10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,932 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Toyota Tacoma engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Toyota Tacoma Owner Comments (Page 1 of 7)

problem #122

Jun 012021

Tacoma

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

June 1st 2021 I went to park in a parking space at a local mall. My truck instead of stopping it accelerated out of control jumped two stone curbs, drove though a fence and landed into a swamp. Call Toyota and they have opened a new case # 210602000065. Police report # 21-374-AC. This isn't the first time that this has happen with this truck. It happen in Aug 2019. I contacted Toyota case number 1908060035. They sent out EAA Engineering Analysis Ass. out who did a ACM.CDRX file a month later. Toyota came back said they couldn't find anything wrong and my case was closed. Another incident in winter of 2016 where my truck was stopped and it accelerated on its own and It drove in the 4 way intersection where it caused an accident. lots of damage to cars. Toyota was contacted and they sent me to a dealer for repairs. Dealership has records of my truck coming in since I owned it with complaints of Truck not moving at all to all of sudden to acceleration on its own.

- Rochester, NH, USA

problem #121

Aug 182020

Tacoma

  • 137,000 miles
I brought truck to Toyota dealership as part of rusted frame recall to be verified. They stated truck was not rusted enough underneath for Toyota to approve recall. That was a couple of months ago. I have recently brought it to a few mechanics to do some work on A/C as the A/C stopped working and that refuse to work on it as the truck is so rusted underneath!! they said it would crumble. Not even worth it.

- East Fairfield, VT, USA

problem #120

May 072020

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 91,000 miles
My 2012 Tacoma warning light 1) engine and 2 trac off warning light came on and lost power going 65 mph on freeway and would not go over 25 mph (dangerous!). obd-II scanner displayed error code check P2442 indicating faulty air injection pumps and/or air switching valves.

- Simi Valley, CA, USA

problem #119

Apr 102020

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 103,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On my 2012 Tacoma the code P2440 and P2442 which represent a stuck open valve in the secondary air injection system. Upon my research into this issue on forums I have learned this is a common problem with the Toyota systems particularly the 2012 Tacoma. The cost of the part is about 400 to 500 dollars for the valves and another 500 dollars for the secondary air injection pump. The failure will place the vehicle into a limp mode and has to be fixed in order to the truck to keep on good working condition. It seems like this error has affected many Tacoma owners.

- Layton, UT, USA

problem #118

Jan 152020

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 68,381 miles
Two dashboard lights illuminated at the same time: The check engine light and the trac off light. At first I really didn't notice much of a difference but after 2 days I experienced significant power loss. I would pull out into traffic ok until about 20mph then have no power. It crawled while trying to get up to speed. I read on the internet that if you disconnect the battery and open the gas cap the lights would go out and the problem would go away. I did this and it worked; or so I thought. I then left for an hour trip (I know dumb) and within 15 mins the lights came back on and I couldn't get the truck over 60mph on a major highway. I actually stopped at a rest stop and disconnected the battery and removed the gas cap. Again this shut off the lights but only for about 5 mins. Then the power loss was back. Took to my local mechanic who I trust and he said it was a known problem that was something called a technical service bulletin but not yet a recall. Apparently the Tundra and sequoia are recalled for this problem but not the Tacoma. I don't get it. I was told to keep my receipts ($1,870.68) right after christmas thank you, and hopefully one day get reimbursed if it becomes a recall. I can only hope this is a no interest investment into my future.

- Toms River, NJ, USA

problem #117

Dec 302019

Tacoma

  • 91,500 miles
Failure of the secondary air injection system P2440 and P2442, while the vehicle was moving onto a city street from a parking lot. When accelerating immediately there was a decrease in power and the check engine light along with the "trac off" light illuminating simultaneously. The vehicle has a now maximum speed of around 55 mph and extremely slow to accelerate being almost dangerous on busier roads. After being check out by a the dealer it was found to be the secondary air injection system which is covered by an extended warranty but parts are on back-order.

- Richmond, KY, USA

problem #116

Apr 252019

Tacoma

  • 46,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While on a road trip I had my check engine light come on while on the highway due to defective secondary injection valves being stuck closed/open. The codes I had for this issue is P2440 and P2442. In my case this issue made my truck go into limp mode which is often a loss of power in the engine and sometimes a restriction in one's ability to shift the truck. Luckily the highway was not busy at the time this happened, but if it were I would believe that it would be a very unsafe thing to happen going 70 mph. The parts do have an extended warranty until 2022 if I remember right, but it seems like Toyota is not interested in recalling these parts even after they have known for many years that these parts are defective. I have done quite a bit of research and found issues with these parts going back to 2013.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #115

May 012019

Tacoma

  • 86,000 miles
I was on the the highway today and suddenly I lost power and won't pass speeds over 40 mph very dangerous have heard this happend to a lot of Tacoma/ Tundra and has to do something with the emissions I think I need a new diverter valve which Toyota should cover

- Covina, CA, USA

problem #114

Feb 042019

Tacoma

  • miles
Having trouble with my vehicles secondary air injection system, replacement parts are super expensive and have seen many people have the same issue, seems like a non-reliable component. Always get the fault codes P2440 and P2442. I strongly beleive that this is a defective component.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #113

Apr 282019

Tacoma

  • 103,000 miles
Cil and trac illumination with codes P2440 and P2442 caused the engine to go to limp mode with loss of power

- Biloxi, MS, USA

problem #112

Apr 042019

Tacoma

  • 144,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

During normal driving, the check engine light and traction control off light came on and truck immediately went in to limp-home mode. I had it scanned for codes at the local auto parts store and it came back with P2440 and P2442 which seems like a common issue with a valve in the secondary air injection system. I quick google search showed that some 2012 Tacoma owners are getting this covered under a special warranty extension, so I puttered over to the Toyota dealership expecting to hear the same story, but they are telling me the ECM computer is bad. Which I am trying to get clarification on since I can't find any ECM failure issues for this make and model year.

- Vestavia, AL, USA

problem #111

Feb 272019

Tacoma

  • miles
Known issue with the secondary air valve. Throws the code P2442 vehicle goes into safe mode. Dealerships want about $2,000 to fix it. Recommending the fan-blower as will to double the amount. This is known issue from all that I have read and the dealership that I purchased it from in va last year didn't mention this at all or offer any kind of warranty to cover potential issues.

- Roswell, GA, USA

problem #110

Feb 192019

Tacoma

  • 50,000 miles
Check engine light and trac off light came on. Truck will not exceed over 2500 RPM and/or reach a speed over 25 mph. No torque/power when gas pedal is pressed, espesicially when traveling up steep terrain. Toyota needs to issue a recall on this issue.

- Wytheville, VA, USA

problem #109

Dec 092018

Tacoma

  • 80,000 miles
The check eng & trac off light came on while I was on the interstate and almost got struck from the vehicle behind me. My truck went into limp mode & slowed down to 2500 rpms & wouldn't go any faster than 25 mph!! this is a hazard as I have read other complaints about this happening to others, it is a known issue to Toyota, they have repaired the Tundra's but so far am not showing any recall on the Tacoma's. error P2442 secondary air injector failure. This is the 2nd time this has happened to me. Scary! please beware 2012 Tacoma owners! merry christmas to me! $2000 repair!

- Meridian, ID, USA

problem #108

Nov 162018

Tacoma

  • 83,000 miles
83K miles. Eng light and trac lights comes on, while driving truck goes into limp mode and will not excelerate past 2500 rpms and will not go any faster than 35 mph. Error code P2442 secondary air injection system switching valve problem. Very dangerous problem

- Meridian, ID, USA

problem #107

Oct 312018

Tacoma

  • 115,200 miles
While driving the vehicle in a Suburban area it lost power, slowing to 25 mph maximum, I was almost rear ended. I swerved off the road into the grass to avoid being hit. There is a problem with the emission system. It is the secondary air injection system. Toyota has been aware of this problem for some time. Some of the 2012 Toyota Tacoma's have a customer support / warranty extension for this problem, not mine.

- Canyon Lake, TX, USA

problem #106

Apr 152018

Tacoma

  • 65,000 miles
Went on vacation to Texas, stopped to gas up and when I went back on interstate I had a dramatic loss of power. Could not keep up enough speed to go speed limit. Air conditioner did not work. At destination a local told me about a repair shop. Cost me a hundred dollars to reset to factory specs. This has happened again four other times. I disconnected battery and reset myself. Now it`S a daily thing.

- White Bluff, TN, USA

problem #105

Jul 162018

Tacoma

  • 75,000 miles
75K miles. Cel light and trac off lights come on, truck goes into limp mode and will not accelerate past 2500 rpms, and will not reach speeds above 35 mph. Very very dangerous and endangers not only the trucks drivers, but other drivers on the road. This is due to a faulty diverter valve that is a known issue that Toyota has issued recalls on for other models with the same problem.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #104

Jun 222018

Tacoma

  • 102,000 miles
Air injector pump causing engine light and trac light to come on and sudden loss of power. Vehicle in motion when occurring.

- Lyndonville, VT, USA

problem #103

May 112018

Tacoma

  • 55,343 miles
Secondary air injector system switching valve problem at 55000+ odometer

- Tamuning, GU, USA

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