Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
260–25K
1025–50K
1550–75K
3775–100K
22100–150K
9150K+
119 reports with mileage · 36 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
155 reports
106,000 miles · Oct 9, 2018
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other
PLEASE REFER TO TSB 0160-11. TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THAT INFERIOR QUALITY PARTS WERE USED AS PART OF THEIR EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND WROTE THIS TSB AS A REMEDY. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THEY CONTINUED TO USE THE FAULTY PARTS BEYOND THE 2011 MODEL YEAR CUT-OFF IN THIS TSB. MY TRUCK IS THROWING THE SAME ENGINE AND EMISSIONS CODES ASSOC…
Read full complaint
PLEASE REFER TO TSB 0160-11. TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THAT INFERIOR QUALITY PARTS WERE USED AS PART OF THEIR EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND WROTE THIS TSB AS A REMEDY. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THEY CONTINUED TO USE THE FAULTY PARTS BEYOND THE 2011 MODEL YEAR CUT-OFF IN THIS TSB. MY TRUCK IS THROWING THE SAME ENGINE AND EMISSIONS CODES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TSB. IT ALSO FORCES THE ENGINE INTO A "LOW POWER MODE" GREATLY REDUCING THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. LASTLY, IT TURNS OFF TRACTION CONTROL WHICH AFFECTS THE STABILITY OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE FILED A TICKET WITH TOYOTA AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, I DON'T EXPECT MUCH HELP. THE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS RUN OVER $1,000 ALONE. THERE ARE MANY OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TUNDRA, SEQUOIA AND SOME OTHER MODELS (ON THE 4.6L, 4.7L AND 5.7L ENGINES). THE ENGINE CODES USUALLY APPEAR ON STARTUP (WHEN THE EMISSIONS DEVICE ARE SUPPOSED TO KICK IN), BUT THE LOW POWER MODE KICKS IN WHILE MOVING.
NHTSA ODI #11139203
60,250 miles · Oct 3, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System
THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM HAS FAILED. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON TUNDRAS. POWER LOSS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE CANT GET OVER 45MPH.
NHTSA ODI #11133081
72,000 miles · Sep 26, 2018
Engine
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AROUND 72,000 MILES. TRUCK STARTED TO BE SLUGGISH AND LOSE POWER. THE TRUCK IS IN A CONSTANT 'LIMP' MODE AND FAILS TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CAUSES UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO A TRAFFIC LANE. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND IT I…
Read full complaint
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AROUND 72,000 MILES. TRUCK STARTED TO BE SLUGGISH AND LOSE POWER. THE TRUCK IS IN A CONSTANT 'LIMP' MODE AND FAILS TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE. IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CAUSES UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO A TRAFFIC LANE. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVES AND PUMPS. DEALER QUOTED ME $2184.25 TO FIX. NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TOYOTA HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER YEARS AND MODELS BUT FOR SOME REASON HAS EXCLUDED THE 2012 TUNDRA. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND THEY REFER ME TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. SAME ISSUES REPORTED FOR THE 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA REFERENCE NHTSA ID NUMBERS: 11129958 11129497 11128204 11109923 11104774 11076034 11075528 11065298 11002406 10994136 10926200 10567001 10489030 HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE TO BE FILED BEFORE TOYOTA CORRECTS THE ISSUE?
NHTSA ODI #11131715
70,655 miles · Sep 18, 2018
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS A LITTLE SLUGGISH WHILE SHIFTING AND IN SOME CASES EVEN JUMPS WHILE SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A COWORKER WHO HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS A LITTLE SLUGGISH WHILE SHIFTING AND IN SOME CASES EVEN JUMPS WHILE SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A COWORKER WHO HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH HIS TRANSMISSION ON HIS TUNDRA, AND HE ENDED UP TRADING IT IN, BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. I HAVE THE PAPERWORK FROM GETTING IT CHECKED IF IT IS NEEDED
NHTSA ODI #11130052
137,000 miles · Sep 17, 2018
Engine
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH ERROR CODE P2433 0160-11 FAILURE OF AIR INJECTION PUMPS I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THEN THE TRUCK GOES INTO "LIMP MODE." THE LANE I WAS IN MERGED TO THE LEFT. I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A VEHICLE COMING UP ON MY LEFT, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER DUE TO BEING IN "LIMP M…
Read full complaint
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH ERROR CODE P2433 0160-11 FAILURE OF AIR INJECTION PUMPS I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THEN THE TRUCK GOES INTO "LIMP MODE." THE LANE I WAS IN MERGED TO THE LEFT. I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A VEHICLE COMING UP ON MY LEFT, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER DUE TO BEING IN "LIMP MODE." THE VEHICLE COMING UP BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES AND I SWERVED OFF THE SHOULDER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT IF THERE WAS A CONCRETE BARRIER IN FRONT OF ME. THIS IS A KNOWN MALFUNCTION AND SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. TOYOTA HAS PUBLICALLY SAID THIS IS A WARRANTABLE REPAIR UP TO 150,000 MILES ON 2011 MODEL YEAR TUNDRAS. I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON MY 2012 (WHICH WAS BUILT IN 2011) BUT TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO COVER THE REPAIR. I WILL NOW BE OUT OF POCKET $3400 IF I WANT TO KEEP DRIVING MY TRUCK.
