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 ↗2012 Toyota Tundra steering problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Toyota Tundra have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 75,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Tundra | 11 |
| 2011 Tundra | 19 |
| 2012 Tundra (this page) | 12 |
| 2013 Tundra | 10 |
| 2014 Tundra | 6 |
| 2016 Tundra | 7 |
2crashes
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 12 steering complaints filed for the 2012 Toyota Tundra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
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
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering rack and pinion seal failure / fluid loss
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 wear / looseness
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 shaking and corrosion
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 failure with abnormal sounds
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.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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.
Had steering trouble with your 2012 Toyota Tundra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2012 Toyota Tundra?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 47,686 and 118,900 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,686; a quarter make it past 118,900. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
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.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Toyota/Tundra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.