Recall 12V092 affects 495,470 2005-2009 Toyota Tacoma trucks for spiral cable damage that deactivates the driver's air bag. Free repair at any franchised Toyota dealer.
Toyota is recalling 495,470 2005-2009 Tacoma trucks because steering wheel vibration can damage the spiral cable that powers the driver air bag. If the cable is damaged, the air bag warning lamp turns on and the driver air bag can stop working in a crash, increasing injury risk; the Toyota dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The spiral cable assembly, also called the clockspring, sits inside the steering column behind the steering wheel. It keeps an electrical path open between the steering wheel and the driver's frontal air bag while the wheel turns during normal driving. On 2005-2009 Toyota Tacoma trucks, that cable is part of the system that lets the air bag receive power when it is needed.
Over time, steering wheel vibration can wear or damage the spiral cable assembly. If the cable is damaged, the driver's air bag circuit can lose that connection, which can deactivate the air bag. That means the air bag is not available to deploy as designed in a crash.
There is no warning sign before the cable damage happens. Once the damage occurs, the air bag warning lamp will illuminate, so an owner sees the warning only after the air bag circuit has already been affected.
Who's affected?
Every listed Tacoma model year is tied to the same front air bag component.
| 2006 Toyota Tacoma | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2005 Toyota Tacoma | front air bag |
| 2007 Toyota Tacoma | front air bag |
| 2008 Toyota Tacoma | front air bag |
| 2009 Toyota Tacoma | front air bag |
| Units affected | 495,470 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, the driver's side air bag can fail to deploy, increasing the risk of personal injury. There is no listed warning sign before this defect matters, so confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule the recall work. Repair will be free at any franchised Toyota dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2005-2009 Toyota Tacoma is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Toyota dealer and ask whether the free spiral-cable replacement is ready for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 12V092 when you call so the service desk can find the correct Toyota repair.
- Bring the recall notice if Toyota mailed one, and describe any air bag warning light on the dash.
- Drive with extra care until the repair is complete because the driver's air bag can fail to deploy in a crash.
What happens at the repair
The record identifies the dealer remedy as replacement of the spiral cable assembly, also called the clock spring. Once Toyota confirms the final repair is available for your VIN, a Toyota technician replaces that assembly so the driver air bag module has the correct electrical connection through the steering wheel. The dealer repair will be free once available. Before any repair visit, ask the service desk to confirm parts and remedy status for recall 12V092.
Timeline
| March 7, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 3, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V092?
Recall 12V092 covers 495,470 2005-2009 Toyota Tacoma trucks with a spiral cable assembly defect in the driver's air bag system. Steering wheel vibration can damage the clockspring, turn on the air bag warning lamp, and deactivate the driver's side air bag.
What should I do if my 2005-2009 Toyota Tacoma is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 12V092. If it is, contact a franchised Toyota dealer and ask for the spiral cable assembly replacement. Reference recall number 12V092 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Toyota's remedy for recall 12V092 says dealers will replace the spiral cable assembly free of charge. Any franchised Toyota dealer can perform the recall repair, even if you bought the truck from another dealer or now own it used.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the driver's side air bag will not deploy in a crash if the spiral cable assembly is damaged. That increases the risk of personal injury. Toyota's fix is to replace the spiral cable assembly at no cost.
What warning signs should I watch for?
Watch for the air bag warning lamp. Toyota's filing says steering wheel vibration can damage the spiral cable assembly, and the warning lamp will illuminate if that damage occurs. If your VIN is included, schedule the free repair with a Toyota dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V092000 |
|---|---|
| Toyota customer service | 1-800-331-4331 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V092 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V092000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →