Vehicle Data Hub

Recall 12V-542

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing recalled the 2001 to 2004 Toyota Tacoma: Tires (temporary/emergency spare tire).

At a glance

Campaign number
12V-542
Reported
November 23, 2012
Vehicles affected
150,000 estimated by the manufacturer

Source: NHTSA recall records

What is wrong

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.

The risk

Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

The fix

Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-[removed].

Notes from the manufacturer

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-[removed] (TTY 1-[removed]), or go to [link removed]

Affected vehicles