Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Toyota Tundra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 60 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 60, in the owner's own words
Wife was driving truck and immediately went into limp mode on the highway. Check engine light came on, no accelerating then died. Had to get it towed. This is the 3rd incident with this issue.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while plowing his driveway, there was an abnormal burning odor detected. The vehicle suddenly lost power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that oil was needed. The mechanic became aware that oil was dripping through a small crack on the cam shaft on the right cylinder bank onto the exhaust manifold. The contact was informed that the engine wiring harness was burned. The mechanic recommended that the engine and transfer case be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was informed after an investigation, that there was no evidence of a defect. The claim was denied. There was no additional assistance provided. The approximate failure mileage 175,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the light stayed illuminated while driving. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent certified mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the secondary air injectors needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the manufacturer had offered an Extended Warranty Program to cover the failure under "Warranty Enhancement Program ZG6" for "Air Injection Pumps and Air Switching Valves" and that the warranty had expired several months prior. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
Computer software issues. Flex full engine.
The engine leaks oil in front of the faulty designed cam tower seal and leaks on the manifold. This caused smoke to come from the oil burning off.
Secondary air injection pump has high rate of failure, recalls in older models. Has caused truck to go into limp mode. Could cause serious accident/fatality if vehicle suddenly goes into limp mode on highway. This has happened on multiple occasions in forums I’ve read. Known problem by Toyota that isn’t being addressed.
Secondary air injection system failed May 2019. ALL dash warning lights came on. Researched on-line and found truck would not have accelerated past “limp mode” (25-30 mph). Had to have vehicle towed to local Toyota dealer as I was over 40 miles from home (all highway). Toyota dealer diagnosed secondary air injection system failure. Cost to repair OVER $3000. Toyota has acknowledged this is a KNOWN design problem on the Tundra “big” V8s but refuses to recognize this is a design problem on the 2012 4.6L V8 models. Local dealer stated “we have lots of these lying around the shop so no problem getting the part.” Indicating this is a common problem/repair. Spoke directly with Toyota Corporate office who refused to acknowledge design fault or reimburse for repair. This is a HUGE safety issue caused by a known Toyota design problem that needs to be investigated by NHTSA. Toyota MUST be help accountable for this problem and made to correct the problem with a "recall".
Secondary air injection system failed June 2018. Vehicle went into limp mode on highway, a dangerous situation as you go from 70 to 30 MPH rather suddenly. Alamo Toyota dealership in San Antonio stated code PO418 and needs to have air pumps and valves replaced. Cost estimate of $3362.57. Toyota has acknowledged this is a design problem on certain Toyota Tundras but fails to recognize this is an issue on the 2012 4.6L V8 models. Toyota needs to take responsibility that this is still an issue with the 2012 4.6L V8 models.
Check engine light which when checked revealed Air pump and air control valve failures. This is a known problem with 2006-2011 Tundras that Toyota issued an extended warranty for 10 years or 150,000 to replace these parts. There was additional extended warranty for 2012 with 5.7 Liter engine but not the 4.6 liter engine. Safety issue is when total failure occurs vehicle goes into limp mode with max speed of 25MPH which would be bad at highway speeds. Code was run by repair facility and copy is enclosed. Email was sent to Toyota corporate and upon phone call follow up, Toyota refused to do anything towards the defect.
