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2012 Toyota Tacoma Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 7 NHTSA recalls and 294 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This is a known problem year for the Toyota Tacoma

The 2012 model year has significantly more owner complaints than average for this model. Consider a different year if possible.

D
45/100

Buyer Beware — 2012 Toyota Tacoma

The 2012 Toyota Tacoma shows a notably poor reliability profile for this model year. Consider an alternative year or have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.

7
NHTSA Recalls
7 recalls on record
294
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
16
Crashes + Injuries
In NHTSA complaints

Own or buying a 2012 Toyota Tacoma?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Toyota Tacoma (7)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Toyota dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #17V425000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V054000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V475000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #13V494000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #13V014000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #12V158000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #13V123000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Toyota Tacoma

Based on 294 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine
89
Power Train
32
Unknown Or Other
31
Fuel/propulsion System
28
Suspension
19
Electrical System
18
Vehicle Speed Control
16
Steering
12
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Toyota Tacoma — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 0 complaints 2011 181 complaints 2012 294 complaints 2013 124 complaints 2014 92 complaints 2015 99 complaints 2016 322 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2012, 2016 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2010 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Toyota Tacoma

Is the 2012 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Toyota Tacoma has 7 recalls and 294 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have?
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma has 7 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Tacoma?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma are: Engine, Power Train, Unknown Or Other, Fuel/propulsion System. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Toyota Tacoma safe to buy?
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 7 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Toyota Tacoma should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Toyota Tacoma are: 2010. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2012, 2016.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.