2012 Toyota Tacoma Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 9about this part
- Share
- 3%of 295 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 28,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 9 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Toyota Tacoma, 3% of the 295 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 28,500 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The air bag warning light has come on twice while driving my Tacoma. The first time I was driving on the freeway and the second time I was driving on city streets. As soon as I stop the vehicle and unbuckle the seat belt the light goes off. The local Toyota dealer did a diagnostic check and test drive but they could find or duplicate the problem. They said there is no recall on the vehicle, which I have also verified.”
NHTSA complaint #10777793, filed 2015-09, 14,500 miles“Driving my Toyota Tacoma, I was approaching a steep decline. I tapped on the brakes and continued driving at approximately 27 MPH when I down shifted to accommodate for the snowy road. As I was down shifting the truck lost control and slid sideways causing the front passenger side to hit a snow bank. Once the truck struck the snow bank it flipped over on its driver side. The side air bags on both sides came out but did not inflate. The driver side bags were torn. I found evidence of this with shredded pieces of the air bag found in the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10684116, filed 2015-02, 51,000 miles“Toyota has know that the clock spring has been failing for years. They issued a recall for model years 2005-2009. Trucks in the model years 2010-2012 are also affected. Problems - loss of horn, loss of airbag. Optional if equipped - loss of cruise control and/or loss of radio controls. This is a major safety hazard! Loss or horn and loss of air bags are a very, very dangerous situation!!! The clock spring fails randomly so you might not be aware until it is too late!!!”
NHTSA complaint #11362524, filed 2020-10, 55,125 miles“60,000 miles. Three years ago the airbag light came on. We brought it and paid for diagnostics but no answers. Now the check engine light and track off are lighting (not related to first issue) and the truck is in slowdown mode. We replaced the gas-cap but it didn't fix the issue. Disappointed in what used to be a quality company.”
NHTSA complaint #11206390, filed 2019-05“The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while driving at 35-40 MPH, coming up on fog, the driver, attempting to slow down, traveled over a slush patch in the roadway, and an approaching vehicle was in view. She lost control of the vehicle, spun around, and went face-first into a ditch, and the vehicle flipped and rolled over onto the hood. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that she sustained a concussion, hematoma, and pain on the left side of her neck and head, and the next day, there was pain on the right side of her neck and shoulder. …”
NHTSA complaint #11710917, filed 2026-01, 240,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10244107Aug 16, 2023Rl: safety recall & service campaign renotification owner renotification 23r002
- 10244106Aug 14, 2023Dl: safety recall & service campaign renotification owner renotification 23r002
- 10227898Nov 23, 2022TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
- 10131852Mar 8, 2017Dealer Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
- 10131851Mar 8, 2017Region Letter: Toyota will be sending Safety Recall Follow-Up Notices to remind owners whose vehicles have not yet had campaign repairs completed.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 | 2 | 1% |
| 2023 | 8 | 15% |
| 2022 | 8 | 14% |
| 2021 | 7 | 9% |
| 2020 | 4 | 4% |
| 2019 | 4 | 2% |
| 2018 | 3 | 1% |
| 2017 | 13 | 5% |
| 2016 | 5 | 2% |
| 2015 | 11 | 11% |
| 2014 | 8 | 9% |
| 2013 | 10 | 8% |
| 2012 | 9 | 3% |
| 2011 | 17 | 9% |
| 2010 | 16 | 5% |
| 2009 | 13 | 3% |
| 2008 | 29 | 6% |
| 2007 | 44 | 8% |
| 2006 | 76 | 10% |
| 2005 | 46 | 7% |
| 2004 | 15 | 4% |
| 2003 | 28 | 8% |
| 2002 | 19 | 6% |
| 2001 | 20 | 5% |
| 2000 | 25 | 12% |
| 1999 | 38 | 15% |
| 1998 | 46 | 15% |
| 1997 | 5 | 4% |
| 1996 | 16 | 6% |
| 1995 | 10 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2012 Toyota Tacoma
122 complaintsFuel system
53 complaintsOther or unknown
45 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
35 complaintsBrakes
22 complaintsVehicle speed control
22 complaintsSuspension
21 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsElectronic stability control
17 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaintsWheels
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Toyota Tacoma
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology