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2012 Toyota Tacoma Fuel System Problems

29 owner-reported fuel system complaints from NHTSA data

29
Complaints
Jan 2018Dec 2017
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (29)

highFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2023

Your check engine light came on and your truck lost power while accelerating, especially uphill, making it unsafe to drive on highways. You couldn't go faster than 20 mph in areas requiring 40+ mph speeds, creating a traffic hazard with no safe place to pull over. A mechanic diagnosed a faulty air injection system and quoted nearly $3,000 to repair it. The fix will likely involve replacing or rebuilding the air injection system components.

NHTSA #: 11544660
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2021

Switching valve stuck open bank 1 and 2. Truck is in limp mode. Air pump is full of water.

NHTSA #: 11420726
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2020

TRAC OFF AND CEL ON, TRUCK GOES INTO 'LIMP MODE' AND DECELERATES WHEN GAS ALLPIED. LOUD WHINING NOISE WHEN FIRST STARTING.

NHTSA #: 11353480
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2019

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD NO ACCELERATION BEYOND 20 MPH. I TOOK IT FOR A DIAGNOSIS AT AUTO ZONE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS CODES ,2450 AND 2442, SECONDARY AIR VALVES STUCK OPEN. I AM STUCK IN AN UNFAMILIAR CITY AND NO MECHANICS WITH TIME TO FIX IT, TO SAY NOTHING OF ME NOT HAVING THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS TURNING A CORNER ON A HILL. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BECOME A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR TOYOTAS AND I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED A RECALL NOTICE SO THAT TOYOTA WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM! I HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING HOME AS PART OF MY DRIVE IS THRU A VERY STEEP AND TREACHEROUS CANYON.

NHTSA #: 11242650
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2019

ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO MY TRUCK WAS HESITATING AND MY CHECK ENGINE/OFF TRAC LIGHT WAS ON. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 40MPH ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAY. I WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALER IN PUERTO RICO, THEY SAID THE CODES WERE P0052, P0456, P2140, P2442 SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM IS BAD AND WOULD COST $2,458.08 FOR REPAIRS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. IT IS A 2012 TOYOTA TACOMA PRE-RUNNER.

NHTSA #: 11235367
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2019

I'M A OWNER OF TACOMA PRE-RUNNER 2012. I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR TO SCAN SINCE I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. ATTACHED I SEND YOU THE CODES AND I ALSO INCLUDE THE FACT SHEET DELIVERED TO ME AT THE SERVICE CENTER. I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY.

NHTSA #: 11234904
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2019

SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM CODE P2440 AND P 2442

NHTSA #: 11229834
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2019

TODAY LEAVING WORK MY TRUCK WENT INTO COMPLETE LIMP MODE. TURNED AROUND AND THANKFULLY I WORK AT A DEALERSHIP NOT A TOYOTA ONE THOUGH. I GOT THE CODES THAT POPPED UP CHECKED AND IT WAS THE CODES FOR THE AIR INJECTION PUMP AND FLAPS. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THIS IS COMMON IN THE MY TRUCK AND I AM RIGHT OUTSIDE MY COVERAGE FOR IT. IT ENDS AT 150,000 AND I HAVE 163. I HAVE TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK BACK AND FORTH ON THE INTERSTATE AND IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY WOULD Y'ALL PUT A CUTOFF ON THE PROBLEM. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL. I BOUGHT MY TRUCK 2ND HAND SO I HAD NO IDEA OF THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 11228985
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2018

TOYOTA HAS A KNOWN ISSUE OF THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SWITCHING VALVE THAT IS FAULTY THAT CAUSES THE 2012 TACOMA TO GO INTO "LIMP MODE" EXPECTANTLY. I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRUCK CUT OUT DOWN TO 25 MPH WHILE TRAFFIC WAS RAPIDLY APPROACHING ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE ENGINE CODES SHOWN ARE THE TYPICAL P2440 AND P2442 AND HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES. PLEASE PROMPT TOYOTA TO RECALL THIS PART TO AVOID UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENTS OR DEATH DUE TO A KNOWN ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11156453
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2018

SECONDARY AIR INJECTOR FAILURE. VALVES STUCK OPEN. CHECK ENGINE CODES P2442 AND P2440. VEHICLE IN MOTION DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. JUST BOUGHT YESTERDAY WITH 47K MILES. FAILURE CAUSES VEHICLE TO 'LIMP'. CAN'T EXCEED 2500 RPMS VERY EASILY, MASSIVE LOSS OF POWER.

NHTSA #: 11063415
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2018

COLD START OF THE VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWED BY A HIGH PITCHED WHINE AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND 'TRAC OFF' LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. DIAGNOSTIC CHECK REVEALED FAULTY SECONDARY AIR PUMP AND SWITCHING VALVE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA FOR THE TUNDRA AND THE SEQUOIA, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO PLAY DUMB ON THIS MODEL YEAR TACOMA. A CURSORY SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALS THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM IN THE 2012 TRUCK. THERE ARE DOZENS OF REPORTS OF VEHICLES FAILING TO ACCELERATE, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, AND THE $2000 RECOMMENDED FIX IS BEING DONE WITH THE SAME IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED PARTS.

NHTSA #: 11058026
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Dec 2017

CODE P2443 VALVE STUCK CLOSED CAME UP WHEN MY "TRAC AND CEL" LIGHTS CAME UP ON THE DASH. THIS HAPPENED ON STARTUP. THIS CODE IS A FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SWITCHING VALVE STUCK CLOSED. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO LOST POWER WHEN DRIVING CALLED A "LIMP MODE" AND IS OCCURRING ON TOYOTA TACOMA"S AT AROUND THE 50K MILE MARK AS I HAVE FOUND ON THE TACOMA WORLD WEBSITE. THIS ISSUE HAS ALSO BEEN NOTED ON THE TOYOTA TUNDRA AS WELL AND A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT FOR THE TACOMA. I HAVE NOTED THAT MY POWER HAS DIMINISHED SINCE THE LIGHTS CAME ON (3 DAYS). I CHECKED WITH MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO HISTORY OF THIS HAPPENING. TACOMA OWNERS SAY THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN AND TOYOTA IS FAILING TO ADDRESS A FIX. THE LOSS OF POWER CAN OCCUR ANYTIME AND IF IT HAPPENS ON A BUSY INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY CAN RESULT IN ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA #: 11052804
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2017

LIKE MANY OTHERS, MY 2012 TACOMA SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON THE HIWAY. REFUSED TO GO ABOVE 40 OR SO MPH. OTHER CARS HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID ME. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED NEARLY $2000.00 TO REPLACE THE SAME PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE TUNDRAS AS BEING DEFECTIVE. SECONDARY AIR INJECTION STUCK OPEN. THE CODES ARE P2440 AND P2442. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. TOYOTA ISSUED A TSB AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 150K FOR THE TUNDRA BUT NOT THE TACOMA. SAME PARTS! MY TACOMA WAS IN MOTION WHEN SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. CHECK OUT CARCOMPLAINTS.COM

NHTSA #: 11012975
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2017

SECONDARY AIR PUMP FAILED AT 47,000 MILES, SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT FAILED AS I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A MAJOR FAST-MOVING HIGHWAY AND PROMPTLY WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE, LIMITING ACCELERATION. IT TOOK OVER A HALF MILE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO 40 MPH. MEANWHILE, VEHICLES BEHIND ME WERE BRAKING ABRUPTLY TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH ME. AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP IS PART OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD EFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENGINE IN THIS MANNER. THIS SEEMS MORE LIKE A SOFTWARE INDUCED FAILURE, WHICH, IN THIS CASE, CAUSED A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH TOYOTA AGREED TO REFUND ME 1/2 OF THE $2500 THAT I WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FOUND DOZENS OF INSTANCES OF THIS FAILURE ON 2012 TACOMA'S WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE.

NHTSA #: 11012395
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2017

SECONDARY AIR INJECTION ERROR CODES P2440, P2441,P2442. LOSS OF POWER DUE TO AIR INJECTOR STUCK. VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 20-30 MPH. THIS IS AN EMMSISIONS REQUIREMENT BUT WARRANTIES ON TACOMAS WILL NOT COVER BEYOND 3YRS/35K MILES. TUNDRAS HAVE TUNDRAS HAVE SAME KNOWN ISSUES AND TOYOTA INCRWASED WARRANTY TO 10 YRS/150K MILES. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS. OWNERS ARE PAYING THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA #: 11005324
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2017

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY VEHICLE LOST PARTIAL POWER TO THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC SAYING THAT I HAVE A "FAILED ENGINE AIR SYSTEM PUMP AND VALVE." IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS LOOSING CONTROL OF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA #: 10986105
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2017

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, TRAC OFF LIGHT ON, ENGINE POWER WEAK

NHTSA #: 10984661
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2017

THE TRAC OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON YESTERDAY AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OVER 40MPH. I RAN A DIAGNOTICS TEST ON IT AND IT CAME BACK P2440 AND P2442 WHICH IS THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM FAILURE. ONE OF THE VALVES IS STUCK OPEN.

NHTSA #: 10983037
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Apr 2017

SECONDARY AIR VALVE STICKS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER,,EMISSION SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING AND STAYS ON.

NHTSA #: 10979000
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2017

2012 TOYOTA TACOMA W 47K MILES 4 YRS OLD. BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM TOYOTA. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC OFF BOTH CAME ON. ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE UP A HILL OVER A BRIDGE AND COULD NOT GO BEYOND 20 MPH WITH ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY DOWN!. VEHICLES SPEEDING UP ON ME, PULLED OFF INTO EMERGENCY LANE. VEHICLE TOWED AND BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME A 'BANK 1 SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SWITCHING VALVE' NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $900. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR A RECALL. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. TOYOTA CC CALLED WITH REPORT FILED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS INJURY OR MORTALITY DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN A VULNERABLE POSITION.

NHTSA #: 10958593
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2017

CHECK ENGINE AND TRAC OFF INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME IN, AND VEHICLE WENT INTO FAIL CODE MODE ALSO KNOWN AS"LIMP MODE" WHILE DRIVING DOWN A TOWN ROAD. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 40 MPH. MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS A "SECONDARY AIR PUMP AND VALVE". VEHICLE HAS 56,700 MILES ON IT. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED, BUT THEY WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A FAULT IN THE PART IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. TOYOTA TUNDRAS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND TOYOTA PROVIDED A FIX FOR THIS MODEL. WHEN ASKED IF THE REPLACEMENT PART WOULD FAIL IN 50,000 MILES I WAS TOLD THAT THE NEW PART WAS "UPDATED" SO IT SHOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WHY DID TOYOTA ALLEGEDLY UPDATE THE REPLACEMENT PART IF THERE WAS NO FAULTS IN THE ORIGINAL PART?

NHTSA #: 10957761
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2017

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, IMMEDIATELY REDUCED SPEED TO AROUND 40 MPH. THE "TRAC OFF" INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRUCK WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", SO I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE NEXT EXIT AND I TOOK IT TO THE AUTO PART STORE FOR A CODE READER. P2440/ P2442 CAME UP IN ERROR, SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM STUCK OPEN. THIS WAS AN 800$ PART FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND I DID THE WORK.. TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 2012 SR5 V6 4.0L 59,965 MILES

