"How reliable is the 2012 Toyota Tacoma?"

"Based on 405 NHTSA complaints, the 2012 Toyota Tacoma has a median complaint mileage of 57000 miles. The most common issue is Engine."

"What are common problems with the 2012 Toyota Tacoma?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma is Engine, accounting for a significant portion of the 405 total complaints filed."

2012 Toyota Tacoma: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 405 complaints

405

Total Complaints

57,000mi

Median Mileage

Engine

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

37,250 25th Percentile

57,000 Median Mileage

82,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Engine

122

Fuel/Propulsion System

Unknown Or Other

Power Train

Vehicle Speed Control

Service Brakes

Suspension

Electrical System

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Steering

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND PULL TOWARDS THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING 57 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ..."

"AT 300 MILES I NOTICED UPON DOWNSHIFTING ( I BELIEVE 3-2 OR 2-1) A RUMBLESTRIP VIBRATION FEELING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. IT STILL OCCURS EVERYTIME I DOWNSHIFT (SOMETIMES STRONGER FEELING THEN OTHER TIMES) I RESEARCHED PREVIOUS YEARS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT.. IT C..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Engine 122 complaints

25th: 47,697 mi Median: 60,100 mi 75th: 80,000 mi

Fuel/Propulsion System 51 complaints

25th: 46,012 mi Median: 58,900 mi 75th: 79,550 mi

Unknown Or Other 42 complaints

25th: 45,033 mi Median: 58,000 mi 75th: 78,500 mi

Power Train 34 complaints

25th: 16,075 mi Median: 51,000 mi 75th: 75,000 mi

Vehicle Speed Control 22 complaints

25th: 28,950 mi Median: 73,000 mi 75th: 95,500 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

CA: 60 TX: 34 PA: 26 GA: 22 FL: 17 NC: 15 MA: 15 NJ: 14 WA: 13 SC: 12

Who Files Complaints?

2.2%

Original Owners

97.8%

Second+ Owners

Toyota Tacoma — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

Year	Complaints	Median Mileage	Top Issue	Crashes
1995	214	174,000	Leaf Spring Assembly	30
1996	321	137,345	Body	24
1997	148	143,000	Body	16
1998	358	139,000	Frontal	56
1999	303	122,345	Body	47
2000	273	136,000	Body	33
2001	501	148,000	Body	55
2002	443	120,000	Body	41
2003	479	113,300	Body	44
2004	545	108,000	Body	38
2005	870	86,000	Body	64
2006	976	72,000	Body	84
2007	676	62,500	Suspension	82
2008	554	56,755	Suspension	65
2009	608	35,000	Suspension	26
2010	341	34,087	Suspension	12
2011	224	64,500	Suspension	14
2013	168	40,320	Power Train	16
2014	131	23,500	Service Brakes	17
2015	132	9,400	Unknown Or Other	22
2016	410	15,703	Power Train	4
2017	302	15,000	Power Train	19
2018	267	12,000	Service Brakes	8
2019	293	5,500	Fuel/Propulsion System	14
2020	122	5,200	Fuel/Propulsion System	10
2021	106	8,000	Power Train	14
2022	73	24,000	Unknown Or Other	15
2023	61	19,140	Electrical System	3
2024	173	13,652	Power Train	7
2025	58	-	Power Train	8

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28