2012 Toyota Tacoma Problems, Recalls & Reliability
406 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 38/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 60,100 miles.
Below average
Where 2012 sits among all Tacoma years
What owners report
“Secondary air injection system switching valve error code p2440 and p2442 truck is now in limp mode and undriveable”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Tacoma
“Secondary air injection pump. Receiving p2442 code and truck is going in to limp mode”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Tacoma
“2012 tacoma with 24k miles. Check engine light and trc light came on with truck in limp mode when i started it to go to work. Codes p0412 p2433 p2438 p2442. Toyota wont cover this and its a defect in many many 2012 tacomas.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Tacoma
“Check engine light came on, trac off light is on. My truck has no power and is unsafe to drive. The dtc is p2442. Secondary air injection system switch valve stuck open bank 2. Toyota knows they have a emissions issue. My vehicle is at the dealership now.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Tacoma
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 351 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 58,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 41,000 and 85,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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…
Fix: 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.…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 20V024.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma drew 406 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 38/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Tacoma problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma are engine (124 complaints), other (63), and fuel system (52).
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Tacoma problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Toyota Tacoma problems around 58,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 41,000 and 85,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 Toyota Tacoma. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.