2012 Toyota Tacoma Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 60,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to exceed 45 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed him about a Special Service Campaign: 20TC01. The vehicle was taken…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 85,000 miles

My 2012 tacoma warning light 1) engine and 2 trac off warning light came on and lost power going 65 MPH on freeway and would not go over 25 MPH (dangerous!). Obd-ii scanner displayed error code check p2442 indicating faulty air injection pumps and/or air switching valves.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 91,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 58,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The check engine light on the dashboard of my 2012 Tacoma turned on and will no longer accelerate appropriately and especially while driving uphill, posing a danger to myself and other drivers. I was on a two-lane highway with a cliffside drop on one side and a wall of steep rock on the other and absolutely no where to go as there was…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 53,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

My truck started having a vibration when driving around 45-55 mph. This problem first became noticeable when it had about 115,000 miles on it. Over time the speed that the vibration became noticeable at gradually increased. By 125,000 miles on the truck, it was vibrating hard between 60 and 70 mph. The dealership determined that the…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Drive train vibration. Toyota has a warranty [VIN] program for this issue through the 2011 model, but this is a 2012 model with same issue. Situation occurs during acceleration.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 95,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 55,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds in areas with low traction, several unknown warning lights would illuminate on the instrument panel and the vehicle would begin to drift independently. Once the contact regained control of the vehicle, the warning lights would disappear, and…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 85,500 miles

The contact owns a 2012 toyota tacoma. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, while the brake pedal was not being depressed, the brakes locked up which caused the vehicle to start sliding. The contact stated that the traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired.…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 76,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 73,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 toyota tacoma. While attempting to switch the vehicle to four wheel drive, a loud abnormal noise was heard. The vehicle suddenly [VIN] with the brake pedal depressed. The contact shifted the gear into neutral; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact was able to bring the vehicle to a stop by…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 42,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the vehicle [VIN] independently. The failure occurred twice. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic testing. The [VIN] was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 5,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 55,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

My leaf spring(s) is noisy/loosened and to the best of my limited knowledge is at risk for breaking off and puncturing the fuel tank per repair shops. This issue is not covered under Safety Recall E02 (E12) by Toyota for the model year 2012 Tacoma. As a consumer, I don't understand the determination of when the recall is cut off for…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The passenger leaf spring or right leaf spring has broken and the truck has not hauled any kind of weight, there is a previous recall on similar trucks but they end with 2011 models but looking at the 2012 model it’s build is similar and seems to have a chance of having the same effect as mine already has.Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 71,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

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 availableOwner complaint, filed 2026, at 212,400 miles

Horn will not work with the steering wheel centered. If you turn the steering wheel to the left or right and pushing the horn it will work. Toyota issued a recall for this problem on 2005-2009 tacoma but not for the 2012. Toyota has known that they have a problem with the clock spring that they won't address on the 2012's.Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 97,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 39,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving on the road truck locks up occassionally in a curve. i know of mulitple trucks its happening to and only in curves- will end up hurting someone if a fix for it isnt found - no one seems to know what is going onOwner complaint, filed 2025

Sudden and total loss of power steering while backing up to park. There were/are no warning lights or messages displayed on the dashboard. With great difficulty, I was able to drive the car to my local mechanic. Steering was extremely difficult. The power steering unit has been ordered by my mechanic.Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 240,000 miles

The air bag warning light has come on twice while driving my tacoma. The first time I was driving on the freeway and the second time I was driving on city streets. As soon as I stop the vehicle and unbuckle the seat belt the light goes off. The local toyota dealer did a diagnostic check and test drive but they could find or duplicate the…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 14,500 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 51,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (8).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Under the bottom of my truck, there is tons of rust. I know a lot of the trucks my year, make, and model has been recalled for rust on the body and other parts of the truck. I was told that a Toyota dealership should replace it with the amount it has, and now a hole has appeared but they only told me a price to fix everything that is…Owner complaint, filed 2023

While driving on highway 4/20/2018 the right side roof molding came off and flew in to car behind me,car did not stop. It made a very load noise as it came off. I was on the internet and saw there were others with this issue and there was a recall on the 2008-2011 models.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 67,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 49,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while his son was driving 40 MPH, the rear driver-side wheel rim detached. The traction control and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle veered to the right, accelerated independently, and went up the embankment, hit a tree, and accelerated independently down the…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Need updated overlay label on the tire and loading information label according to fmvss 110 s4.3. Nhtsa recall number 14v475. [VIN] recall number: e0x. No accident or abnormality occuredOwner complaint, filed 2017, at 53,100 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

- 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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

My seat belt reminder buzzer does not work, it has not caused any trouble but it could if I forget to buckle up. I have been to two dealers and they say it is working normally.Owner complaint, filed 2014

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the driver's side headlight failed to illuminate properly and the light was distorted. The vehicle was taken the dealer for diagnosis. The dealer stated that there was no defect with the vehicle. The [VIN] was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 10 miles

Paint problems on all four doors flaking off .recieving a notice for my camary but not the tacoma, both colors were listed.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 10,000 miles