NHTSA #: 10957725
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2017

VEHICLE STUMBLED AND ENGINE ALMOST DIED WHILE MAKING A TURN IN FRONT OF INCOMING TRAFFIC WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE TRUCK. MIL ON WITH CODE P2442 REPORTED, SECONDARY AIR INJECTION MALFUNCTION. THIS 2012 TACOMA IS TOYOTA CERTIFIED WITH 34,216 MILES, SPOKE WITH MULTIPLE TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES AND ALL HAVE STATED THIS IS NOT A WARRANTIED ITEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS COMMON ON OTHER TOYOTA TRUCKS WHICH HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON THE SAME EMISSION COMPONENT IN QUESTION. THIS PROBLEM IS BOTH A SAFETY HAZARD AND AN EMISSIONS HAZARD. IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA #: 10944021
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2017

SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. I'VE NOTICED IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE NEW. I NOW HAVE 37,000 MILES ON IT AND HAVE RECEIVED MESSAGES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRAC OFF MESSAGES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS YOU HAVE NO ENGINE POWER WHEN ENTERING INTO TRAFFIC. THE TRUCK WILL NOT GO OVER 35 MILES AN HOUR AND TAKES FOR EVER TO GAIN SPEED.

NHTSA #: 10940024
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Nov 2016

SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM: STARTED THE VEHICLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. OBD READ P2440/P2442. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER AND WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 20MPH AND THE RPM'S RAMMED UP. AFTER SOME SOME RESEARCH FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TACOMA IN WHICH TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF.

NHTSA #: 10924933
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2016

THE AIR INJECTION PUMP WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THERE IS ONLY 18,200 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE "SAFE MODE" KICKED IN. TOYOTA WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. I UNDERSTAND FROM READING ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS TURNING OUT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND WISH TO ADD MY EXPERIENCE TO THE LIST.

NHTSA #: 10906719
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2016

ONLY 49,000 MILES ON MY $32,000 TRUCK AND LIKE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF 2012 TACOMAS I HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON WITH THE TRAC OFF LIGHT AND GIVING THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE OF P2442 SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SWITCHING VALVE. THIS IS CLEARLY A EMISSIONS AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL INSTEAD OF CHARGING US $2,100 FOR A FIX A A PRACTICALLY NEW EXPENSIVE TRUCK. THE AIR INJECTION VALVE IS PART OF EMISSIONS AND SHOULD BE COVERED AND A TSB OR RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS. WHEN THIS VALVE GOES OUT TYPICALLY EVERY 50,000 IT RENDERS YOUR TRUCK USELESS AND PUTS IT INTO SAFE MODE NOT ALLOWING YOU TO GO MORE THAN 35-40 MPH. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS SPEED JUST DOESN'T WORK ON THE HIGHWAY TO TRAVEL TO WORK AND UNLESS YOU FORK OVER THE $2,100 TO HAVE IT FIXED THEN YOU HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO WORK. THIS IS SUCH A SCAM ON TOYOTAS PART AND I AM OUTRAGED THAT AFTER PURCHASING OVER 4 TOYOTA VEHICLES FROM THEM THEY DON'T STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 10874492
mediumFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2016

WHILE ON HIGHWAY DOING 65MPH, VEHICLE SLOWED TO 50, TO 40, TO 30, TO 20 BY ITSELF. PULLED OVER, PLACED BACK INTO GEAR, VEHICLE ONLY WENT 40 MPH DOWNHILL, 20 MPH UPHILL. DROVE TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO SAID THIS WAS THIRD TACOMA THIS WEEK WITH FAULTY SECOND AIR FUEL INJECTOR. NO RECALL YET, BUT 3 WEEKS FOR BACK ORDER OF PART. 43 OTHERS BEFORE MY PART REQUEST. SAME PART ON RECALL FOR TUNDRA MODEL. SAFETY WAS COMPROMISED ON HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF AUTOMATIC DECELERATION

NHTSA #: 10845669
mediumFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Filed: Jul 2013

FUEL PUMP CAN BE HEARD OPERATING AT TIMES, USUALLY AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF BEING PARKED. SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE WAS ALSO HEARD ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL PUMP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DEALER, STATED COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND CONSIDERED THE MATTER CLOSED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10526391

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