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severe Owners of the 2012 Toyota Tundra have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Tundra | 11 |
| 2011 Tundra | 19 |
| 2012 Tundra (this page) | 12 |
| 2013 Tundra | 10 |
| 2014 Tundra | 6 |
| 2016 Tundra | 7 |
All 2 active steering recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth® connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth® failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth® Audio functions are no longer functioning with customer?s phone such as ability to change the track using the steering wheel controls. These concerns can be caused by changes made on the customer?s phone. Make sure to inquire with the customer if the connectivity concerns occurred after receiving an operating system update on their phone, or if they have restored their phone data/settings recently.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners report a clear pattern of power steering rack and pinion failures in 2012 Tundras, with the steering rack developing seal leaks on the passenger side between 37,000 and 156,000 miles. Fluid loss occurs suddenly while driving, causing complete loss of power steering assist—several owners nearly crashed because they couldn't turn the wheel. Leaks appear at the accordion bellows boot on the passenger side. Repair costs are substantial: one owner paid $1,937, another $3,000 (requiring engine removal for 18 hours of labor). Dealers have been reluctant to cover repairs under warranty, citing lack of prior replacement or claiming external debris caused the seal failure—though one owner disputed this claim.
Additional steering issues include a steering wheel that moves on its spline bushing even when locked (risk of wheel detachment), steering wheel shaking and corrosion, and one case of steering failure with popping sounds at high mileage. One owner's vehicle was crashed by a dealer technician during inspection and never repaired. Owners report seeing similar failures discussed frequently on Tundra forums and Facebook groups. NHTSA Campaign 21E103000 (Steering) has been referenced, but coverage remains ambiguous.
Same Toyota Tundra steering reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013
Steering rack and pinion assembly develops seal failure on the passenger side, causing rapid power steering fluid loss and loss of power steering assist while driving. Fluid leaks from the accordion/bellows boot on the passenger side of the rack.
When: 37,000 to 156,485 miles; one case at 68,000 miles, one at 100,000 miles, one at 47,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering assist while driving; Power steering fluid leaking from passenger-side bellows boot; Steering wheel becomes difficult or impossible to turn; Popping or shuttering sounds from steering; Nearly caused accidents due to loss of control
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement required; one owner cited $1,937 repair cost, another cited $3,000 with 18-hour labor (requires engine assembly removal); dealers and independent mechanics identified as source
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota dealers initially refused warranty coverage citing lack of prior replacement; one owner reported Toyota claimed seal failure due to ripped dust boot from external debris (owner disputes this); NHTSA Campaign 21E103000 referenced but coverage unclear
Steering wheel spline bushing wears or fails to grip properly, allowing the steering wheel to move on the shaft even when locked. Spline itself remains fixed but wheel slides on bushing.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel moves side to side when locked in place; Loss of steering wheel centering and position stability; Risk of steering wheel coming loose or detaching completely
Repairs/costs cited: Owner performed visual inspection by removing locking nut and observing wheel-to-bushing movement; no repair cost cited
Steering wheel exhibits shaking and corrosion. Vehicle taken to dealer; technician crashed vehicle during diagnostic attempt; failure not repaired.
When: 37,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shaking; Visible corrosion on steering wheel
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after dealer crash
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified; no recall or repair offered
Steering system fails with abnormal popping sounds during low-speed driving. No diagnostic performed or repair completed.
When: 156,485 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering failure at low speed; Abnormal popping sounds; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to residence; not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Campaign 21E103000 (Steering); manufacturer not notified by owner
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Horn stopped working before 100,000 miles and dealership won't replace it. Wants to charge over $600 to fix. Vehicle was not in any wreck to cause horn damage. It is due to faulty equipment from Toyota. Seatbelt latch doesn't connect seatbelt sometimes and also won't release at times when attached.
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.