2012 Toyota Tacoma

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Frame rust on later trucks 2011–2015 One source so far

  What to check: Look over the frame, and ask whether it was inspected, coated or replaced under Toyota's 2020 campaign.

  Toyota's 2020 campaign covered about 320,000 trucks built from June 2010 to June 2017, above all in states that salt their roads.

  Sources ¹¹

• Secondary air injection failure 2012 One source so far

  What to check: Ask about limp mode and air-injection fault codes.

  Toyota's extended warranty for it has run out.

  About $2,000 to $3,500 or more, per FLEX Automotive

  Sources ¹²

• Worn front wheel bearing All years One source so far

  What to check: On a test drive, listen for a growl from the front wheels and feel for vibration through the floor at 30 to 45 mph.

  Two members of a TacomaWorld buying thread warn of it. One felt grinding and vibration through the floor while accelerating at 30 to 45 mph, and the other warns of a growl from a bad front hub bearing.

  Sources ¹³

• Valve cover gasket leak All years One source so far

  What to check: Look for oil seeping from the valve covers.

  Two members of a TacomaWorld buying thread call it common with age. One says everyone seems to have the same leak in the same spot, and the other calls it a simple, easy fix.

  Sources ¹⁴

Recalls

• 14V054000 2012–2013

  A brake actuator fault can switch off stability control, ABS and traction control.^15,16

• 14V475000 2008–2014

  The tire placard may give the wrong spare tire size and pressures.^{17,18,19,20,15,16,21}

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Avoid: 2011 and 2012 2011–2012 Less sought after One source so far

  The same dealer lists a leaf spring recall on 2011 trucks and air-injection failures on 2012 trucks.¹²

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.