2012 Toyota TACOMA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota TACOMA has 406 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: 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 .

14 crash reports 5 injuries

406

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

124 complaints

31%

• 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
• 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
• 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 TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

52 complaints

13%

• MY TACOMA TENDS TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN IT IS STOPPED. I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER BEING ON. IF SOMEONE ISN'T ON THE BRAKE FIRMLY THEY MAY TAP THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. *TR
• FUEL PUMP CAN BE HEARD OPERATING AT TIMES, USUALLY AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF BEING PARKED. SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL PUMP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DEALER, STATED COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND CONSIDERED THE MATTER CLOSED. *TR
• MY TACOMA TENDS TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN IT IS STOPPED. I DO NOT THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER BEING ON.I HAD THE A/C OFF THE FIRST TIME. IF SOMEONE ISN'T ON THE BRAKE FIRMLY THEY MAY TAP THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“MY TACOMA TENDS TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN IT IS STOPPED. I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER BEING ON. IF SOMEONE ISN'T ON THE BRAKE FIRMLY THEY MAY TAP THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

46 complaints

11%

• 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 TH
• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS NOT GOING PAST 2K RPM AND OVER 20MPH. CONNECTED TO AN ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC READER WHICH GAVE ME CODES P2440 AND P2442- SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE STUCK OPEN BANK 1 & 2. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AND ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER FAUL
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“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 TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

36 complaints

• 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 C
• TACOMA 2012 TRD 4X4 6SPD SINCE NEW @ 3 MILES, TRUCK SHAKES UPON ACCELERATION IN 1ST THROUGH 2ND GEAR FROM 3 TO ABOUT 25MPH (MOSTLY UPHILL) AND TRANSMISSION GRINDS AND WON'T ENGAGE ALL GEARS ALWAYS. SUSPECT DRIVE TRAIN WILL FAIL. 1. AT 90 MILES BROUGHT TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND DRIVESHAFT CENTER SUPP
• 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 201

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 C”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

22 complaints

• 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 C
• MY 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD OFF ROAD DOES NOT MEET ITS PAYLOAD CAPACITY. IT HAS A LIMIT OF 1240 LBS AND ROUTINELY BOTTOMS OUT WITH 300-500 LBS IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE HAS ISSUED TSBS ON THE LEAF SPRINGS BUT REFUSES TO SOLVE THE ISSUE ON THE NEW 2012 TRUCKS. *TR
• MY 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD OFF-ROAD DOES NOT MEET MAXIMUM PAYLOAD CAPACITY. VEHICLE STARTS TO BOTTOM OUT AT 30% OF IT'S MAXIMUM CAPACITY EITHER WHEN TOWING OR CARRYING CARGO. RIDE ON THE VEHICLE IS VERY HARSH WHEN LOADED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 406 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: MY TACOMA TENDS TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN IT IS STOPPED. I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER BEING ON. IF SOMEONE ISN'T ON THE BRAKE FIRMLY THEY MAY TAP THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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 C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)