES. I NOW HAVE 1300 MILES...STILL HAPPENING...ANY THOUGHTS? *TR