NHTSA ODI #11129958
90,000 miles · Sep 14, 2018
Electrical System
CODE P0418 SECONDARY AIR INJECTOR CODE KEEPS COMING ON - AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. 2011 TUNDRAS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS - SO SHOULD 2012 TUNDRAS
NHTSA ODI #11129497
98,000 miles · Sep 8, 2018
Fuel/propulsion System
CODE P2440 SWITCHING VALVE. WARRANTIES COVER 2012 TACOMA'S BUT NOT TUNDRAS. PART WHICH IS A SWITCHING VALVE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO GO FROM 60 TO 30 MPH CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
NHTSA ODI #11128204
65,000 miles · Aug 9, 2018
Structure
RUST IS BUBBLING UNDER PAINT ON TRUCK BED NEAR REAR T51 BED BOLTS WHERE THE SPOT WELDS ARE LOCATED. RUST APPEARS TO BE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH SEAM SEALING IN AREA AS WELL. NO RUST IS VISABLE UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. A TSB ON THIS ISSUE WAS SENT OUT FOR 2007-2011 MODEL TUNDRAS THIS VEHICLE IS A 2012 WITH SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11118824
47,000 miles · Jul 11, 2018
Structure
PREMATURE BED RUST AROUND MOUNTING BOLTS. VERY SIMILAR TO RECALL AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THE 2011 MODEL YEAR.
NHTSA ODI #11110839
92,500 miles · Jul 6, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train
I SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE WITH MY EXACT PROBLEM. THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM RELAY AND SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM SWITCHING VALVE. OBD II CODES P0418 AND P2442. MY EXPERIENCE IS THE SAME AS OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THAT MY TRUCK IS NOW PERMANENTLY IN LIMP MODE AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTIVE …
Read full complaint
I SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE WITH MY EXACT PROBLEM. THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM RELAY AND SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM SWITCHING VALVE. OBD II CODES P0418 AND P2442. MY EXPERIENCE IS THE SAME AS OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THAT MY TRUCK IS NOW PERMANENTLY IN LIMP MODE AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS. ON PRE-2012 MODEL TUNDRAS TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED THE REPAIR WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/150,000 MILES AS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. FOR SOME REASON THEY WILL NOT INCLUDE LATER YEAR MODEL TRUCKS LIKE MY 2012 4.6 LITER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE TRUCK SLOWED SEVERELY IN TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE OR GO UP ANY HILL. CARS BEHIND ME IN TRAFFIC HAD TO SWERVE AROUND ME. I WAS STUCK DEAD AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AS THESE CHRONICALLY FAILING PARTS SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE'S POWER. TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE HAS DENIED MY ATTEMPT TO SEEK COMPENSATION OR REPAIR OF THESE PARTS THAT THEY KNOW ARE DEFECTIVE. THE FIX NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO ALL YEAR MODEL AND ENGINE SIZE TUNDRAS AS THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS EXIST ON MODELS PAST 2011. A SIDE NOTE, SOMEHOW THESE DEFECTS ARE REPORTED TO BE AFFECTING THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL AS THAT WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THESE PARTS FAIL ON MOST OF THE AFFECTED TUNDRAS.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
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.
Consequence: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Steering:rack And Pinion
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.
Consequence: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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 recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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 at 1-800-301-6859.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seats
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.
Consequence: 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.
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 at 1-800-301-6859.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
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.
Consequence: 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.
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 at 1-800-301-6859.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
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. 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. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
2012 Toyota Tundra Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year