2012 Toyota Tundra Cam Carrier seal/cam tower leak on Passenger side. THE CONSUMER STATED ONCE THE OIL PRESSURE BECOMES HIGHER THAN THE BOND HOLDING THE SEAL ELEMENT, IT BEGINS TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving 25 mph, he heard an abnormal sound, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove to his residence. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the secondary air injection system to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,899.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT JOHN HARVEY TOYOTA (2901 BENTON RD, BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111, (318) 741-1337). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 25 MPH AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
MY TUNDRA WITH 75,000 MILES HAS A CAMSHAFT TOWER LEAK AND THIS OIL IS FALLING INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITHOUT BEING NOTICED BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE IT TO THE FLOOR, BUT IT GETS TO THE SENSORS AND STARTS RUINING THEM. TOYOTA MOTOR CO KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN ALL THEIR 5.7L ENGINES AND THAT ITS A FACTORY ROBOT ERROR BY NOT APPLYING ENOUGH SEALANT IN THE GASKET. AND THIS IS JUST BEING FIXED IF YOU ARE EITHER UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLES LOOSE POWER AND IF DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY CAN CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE LEAST THIS COMPANY CAN DO IS OFFER A VOLUNTARY RECALL BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO SO BECAUSE THE FIX WILL COST THEM $3500-$4000 FROM ALL THEIR 5.7L ENGINES ASSEMBLED IN THE U.S. SO FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MANY TOYOTA DRIVERS AND GENERAL HIGHWAY DRIVERS SAFETY, I HOPE THIS WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU
'12 TOYOTA TUNDRA APPEARS TO GO INTO LIMP MODE, BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER SHIP, A RECALL WAS LISTED FOR SOMETHING, DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE. HAD TO HAVE ABOUT $1,500OF WORK DONE. FIXED THE ISSUE....FOR 1.5 MONTHS. BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, THROWING ALL THE SAME CODES FOR ALL THE SAME PARTS. CLEARLY THE PARTS BEING USED AREN'T A FIX TO THE PROBLEM, AND SEEMS LIKE MORE THAN JUST IS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. AT THIS POINT IT'S PLAYING WITH PEOPLES LIVES. TOYOTA DEALT WITH THIS WITH EARLIER MODELS BUT ANYTHING 2012 AND UP , NOTHING IS BEING DONE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF THESE TRUCKS GO INTO LIMP MODE ON A HIGHWAY AND THEY GET HIT AT 70-80 MILES AN HOUR FROM SOMETHING OUT OF THE DRIVERS CONTROL, THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT. WHEN WILL A RECALL CONDO THIS, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS AND PULLING ONTO HIGHWAY THERE WAS NO POWER LIKE TRUCK WAS IN LIMP MODE AND TRACTOR TRAILOR HAD TO SWERVE OFF OF ROAD TO PREVENT SEVERE ACCIDENT. THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION HAS A SEVERE MAL FUNCTION WHICH TOYOTA ONLY RECOGNIZED IN EARLIER MODELS AND THEY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 10 YEAR AND 150,000 MILES. THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM I WISH SOMEONE WOULD INVESTIGATE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE AND LIVES ARE LOST. THERE IS NOT MUCH RESPONSE TIME TO MAKE A QUICK DECISION DURING THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU
LEAKY TUNDRA CAM TOWER SEAL. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT THEY USES A EPOXY TYPE SEAL THAT HAS BEEN FOUND TO LEAK, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH DIFFERENT TYPE OF GASKET SEAL..THE CHARGE FOR THIS APPROXIMATELY $ 5000.00 THAT THEY SAY IS THE CONSUMERS RESPONSIBILITY.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. GOT A CODE P0418-VEHICLE WILL GO LIMP/NOT ABLE TO GO OVER 25MPS. TOYOTA HAS A WARRANTY REPAIR PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR ALL 2012 TUNDRAS WITH A 5.7 SIZE BUT NOT MINE BECAUSE IT IS A 4.6 EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!!! *TR
MY 2012 TUNDRA WITH 107K DISPLAYED THE CHECK ENGINE, 4LO, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS AND WOULD ONLY DRIVE IN 'LIMP MODE'. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED AT STARTUP WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK ONE AFTERNOON, AND NOT AS I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I 'LIMPED' TO THE LOCAL DEALER USING BACK ROADS AND LEFT THE TRUCK FOR DIAGNOSIS. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TRUCK WAS EXHIBITING CODE 'P2440' FOR A FAULTY SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM VALVE, AND THAT BOTH SECONDARY AIR PUMPS AND VALVES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $2500, BUT "LUCKILY" THE DEALER HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK BECAUSE THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. SINCE I NEEDED THE TRUCK TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK EACH DAY, AND I AM NOT READY TO REPLACE IT, I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR AND PICKED IT UP THE NEXT DAY. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH ON-LINE SHOWED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE FOR YEARS. TOYOTA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS FOR MY 2007-2011, AND LATER FOR CERTAIN 2012 VEHICLES AS WELL. UNFORTUNATELY, IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE 2012S WITH THE 5.7L ENGINE ARE COVERED (MINE IS A 4.6L). FROM MY RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT THE PUMPS/VALVES IN MY TRUCK ARE THE EXACT SAME PARTS THAT ARE KNOWN TO FAIL (AND ARE COVERED) IN OTHER MODEL YEARS. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND OF COURSE THEY ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD 'LOG' THE ISSUE AND CONTACT ME SHOULD THE WARRANTY BE EXTENDED TO COVER MY TRUCK. JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HERE, I FEEL THAT IT WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION AND PERHAPS APPLYING SOME 'EXTERNAL' PRESSURE TO PERSUADE TOYOTA TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND COVER ALL OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. NOT ONLY IS THIS AN EMISSIONS ISSUE, BUT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF THE TRUCK WERE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, MY 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER AND EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE FAILURE KNOWN AS "FAIL-SAFE" OR "LIMP-HOME" MODE. AS EVIDENCED BY TOYOTA T-SB-0160-11, WARRANTY POLICY BULLETINS, AND WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS, TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND SAFETY ISSUE, YET HAS CHOSEN TO REPAIR OR COMPENSATE ONLY A SELECT FEW. THE PARTS THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER MY VEHICLE REPEATEDLY WENT INTO 'FAIL-SAFE / LIMP-HOME' MODE CORRESPOND DIRECTLY WITH THE PART NUMBERS REFERENCED IN TOYOTA WARRANTY POLICY BULLETIN POL17-02 WHICH COVERS THIS DEFECT IN OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT IN MY 2012 MODEL. MY OUT-OF-POCKET COST TO REPAIR THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WAS $3034.87. THIS A KNOWN AIR INJECTION SYSTEM WATER INTRUSION DEFECT AND COMMON SAFETY COMPLAINT AT THE NHTSA AND ON MULTIPLE TOYOTA FORUMS, AFFECTING NUMEROUS 2012 TUNDRA'S WHICH TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND COMPENSATE FOR. I HAVE WRITTEN SEVERAL LETTERS TO BOTH THE CEO OF TOYOTA AND THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF MY REPAIR COSTS AND HAVE BEEN DENIED TWICE; THE FIRST DENIAL IN WRITING, THE SECOND DENIAL VIA TELEPHONE. I REQUEST THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF OTHERS DRIVING THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES. TOYOTA HAS AN ETHICAL AND SAFETY OBLIGATION TO THE CONSUMER TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT AND TO COMPENSATE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE HAD TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THEIR FAILURE TO CORRECT THIS WELL-KNOWN ISSUE. *BF
2012 TUNDRA 4.6 V8 MY TRUCK WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE AND THE 4LO LIGHT FLASHES, CHECK ENGINE, AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS WERE ALL ON. ALMOST COMPLETE LOSE OF POWER WILL HAPPEN. IN TRAFFIC I END UP BLOCKING EVER VEHICLE BEHIND ME, BECAUSE THE TRUCK WILL NOT REACH THE SPEED LIMIT. IF THERE IS A HILL THEN THE TRUCK BARELY MOVES GOING UP THE HILL. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE I SAW IT'S A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM ON TOYOTA WITH THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP SEIZING. I CHECKED IT WITH THE CODE READER AT A LOCAL SHOP AND THE GUY CONFIRMED IT, CODE P2240 "AIR INJECTION SWITCHING VALVE STUCK OPEN BANK 1." HE TOLD ME HE USED TO WORK FOR TOYOTA AND KNEW THERE WAS THE EXTENDED REPAIR ON THIS ISSUE BUT COULDN'T RECALL THE SPECIFICS. I WENT INTO TOYOTA AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY WILL NOT COVER IT FOR MY TRUCK AFTER THEY RAN MY VIN NUMBER. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF TUNDRAS WITH THE 5.7L MOTOR ARE COVERED BUT THE 4.6L MOTORS ARE NOT. I WAS INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT IN THE FUTURE IT MIGHT BE COVERED.
I HAVE NOTICED AN OIL LEAK FROM THE CAMSHAFT HOUSING ON MY PASSENGER SIDE. THIS HAS LED TO OIL BURNING ON MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD.
