Which OBD2 scanner can read and clear a check engine light on a 2012 Toyota?

I had the same thing happen on my 2012 Toyota this week. I first tried a borrowed basic reader that only showed the code and nothing else, so I could not check live data to confirm what was actually happening before clearing it.

I bought Veepeak OBDCheck BLE and it solved it right away. It connects over Bluetooth to iOS and Android and shows live data, and I used it to watch fuel trims and then clear the light after tightening the gas cap. The only minor drawback is you need a phone app to use it, but once set up it is quick and dependable.

Any basic OBD2 tool will talk to a 2012 Toyota for engine codes and live data :) If you want to use your phone look for a small Bluetooth or WiFi adapter that specifically says it supports live data streaming and code clearing, then pair it with a reputable OBD app. Double check phone compatibility first, since some Bluetooth adapters only work on Android while iPhone needs a different connection type and... you will be able to see short term and long term fuel trims, O2 sensor activity, coolant temp, and readiness monitors, and you can clear the code after you verify the cause.

I recommend reading the code and freeze frame, fixing the obvious thing if it is simple, then doing a short drive and clearing it once you have confirmed trims look normal. Remember that clearing codes resets readiness monitors, so plan a short drive cycle before any inspection. Also do not leave a dongle plugged in all the time, as some can keep modules awake and drain the battery.

Just use a cheap little Bluetooth OBD adapter with a phone app on my 2011 Camry and it reads live data and clears the light without any fuss :) For your year, any adapter that says it handles generic OBD2 will pull powertrain codes and stream data like trims and O2s. If you are on iPhone, make sure the adapter mentions iOS support and some of the bargain ones are Android only.

One other tip from experience. Read the code and check freeze frame first, then look at live data with the engine fully warmed up to see if trims settle down before you clear anything. If you want to avoid buying, many parts stores will pull the code for free and some even let you borrow a scanner. Works fine.