2012 Toyota Tacoma Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

122Engine complaints

41.5%Of all 294 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE122 · 41.5%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM51 · 17.3%

Unspecified / other43 · 14.6%

POWER TRAIN34 · 11.6%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL22 · 7.5%

Share of the 294 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Toyota Tacoma overview page.

What owners report

“MY 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. TRUCK WENT IN LIMP MODE, WHICH WAS VERY UNSAFE. TOOK MY TRUCK TO…”NHTSA complaint 10937804 — filed 12/28/2016

“ENGINE CODE P2442 & P2440: SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM SWITCHING VALVE BANK 2. TRUCK ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER WHAT $1800.00 TO MAKE…”NHTSA complaint 10937441 — filed 12/26/2016

“2012 TACOMA WITH 37,00 MILES: WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON TO A BUSY HIGHWAY, (60MPH SPEEDS), TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE…”NHTSA complaint 10937233 — filed 12/23/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Toyota Tacoma: 122 of 294 complaints on file (41.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have in total?

294 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 16 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 6 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.