2012 Toyota Tacoma Suspension, Wheels & Tires Problems
NHTSA lists 29 Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma, 10% of its 295 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 54,050 miles. One related recall (13V494000) covers a spare tire/wheel labeling issue, but it does not cover the leaf spring breakage many owners describe.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints
- 29
- 10% of 295
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 54,050 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical suspension symptoms owners report
- Rear leaf springs break, sometimes with a section of the spring missing, occurring without warning and often near the fuel tank.
- Owners report that a prior Toyota recall for broken leaf springs applied to 2005-2011 Tacomas but not to the 2012 model, despite similar complaints.
- A rear wheel rim detached while driving at 40 MPH, triggering the ABS and traction control lights and leading to a crash.
- Steering wheel shakes or vibrates at highway speed, persisting even after tire rotation and balancing.
- Tires show cracked or dry-rotted sidewalls and tread, sometimes discovered during routine maintenance or shortly after purchase.
- The truck bottoms out under loads below its rated payload capacity, which owners attribute to the leaf spring design.
When 2012 Toyota Tacoma suspension complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 6, 2012, latest Jul 30, 2025.
Suspension, Wheels & Tires recalls for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma
- NHTSA 13V494000Oct 17, 2013Suspension, Wheels & Tires979 vehicles
Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Tacoma vehicles equipped with 18" Maverick Alloy Wheels. In the affected vehicles, the spare tire requires the use of a different style of lug nut to attach it to the vehicle than the other wheels use. These lug nuts were not provided with the vehicle.
Risk: If the spare tire/wheel is installed on the vehicle using the lug nuts from another wheel, damage to the wheel could result and may eventually lead to a loose wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will: (a) Install a Warning Label on the spare tire/wheel, (b) supply a bag containing proper spare wheel lug nuts, and (c) place an Owner's Manual Addendum in the vehicle's glove box. The recall began on January 23, 2014. Owners may contact SET at 1-954-429-2000.
Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints by Tacoma model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many suspension, wheels and tires complaints does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have?
- NHTSA lists 29 complaints in this area for the 2012 Tacoma, which is 10% of its 295 total complaints for the model year.
- Is there a recall for suspension or wheel problems on the 2012 Toyota Tacoma?
- Yes, recall 13V494000 covers 2012-2013 Tacomas with 18-inch Maverick Alloy Wheels and addresses a spare tire/wheel mismatch by adding a warning label and a supply kit; it does not address leaf spring breakage.
- At what mileage do suspension problems typically show up on the 2012 Tacoma?
- The median mileage at failure for suspension, wheels and tires complaints on the 2012 Tacoma is 54,050 miles.
- Do 2012 Tacoma owners report leaf spring failures?
- Yes, multiple owners describe broken rear leaf springs, some noting that a similar Toyota recall applied to 2005-2011 model year trucks but not to their 2012 truck.
- Has the wheel or suspension issue caused any crashes?
- NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires or injuries tied to Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints for the 2012 Tacoma.