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Toyota Tarago 2012 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2012 Toyota Tarago? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2012 Toyota Tarago issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2012 Toyota Tarago in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Tarago child seat location

There are three anchor points on the back of the second row of seats.

Used Toyota Tarago review: 1990-2015

However the first Taragos were nothing more than delivery vans with extra seats, side windows and a bit of added trim. Toyota decided to make a complete change in direction and from 1990 the Tarago was a pure people mover with all that means in the way of added comfort and safety features. 

Though so-called 'Egg-shaped' 1990s Taragos are getting on in years they are tough creatures and with proper maintenance and driving many are still going strong. However, unless you're an expert, make sure to get a professional inspection as major repairs can ruin your budget.

A weak point of the 1990 to 1999 Tarago is that all rear occupants have to get in and out of a single side door. The all-new Tarago of May 2000 had passenger doors on both sides, as has every model since. A new design was launched in March 2006 and continues to this day with upgrades in February 2009 and July 2012 to keep it up to date.

The Tarago is spacious, with a virtually flat floor throughout. Seating is provided for seven or eight, depending on whether the centre row has twin individual seats or a three-place bench. Boot space is reasonable even with all the seats being used – and very large if the rear seats are folded. 

Comfort is generally good, though rough roads may cause the ride to deteriorate. Handling is good, for a people mover, and it's safe in the way it understeers to push itself back into line if the driver makes a mistake.

The Tarago has good resale value so you will pay top dollar for a good one. Hopefully, the extra price when you buy is is still there when it's time to trade it in. Having it serviced by a Toyota dealer will aid resale price.

Performance from the four-cylinder, 2.4-litre engine is likely adequate for most drivers, though the Tarago will struggle on hills if it's carrying a big load. Have family and/or friends come along for your test drive to add a bit of weight to the equation.

A powerful 3.5-litre V6 engine option for the upmarket Taragos was introduced in 2007. The V6 engine comes with a six-speed automatic and naturally has far more performance so makes a great country tourer with the family on board. 

Toyota offers the option of a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic transmission on the four-cylinder versions, with the auto being by far the more popular. The facelifted 2012 model year saw the introduction of an efficient CVT automatic

Most 1990 to 2000 Taragos have rear-wheel drive, but some had the option of extra grip by way of four-wheel drive. These latter weren't aimed at off-road users, but at providing greater safety on icy and/or unmade roads. As they are heavier they lose some performance and have higher fuel consumption. Not many were sold.

From 2000 onwards front-wheel-drive was used to improve space efficiency.

Quite a few grey imports have been brought downunder. Look for names Previa or Estima on the badges as the Tarago name was exclusive to Australia. Then again, the badges may have been updated to Tarago… 

Toyota's spare parts network is one of the largest in Australia and has operated efficiently for decades. Because of Toyota's strength in country areas, even in the far-distant bush, availability is excellent. If you do have troubles there are likely to be mechanics with plenty of experience, official or unofficial, on Toyotas.

Parts prices are about average for this type of vehicle. Some body parts on the 1990 to 2000 Tarago can be pretty expensive due to their size and complexity. 

The 'Egg' Toyota Taragos are getting on in years so getting parts is starting to become a problem. Specialist recyclers are a handy source of parts for older models.

Toyota Taragos have been a longtime favourite as hotel shuttle buses, airport transfer vehicles and taxis. These may have done some hard work, though to compensate for this they are usually serviced by the book, so ask to see the service records.

Insurance on the Tarago can be slightly more expensive than average but not outrageously so. Shop around for the best deal, but be sure to understand exactly what you are getting for your money.

You may also care to look at the Toyota Spacia, a smaller people mover with quite a few similarities to the Tarago. Unlike the Tarago the Spacia was seldom used commercially.

Check the condition of the seats, carpet and trim carefully for signs of heavy-duty usage as it may have been a shuttle bus in its early years. 

The engine should start easily. Ideally get to it when it's stone cold in the morning.

A puff of smoke from the exhaust when a cold engine first kicks over may indicate wear.

Wear may also show up as smoke from the exhaust when the engine is accelerated hard after it's been idling for a while.

The gearbox or automatic transmission should be precise and smooth in operation, with no crunching from a manual gearbox on fast downchanges.

We have come across more than one Tarago 4WD that has obviously spent time at the beach. Hmm...

Look for rust in the lower areas of the body and in the floor of the cabin and luggage area, though it's certainly not a common occurrence. Vehicles badly repaired after a crash may suffer from rust.

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Used Toyota Tarago review: 2000-2012

No one cared too much about family transporters when the Tarago first appeared in our showrooms in the early 1990s, most were simply commercial vans converted for the purpose. But by 2000 when the all-new purpose-built Tarago appeared they were being taken much more seriously.

For the first time peoplemovers didn't look like their commercial cousins, they were their own models owing nothing to any other. The all-new Tarago was still able to transport a sizeable crowd, up to eight, but now it could do it with a degree of style and comfort.

It wasn't a small critter, but its size meant there was plenty of room inside, enough to have three rows of seats, with room left over for a decent amount of luggage. It wasn't only roomy; it was also flexible thanks to the ability to slide the second and third row seats back and forth. They could also be variously split and folded to accommodate a vast array of things in addition to people.

Entry to the rear was through sliding side doors on each side, and once aboard you could move around the cabin as needed. There were also a number of storage options spread around the cabin to take the things families seem to accumulate on their travels.

Power initially came from a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine that was laid over under the floor. With 115 kW and 221 Nm it gave the Tarago surprisingly brisk performance, while also delivering reasonable fuel economy for a car of its large dimensions. Even more performance was added in 2007 when a 3.5-litre V6 was released as an option.

