2012 Toyota Tacoma Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 2012 Toyota Tacoma, and owners have filed 295 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
• 2025
• 2026

7 safety recalls for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Equipment and hinge and attachments (structure)

   NHTSA 17V425000 Reported July 3, 2017 3,547 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

   Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Toyota Tacoma and 4Runner vehicles equipped with accessory hood scoops installed by SET or SET dealers. The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.

   Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will mechanically fasten the scoop to the hood, free of charge. The recall began on September 1, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-954-429-2000. SET's number for…

2. Labels (equipment)

   NHTSA 14V475000 Reported August 4, 2014 20,000 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 FJ Cruiser and Tacoma vehicles equipped with accessory wheels and tires installed by Toyota or dealers prior to the vehicle's first sale. The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire…

   Remedy: For the involved vehicles, overlay stickers to correct the tire placard will either be mailed to owners or provided to dealers for placement over the incorrect information on the placard. The recall is expected to…

3. Electronic stability control (esc) and service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module

   NHTSA 14V054000 Reported February 12, 2014 261,114 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

   Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased…

   Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at…

4. Temporary/emergency spare tire (tires)

   NHTSA 13V494000 Reported October 17, 2013 979 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

   Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Tacoma vehicles equipped with 18" Maverick Alloy Wheels. In the affected vehicles, the spare tire requires the use of a different style of lug nut to attach it to the vehicle than the other wheels use. These lug nuts were not provided with the vehicle.

   Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will: (a) Install a Warning Label on the spare tire/wheel, (b) supply a bag containing proper spare wheel lug nuts, and (c) place an Owner's Manual Addendum in the vehicle's glove…

5. Labels (equipment)

   NHTSA 13V123000 Reported April 9, 2013 7,525 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

   Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota…

   Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The…

6. Seats and air bags: sensor/control module-inactive

   NHTSA 13V014000 Reported January 16, 2013 3,235 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

   Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model…

   Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota…

7. Labels (equipment)

   NHTSA 12V158000 Reported April 10, 2012 672 vehicles potentially affected GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC.

   Gulf states toyota (gst) is recalling certain model year 2012 tacoma trucks. The tire and loading information placard on each vehicle contains inaccurate spare tire size and cold inflation pressure information. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110,”tire selection and…

   Remedy: Gst will notify owners, and send each owner a corrected placard, free of charge. The safety recall began on june 5, 2012. Owners may contact gulf states toyota, inc. At 1-713-744-3465.

295 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have filed 295 complaints with NHTSA; 16 describe a crash. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 59,297 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 98 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Engine122
• Fuel/propulsion system52
• Unknown or other43
• Power train34
• Vehicle speed control22
• Service brakes21
• Suspension21
• Electrical system18

What owners are reporting

“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 sy”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 31, 2026 · Fuel/propulsion system

“- 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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 30, 2026 · Seats

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma (Tacoma 2WD, Tacoma 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Compare Toyota Tacoma model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Tacoma model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 2012 Toyota Tacoma

Other Toyota models

• Camry18,189 complaints
• Prius12,516 complaints
• Corolla11,739 complaints
• RAV49,385 complaints
• Sienna8,549 complaints
• Tundra6,922 complaints
• Highlander5,745 complaints
• 4Runner4,860 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.