2012 Toyota Tacoma Problems and Recalls (294 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2012 Toyota Tacoma is Engine (29% of 294 owner reports). There are 7 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 294 complaints · 7 recalls
What problems show up on the 2012 Toyota Tacoma?
86 of 294 filings named Engine (29% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Fuel system (43 reports).
There are 7 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags and Tires. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The 2011 has 185 reports on file; this year has 294. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.
What owners reported
System named most often: Engine 86 complaints · 29.3% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 16
- Fires 0
- Injuries 6
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine (ENGINE) | 86 | 29.3% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 43 | 14.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 23 | 7.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Suspension (SUSPENSION) | 19 | 6.5% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) | 17 | 5.8% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 12 | 4.1% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 10 | 3.4% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 10 | 3.4% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Airbags (AIR BAGS) | 6 | 2.0% | 4 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 61 | 20.8% | 6 crashes · 0 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 13V014000 was reported 69 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 13V123000 was reported 201 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 14V475000 was reported 683 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2012-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2012-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2012-Q4 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2013-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2013-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2013-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2013-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2014-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2014-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2014-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2014-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2015-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2015-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2015-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2015-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2016-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2016-Q2 | Owner reports | 11 | |
| 2016-Q3 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2016-Q4 | Owner reports | 16 | |
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 35 | |
| 2017-Q2 | Owner reports | 37 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 12 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 7 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 14 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2020-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 12V158000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V014000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V123000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 13V494000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V054000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 14V475000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V425000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA19001 |
Safety Recalls (7)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags and Tires.
-
Recall campaign 12V158000
Safety recall 12V158000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 13V014000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 13V123000
Safety recall 13V123000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 13V494000
Tires
- Report date
- Component:
- Tires (TIRES)
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 14V054000
Safety recall 14V054000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
-
Recall campaign 14V475000
Safety recall 14V475000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- 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.
- Remedy:
- 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.
-
Recall campaign 17V425000
Safety recall 17V425000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- If the hood scoop detaches, it may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- 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.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 5 of 294 complaints · page 1 of 12
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Vehicle: 2012 Toyota Tacoma VIN: [XXX] Toyota Special Service Campaign 20TC01 was performed on September 19, 2024, at approximately 103,417 miles. The campaign addressed the secondary air injection system, including the air injection pump and air switching valves. According to Toyota's repair records, the dealer installed an air switching valve kit, air pump repair kit, and air pump cover under campaign SSC 20TC01. On XXX, at approximately 111,187 miles, the same Toyota dealership diagnosed failure of the air pump and air switching valves and estimated $3,664.13 for repair. The recurrence occurred after only about 7,770 miles and less than two years after completion of Toyota's campaign repair. I am concerned that the campaign remedy did not provide a lasting correction of the condition affecting the air injection system. Toyota has declined assistance despite the failure involving the same system that was the subject of SSC 20TC01. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CrashFireInjuryDeath
- Driver’s seat back recliner mechanism / seatback locking mechanism. During a rear-end interstate collision while stopped in traffic, the driver’s seat suddenly reclined backward unexpectedly. After the accident, the recliner adjustment knob/handle was found detached at the tow yard. The vehicle is currently at a tow/salvage yard and may be available for inspection upon request. - Because the seat reclined unexpectedly during impact, the driver’s body position changed suddenly and the front airbag did not appear to make protective contact. The driver briefly lost consciousness and is experiencing significant neck stiffness and pain following the crash. The seat movement may have reduced the effectiveness of the airbag and seatbelt system and increased risk of head and neck injury. - No. The vehicle has not been evaluated by a dealer or independent service center at this time due to collision damage. - The vehicle has been inspected by police at the accident scene and is pending inspection by insurance. The seat mechanism has not yet been specifically evaluated by the manufacturer. - No warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms related to the seat or restraint system were observed before the accident.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at 35-40 MPH, coming up on fog, the driver, attempting to slow down, traveled over a slush patch in the roadway, and an approaching vehicle was in view. She lost control of the vehicle, spun around, and went face-first into a ditch, and the vehicle flipped and rolled over onto the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that she sustained a concussion, hematoma, and pain on the left side of her neck and head, and the next day, there was pain on the right side of her neck and shoulder. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where medical attention was provided. The side curtain on the driver's and passenger's sides deployed. The front airbags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to an independent auto center. There was no reported fire. A police report was filed. Previously, while turning around in a parking lot, the contact crashed into a cement barrier. The airbags did not deploy. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the undercarriage of the vehicle was significantly rusted. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was repaired under the warranty; however, the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact that the rear bumper and brackets were rusted, and there was no recall or warranty coverage. The contact stated upon pulling into the driveway of the residence, the contact noticed a trail of fluid leak on the street. The contact stated that the transmission lines were fractured due to rust. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was significantly rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
Toyota Tacoma Complaints and Recalls by Year
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2012 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners named Engine most often — 86 of 294 reports (29%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma?
NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags and Tires. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2012 Toyota Tacoma?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.