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U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Toyota TUNDRA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

155 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

78,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 119 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 57 of 155 complaints (36.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1711.0%
Braking behavior138.4%
Electrical and battery issues138.4%
Fuel system concerns95.8%
Transmission and shifting53.2%
Engine operation10.6%

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
57
Fuel/Propulsion System
25
Power Train
20
Unknown Or Other
17
Electrical System
14
Steering
12
Structure:Body
11
Air Bags
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine57
Fuel/Propulsion System25
Power Train20
Unknown Or Other17
Electrical System14
Steering12
Structure:Body11
Air Bags8

Engine: 57; Fuel/Propulsion System: 25; Power Train: 20; Unknown Or Other: 17; Electrical System: 14; Steering: 12; Structure:Body: 11; Air Bags: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
26
25,000 to 49,999
10
50,000 to 74,999
15
75,000 to 99,999
37
100,000 to 149,999
22
150,000 and above
9
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00026
25,000 to 49,99910
50,000 to 74,99915
75,000 to 99,99937
100,000 to 149,99922
150,000 and above9

Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 37; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 9

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 36 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.

2012
5
2013
6
2014
10
2015
3
2016
8
2017
14
2018
25
2019
23
2020
27
2021
9
2022
11
2023
5
2024
4
2025
1
2026
4
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20125
20136
201410
20153
20168
201714
201825
201923
202027
20219
202211
20235
20244
20251
20264

2012: 5; 2013: 6; 2014: 10; 2015: 3; 2016: 8; 2017: 14; 2018: 25; 2019: 23; 2020: 27; 2021: 9; 2022: 11; 2023: 5; 2024: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 4

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 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 10535259 · 2013-08-14 (August 14, 2013)

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 STEERING HUB. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. THIS IS A NATURAL LOCATION TO HIT THE HORN PAD AND OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IN MY VIEW THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION BECAUSE, NOT ONLY DO YOU NOT WARN THE OTHER VEHICLE BUT YO…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535259 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10760251 · 2015-08-31 (August 31, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING AND CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND THE TECHNICIAN CRASHED THE VEHICLE. THE DETAILS OF THE CRASH WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10478796 · 2012-10-05 (October 5, 2012)

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. RESTARTED IT AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE TRUCK PULLED UP REAL FAST BECAUSE THE RPM'S WERE HIGH, BUT IN ABOUT TWO OR THREE SECONDS WENT TO NORMAL. SCARED AND VERY CAREFUL I DROVE IT HOME, DIDN'T DO IT ANYMORE BUT I CONTACTED MY DEALER'S CUSTOMERS RELATION…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,970 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478796 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10567001 · 2014-03-04 (March 4, 2014)

MY ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE ISSUE I AM FACING WITH TOYOTA COMPANY. I PURCHASED MY TRUCK WITHIN 2012 AND SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE TRUCK I TOOK THIS TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SEVERAL ISSUES. WITHIN FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE THE AIR INJECTION PUMP STOP WORKING, TRUCK WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH. TOYOTA INSTALLED TRD UPDATED FOR MY "INCONVENIENCE" I TOOK MY TRUCK BACK TO HAVE LOOKED AT OVER 10TIMES. ON FRIDAY I START HAVING THE SAME ISSUES, SO I DROPPED OF MY TRUCK AT THE SZOTT DEALERSHIP ON SATURDAY EVENING MARCH 1ST. MONDAY MORNING SER…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567001 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10574300 · 2014-03-23 (March 23, 2014)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 7,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574300 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11129497 · 2018-09-14 (September 14, 2018)

CODE P0418 SECONDARY AIR INJECTOR CODE KEEPS COMING ON - AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. 2011 TUNDRAS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS - SO SHOULD 2012 TUNDRAS

Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11129497 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10567066 · 2014-03-04 (March 4, 2014)

I TOOK MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON A COUPLE OF RUNS THREW THE MUD IN OUR 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA CREWMAX 4X4 TRD. THE RUNS WERE NO LONGER THAN 2-3 MINUTES OF FUN WITH ZERO PROBLEMS. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO RUN OUR TRUCK THREW A CAR WASH. I PLANNED ON GETTING IT WASHED THE NEXT DAY AFTER WORK. ON MY TO WORK THE FOLLOWING DAY OUR TRUCK SHOWED NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS UNTIL I ENTERED THE FREEWAY AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THAT POINT OF TIME I COULD "FEEL" THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY . I CALLED AVONDALE TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY INFORMING THEM TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567066 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11268636 · 2019-10-15 (October 15, 2019)

* ONGOING MANUFACTURE DEFECT / SAFETY CONCERN WITH 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA 4.6. CODE P2440, SECONDARY AIR INJECTION. BANK ONE OPEN.---CHECK ENGINE / TRAC OFF LIGHTS / ENGINE IN "LIMP MODE" * DOCUMENTED RECURRING INCIDENTS ON 4-2-19 AND AGAIN ON 10-12-19 AFTER COSTLY OUT OF POCKET REPAIR. * MY 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA 4.6 MOTOR DOUBLE CAB HAS EXPERIENCED THE AIR INJECTION PUMP FAILURE TWICE IN A SIX MONTH PERIOD. THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY HAZARD LEADING TO LOSS OF POWER AND VEHICLE CONTROL. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS AFTER A 2,000 MILE TRIP. DRIVING DOWNH…

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268636 at NHTSA ↗