2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA Power Train Problems

My power steering gear blew its seal on the passenger side losing all power steering fluid and almost making me crash into a car next to me, and Toyota refuses to cover it stating that I hadn't had the steering gear replaced prior to whenever their dates were this is clearly faulty equipment and faulty machine work on the steering gear itself. why won't Toyota cover it? I tried contacting One Toyota and Downtown Toyota here in Oakland California and they told me that they wanted $250 to inspect my vehicle and that I would definitely have to pay for it because my vehicle was not under recall it states it is a recall if you look it up.It is worded recall if they're not going to cover it sounds like they're trying to back out of covering it until someone gets seriously hurt or killed like I almost did, I will never buy another Toyota again as long as I live because clearly they don't care about the faulty equipment on their vehicles that's going to hurt or kill someone. All they care about is the mighty dollar and that's just wrong. Safety has gone rite the window and if anyone reading this is thinking about buying a Toyota, I would seriously think twice.

2012 Tundra faced a lot of problems like air injection pump failures, sticking of secondary air pumps, knock, along with other issues like speed control, engine cooling, and throttle failure. At present, it has been slapped with 136 complaints, 4 recalls, and 1 investigation as recorded on NHTSA site.Sep 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while plowing his driveway, there was an abnormal burning odor detected. The vehicle suddenly lost power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that oil was needed. The mechanic became aware that oil was dripping through a small crack on the cam shaft on the right cylinder bank onto the exhaust manifold. The contact was informed that the engine wiring harness was burned. The mechanic recommended that the engine and transfer case be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed after an investigation, that there was no evidence of a defect. The claim was denied. There was no additional assistance provided. The approximate failure mileage 175,000.

Mileage: 175,000

The engine leaks oil in front of the faulty designed cam tower seal and leaks on the manifold. This caused smoke to come from the oil burning off.

2012 Toyota Tundra has a known design flaw in that moisture is allowed to condense, accumulate and corrode in components of the secondary air intake system leading to decrease performance especially in regards to acceleration which is critical to operating a vehicle safely.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT CAME ON. CAR AUTOMATICALLY REDUCES SPEED CAUSING DIFFICULTY PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. THE SECONDARY AIR PUMPS ARE DEFECTIVE. SOMETHING TOYOTA IS AWARE OF BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY MODEL. NO HELP FROM THERE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT. PROBLEM HAPPENED AS I WAS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPEED TO GET OUT OF WAY OF INCOMING TRAFFIC.

Mileage: 131,400

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT JOHN HARVEY TOYOTA (2901 BENTON RD, BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111, (318) 741-1337). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 25 MPH AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

VERY SERIOUS MALFUNCTION WITH AIR INJECTION PUMP. THIS HAPPENED TO OCCUR AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK. MULTIPLE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE TRUCK WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. $2000 PLUS IN REPAIRS FOR A VERY DANGEROUS AND APPARENTLY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RECALLS ISSUED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS OF TUNDRA AND OTHER MODELS OF TOYOTA TRUCKS.

Mileage: 87,000

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. GOT A CODE P0418-VEHICLE WILL GO LIMP/NOT ABLE TO GO OVER 25MPS. TOYOTA HAS A WARRANTY REPAIR PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR ALL 2012 TUNDRAS WITH A 5.7 SIZE BUT NOT MINE BECAUSE IT IS A 4.6 EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!!! *TR

