2012 Toyota Tacoma Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 35 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma, 12% of its 295 total complaints. Median mileage at failure is 53,000 miles. No related recalls are on file for this area.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 35
- 12% of 295
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 53,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners report the secondary air injection system failing and putting the truck into limp mode, cutting power and top speed to around 30-40 mph.
- Some describe a drivetrain vibration or a chirping/cricket noise, often traced to an out-of-balance propeller or drive shaft, that grows worse at highway speeds.
- Others report the transmission shifting hard or erratically, including sudden forward surges when stopped at a light, more noticeable in cold weather.
- A few note the engine or trac control light coming on with diagnostic codes tied to the secondary air injection system, disabling normal acceleration.
- One owner reports paying to replace the secondary air injection switching valve after it became stuck, comparing the issue to a recalled part on the Tundra.
When 2012 Toyota Tacoma transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 6, 2012, latest Jul 30, 2025.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Tacoma model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are transmission and powertrain complaints on the 2012 Toyota Tacoma?
- NHTSA has logged 35 complaints in this area for the 2012 Tacoma, which is 12% of the 295 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma transmission or powertrain?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this problem area on the 2012 Tacoma.
- At what mileage do these problems usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2012 Tacoma is 53,000 miles.
- Have these complaints led to crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA records show zero crashes, zero fires, and zero injuries tied to these complaints for the 2012 Tacoma.
- How does 2012 compare to other Tacoma model years for this problem area?
- The 2012 Tacoma's 35 complaints and 12% share are lower than the 2016 model year, which had 136 complaints and a 42% share, the highest in the dataset.