2012 Toyota Tundra MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2012 Toyota Tundra is rated 15 to 18 mpg combined across 6 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 4.0L 6-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2012 Toyota Tundra · 6 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

18MPG combined

16 city 20 highway

$3,700 a year to fuel

4.0L 6-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic

Best version costs $6,500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 30, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $3,700 to $4,450 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2011.

Fewer complaints than a typical Tundra year

The 2012 drew 21 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 40 for a typical Tundra year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.

Years to avoid: 2022 and 2023; best years: 2017 and 2021. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Tundra year ranked The 2012 Tundra's recalls and problems

Every 2012 Tundra version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
4.0L 6-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Tundra 2WD	18 mpg	16 / 20	$3,700
4.6L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Tundra 2WD	17 mpg	15 / 20	$3,950
4.6L 8-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Tundra 4WD	16 mpg	14 / 19	$4,200
5.7L 8-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Tundra 4WD	15 mpg	13 / 17	$4,450
5.7L 8-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85) EPA listing: Tundra 4WD FFV · Flex-fuel (E85)	15 mpg	13 / 18	$4,450
5.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Tundra 2WD	15 mpg	14 / 18	$4,450

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
4.0L 6-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic	$3,725	$310	$18,625
4.6L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic	$3,944	$329	$19,721
4.6L 8-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$4,191	$349	$20,953
5.7L 8-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$4,470	$373	$22,350
5.7L 8-cyl · Part-time 4WD · 6-speed automatic · Flex-fuel (E85)	$4,470	$372	$22,350
5.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic	$4,470	$372	$22,350

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Toyota Tundra MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 15 to 20 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); 20 since 2022. Hybrid: 22 mpg (2022 to 2026).

Best gas version
Best hybrid version

2012: gas 18 mpg · hybrid not offered

Show as a table

Toyota Tundra best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best hybrid version
2010	17	–
2011	18	–
2012	18	–
2013	17	–
2014	17	–
2015	17	–
2016	17	–
2017	16	–
2018	16	–
2019	16	–
2020	15	–
2021	15	–
2022	20	22
2023	20	22
2024	20	22
2025	20	22
2026	20	22

Every Tundra year's ratings in one table

How the 2012 Tundra compares

2012 full-size pickups covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2012 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Best: hybrid	21 mpg	18 mpg	$3,200
GMC Sierra 1500 Best: hybrid	21 mpg	18 mpg	$3,200
Ford F-150 Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Toyota Tundra This page Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,700
Ram 1500 Best: gas	16 mpg	16 mpg	$4,200

Toyota Tundra vs Ford F-150MPG, fuel cost, recalls and crash tests side by side

2012 Tundra recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 155 owner complaints for the 2012 Tundra.

Owners most often describe loss of power (39 complaints, 25%), then the check engine light (36). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2012 Tundra recalls and problems

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2012 Toyota Tundra's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 1 mpg combined: the 4.6L 8-cyl gets 17 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 16 with 4WD.

Does the 2012 Toyota Tundra need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2012 Toyota Tundra version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2012 Tundra's MPG compare with the 2011?

For 2012, the best gas version is rated 18 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.