2012 Toyota Tundra

Family: Tundra · filed with NHTSA as TUNDRA

Summary

Of the 147 complaints that name a component, 41% concern Engine (60).
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Not enough history to compare this year with the rest of its generation.
4 recalls filed for this model year.
1 federal defect investigation covers this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 156
Recalls: 4
Investigations: 1
NCAP overall: 4 of 5 stars
Combined MPG: 15–18
Annual fuel cost: $3,450–$4,150
Median mileage at complaint: 79,786 mi (n = 120)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 7 / 2 / 5 / 0

What owners report

Engine

60 complaints · 41% of complaints that name a component · median 81,120 mi (n = 48)

Owner report The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the light stayed illuminated while driving. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent certified mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the …

Owner report Secondary air injection system failed May 2019. ALL dash warning lights came on. Researched on-line and found truck would not have accelerated past “limp mode” (25-30 mph). Had to have vehicle towed to local Toyota dealer as I was over 40 miles from home (all highway). Toyota dealer diagnosed secondary air injection …

Fuel & Propulsion

27 complaints · 18% of complaints that name a component · median 76,930 mi (n = 21)

Owner report The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while accelerating from a stop, the vehicle started leaking fuel, and the contact smelled an abnormal fuel odor. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the fuel leak stopped. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The co…

Owner report The fuel pump failed on my Tundra. Several dashboard check engine lights suddenly lit up to warn me of the issue. While I was able to safely get it to a mechanic to repair the independent Toyota certified mechanic I use shared they have seen a volume of these where the car stops immediately with the Fuel pump failing…

Powertrain

21 complaints · 14% of complaints that name a component · median 87,130 mi (n = 16)

Owner report CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT CAME ON. CAR AUTOMATICALLY REDUCES SPEED CAUSING DIFFICULTY PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE SECONDARY AIR PUMPS ARE DEFECTIVE. SOMETHING TOYOTA IS AWARE OF BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY MODEL. NO HELP FROM THERE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT. PROBLEM HAPPENED AS I WAS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND DI…

Owner report WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN DASH LIGHTS LIT UP WHILE TRYING TO GET TO EXIT TRUCK WENT IN LIMP MODE LOST POWER COULD ONLY MANAGE ABOUT 40 MPH,GOT TO EXIT STOPPED.CALLED BROTHER IN LAW HE BROUGHT TRAILER AN WE LOADED TRUCK,STOPPED AT AUTO PARTS STORE AN THEY CHECKED CODE CAME BACK AS SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM, GOING…

6% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (2007–2021)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 83.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Note
2007	390	98
2008	327	127	most complaints
2009	38	16	not compared
2010	163	56
2011	134	15	not compared
2012	156	21	not compared
2013	85	21	not compared
2014	93	32	not compared
2015	51	14	not compared
2016	120	68
2017	78	27	not compared
2018	100	48	not compared
2019	74	31	not compared
2020	47	28	not compared
2021	24	12	not compared

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

21E103000 · STEERING:RACK AND PINION | STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Filed 2021-12-23 · 151 vehicles

Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

Risk: 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, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.

21V920000 · STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | STEERING:RACK AND PINION

Filed 2021-11-23 · 22,462 vehicles

Defect: 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.

Risk: 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.

13V123000 · EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Filed 2013-04-09 · 7,525 vehicles

Defect: 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."

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.

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.

13V014000 · SEATS | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Filed 2013-01-16 · 3,235 vehicles

Defect: 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.

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.

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.

Federal investigations

Action	Component	Opened	Closed	Recall
EA19001	AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE	2019-04-19	2024-09-19	20V024

EA19001: Electrical overstress

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
Tundra 2WD	4.0L 6cyl	Automatic (S5)	Rear-Wheel Drive	16	20	18	$3450
Tundra 2WD	4.6L 8cyl	Automatic (S6)	Rear-Wheel Drive	15	20	17	$3650
Tundra 2WD	5.7L 8cyl	Automatic (S6)	Rear-Wheel Drive	14	18	15	$4150
Tundra 4WD	4.6L 8cyl	Automatic (S6)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	14	19	16	$3900
Tundra 4WD	5.7L 8cyl	Automatic (S6)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	13	17	15	$4150
Tundra 4WD FFV	5.7L 8cyl FFV	Automatic (S6)	Part-time 4-Wheel Drive	13	18	15	$4150

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
2012 Toyota Tundra PU/CC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2012 Toyota Tundra PU/EC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2012 Toyota Tundra PU/RC 4WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2012 Toyota Tundra PU/CC 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆
2012 Toyota Tundra PU/EC 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆
2012 Toyota Tundra PU/RC 2WD	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆

Service bulletins

Toyota issued 316 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about equipment.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2026-01-07	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Serv…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and in…
2024-12-06	STRUCTURE:BODY	The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicl…
2024-12-05	STRUCTURE:BODY	Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure …
2024-12-03	STRUCTURE:BODY	Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the …
2024-07-29	STRUCTURE:BODY	Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Serv…
2024-07-29	STRUCTURE:BODY	Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Serv…
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood…
2024-07-12	STRUCTURE:BODY	To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and in…

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Tundra, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Toyota Tundra model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.