Mileage: 87,130

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, MY 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER AND EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE FAILURE KNOWN AS "FAIL-SAFE" OR "LIMP-HOME" MODE. AS EVIDENCED BY TOYOTA T-SB-0160-11, WARRANTY POLICY BULLETINS, AND WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS, TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND SAFETY ISSUE, YET HAS CHOSEN TO REPAIR OR COMPENSATE ONLY A SELECT FEW. THE PARTS THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER MY VEHICLE REPEATEDLY WENT INTO 'FAIL-SAFE / LIMP-HOME' MODE CORRESPOND DIRECTLY WITH THE PART NUMBERS REFERENCED IN TOYOTA WARRANTY POLICY BULLETIN POL17-02 WHICH COVERS THIS DEFECT IN OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT IN MY 2012 MODEL. MY OUT-OF-POCKET COST TO REPAIR THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WAS $3034.87. THIS A KNOWN AIR INJECTION SYSTEM WATER INTRUSION DEFECT AND COMMON SAFETY COMPLAINT AT THE NHTSA AND ON MULTIPLE TOYOTA FORUMS, AFFECTING NUMEROUS 2012 TUNDRA'S WHICH TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND COMPENSATE FOR. I HAVE WRITTEN SEVERAL LETTERS TO BOTH THE CEO OF TOYOTA AND THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF MY REPAIR COSTS AND HAVE BEEN DENIED TWICE; THE FIRST DENIAL IN WRITING, THE SECOND DENIAL VIA TELEPHONE. I REQUEST THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF OTHERS DRIVING THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES. TOYOTA HAS AN ETHICAL AND SAFETY OBLIGATION TO THE CONSUMER TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT AND TO COMPENSATE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THEIR FAILURE TO CORRECT THIS WELL-KNOWN ISSUE. *BF

Mileage: 80,000

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN DASH LIGHTS LIT UP WHILE TRYING TO GET TO EXIT TRUCK WENT IN LIMP MODE LOST POWER COULD ONLY MANAGE ABOUT 40 MPH,GOT TO EXIT STOPPED.CALLED BROTHER IN LAW HE BROUGHT TRAILER AN WE LOADED TRUCK,STOPPED AT AUTO PARTS STORE AN THEY CHECKED CODE CAME BACK AS SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM, GOING INTO LIMP MODE WAS VERY SCARY NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE IF WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY. BY FORUM'S I'VE READ TOYOTA KNOWS THEY HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE BUT SEEMS THEY ONLY HELP CERTAIN YEARS.MY TRUCK IS 2012 WITH 93,111 MILES THEVE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR SOME YEAR MODELS BUT TELL ME MINE ISNT ONE COVERED.THANK YOU

Mileage: 93,111

WHEN CRANKING THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN AS OF 5 DAYS AGO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS ALONG WITH 'TRACK OFF' INDICATOR. THIS THROWS THE TRUCK IN 'LIMP' MODE DECREASING THE POWER OF THE VEHICLE BY 50%. THIS HAPPENED THE FIRST MORNING AND I WAS ENTERING A ON RAMP TO GET ON THE HIGH FROM MY NEIGHBOR AND ALMOST GOT PLOWED OVER DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE ENTERING THE RAMP. I HAD A TECHNICIAN CHECK THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD IT HAS TO DUE WITH THE 'SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE' FAILING. AFTER ABOUT FOUR DAYS OF RESEARCH I FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IT NOT JUST MY VEHICLE BUT MULTIPLE YEARS AND MOTOR SIZES. TOYOTA APPARENTLY COVERED CERTAIN YEAR MODELS/VINE BUT WHEN CALLING REGARDING MINE THEY SAID MY VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED EVENING THOUGH THERE ARE THOUSAND OF CONSUMERS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS ALSO AN EXPENSIVE REPAIRS COST UPWARDS TO $3,500-$400 TO FIX. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY DOESN'T CARE THAT IT ALSO CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING PROPER POWER TO OPERATE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT PLAN AND SIMPLE.

A GRINDING NOISE BEGAN TO DEVELOP IN THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK. THE NOISE WAS MOST NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MPH. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THEY DETERMINED THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD FAILED. THESE BEARINGS ARE SEALED, REQUIRE NO MAINTENANCE, AND SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE TRUCK. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE A BEARING FAILURE COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED ON INTERNET TUNDRA FORUMS, WHICH INDICATES THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM.

Mileage: 97,000

PLEASE REFER TO TSB 0160-11. TOYOTA RECOGNIZED THAT INFERIOR QUALITY PARTS WERE USED AS PART OF THEIR EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND WROTE THIS TSB AS A REMEDY. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT THEY CONTINUED TO USE THE FAULTY PARTS BEYOND THE 2011 MODEL YEAR CUT-OFF IN THIS TSB. MY TRUCK IS THROWING THE SAME ENGINE AND EMISSIONS CODES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TSB. IT ALSO FORCES THE ENGINE INTO A "LOW POWER MODE" GREATLY REDUCING THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. LASTLY, IT TURNS OFF TRACTION CONTROL WHICH AFFECTS THE STABILITY OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE FILED A TICKET WITH TOYOTA AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET, I DON'T EXPECT MUCH HELP. THE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS RUN OVER $1,000 ALONE. THERE ARE MANY OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE TUNDRA, SEQUOIA AND SOME OTHER MODELS (ON THE 4.6L, 4.7L AND 5.7L ENGINES). THE ENGINE CODES USUALLY APPEAR ON STARTUP (WHEN THE EMISSIONS DEVICE ARE SUPPOSED TO KICK IN), BUT THE LOW POWER MODE KICKS IN WHILE MOVING.

Mileage: 106,000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION IS A LITTLE SLUGGISH WHILE SHIFTING AND IN SOME CASES EVEN JUMPS WHILE SHIFTING INTO 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A COWORKER WHO HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH HIS TRANSMISSION ON HIS TUNDRA, AND HE ENDED UP TRADING IT IN, BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. I HAVE THE PAPERWORK FROM GETTING IT CHECKED IF IT IS NEEDED

Mileage: 70,655

I SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE WITH MY EXACT PROBLEM. THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM RELAY AND SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM SWITCHING VALVE. OBD II CODES P0418 AND P2442. MY EXPERIENCE IS THE SAME AS OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THAT MY TRUCK IS NOW PERMANENTLY IN LIMP MODE AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THESE KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS. ON PRE-2012 MODEL TUNDRAS TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED THE REPAIR WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS/150,000 MILES AS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. FOR SOME REASON THEY WILL NOT INCLUDE LATER YEAR MODEL TRUCKS LIKE MY 2012 4.6 LITER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE TRUCK SLOWED SEVERELY IN TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE OR GO UP ANY HILL. CARS BEHIND ME IN TRAFFIC HAD TO SWERVE AROUND ME. I WAS STUCK DEAD AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AS THESE CHRONICALLY FAILING PARTS SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE'S POWER. TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE HAS DENIED MY ATTEMPT TO SEEK COMPENSATION OR REPAIR OF THESE PARTS THAT THEY KNOW ARE DEFECTIVE. THE FIX NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO ALL YEAR MODEL AND ENGINE SIZE TUNDRAS AS THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS EXIST ON MODELS PAST 2011. A SIDE NOTE, SOMEHOW THESE DEFECTS ARE REPORTED TO BE AFFECTING THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL AS THAT WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THESE PARTS FAIL ON MOST OF THE AFFECTED TUNDRAS.

Mileage: 92,500

DRIVEING 30 MILES EAST OF DICKINSEN NOTH DAKATA FRONT DRIVERS TIRE BLEW CRUISE SET AT 76 MPH SPEED LIMIT 75MPH BOUGHT NEW TIRES IN DULUTH MINNISOTA MICHELIN TIRES TO REPLACE TOYO OPEN COUNTRY BOUGHT FROM LES SCHWAB TIRES BATTLE GROUND WA.. THE WHOLE SIDE WALL SEPERATED COMPLETELY FROM THE TIRE LOOKING AT THE OTHER THREE THEY DETERMAINED THERE WAS STILL 60% TREAD LIFE AT TIME OF INCIDENT. THEY CREDITED US FOR 2- TIRES THX [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 85,000

