The 2012 Toyota Tundra is a pickup truck that came with a choice of 4.0L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl and 5.7L 8-cyl engines. At 14 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.
| Body style | Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
|---|---|
| Engines | 4.0L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S5), Automatic (S6) |
| Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive, Part-time 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
| Fuel economy | 13–16 city / 17–20 highway / 15–18 combined MPG |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,700–$4,450 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles) |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 494–592 grams per mile |
| Curb weight (NHTSA test vehicle) | 5,581–5,784 lb |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,200–7,200 lb |
| Versions tested by EPA | 6 configurations: Tundra 2WD, Tundra 4WD, Tundra 4WD FFV |
| Age | 14 years |
Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data; weights from NHTSA crash-test records. Your car's exact equipment may differ.
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls covering the 2012 Toyota Tundra. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota…
Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra…
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury
Owners have filed 156 complaints about the 2012 Toyota Tundra with NHTSA. 7 reports involved a crash and 2 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 5 injuries.
Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2012 Toyota Tundra, by version tested.
| Version | Overall | Frontal crash | Side crash | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pu/Cc, 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 20.4% |
| Pu/Ec, 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 20.4% |
| Pu/Rc, 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 20.4% |
| Pu/Cc, 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19.8% |
| Pu/Ec, 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19.8% |
| Pu/Rc, 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 19.8% |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP). Ratings from different model years or rating systems aren't directly comparable.
Manufacturers have filed 316 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2012 Toyota Tundra. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.
Some 2005 - 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to r
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle o
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the whe
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).
NHTSA opened 1 defect investigation covering the 2012 Toyota Tundra.
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags
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It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. As a heavier vehicle, its scrap weight adds to the offer. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.
Yes. We buy 2012 Tundras that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.
Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Toyota Tundra; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.
Data retrieved October 2026.
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