WITH ONLY 81,719 MILES ON MY TRUCK I HAD TO HAVE THE AIR INJECTION PUMP & VALVES REPLACED ON 3/29/2019. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH HAD BEEN RECALLED IN THE 2011 & 2010 MODELS. IF A RECALL IS MADE WITHIN A YEAR OF THE PART BEING REPLACED I WILL BE REIMBURSED. I WORK FROM HOME AND THE TRUCK HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR LEISURE OR CHORES FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. IT WAS DRIVEN DAILY IN LAS VEGAS FROM 2015-2017 AND IN ORLANDO FROM 2012-2015. THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS. IN JANUARY OF 2019 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS PERFORMING WITH LESS POWER BUT EVERYTHING WORKED OKAY. INSTEAD OF DRIVING AN 8 CYLINDER TRUCK IT FELT LIKE DRIVING A FULL SIZE TRUCK WITH ONLY 4 CYLINDERS. THE ISSUE HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THEN THE PERFORMANCE JUST WENT SOUTH. I WAITED 2 MONTHS TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BECAUSE I RARELY DRIVE AND BECAUSE IT STILL RAN BUT WITH LESS POWER. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IF ANOTHER MECHANIC FIXED THE PROBLEM AND A RECALL CAME LATER THEN I WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED. AFTER I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY BECOME A RECALL I MOVED FORWARD WITH USING TOYOTA'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. MY GOAL IS TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL PENDING FOR THE 2012 TUNDRA AIR INJECTION SYSTEM OR AT LEAST FIND OUT IF THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. IF I WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY A DEALERSHIP USING THE RECALL AS A TACTIC TO GET MY BUSINESS I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO LET OTHERS KNOW SO I HOPE SOMEONE FROM THE NHTSA WILL FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I TOOK MY TUNDRA IN FOR A OIL CHANGE AND THE DEALER SHIP SAID I HAVE OIL LEAK AT THE TIMING BELT. IT WOULD BE OVER 1600.00 TO FIX THIS. IT IS TIME CONSUMING FOR THE LABOR RATE IS HIGH. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT.
MY TRUCK HAS BEEN HAVING HARD START ISSUES SINCE WINTER 2017. I FIGURED IT WAS MY BATTERY SO I REPLACED IT, BUT IT DIDNT HELP. THE HARD START WASN'T CONSISTENT SO I CHOSE TAKE SOME TIME TO SEE IF ANY OTHER PROBLEMS SURFACED. GOT THROUGH WINTER 2018 AND SPRING/SUMMER 2019 WITH IT STILL STARTING ROUGH ON OCCASION. BY OCTOBER 2019 MY TRUCK REACHED APPROX 78K MILES, AND ONE DAY IT DIDN'T START AT ALL. TOOK THREE TRIES TO GET IT GOING. I HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED ONCE AGAIN. IT TESTED BAD BUT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO I HAD I LT SWAPPED OUT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THIS TIME IT GAVE ME AN ENGINE LIGHT. MECHANIC SAID IT WAS AN 'EVAP CODE' AND RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE GAS CAP TO START. CODE DIDNT RETURN BUT STILL HARD STARTING. TOOK ALMOST TWO MONTHS AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THIS TIME P1604 STARTABILITY MALFUNCTION. WAS TOLD I HAD TO TAKE IT TO TOYOTA TO GET A REFLASH. I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND CAME ACROSS THE PROBLEMS TUNDRA OWNERS WERE HAVING WITH THIS FFV DENSITY SENSOR MALFUNCTION. PRINTED THE OLD SERVICE BULLETINS AND WENT TO TOYOTA TO TALK TO SERVICE DEPT ABOUT IT. THEY SAID TOYOTA JUST PUT OUT A NEW SERVICE BULLETIN IN DECEMBER 2019 FOR THE REFLASH BUT NOW ALSO REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP (TOYOTA TOLD ME DENSITY SENSOR ATTACHED TO THE PUMP). UNFORTUNATELY TOYOTA ALSO TOLD ME THEY WON'T COVER THE COST SINCE MY TRUCK HAD JUST GONE OVER 80K MILES, AND THEY ARE NOT FLEXIBLE WITH THAT AT ALL, EVEN THOUGH I TOLD THEM IT STARTED BEFORE 80K. T-SB-0166-19. SO I GOT PRICES. THE REFLASH IS ABOUT $140 AND JUST THE COST OF THE PUMP ITSELF IS $600, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE TOYOTA USA CUSTOMER CARE TEAM AND THEY SAID THEY CANT HELP ME SINCE I DIDNT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE IT. APPARENTLY IT DOESNT MATTER IF YOU HAVE SERVICE RECORDS FROM ANOTHER SHOP. THIS IS MY 3RD TOYOTA, AND I LOVE MY TRUCK SO THIS BREAKS MY HEART.
WHEN DRIVING MY CHECK ENGINE AND "TRAC OFF" LIGHT COMES ON AND THE ENGINEER WILL NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE THIRTY MILES AN HOURS. IF YOU DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND RESET THE COMPUTER IT WILL WORK FOR ABOUT THREE MILE THEN THE CHECK ENGINE AND "TRAC OFF" LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS THE SAME INDICATION EARLIER TUNDRA MODELS HAVE WITH SECONDARY AIR INJECTORS RECALL. AN IT IS WIDELY DOCUMENTED ONLINE AS A PROBLEM FOR 2012 TUNDRA'S. YET TOYOTA CONTINUES TO DENIES IT'S A PROBLEM AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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