AirTag not showing in Find My on updated iPhone 12 Pro Max

I think this may have started with iOS 17 but after checking with 17.1 and 17.2, they still do not show up. Prior to that, the air tags were present and functional in my 12 Pro Max. There is no "items" icon or menu. Things I have tried:

1. Replace AirTag battery
2. Reboot iPhone (many times)
3. Restarted Bluetooth (many times)
4. Reset Air tags via battery removal and replace. (Takes more than 4 times before the sound changes - sometimes as many as 12!) Air tag opens the connect window while in discovery mode and can be renamed, etc. But subsequently it doesn't show up in Items.
5. Reset Location and Privacy
6. Kept the AirTag in close contact with the top of the iPhone for an hour or so in case there was an air tag firmware update.

Could the AirTag have failed? Or is there something I am missing?