When you ordered the four-cylinder you got a four-speed auto transmission, the later V6 had a 6-speed auto. All were front-wheel drive, which allowed for a flat floor throughout the cabin.

The high seating position gave the driver a good view down the road, although the thick pillars compromised the view a little when turning right.

Owners generally praise their Taragos, they like the flexibility of the interior seating, and they love its reliability. As a result a number have hung on to their cars for a long time and have racked up a lot of kays, but the good news is that they have done it without any serious trouble.

One thing to be aware of are the requirement to use Premium unleaded fuel in the V6, which will add to the running costs. Another thing some owners comment on is the toning of the interior trim, which marks easily. That's certainly something families with kids should be aware of, and something buyers should look out for.

Mechanically the Tarago stands up impressively well with no engine issues to be concerned about. We have heard of a couple of early Taragos that have had transmission problems, and while it's not a widespread problem it's a reminder to check the transmission during your road test. Make sure it shifts gears smoothly and without hesitation, and that it doesn't hunt for gears. Higher mileage cars are more likely to be affected, so be even more careful when road testing an older car.

If you buy a car with high mileage, and there's no reason not to, it might be a good idea to have the transmission serviced

If you buy a car with high mileage, and there's no reason not to, it might be a good idea to have the transmission serviced. Make sure the car you've chosen to buy has been serviced as recommended by Toyota, even if not done by a Toyota dealer. Tarago engines have timing chains, so owners don't face the added servicing cost of changing a belt.

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Used Toyota Tarago review: 1990-2013

Toyota Tarago has been sold in Australia in large numbers since the 1980s. Early versions were nothing more than delivery vans with extra seats, side windows and a bit of added trim. From 1990, Tarago was a pure people mover with all that means in the way of comfort and safety. These are the models being surveyed here.

The Tarago is spacious, with a virtually flat floor throughout. Moving about inside isn't all that easy due to the relatively low roof however, Tarago is hardly alone in this.

Seating is provided for seven or eight, depending on whether the centre row has twin individual seats or a three-place bench. 

A real weak point of the 1990 to 1999 Tarago is that all rear occupants have to get in and out of a single side door. The all-new model of 2000 had passenger doors on both sides, as has every model since. 

Boot space is reasonable even with all the seats being used – and very large if the rear seat is folded out of the way. It's not possible to carry large amounts of luggage for seven or eight people if they are all travelling in the vehicle, but again this the norm in most people movers.

Comfort is generally good, though rough roads with a fair load on board may cause the ride to deteriorate. Handling is good – for a people mover, that is – and it's safe in the way the vehicle understeers to push itself back into line if the driver makes a mistake.

Tarago has good resale value so you will pay top dollar for a good one. Hopefully, the extra price when you buy is is still there with it become time to trade it in. 

Performance from the four-cylinder, 2.4-litre engine is adequate for most drivers, though the Tarago will struggle on hills if it's carrying a big load. 

Toyota offers the option of a five-speed manual gearbox or a four-speed automatic transmission on the four-cylinder versions, with the auto being by far the more popular. Manual gearboxes could be hard to get out of when it comes time to trade or resell. The 2012 model year saw the introduction of a far more efficient CVT automatic transmission. 

A 3.5-litre V6 engine option for the Tarago was introduced in 2007, it wasn't all that popular at the time as it was relatively expensive, but sales have improved in recent years. The V6 engine comes with a six-speed automatic as the engine's torque, when compared to the four-cylinder, means it doesn't need a CVT. Having said that, one may be in the pipeline.

Most Taragos have rear-wheel drive, but some early models offered the option of extra grip by way of four-wheel drive. These latter weren't aimed at off-road users, but at providing greater safety on icy and/or unmade roads. As they are heavier they lose some performance and have higher fuel consumption.

Toyota's spare parts network is one of the largest in Australia and has operated efficiently for decades. Parts prices are about average for this type of vehicle. Some body parts on the 1990 to 2000 Tarago can be pretty expensive due to their size and complexity. 

We haven't heard any complaints about availability of parts on early models, but they are getting on in years so problems may surface soon. Recyclers are a handy source of parts for older cars.

Toyota Taragos have been a longtime favourite with commercial operators, as hotel shuttle buses and airport transfer vehicles. These may have done some hard work, though to compensate for this they are usually serviced by the book. Ask to see the service records.

Insurance on the Tarago can be slightly more expensive than average but not outrageously so. Shop around for the best deal, but be sure to understand exactly what you are getting for your money.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Check the condition of the seats, carpet and trim carefully for signs of heavy-duty usage, particularly in the back if you suspect you're looking at a onetime shuttle bus. 

Make sure the engine starts easily. Ideally get to it when it's stone cold in the morning, and look for a puff of smoke from the exhaust when it first kicks over.

Engine wear may also show up smoke from the exhaust pipe when the engine is accelerated hard after it's been idling for a while.

The gearbox or automatic transmission should be precise and smooth in operation, with no crunching from a manual gearbox on fast downchanges.

We have come across more than one Tarago 4WD that has obviously spent time at the beach. Beware...

Look for rust in the lower areas of the body and in the floor of the cabin and luggage area, though it's certainly not a common occurrence. Vehicles badly repaired after a crash may suffer from rust.

HOW MUCH?

Expect to pay from $2000 to $4000 for a 1990 Toyota Tarago RV; $4000 to $7000 for a 1995 GLi; $9000 to $14,000 for a 2000 Ultima; $11,000 to $17,000 for a 2006 GLX; $15,000 to $22,000 for a 2008 GLi V6; $21,000 to $29,000 for a 2008 Ultima V6; $25,000 to $33,000 for 2012 GLi V6; $35,000 to $47,000 for a 2013 GLX V6; and $42,000 to $56,000 for a 2013 Ultima V6. 

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