NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 155 owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota Tundra.
Recalled components: steering, equipment, and air bags. Most-described problem: loss of power or limp mode (39 complaints, 25%). Most-reported area: engine (57 complaints, 37%; median mileage when it happened: 81,100).
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.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listing: TUNDRA. Components: Steering: hydraulic power assist system; Steering: rack and pinion. Toyota campaign 21TB10 / 21TA10.
Equipment
Apr 9, 2013
labels
Fails federal standard 110 (tire and rim labeling)
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
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.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
NHTSA listing: TUNDRA. Components: Air bags: frontal, sensor/control module-inactive; Seats.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA also lists 1 equipment recall for parts sold for this vehicle, not the vehicle itself: Steering: hydraulic power assist system (Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, 21E-103).
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2012 Toyota Tundra; it is closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
NHTSA listing: TUNDRA. Component: Air bags (air bag/restraint control module). This investigation names 46 models.
An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Tundra. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Loss of power or limp mode39 · 25%
Median 92,500 miles at failure, from 33 reports with mileage
Check engine light36 · 23%
Median 87,600 miles at failure, from 30 reports with mileage
Rust or corrosion12 · 8%
Hesitation or slow acceleration8 · 5%
Power steering problems or locked steering7 · 5%
Steering rack problems: sticking, play or pulling5 · 3%
Median 81,100 miles at failure, from 45 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system25 · 16%
Median 78,000 miles at failure, from 19 reports with mileage
Powertrain21 · 14%
Median 87,100 miles at failure, from 16 reports with mileage
Electrical system18 · 12%
Most named: instrument panel, speedometer/odometer (4)
Steering12 · 8%
Body structure11 · 7%
Most named: body (11)
Air bags9 · 6%
Unknown or other17 · 11%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Toyota Tundra recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2012 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2023 Tundra drew the most (286) and the 2012 drew 21.
Owner complaints
2012: 155 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Toyota Tundra
Model year
Complaints
2010
163
2011
134
2012
155
2013
85
2014
93
2015
49
2016
120
2017
78
2018
100
2019
74
2020
46
2021
24
2022
430
2023
409
2024
343
2025
135
2026
34
Safety recalls
2012: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Toyota Tundra
Model year
Recalls
2010
15
2011
10
2012
3
2013
5
2014
4
2015
4
2016
5
2017
5
2018
8
2019
9
2020
4
2021
2
2022
13
2023
13
2024
10
2025
5
2026
2
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 155 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Toyota Tundra, the problems described most are loss of power or limp mode (39), the check engine light coming on (36), and rust or corrosion (12). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2012 Toyota Tundra safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2012 Toyota Tundra earns 4 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2012 Toyota Tundra?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2012 Toyota Tundra. It lists one closed investigation, which closed on Sep 19, 2024.
How do I check if my Tundra has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Toyota dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: TUNDRA.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.