2012 Toyota Tundra: Reliability Data
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Severity Assessment
Sample Complaint Reports
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT FRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE..."
"I WAS DRIVING MY 212 TUNDRA CREWMAX AND WHEN I REACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT--RED, I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK STARTED TO PULL UP AND THE RPM'S WENT HIGH. EVEN WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES REAL HARD IT WAS STILL MOVING FORWARD. I PROMPTED TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. REST..."
"WHILE USING TO HORN THE COVER OF THE AIRBAG SPLIT ALONG THE SEAM WHERE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO GET SCHEDULED SERVICE AND TOYOTA'S POSITION IS THAT IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE OR SAFETY ISSUE. I PLACED 3 CALLS TO TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER STARTING 10/26/2012 (CASE#[XXX..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
Who Files Complaints?
Toyota Tundra — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (4)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Extend Your Engine Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Change oil on schedule — this is the single most important thing you can do
- Use the manufacturer-recommended oil weight and type
- Replace the air filter every 15,000-30,000 miles
- Don't ignore the check engine light — small issues become expensive fast
- Let the engine warm up for 30 seconds before driving hard in cold weather
- Address coolant leaks immediately to prevent overheating damage
Vehicle Rankings
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28