KnownCarProblems2012 Toyota Tundra Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 156 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Tundra, most often about the engine (39% of complaints, typically around 81,000 miles). It is 14th of 27 Tundra model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2012 Toyota Tundra problems
Engine
60 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 81,000 miles. Parts named most often: exhaust system.
Secondary air injection pump and secondary air injection switching value causing check engine and trac control lights to come on. I was told by the dealer that the same piece and design was recalled on the 2011 but not the 2012 Tundra. It comes on and off but when it is on it feels like that there is a limp mode…
When driving my check engine and "trac off" light comes on and the engineer will not accelerate above thirty miles an hours. If you disconnect the battery and reset the computer it will work for about three mile then the check engine and "trac off" light comes on. This is the same indication earlier Tundra models have…
Fuel system
27 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 77,000 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system.
Check engine light came on.the code shoes p0418 air injection valve/pump. 76,000 mi on engine. Cruising down interstate lost power. Toyota extended warranty up to 2011 models.known problem
After starting the engine, the engine raised past red line RPM for several seconds. After slowing, I started to back out drive when engine raised again into red line RPM. Before I got it pulled back into drive, it raised 3 more times. Each time I managed to get to neutral.
Transmission
21 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles. Parts named most often: transfer case (4-wheel drive).
Check engine light went on. Got a code p0418-vehicle will go limp/not able to go over 25mps. Toyota has a warranty repair program in place for all 2012 tundras with a 5.7 size but not mine because it is a 4.6 even though it is the exact same problem!!!
Very serious malfunction with air injection pump. This happened to occur after filling up the gas tank. Multiple dashboard lights came on and the truck went into limp mode. This could have caused a serious accident while on the highway. $2000 plus in repairs for a very dangerous and apparently well known problem with…
Electrical
19 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 93,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel, horn.
Code p0418 secondary air injector code keeps coming on - and is a known problem. 2011 tundras were recalled for this - so should 2012 tundras
2012 Tundra 4.6 v8 my truck will go into limp mode and the 4lo light flashes, check engine, and trac off lights were all on. Almost complete lose of power will happen. In traffic I end up blocking ever vehicle behind me, because the truck will not reach the speed limit. If there is a hill then the truck barely moves…
Other or unspecified
17 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles.
When in motion the vehicle enters limp mode and loses power. Acceleration by pedal does not function, the engine only revs and does not speed up. The vehicle slows down to anywhere from 25 to 5 miles per hour on its own without stepping on the brake and the transmission doesn't shift. This happens anywhere, highway…
Secondary air injection pump and secondary air injection switching value causing check engine and trac control lights to come on. I was told by the dealer that the same piece and design was recalled on the 2011 but not the 2012 Tundra. It comes on and off but when it is on it feels like that there is a limp mode…
Steering
12 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles.
Driving my 68000 mile 4 year old Tundra on back road about 45 MPH and steering locked up, and started shuttering. Was able to slam on brakes and get off the road only to find power steering rack and pinion was blown out and fluid everywhere . This is no a issue of wear its an issue of defect parts in these tundras …
Horn stopped working before 100,000 miles and dealership won't replace it. Wants to charge over $600 to fix. Vehicle was not in any wreck to cause horn damage. It is due to faulty equipment from Toyota. Seatbelt latch doesn't connect seatbelt sometimes and also won't release at times when attached.
Body and structure
11 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 42,500 miles. Parts named most often: body.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tundra. The contact was involved in a crash and the vehicle veered off the road into the water. The specifics of the crash were not available. The vehicle alarmed activated and the doors failed to open. The contact stated that water entered the vehicle and, when the alarm deactivated, he…
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…
Air bags
9 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
The 9/8/13 accident involved a severe side impact. Both driver side doors were impacted and the center frame post required replacement. However, the side impact air bags did not deploy, which should have happened. The truck is still in the shop as of 9/25/13 because there are problems with the onboard computer…
While using to horn the cover of the airbag split along the seam where the airbag deploys. The vehicle was brought into get scheduled service and Toyota's position is that it is not a warranty issue or safety issue. I placed 3 calls to Toyota customer experience center starting 10/26/2012 (case#[]) with the problem…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Toyota Tundra recalls
Steering: hydraulic power assist system
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on january 21, 2022. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21tb10 and 21ta10.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 sequoia and 2007-2021 tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Equipment: labels
Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Fix: 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 recall began on may 28, 2013. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
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 4runner, 2010-2013 toyota tacoma, 2011-2012 toyota sienna, 2012 toyota prius, 2013 scion fr-s, 2011 scion xd, 2011 scion xb, and 2012 scion tc vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 110, "tire selection and rims."
Seats
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Fix: 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 at 1-800-301-6859.
Full defect summary
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 year 2009-2013 highlander and venza; model year 2012 prius v; and model year 2010-2012 sequoia. During modification by set to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest dvd systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Electrical overstress
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.â during the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (acu) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ecu) manufactured by zf-trw. â the ecu receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with m
Questions about the 2012 Toyota Tundra
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Tundra?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (60 complaints, typically around 81,000 miles); fuel system (27 complaints, typically around 77,000 miles); transmission (21 complaints, typically around 87,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Tundra have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 23, 2021 (steering). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Toyota Tundra?
- It is 14th of 27 Tundra model years by number of complaints, with 156 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.