repaired · 2023 Q4
Steering: hydraulic power assist system
Risk. An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
2012 Toyota TundraProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 156 owner complaints about the 2012 Toyota Tundra, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-920 the manufacturer reports only 91% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 30, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Toyota Tundra has problems
156 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
57Engine2 crash/fire/injury
25Fuel/propulsion system
21Power train2 crash/fire/injury
19Electrical system
12Steering2 crash/fire/injury
11Structure
9Air bags
7Vehicle speed control
7Electronic stability control (ESC)
3110 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 57 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 25 | 0 |
| Power train | 21 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 19 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 2 |
| Structure | 11 | 3 |
| Air bags | 9 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 7 | 0 |
| 10 other systems | 31 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2012 Toyota Tundra recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires.
no report yet
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
81kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 45 engine complaints. 71% were reported before 100,000 miles.
7under 30k miles32under 100k miles13100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
18 owners mentioned a cost$3,000median
Middle half: $2,525 – $3,391
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Tundra year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tundra median. How we score
'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Toyota Tundra safety ratings
2012 Toyota Tundra PU/CC 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (19.8% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Toyota Tundra, and the recalls they led to.
- Electrical overstressLed to recall 20V-024
In owners' words
What Tundra owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Wife was driving truck and immediately went into limp mode on the highway. Check engine light came on, no accelerating then died. Had to get it towed. This is the 3rd incident with this issue.
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…
The engine leaks oil in front of the faulty designed cam tower seal and leaks on the manifold. This caused smoke to come from the oil burning off.
Own a 2012 Tundra?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.