The Lemon Index2012 Toyota Tacoma.
The 2012 Toyota Tacoma is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 52 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 34, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 7 recalls, and it gets 17 to 22 mpg combined. The best Toyota Tacoma year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 295 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Tacoma year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 36K to 79K miles on the car (261 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 47K–80K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 45K–80K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 13K–75K miles
Recalls 7
- body structure 2017
The adhesive attaching the hood scoop may weaken, allowing the hood scoop to detach from the vehicle.
- equipment 2014
The affected vehicles may list incorrect spare tire size and/or cold tire inflation information on the tire placard.
- brakes 2014
In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder.
Show all 7 recalls
- tires 2013
In the affected vehicles, the spare tire requires the use of a different style of lug nut to attach it to the vehicle than the other wheels use.
- equipment 2013
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight ad.
- airbags 2013
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…
- equipment 2012
GULF STATES TOYOTA (GST) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 TACOMA TRUCKS.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 464 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information on installing manual transmission shift lever or park neutral position switch
- On some vehicles, with 5 speed automatic transmission, can hear a whinnying noise
- The breather plug should be replaced during any differential/transfer case repairs to prevent…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedElectrical overstress2019–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Tacoma PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/EC 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/RC 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/CC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/EC 2WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Tacoma PU/RC 2WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.7L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Vehicle lunges when you come to complete stop, better hold the brake with some force any time stopped, Toyota service says it happens all the time, its normal !!
2012 Toyota Tacoma owner · NHTSA complaint 10788753
More owner reports
Constant squeal/yelp when coming to a complete stop coming from rear brakes.
NHTSA complaint 10608217
Loud whinning noise from under vehicle at speeds between 30mph and higher.
NHTSA complaint 10565064
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Toyota Tacoma reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 34; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Tacoma year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Tacoma problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (19%), brakes (17%) and speed control (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have?
7 safety recalls (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma get?
17 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Toyota Tacoma safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Tacoma problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 36,300 and 79,600 miles. The middle report was at 57,000 miles, from 261 complaints.
Does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 19% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have?
2.7L 4-cyl, 4.0L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Tacoma year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2014 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works