14 complaints reported

2012 Toyota Tacoma Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
14
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Dec 2024

My truck started having a vibration when driving around 45-55 mph. This problem first became noticeable when it had about 115,000 miles on it. Over time the speed that the vibration became noticeable at gradually increased. By 125,000 miles on the truck, it was vibrating hard between 60 and 70 mph. The dealership determined that the problem was that the drive shaft was out of balance and that it had to be replaced. They replaced the drive shaft, but this doesn't seem like a problem that should creep up with that relatively few miles on the vehicle, and I have read that if the drive shaft actually fails, it can severely damage the vehicle and potentially cause injury.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2023
Nov 2022

Drivetrain vibration and cricket chripping noise; likly coming from propeller shaft

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2022
Oct 2019

DRIVE TRAIN VIBRATION. TOYOTA HAS A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS ISSUE THROUGH THE 2011 MODEL, BUT THIS IS A 2012 MODEL WITH SAME ISSUE. SITUATION OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2018
May 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DAYTON TOYOTA (2291 US-130, DAYTON, NJ 08810, 732-329-9191), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF THE PARTS WHILE THE CONTACT COVERED THE LABOR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2017
Nov 2017

CEL CODE P2442,P2445 DEALERSHIP SAYS THE AIR SWITCHING VALVE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 75K MILES ON TRUCK. DEALER IS CHARGING ME 1200$

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Sep 2017
Jun 2017

I HAVE 27,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS DEFECTIVE. I AM AFRAID IT WILL LOCK UP AT HIGH SPEEDS, 55 MPH + AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT!! TOYOTA WON'T FIX IT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jun 2017
May 2017

THE SECONDARY AIR INTAKE SYSTEM GOES OUT FAIRLY QUICKLY. MY VEHICLE IS AT 72,500 MILES. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO GO INTO "LIMP" MODE WHICH MAKES THE CAR GO A MAXIMUM OF 40MPH. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IT WERE TO KICK IN WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. IT IS AN EMISSIONS ITEM, BUT TOYOTA IS NOT COVERING IT UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2017
Nov 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 IS A 4 YEAR OLD TRUCK. IT IS UNREAL TO SPEND THIS KIND OF MONEY THIS EARLY FOR THIS. THE TUNDRA HAS RECALLS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Nov 2016
Jan 2016

THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE TRUCK COMES TO A STOP AND THE BRAKE PRESSED THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITH A SURGE AND FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS BUMPED YOU FROM BEHIND BUT THERE WILL BE NO ONE BEHIND YOU. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BUT I CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK WITH 1200 MILES.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Oct 2013
Dec 2014

MY 2012 TACOMA IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. IT IS SHIFTING VERY HARD AND A BIT ERRATIC WHEN DRIVING, AND WHEN I AM COMPLETELY STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE TRUCK WILL SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY SURGE FORWARD MAKING IT FEEL LIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE HAS HIT ME FROM BEHIND. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN IT IS COLD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE IT, AND THIS IS NORMAL FOR A TOYOTA. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO SAID THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS, ALL TOYOTAS DO IT (EVEN THE BRAND NEW ONES), AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. MY TRUCK IS STILL COVERED BY THE TOYOTA 5 YEAR WARRANTY AND THE LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY OFFERED FROM THE DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT HONORING THEIR WARRANTY. IF THIS IS TRUE AND TOYOTA IS NOT CORRECTING THESE ISSUES, GUESS I WON'T BE BUYING THAT 2015 4-RUNNER I REALLY WANT! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Jan 2014
Feb 2014

LOUD WHINNING NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30MPH AND HIGHER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Feb 2014
May 2013

3-5-2013 TACOMA 2012 TRD 4X4 AUTOMATIC NEW, I NOTICED A VIBRATION ON ACCELERATION IN 1ST GEAR THROUGH 2ND GEAR IN THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF PURCHASE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF MY JOB TRAVEL AND JUST BEING LAZY I NEVER DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY. THE 1ST TIME I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALER WAS 31 JAN 2013 13,433 MI. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE VIBRATION AND SAID TOYOTA WILL ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A THREE TIER FIX. 1. THEY ORDERED ENGINE MOUNTS PER TSB. 2. FEB 2013 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK THEY INSTALLED THE MOUNTS, DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AS PART OF THIS TIER FIX, WHILE IN FOR REPAIR THEY ALSO REPLACED REAR SPRING ASSY. RIGHT & LEFT AND THE FINAL STEP 3. REPLACING STEERING WHEEL DAMPER SHA PER TSB. THE DEALER SAID ALL THIS DID NOT HELP. 28 FEB 2013 14,325 MI, I RETURNED AFTER PUTTING MORE MILES ON THIS TROUBLED VEHICLE. THIS TIME THEY REMOVED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND DROVE THE VEHICLE IN 4WD AND VIBRATION GONE. THEY INSTALLED A DRIVE SHAFT FROM A NEW TACOMA 2013 AND THE VIBRATION RETURNED. THEY SAID THEY CREATED A TAS CASE #. THE ( PRODUCT ENGINEER) ?? SAID THIS VIBRATION IS NORMAL AND CANNOT BE FIXED AT THIS TIME AND IS UNDER REVIEW. I MUST SAY THAT MY DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY ACCOMMODATING KUDOS-KUDOS. I FEEL THAT ANY VIBRATION IN THE DRIVE TRAIN OF ANY VEHICLE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH TOYOTA FOR A WHILE SO IT SEEMS AND I ASK WHY, WHY,WHY. TOYOTA KNOWS THE ABOVE FIXES DO NOT FIX THE PROBLEM IN ANY WAY. SO WHY ARE THEY STILL DOING IT ??

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: May 2013
Feb 2013

THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE ENTIRE DRIVE TERRAIN WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE VIBRATION ONLY OCCURS FROM A STOP AND BETWEEN 5-20 MPH. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED IN MARCH OF 2013 AND THE DEALER (MIDDLE TOWN TOYOTA) AND US CORPORATE TOYOTA WERE MADE AWARE, BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE. AS OF TODAY, THE VIBRATION APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY LOSS OF CONTROL YET OF MECHANICAL FAILURES, BUT WITH THE VIBRATION GETTING WORSE, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE FAILURES START OCCURRING. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Dec 2013
Sep 2012

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

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA, Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Corporation
Incident: Mar 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Toyota Tacoma has 14 Power Train complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.