Problems · by component
2012 Toyota Tacoma fuel/propulsion system problems
52 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Tacoma cite fuel/propulsion system, 18% of all 295 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
52
18% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the fuel/propulsion system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Vehicle: 2012 Toyota Tacoma VIN: [XXX] Toyota Special Service Campaign 20TC01 was performed on September 19, 2024, at approximately 103,417 miles. The campaign addressed the secondary air injection system, including the air injection pump and air switching valves. According to Toyota's repair records, the dealer installed an air switching valve kit, air pump repair kit, and air pump cover under campaign SSC 20TC01. On XXX, at approximately 111,187 miles, the same Toyota dealership diagnosed failure of the air pump and air switching valves and estimated $3,664.13 for repair. The recurrence occurred after only about 7,770 miles and less than two years after completion of Toyota's campaign repair. I am concerned that the campaign remedy did not provide a lasting correction of the condition affecting the air injection system. Toyota has declined assistance despite the failure involving the same system that was the subject of SSC 20TC01.”
“The check engine light on the dashboard of my 2012 Tacoma turned on and will no longer accelerate appropriately and especially while driving uphill, posing a danger to myself and other drivers. I was on a two-lane highway with a cliffside drop on one side and a wall of steep rock on the other and absolutely no where to go as there was only one lane going in each direction and my truck would not accelerate over 20mph in an area where you’re expected to keep a pace above 40mph and as such ended up with a long row of impatient and increasingly frustrated drivers behind me, only more incited by my having to turn on my hazard lights as a result of a crawling speed I was forced to deal with and with nowhere to pull over and get out of the way. How can I possibly rely on this vehicle to be safe for me or anyone else, especially on a fast-moving highway in this condition? I have taken the vehicle to an auto shop and I as told the air injection system is bad and that this is a typical problem for Toyota Tacomas and the cost would be just shy of $3,000! I was recommended by a mechanic to reach out to Toyota directly because this is obviously an issue the manufacturer…”
“My truck lost drivability while I was going 60 I ran into a ditch to stop. It hads two codes . I took it in they replaced my rack n pinion. Check engine light came on . Mechanic said he could not work on it anymore because of the rust. To much corrosion he would be risking liability for other parts getting damaged because of all the rust. Took it to mike Shaw to have frame tested. It passed they said. But I can’t find a mechanic to work on it but mike Shaw and they’ll just keep charging for each item they don’t care.”
“WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRUCK LOST ALL POWER AND ACCELERATION. ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. ENGINE WILL NOT INCREASE RPM WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. TRUCK WILL SLOWLY DRIVE BUT IS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD AS IT SLOWLY ACCELERATES UP TO 20-30MPH MAX. VEHICLE WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM PARKING LOT ACCESS.”
“MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD NO ACCELERATION BEYOND 20 MPH. I TOOK IT FOR A DIAGNOSIS AT AUTO ZONE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS CODES ,2450 AND 2442, SECONDARY AIR VALVES STUCK OPEN. I AM STUCK IN AN UNFAMILIAR CITY AND NO MECHANICS WITH TIME TO FIX IT, TO SAY NOTHING OF ME NOT HAVING THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS TURNING A CORNER ON A HILL. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BECOME A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR TOYOTAS AND I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED A RECALL NOTICE SO THAT TOYOTA WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM! I HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING HOME AS PART OF MY DRIVE IS THRU A VERY STEEP AND TREACHEROUS CANYON.”
“ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO MY TRUCK WAS HESITATING AND MY CHECK ENGINE/OFF TRAC LIGHT WAS ON. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 40MPH ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAY. I WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALER IN PUERTO RICO, THEY SAID THE CODES WERE P0052, P0456, P2140, P2442 SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM IS BAD AND WOULD COST $2,458.08 FOR REPAIRS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. IT IS A 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA PRE-RUNNER.”
Showing 6 of 52 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.