--- title: "2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma Problems and Years to Avoid" description: "6 documented problems with the 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma, with symptoms, affected years, and typical repair costs. 2 of them are serious. 3 carry a recall or TSB number." url: "https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/common-problems" updated: "2026-08-20" --- # 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma Common Problems and Years to Avoid 6 documented problems with the 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma, with symptoms, affected years, and typical repair costs. 2 of them are serious. 3 carry a recall or TSB number. **Quick answer**: We have 6 documented problems on record for the 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma, of which 2 are serious and 3 carry a recall or service bulletin. ## 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma recalls and service bulletins | Recall / TSB | Issue | Severity | | --- | --- | --- | | NHTSA 13V-557 (Toyota DOU/D1U) | 2.7L valve springs can fracture (recall) | major | | TSB T-SB-0046-12 Rev1 | Driveline clunk/thunk from the rear driveshaft (4WD) | minor | | NHTSA 14V-054 | Brake actuator electrical fault disables VSC/ABS (recall) | moderate | Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the vehicle's age, mileage, or how many owners it has had. Check your VIN against the NHTSA database to see what is still outstanding. ## 2.7L valve springs can fracture (recall) (major) Certain 2013-2014 four-cylinder Tacomas were built with valve springs containing microscopic debris that can cause the spring to fracture, producing a ticking idle, misfires, or a stalled/severely damaged engine. Toyota recalled the trucks and replaced all valve springs free. Check the VIN. V6 trucks are not affected. Most affected: 2013-2014 (2.7L only). Typical cost: Free under recall. Recall/TSB: NHTSA 13V-557 (Toyota DOU/D1U). ## Frame rust in salt states (major) Toyota's famous $3.4B frame-rust settlement covered 2005-2010 Tacomas (free inspection and frame replacement for perforation), but it did NOT extend to 2012-2015 trucks, and a later class action over 2011+ frames produced no comparable settlement. These frames still rust in road-salt regions, inspect the frame rails, especially above the rear axle and spring hangers, before buying, and wash/oil-undercoat annually if you live in the rust belt. Most affected: 2012-2015 (northern/salt-state trucks; no recall coverage). Typical cost: $150-$500 preventive undercoating; frame repair/replacement $3,000-$15,000 out of pocket. ## Driveline clunk/thunk from the rear driveshaft (4WD) (minor) A clunk when shifting between R and D or on throttle tip-in is usually the rear propeller shaft slip-yoke binding. Toyota issued TSB T-SB-0046-12 with an improved rear propeller shaft; many owners fix it for pennies by cleaning and greasing the slip-yoke splines during tire rotations. Most affected: 2012-2015 (4WD). Typical cost: $0-$20 DIY grease; $300-$600 shaft service; TSB shaft covered under warranty when it applied. Recall/TSB: TSB T-SB-0046-12 Rev1. ## EVAP codes P0440/P0441/P0455 (purge valve, charcoal canister) (minor) A check-engine light with EVAP small/large-leak codes is a signature 2nd-gen Tacoma pattern, first suspect a loose gas cap, then the purge VSV (cheap), then the charcoal canister (not cheap, mounted near the tank). No recall; parts fail with age and dust. Most affected: 2012-2015. Typical cost: $40-$80 purge valve DIY; $450-$700 canister with labor. ## Brake actuator electrical fault disables VSC/ABS (recall) (moderate) On 2012-2013 trucks, increased electrical resistance in the skid-control ECU inside the brake actuator can illuminate ABS/VSC warning lights and disable stability control and ABS. Toyota recalled affected trucks and repaired the actuator assembly free. Most affected: 2012-2013. Typical cost: Free under recall. Recall/TSB: NHTSA 14V-054. ## Heater blower works only on high (resistor failure) (minor) When the fan runs only on its highest setting, the blower motor resistor has failed, a very common, well-understood failure on this cabin's HVAC. The resistor is a cheap plug-in part behind the glovebox; no campaign exists because it is a routine wear item. Most affected: 2012-2015. Typical cost: $25-$60 part, 15-minute DIY. Problems listed here are compiled from NHTSA complaints, recalls, technical service bulletins, and widely documented owner reports for the 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma. Not every vehicle will experience these issues. ## Which Toyota Tacoma model years does this cover? These problems and recalls specifications apply to every Toyota Tacoma built from 2012 through 2015, the 2nd generation (N250, facelift years), mid-size pickup (regular, access, double cab; 2wd/4wd). Nothing in this specification changes between those model years. - [2012 Tacoma](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012) - [2013 Tacoma](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2013) - [2014 