10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,661 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 2)

problem #22

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 #21

Jan 132021

Tacoma

  • 110,000 miles
When accelerating the truck lost all power and acceleration. Engine light is on. Engine will not increase RPM when accelerator is pressed. Truck will slowly drive but is unsafe to be on the road as it slowly accelerates up to 20-30mph max. Vehicle was merging into traffic from parking lot access.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

problem #20

May 182019

Tacoma

  • 100,000 miles
'takata recall' secondary air injection pump secondary air switching valves limp mode don't go over 40 crude controls doesn't work

- Madison, MD, USA

problem #19

May 012019

Tacoma

  • 86,000 miles

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

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 #18

Apr 042019

Tacoma

  • 144,000 miles
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 #17

May 192017

Tacoma

  • 133,472 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle lost power and then immediately regained power. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred twice. The contact coasted the vehicle to a service station, restarted it, and was able to drive. While depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle would not accelerate past 25 mph. The vehicle was taken to Toyota of poway (13631 power rd, poway, ca 92064) where it was diagnosed that the air system valve needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the air injection pump may eventually need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 133,472.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #16

Dec 212017

Tacoma

  • 87,000 miles

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

Almost lost control of vehicle when the trucks performance jumped into limp mode "trac off" as I was driving. Loss of speed and performance caused me to be a driving hazard. 2 vendors today found the codes P2440 and P2442, which appear to have triggered my truck into "trac off" and "check engine" light on. Mode causes my truck to only drive about 45 significantly impacts performance and dangerous to drive. This is a safety hazard, I had no warning that the loss of performance was going to happen initially when I was traveling.there is another problem that appears to be on a larger scale.I have briefly scanned the internet in the last hour and spoke with various vendors about the problem & I have called my dealership & even the main Toyota line and everyone is aware of the issue. The codes are P2440 & P2442. After finding out the codes I looked at the air injection pump & I was astonished to see that the pump was completely full of what, like someone literally took a waterhose & filled it up. Logically, this is why the air injection switching valves 1 and 2 are both stuck open one code for each of the valves. The next thing that is unusual is that there are an incredible amount of people having this same problem but no recall..then I found the Tundra recall for the exact same pump issue! it is peculiar, that a different model truck with the same pump has this problem & no recall or remedy. Fact-Tundra is a more expensive truck than Tacoma, is Toyota fixing public relation issues for those more well off because they know how to complain to the right folks or cause a big stir and they will hold off on pulling the trigger on a "warranty fix or recall" on the working mans Tacoma? this is just an opinion but my intuition tells me this is intentional. The fix is approx $2000 I am stuck driving 45 mph till then with shady steering & performance. #accountability #me too

- Vinemont, AL, USA

problem #15

Jul 262017

Tacoma

  • 105,000 miles
While commuting to work the engine light and traction control light came on, causing my truck to slow down, very slow. It would not let me accelerate and disabled my progress to around 2000 rpms. This could have been a very serious or a dangerous situation especially if I was towing a load or in a major traffic situation. Codes - 2440 and 2442 were the causes of this scary account.

- Bennettsville, SC, USA

problem #14

Jun 132017

Tacoma

  • miles
I have check engine light on and the trac off light on. This common problem wiyhe Tundra model. Alot of Tacoma owner have same problem but Tacoma doe not have exdended warranty like tha Tundra. My truck only have 59K miles it's only 5years and 3 months old they said won't cover the problem. Problem 1 seconndary injection system valve I have to code P2440 P2442.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #13

Feb 252017

Tacoma

  • 75,000 miles
Code P2440 and P2442. Air injection system valves are stuck open (related to emissions control unit) which causes the vehicle to go into 'limp' mode abrupbtly. This renders the vehicle undriveable, and can occur in the midst of driving causing serious danger to the driver and fellow drivers on the road. Toyota is unwilling to cover under any powertrain or emissions warranty. This issue is pervasive among 2012 Tacoma owners and Toyota redesigned the system as early as 2013 which implicates their knowledge of such a defect.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #12

