2012 Toyota Tacoma problems
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma has 407 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (30%) concerns engine. After that come fuel system (13%) and drivetrain & axles (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 407 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 31% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 25 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 57,000 miles 362 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 51 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 43 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 99 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 70 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 51 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 28 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 9 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 5 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 2 |
What the data shows
Among the 362 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 57,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 60,000 miles (118 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 25 complaints mention a crash; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2012 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 31 model years of the Toyota Tacoma with enough data (278 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 7 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota tacoma. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle violently surged forward. The contact was not able to control the vehicle and crashed into a tree. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the neck, the back and the hands that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. Updated 10/23/2014 updated 05/21/2015
June 1st 2021 I went to park in a parking space at a local mall. My truck instead of stopping it accelerated out of control jumped two stone curbs, drove though a fence and landed into a swamp. Call Toyota and they have opened a new case # 210602000065. Police report # 21-374-AC. This isn't the first time that this has happen with this truck. It happen in Aug 2019. I contacted Toyota case number 1908060035. They sent out EAA Engineering Analysis Ass. out who did a ACM.CDRX file a month later.
Right front wheel suddenly locks for several seconds putting a drag on that wheel, slowing that wheel down. Happens on sharp turns only so far, mostly going down hill, all at reasonable, safe speeds for the curve. Driver is not using the breaks at the times this has happened, and releases the gas and holds tight to the steering wheel. No dash lights appear. It is increasing in frequency and starting to scare us on our deep cliff curve roads.
Tl* 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.