Tacoma](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2014) - [2015 Tacoma](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2015) ## What changed during the 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma | Years | What changed | | --- | --- | | 2012 | Facelift year for the 2005-2015 generation: new front end, interior, and Entune head units; mechanical carryover | | 2013 | Last year of the X-Runner street-performance trim | | 2015 | Final year of the 2nd generation; TRD Pro trim debuts (265/70R16 with Bilstein suspension) | ## 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma problems and recalls: common questions ### What are the most common problems with the 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma? The recurring ones are: 2.7l valve springs can fracture (recall); frame rust in salt states; driveline clunk/thunk from the rear driveshaft (4wd); evap codes p0440/p0441/p0455 (purge valve, charcoal canister); brake actuator electrical fault disables vsc/abs (recall). Each is detailed above with symptoms, affected years, and typical cost. ### Which 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma years should you avoid? The years to be most careful with are those affected by 2.7l valve springs can fracture (recall) (2013-2014 (2.7L only)) and frame rust in salt states (2012-2015 (northern/salt-state trucks; no recall coverage)). A documented problem is not automatically a reason to walk away. Service records showing the repair was done change the picture entirely. ### Are there recalls on the 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma? 3 of the issues listed carry a recall or technical service bulletin: NHTSA 13V-557 (Toyota DOU/D1U) (2.7l valve springs can fracture (recall)), TSB T-SB-0046-12 Rev1 (driveline clunk/thunk from the rear driveshaft (4wd)), NHTSA 14V-054 (brake actuator electrical fault disables vsc/abs (recall)). Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of age or mileage. Check your VIN on the NHTSA site to see what is outstanding. ### How much do 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma repairs typically cost? Typical figures for the issues above: 2.7l valve springs can fracture (recall), Free under recall; frame rust in salt states, $150-$500 preventive undercoating; frame repair/replacement $3,000-$15,000 out of pocket; driveline clunk/thunk from the rear driveshaft (4wd), $0-$20 DIY grease; $300-$600 shaft service; TSB shaft covered under warranty when it applied; evap codes p0440/p0441/p0455 (purge valve, charcoal canister), $40-$80 purge valve DIY; $450-$700 canister with labor. ## Sources - [Toyota technical data, Tacoma N200 fluids & capacities (toyota-club.net)](https://toyota-club.net/files/techdata/ttx/tacoma_200.htm) - [Toyota Support, which engines get 5,000 vs 10,000-mile oil intervals](https://support.toyota.com/s/article/What-are-the-oil-chan-7604) - [NHTSA recall 13V-557, 2TR-FE valve springs](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2013/RCMN-13V557-5284.pdf) - [NHTSA TSB T-SB-0046-12, 4WD rear propeller shaft clunk](https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2013/MC-10132101-9999.pdf) - [Reuters, Toyota $3.4B frame rust settlement (2005-2010 Tacoma)](https://www.reuters.com/article/business/toyota-to-settle-us-truck-rust-lawsuit-for-up-to-34-billion-idUSKBN1370PE/) - [TirePressures.co, 2013 Tacoma placard pressures](https://tirepressures.co/cars/toyota/tacoma/2013/) - [fueleconomy.gov, 2014 Tacoma EPA ratings](https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2014_Toyota_Tacoma.shtml) - [Kendall Toyota parts, 90915-YZZD1 oil filter supersession](https://parts.kendalltoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-oil-filter-90915yzzd1) ## Other Toyota Tacoma generations - [2024-2025 Toyota Tacoma problems and recalls](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2024-2025/common-problems) - [2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma problems and recalls](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2016-2023/common-problems) Or [compare all generations](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/common-problems). ## More for the 2012-2015 Toyota Tacoma - [Oil & filter](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/oil) - [Battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/battery) - [Tires & wheels](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/tires) - [Wiper blades](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/wipers) - [Air & cabin filters](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/filters) - [Bulbs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/bulbs) - [Fluids](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/fluids) - [Service schedule](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/service-schedule) - [Oil light reset](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/oil-reset) - [Key fob battery](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/key-fob-battery) - [Specs](https://whichcarparts.com/cars/toyota/tacoma/2012-2015/specs) Specifications vary with engine option, production date, and market.