Spare tire carrier may fail
Defect Summary
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.
Safety Consequence
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.
Corrective Action
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.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing or involving Tires.
FAQ: Recall 12V542000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 12V542000?
NHTSA recall 12V542000 was issued by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing on November 23, 2012. It addresses: Spare tire carrier may fail. The recall affects approximately 150,000 vehicles, with the defect involving the Tires component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 12V542000 or the manufacturer campaign number NR (Not Reported). Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.