Toyota recall: Tires
What is wrong
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2001 through 2004 Tacoma light trucks manufactured from August 28, 2000, through August 27, 2004, and originally sold, or currently registered, in the following cold climate states with high road salt usage: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The spare tire in the subject vehicles is located underneath the rear of the vehicle and held by a spare tire carrier. A lift plate on the carrier is used to help raise, lower and retain the tire. During its manufacture, the lift plate may not have been sufficiently coated with anti-corrosion materials. If the plate is insufficiently coated and the vehicle is operated in cold climate regions where road salts are frequently used, road spray can reach the carrier assembly and corrode the lift plate.
What could happen
Corrosion of the plate could cause it to break, which could result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle. Detachment of the spare tire could result in a road hazard which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix
Toyota will notify owners, dealers will inspect the vehicle and replace the spare tire carrier lift plate as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in February 2013. Owners may contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
Vehicles covered
- Toyota Tacoma 2001–2004
Facts
- NHTSA recall number
- 12V542000
- Type
- Vehicle
- Filed by
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Reported to NHTSA
- Nov 23, 2012
- Owners notified
- Feb 15, 2013
- Vehicles or items affected
- 150,000
- Started by
- The manufacturer
- Built
- Aug 28, 2000 to Aug 27, 2004
- Part
- Tires › Temporary/emergency spare tire
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other recalls for the same vehicles
- Toyota recall: Suspension Aug 6, 2026
- Lexus / Toyota recall: Equipment Mar 24, 2026
- Toyota recall: Power train Oct 1, 2025
- Lexus / Toyota recall: Electrical system Sep 11, 2025
- Toyota recall: Service brakes, hydraulic Feb 6, 2025
- Lexus / Toyota recall: Air bags Jan 29, 2025
To check one car, enter its 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA page: a recall may cover only some vehicles of a model year.
Recall data: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.