U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Toyota TACOMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

295 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

57,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 261 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 122 of 295 complaints (41.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	30	10.2%
Steering behavior	17	5.8%
Fuel system concerns	15	5.1%
Engine operation	10	3.4%
Transmission and shifting	8	2.7%
Electrical and battery issues	6	2.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine

122

Fuel/Propulsion System

Unknown Or Other

Power Train

Vehicle Speed Control

Service Brakes

Suspension

Electrical System

Engine: 122; Fuel/Propulsion System: 52; Unknown Or Other: 43; Power Train: 34; Vehicle Speed Control: 22; Service Brakes: 21; Suspension: 21; Electrical System: 18

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 46; 25,000 to 49,999: 57; 50,000 to 74,999: 79; 75,000 to 99,999: 48; 100,000 to 149,999: 25; 150,000 and above: 6

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (79). 34 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2011: 1; 2012: 12; 2013: 9; 2014: 14; 2015: 16; 2016: 47; 2017: 98; 2018: 30; 2019: 26; 2020: 13; 2021: 13; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 4; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10468882 · 2012-08-01 (August 1, 2012)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10472875 · 2012-08-29 (August 29, 2012)

WHEN COMING TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP MY REAR DRUM BRAKES WHICH SOUNDS LIKE SQUEAKING TO ME BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS HOWLING. WHEN COMING TO A FULL STOP MY BRAKES GET REAL SPONGY AND MAKE A VERY HIGH PITCHED HOWLING SOUNDS. I AM AFRAID ONE DAY THAT I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO STOP AND CRASH INTO SOMEONE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472875 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10502862 · 2013-03-05 (March 5, 2013)

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 2013 13,433 MI. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE VIBRATION AND SAID TOYOTA WILL ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A THREE TIER FIX. 1. THEY ORDERED ENGINE MOUNTS PER TSB. 2. FEB 2013 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK THEY INSTALLED THE MOUNTS, DID NOT FIX THE PROBL…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502862 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10512792 · 2013-05-20 (May 20, 2013)

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEED, TOYOTA ESCONDIDO HAS BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE'S PROBLEM. WHEELS HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND BALANCED AND PROBLEM STILL PERSIST, VEHICLE IS NOW AT 9100 MILES AND I PLAN HAVING DEALER LOOK AT ISSUE AGAIN , BUT I'M CONCERNED THIS COULD LEAD TO A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE THAT COULD AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.I HAVE RESEARCHED FORUMS AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO PLAGUE THE TACOMA LINE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512792 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10526391 · 2013-07-23 (July 23, 2013)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10526391 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10845669 · 2016-03-09 (March 9, 2016)

WHILE ON HIGHWAY DOING 65MPH, VEHICLE SLOWED TO 50, TO 40, TO 30, TO 20 BY ITSELF. PULLED OVER, PLACED BACK INTO GEAR, VEHICLE ONLY WENT 40 MPH DOWNHILL, 20 MPH UPHILL. DROVE TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO SAID THIS WAS THIRD TACOMA THIS WEEK WITH FAULTY SECOND AIR FUEL INJECTOR. NO RECALL YET, BUT 3 WEEKS FOR BACK ORDER OF PART. 43 OTHERS BEFORE MY PART REQUEST. SAME PART ON RECALL FOR TUNDRA MODEL. SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED ON HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF AUTOMATIC DECELERATION

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10845669 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10809171 · 2015-12-09 (December 9, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE SPEED DECREASED TO 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILIABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809171 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10979000 · 2017-04-18 (April 18, 2017)

SECONDARY AIR VALVE STICKS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER,,EMISSION SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING AND STAYS ON.

Owner-reported narrative. 58,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10979000 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10450425 · 2012-03-06 (March 6, 2012)

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 CANT BE HEALTHY FOR THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCHES. I NOW HAVE 1300 MILES...STILL HAPPENING...ANY THOUGHTS? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 323 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450425 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10476617 · 2012-09-21 (September 21, 2012)

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 SUPPORT BEARING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY (NOT ALIGNED, CROOKED) AND DRIVE SHAFT CONTAINED NO GREASE. TOYOTA USA ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM, TOYOTA USA INSTRUCTED DEALER HOW TO ATTEMPT TO REMEDY PROBLEM. DEALER INSPECTED, REMOVED & ROAD TESTED WITH VEHICLE IN 4X4 …

Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 10476617 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10721365 · 2015-05-26 (May 26, 2015)

DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT RODENTS ARE THRU THE WIRING FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR. CEL & TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER NOW FOR ONE WEEK. PROBABLY BE ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE I GET IT BACK.

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721365 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10910895 · 2016-10-01 (October 1, 2016)

SHORTLY AFTER BUYING MY TACOMA NEW I NOTICED THAT MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE SENSITIVE AND WOULD LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE CAN VARY EVERY TIME I APPLY THE BRAKES. I BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGES AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THE VARIED STOPPING DISTANCE CAUSES PROBLEMS SINCE THE TRUCK COULD SUDDENLY STOP SHORTER THAN NORMAL AND CATCH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME OFF GUARD AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. OTHER TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES AREN'T WORKING EVEN THOUGH I AM PRESSING FIRMLY AND W…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10910895 at NHTSA ↗