Dec 132016

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 91,000 miles

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

2012 Tacoma with 91,000 miles: While leaving work and trying to accelerate onto highway the "check engine" and "trac off" lights illuminated. Vehicle went into "limp mode" and would not go faster than 35 mph. I had to quickly pull off the road as to not cause an accident. I took vehicle to mac haik Toyota and received the code P2445. I had to replace air switch valve assembly $690, air w/bra pump assembly $813, air tube gaskets $132, labor $610. Total $2063!!!! from researching, this is a known problem with 2012 Tacoma, and had previously been an issue with older Tundra, which Toyota issued a tsb for. Toyota refuses to repair this under warranty (federal emissions) even though the failed part is directly tied to the emissions system! "the system is used to pump additional air into the exhaust manifold upon startup to dilute the over-rich conditions that lead to increased pollution. (how is that not an emissions related part?) the failure or warping of the one-way check valve causes hot exhaust gases to backflow into the solenoid, and melting the gaskets. This ends up blocking the sealing plate and causing it to remain in the open position. The danger is that the hot exhaust is then fed into a plastic air pump causing it to potentially melt or catch fire!" the fact that this forces the vehicle into "limp mode" is also a huge safety concern as it will not allow the vehicle to travel above 35 mph and could lead to serious accidents if traveling at high speed on the interstate or highway due to the unexpected, sudden deceleration. Failed assembly is Toyota part number : 25710-31020. This part number has been superseded by P/N: 25710-31022.

- League City, TX, USA

problem #11

Nov 292016

Tacoma

  • 73,000 miles
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 air injection system switch valve stuck open bank 2. Toyota knows they have a emissions issue. My vehicle is at the dealership now.

- Terre Haute, IN, USA

problem #10

Sep 122016

Tacoma

  • 45,000 miles
Tacoma went in "limp mode" engine light and trac off light illuminated; cause the car to be extremely under power. Vehicle extremely under power causing to be dangerous in traffic. Code P2442 secondary injection system failure; common to other Toyota vehicles including Tundra's. Toyota acted resumable with Tundra's with extending warranty repairing but at this time refuses to repair known failures in Tacoma's.

- Catlettsburg, KY, USA

problem #9

Jun 302016

Tacoma

  • 45,066 miles
I started my Tacoma, the check engine light and trk off lights were on and after taking them to the dealer learned that the vechile was in limp mode. The truck will not easily accelerate beyond 30mph. This is caused by error code P2442 and P2440, from a known faulty part that Toyota refuses to replace.

- Wichita, KS, USA

problem #8

Jun 282016

Tacoma

  • 37,000 miles
I took my 2012 Tacoma into service today with a trac off and check engine light on. I was told that the secondary air injection switching valve needed replaced at the tune of $1300. I see that many others have had this issue and with 37K miles, I find it unreal that this isn't covered under the powertrain warranty.

- Columbia, MO, USA

problem #7

Jun 212015

Tacoma

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. While attempting to switch the vehicle to four wheel drive, a loud abnormal noise was heard. The vehicle suddenly accelerated with the brake pedal depressed. The contact shifted the gear into neutral; however, the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact was able to bring the vehicle to a stop by depressing the brake pedal with force. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 42,000.

- Willmington , NC, USA

problem #6

Jan 072013

Tacoma

  • 5,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the vehicle accelerated independently. The failure occurred twice. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,000.

- Ipswich, MA, USA

problem #5

May 232014

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle violently surged forward. The contact was not able to control the vehicle and crashed into a tree. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the neck, the back and the hands that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. Updated 10/23/2014 updated 05/21/2015

- Winterville, GA, USA

problem #4

Feb 192014

Tacoma

  • 18,600 miles
After driving for 2 hours at highway speed (65) mph I exited the highway to a intersection with a red light. Upon applying the brakes to come to a stop the vehicle accelerated forward on its own. I was only able to stop a collision by putting the truck into neutral. I could not stop the vehicle by only using the brakes. The engine over revolutions but came back to a idle in just a few seconds. I have not experienced this in the past two years that I have owned this vehicle. I was not towing anything and the vehicle was not loaded with any additional weight. I am the only driver. I continued on with my trip and have not experienced this again as of this date. 02/20/2014

- Cranberry Twp, PA, USA

problem #3

Feb 172014

Tacoma 6-cyl

  • 20,900 miles
Vehicle jumps from rear upon acceleration from stop position.

- Medford, NY, USA

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