I TOOK MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ON A COUPLE OF RUNS THREW THE MUD IN OUR 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA CREWMAX 4X4 TRD. THE RUNS WERE NO LONGER THAN 2-3 MINUTES OF FUN WITH ZERO PROBLEMS. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO RUN OUR TRUCK THREW A CAR WASH. I PLANNED ON GETTING IT WASHED THE NEXT DAY AFTER WORK. ON MY TO WORK THE FOLLOWING DAY OUR TRUCK SHOWED NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS UNTIL I ENTERED THE FREEWAY AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THAT POINT OF TIME I COULD "FEEL" THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY . I CALLED AVONDALE TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY INFORMING THEM THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. THEY SET AN APPOINTMENT UP FOR FRIDAY THE 7TH OF MARCH. I INFORMED TOYOTA THAT I WOULD PREFER TO DROP THE VEHICLE OFF WHEN I FINISHED WORK BECAUSE I FELT LIKE DRIVING IT WOULD ONLY CAUSE MORE ISSUES IF ANY. TODAY I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM AVONDALE TOYOTA INFORMING THE TRANSMISSION "BURNED UP" AND IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH OUR VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. THEIR WARRANTY REP BASED HIS OPINION ON PICTURES, STILL DIRTY FROM GOING THREW MUD, AND CONCLUDED THE TRANSMISSION WAS "ABUSED" AND TOYOTA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR "ABUSE." I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO AVONDALE TOYOTA AND SPKE WITH[XXX] AND THE MECHANIC WHO LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT ALL FLUID LEVELS WERE NORMAL, TEMPERATURE LEVELS ARE NORMAL AND NO TRANSMISSION CODES WERE TRIPPED. ZERO!!! A GEAR BROKE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND TELLING CUSTOMERS THE TRANSMISSION "BURNED" UP IS AN EASIER WAY TO INFORM CUSTOMERS.IT IS THEIR ASSUMPTION THAT I GOT STUCK IN MUD AND "ATTEMPTED TO ROCK THE VEHICLE BY MOVING THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH FROM DRIVE AND REVERSE WHILE I WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR." I INFORMED THE AVONDALE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. I COULD OF SIMPLY TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE CAR WASH, HAD IT CLEANED AND CONTACTED TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM MY TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. LYING SEEMS THE WAY TO GO THESE DAYS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 18,000

FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALLY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SUDDEN RPM/POWER DROPOUT, MISSING, AND LESSENED FUEL ECONOMY, ETC. (DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS FOR DIFFERENT TRUCKS). AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO FINAL FIX AND NO AVAILABLE SERVICE BULLETIN. THE ONLY GUIDANCE AT THIS TIME IS TO HAVE YOUR DEALER SEE WHAT ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION YOUR TRUCK IS RUNNING AND RE-FLASH THE COMPUTER IF THE READOUT IS INCORRECT. DEALER ALSO STATES TO NOT ACCELERATE AGGRESSIVELY. I HAVE SERVICE SCHEDULE ON 3/9/13 TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM FOR THE THIRD TIME. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON 11/23/12. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

FLEX FUEL MODELS SOLD BY GULF STATES TOYOTA HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE THE ENGINE'S COMPUTER THINKS THERE IS E85 FUEL (OR AN ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION THAT IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL) IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS NORMAL 10% OR LESS GASOLINE ACTUALY PRESENT. THIS CAN CAUSE ROUGH COLD STARTS/IDLE, POWER LOSS, SUDDEN RPM/POWER DROPOUT, MISSING, AND LESSENED FUEL ECONOMY, ETC. (DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS FOR DIFFERENT TRUCKS). AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO FINAL FIX AND NO AVAILABLE SERVICE BULLETIN. THE ONLY GUIDANCE AT THIS TIME (3/5/13) IS TO HAVE YOUR DEALER SEE WHAT ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION YOUR TRUCK IS RUNNING AND RE-FLASH THE COMPUTER IF THE READOUT IS INCORRECT. THE ISSUE OCCASIONALLY RETURNS FOR SOME USERS. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND TOWING A TRAILER, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, CAUSING THE TIRES TO SEIZE. AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SPINNING AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND ARRIVED TO THE SCENE TO FILE A POLICE REPORT OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE ENGINEER HAD FIRST INSPECTED IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Mileage: 6,000