VehicleVerdict

2012 Toyota Tacoma transmission problems

The 2012 Toyota Tacoma has 36 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

36

Transmission complaints

9%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Tacoma transmission complaints by model year136 complaints1995: 13 complaints1996: 15 complaints1997: 9 complaints1998: 11 complaints1999: 16 complaints2000: 12 complaints2001: 16 complaints2002: 22 complaints2003: 18 complaints2004: 22 complaints2005: 60 complaints2006: 57 complaints2007: 73 complaints2008: 23 complaints2009: 76 complaints2010: 29 complaints2011: 8 complaints2012: 36 complaints2013: 22 complaints2014: 13 complaints2015: 9 complaints2016: 136 complaints2017: 67 complaints2018: 29 complaints2019: 40 complaints2020: 14 complaints2021: 13 complaints2022: 10 complaints2023: 6 complaints2024: 52 complaints2025: 19 complaints2026: 2 complaints
Tacoma transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THE SECONDARY AIR INTAKE SYSTEM GOES OUT FAIRLY QUICKLY. MY VEHICLE IS AT 72,500 MILES. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO GO INTO "LIMP" MODE WHICH MAKES THE CAR GO A MAXIMUM OF 40MPH. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IT WERE TO KICK IN WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY. IT IS AN EMISSIONS ITEM, BUT TOYOTA IS NOT…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · May 26, 2017

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Toyota Tacoma have?

NHTSA has 36 complaints about the 2012 Toyota Tacoma transmission — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.