2012 Toyota TUNDRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota TUNDRA has 214 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: check engine light illuminated as i departed my driveway. i called toyota service to schedule an appointment which occurred three days later. toyota service department determined that the air pump, which is part of the emissions system, failed. i was advised the truck could not be driven. as of toda. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 9 crash reports 5 injuries

214

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

60 complaints

28%

• CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS I DEPARTED MY DRIVEWAY. I CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WHICH OCCURRED THREE DAYS LATER. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE AIR PUMP, WHICH IS PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM, FAILED. I WAS ADVISED THE TRUCK COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. AS OF TODA
• FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SU
• FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALLY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SU

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

“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS I DEPARTED MY DRIVEWAY. I CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WHICH OCCURRED THREE DAYS LATER. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE AIR PUMP, WHICH IS PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM, FAILED. I WAS ADVISED THE TRUCK COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. AS OF TODA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

27 complaints

13%

• FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SU
• FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALLY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SU
• I PURCHASED MY FLEX FUEL TUNDRA 5.7 IN NOVEMBER OF 2011. I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH COLD STARTS IN DECEMBER OF 2012. I HAD AN EXTENDED CRANK TIME, AND IT WOULD TAKE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN JANUARY OF 2013. THE DEALERSHIP RESET

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

“FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

21 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND TOWING A TRAILER, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, CAUSING
• FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SU
• FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALLY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SU

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND TOWING A TRAILER, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, CAUSING ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

17 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING MY 212 TUNDRA CREWMAX AND WHEN I REACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT--RED, I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO PULL UP AND THE RPM'S WENT HIGH. EVEN WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES REAL HARD IT WAS STILL MOVING FORWARD. I PROMPTED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. REST
• MIRROR CONTROL ON INSTRUMENT PA NEL HAS NO LIGHTS. HAD TO TURN ON CAB LIGHTS TO SEE THE MIRROR CONTROLS.
• PLEASE REFER TO TSB 0160-11. TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THAT INFERIOR QUALITY PARTS WERE USED AS PART OF THEIR EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND WROTE THIS TSB AS A REMEDY. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THEY CONTINUED TO USE THE FAULTY PARTS BEYOND THE 2011 MODEL YEAR CUT-OFF IN THIS TSB. MY TRUCK IS THROWING THE SAME EN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“I WAS DRIVING MY 212 TUNDRA CREWMAX AND WHEN I REACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT--RED, I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO PULL UP AND THE RPM'S WENT HIGH. EVEN WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES REAL HARD IT WAS STILL MOVING FORWARD. I PROMPTED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. REST”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

• AS I WAS DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE STARTED VEERING INTO MY LANE. I PRESSED THE HORN PAD TO WARN THEM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I USED MY RIGHT HAND AND HIT THE PAD AT THE MOST NATURAL LOCATION FOR ME -- I.E. THE LOWER RIGHT PORTION, INSTEAD OF HONKING THE HORN I HIT THE HANDS FREE TALK SWITCH ON THE STEERI
• AS I WAS DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE STARTED VEERING INTO MY LANE. I PRESSED THE HORN PAD TO WARN THEM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I USED MY RIGHT HAND AND HIT THE PAD AT THE MOST NATURAL LOCATION FOR ME -- I.E. THE LOWER RIGHT PORTION, INSTEAD OF HONKING THE HORN I HIT THE HANDS FREE TALK SWITCH ON THE STEERI
• ELECTRICAL BUZZING NOISE FROM DASH AREA WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL. DEALER SAYS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE SAME ISSUE WITH SEVERAL TOYOTA MODELS. *TR

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

“AS I WAS DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE STARTED VEERING INTO MY LANE. I PRESSED THE HORN PAD TO WARN THEM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE I USED MY RIGHT HAND AND HIT THE PAD AT THE MOST NATURAL LOCATION FOR ME -- I.E. THE LOWER RIGHT PORTION, INSTEAD OF HONKING THE HORN I HIT THE HANDS FREE TALK SWITCH ON THE STEERI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 214 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS I DEPARTED MY DRIVEWAY. I CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WHICH OCCURRED THREE DAYS LATER. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE AIR PUMP, WHICH IS PART OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM, FAILED. I WAS ADVISED THE TRUCK COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. AS OF TODA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND TOWING A TRAILER, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, CAUSING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS DRIVING MY 212 TUNDRA CREWMAX AND WHEN I REACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT--RED, I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO PULL UP AND THE RPM'S WENT HIGH. EVEN WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES REAL HARD IT WAS STILL MOVING FORWARD. I PROMPTED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. REST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)