CarModelProblems.com

2012 Toyota Tacoma Transmission & Power Train Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026

34Power Train complaints
11.6%Of all 294 complaints
#4Most-reported category

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

How power train ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE122 · 41.5%
Unspecified / other43 · 14.6%
POWER TRAIN34 · 11.6%

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

“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
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TRAC OFF LIGHT IS ON. MY TRUCK HAS NO POWER AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DTC IS P2442. SECONDARY…”NHTSA complaint 10928483 — filed 11/29/2016
“WE JUST PAID TOYOTA A LITTLE OVER $2,000 TO REPLACE THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM. THE SWITCHING VALVE WAS STUCK CLOSED ACCORDING TO TOYOTA. THIS…”NHTSA complaint 10927320 — filed 11/21/2016

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

Power Train complaints by year filed

220122201332014220158201682017120184201912020120211202212024

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have transmission & power train problems?

Power Train is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Toyota Tacoma: 34 of 294 complaints on file (11.6%). 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 power train category include?

NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines 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.