2012 Toyota Tundra recalls and problems

The 2012 Toyota Tundra has 3 safety recalls and 156 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer.

Recalls
3
Complaints
156
Crashes / fires
7 / 2
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2012 Toyota Tundra vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2012 Toyota Tundra recalls

Recall 21V-920: Steering

Reported Nov 23, 2021 · 22,462 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.

Recall 13V-123: Equipment

Reported Apr 9, 2013 · 7,525 vehicles affected · Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

Problem: Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Recall 13V-014: Seats, Air Bags

Reported Jan 16, 2013 · 3,235 vehicles affected · Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

Problem: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

2012 Toyota Tundra problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine57
Fuel/Propulsion System25
Power Train21
Electrical System20
Unknown or Other17
Steering12
Structure11
Air Bags9
Vehicle Speed Control7
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)7
Wheels6
Service Brakes6

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 11
  • Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer — 5
  • Electrical System › Horn — 1
  • Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch — 1
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System — 1
  • Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette — 1
  • Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System — 1
  • Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 79,786 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2012 Toyota Tundra complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · at 381,746 miles · reported Sep 30, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Toyota Tundra. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 128,907. The contact discovered after the dealer provided a Carfax report that the mileage was 381,746. The contact reported the odometer fraud to the Benbrook Police Department.
Electrical System · at 378,000 miles · reported Aug 19, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Toyota Tundra. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 149,000. It was later discovered upon checking the vehicle history that the mileage was 378,000.
Electrical System · at 395,000 miles · reported Jul 2, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Toyota Tundra. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 149,000. The vehicle was a dealer sale. An independent mechanic checked the vehicle history report and discovered a mileage discrepancy. The Carfax report indicated that the mileage was 379,000 in May 2025. The contact reported the odometer fraud to Wisconsin's Department of Transportation - Field Investigation Unit, which informed him that the odometer fraud was outside of their jurisdiction because the vehicle was purchased in Kentucky. The contact stated that the current approximate…
Unknown or Other · reported Apr 3, 2026
Product almost set my car on fire, luckily I was stop at a car wash when one the cleaning crew members noticed smoke coming out from under my hood my hood , I opened the hood and the actual light bulb was on fire, it burnt my original hardness of my vehicle and the housing of my head light
Electrical System · at 252,307 miles · reported Jan 12, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Toyota Tundra. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 137,355. The contact stated that while inspecting the glove box, the contact found three receipts that showed three different odometer readings. The contact then ordered a Carfax report and discovered that the mileage on the Title on October 4, 2025, was 252,307.

Other Toyota Tundra years

Compare all Toyota Tundra years · All Toyota models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Toyota Tundra have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Toyota Tundra: 21V-920 (steering), 13V-123 (equipment), 13V-014 (seats, air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Toyota Tundra?

Owners report engine problems most often (57 reports), followed by fuel/propulsion system (25). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 79,786 miles.

Are Toyota recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Toyota dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.