Recall 13V494 affects 979 2012-2013 Toyota Tacoma trucks with missing spare-wheel lug nuts. Repair is free at any franchised Toyota dealer.
Toyota is recalling 979 2012-2013 Tacoma pickups equipped with 18-inch Maverick Alloy Wheels because the spare tire needs a different lug nut than the other wheels, and those lug nuts were not provided. If the spare is installed with the standard lug nuts, wheel damage can lead to a loose wheel and increased crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The temporary spare tire on a 2012-2013 Toyota Tacoma is the emergency wheel used after a flat tire. Lug nuts hold any wheel tightly against the wheel hub, and the correct nut shape matters because it centers and clamps the wheel under load. Tacoma trucks equipped with 18-inch Maverick Alloy Wheels use a different lug nut setup than the spare tire requires.
On affected Tacomas, the spare tire needs a different style of lug nut than the regular wheels use. Those spare tire lug nuts were not provided with the truck. When the spare is needed, the lug nuts already on the truck do not provide the required attachment for the spare, so the spare cannot be installed correctly with the supplied hardware.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem shows up after a flat tire, when the driver or service technician tries to install the spare and finds that the correct lug nuts are missing.
Who's affected?
| 2012 Toyota Tacoma | tire |
|---|---|
| 2013 Toyota Tacoma | tire |
| Units affected | 979 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the spare tire or wheel is installed with lug nuts from another wheel, the wheel can be damaged and eventually loosen, increasing crash risk. Use only the proper spare wheel lug nuts, and schedule the recall work soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Toyota dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2013 Toyota Tacoma is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Toyota dealer to schedule the free spare-tire lug-nut kit, warning label, and owner's-manual addendum so the spare wheel uses the correct lug nuts.
- Bring the recall notice if Toyota has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 13V494 when you call.
- Keep the supplied spare-wheel lug nuts in the vehicle after the repair so the spare tire is installed with the correct hardware.
- Call Toyota customer service at 1-954-429-2000 with questions about the recall or dealer scheduling.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer remedy is available, a Toyota technician will install a warning label on the spare tire and wheel, supply a bag with the correct spare-wheel lug nuts, and place an owner's manual addendum in the glove box. The lug-nut bag matters because the Tacoma spare uses a different lug nut style than the other wheels. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under recall 13V494.
Timeline
| October 17, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 23, 2014 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V494?
Recall 13V494 covers 979 2012-2013 Toyota Tacoma trucks equipped with 18-inch Maverick Alloy Wheels. The spare tire needs a different lug nut style than the other wheels, but those lug nuts were not provided. Toyota dealers add a warning label, supply the correct lug nuts, and place an owner's manual addendum in the glove box.
What should I do if my 2012-2013 Toyota Tacoma is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Tacoma is included in recall 13V494. If it is, contact a franchised Toyota dealer and ask for the spare-wheel lug nut recall work. Reference recall number 13V494 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 13V494, Toyota dealers install the spare-wheel warning label, provide the correct spare-wheel lug nuts, and add the owner's manual insert free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk comes from installing the spare wheel with the wrong lug nuts. If the standard wheel lug nuts are used on the spare, the wheel can be damaged and become loose, increasing crash risk. Use the correct spare-wheel lug nuts supplied through the recall repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V494000 |
|---|---|
| Toyota customer service | 1-954-429-2000 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V494 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V494000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →