The Lemon Index

All cars · Toyota Tundra · 2012

2012 Toyota Tundra. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index22100 = average car
Complaints24NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold101,621U.S. model year
Per 100K sold24complaints
Year rank#4 of 22#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 5

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
4.0L 6-cylAuto (S5)RWD16 / 20 / 18Regular$3,450
4.6L 8-cylAuto (S6)RWD15 / 20 / 17Regular$3,650
4.6L 8-cylAuto (S6)4WD14 / 19 / 16Regular$3,900
5.7L 8-cylAuto (S6)RWD14 / 18 / 15Regular$4,150
5.7L 8-cylAuto (S6)4WD13 / 17 / 15Regular$4,150

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 40,900 and 100,000 miles. Median 78,900, from 120 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine81,10073,500–106,60045
Fuel or ev drive system78,00013,500–97,00019
Transmission & drivetrain87,10031,200–103,80016
Electrical93,00040,800–289,50014
Steering75,00047,700–118,90011

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Engine25%
Fuel or ev drive system25%
Transmission & drivetrain21%
Airbags17%
Seats12%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
15672104

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 21E103000 Dec 2021 Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist System

    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 Nov 2021 Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist System

    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 Apr 2013 Equipment / Other / Labels

    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 ad

    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 Jan 2013 Air Bags / Frontal / Sensor/Control Module-Inactive

    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 se

    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.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedElectrical overstress20192024

Manufacturer communications 316

Toyota filed 316 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Information on installing manual transmission shift lever or park neutral position switch
  • Accelerator pedal sensor assembly information regarding the inspection, removal, and…
  • See document search button for owner letter

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Toyota Tundra PU/CC 4WD★★★★☆★★★☆☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Toyota Tundra PU/EC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Toyota Tundra PU/RC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Toyota Tundra PU/CC 2WD★★★★☆★★★☆☆★★★★★★★★☆☆
Toyota Tundra PU/EC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆
Toyota Tundra PU/RC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2009–1879,385Transmission & drivetrain
2010586093,309Speed control
2011202182,908Engine
20122224101,621Engine
20132028112,732Engine
20142938118,493Electrical
20151619118,880Brakes

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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