NHTSA holds 6,928 complaints about the Toyota Tundra for the 2000 to 2025 model years, and 4,473 of them are for the 2000 to 2008 trucks. The years to avoid are 2000 (1,026 complaints), 2006 (545) and 2002 (511). Structure is the top complaint component in each of those three years, and 1,773 complaints across the model mention rust or corrosion. Newer trucks are not in the clear: 2022, 2023 and 2024 already have more than twice the median of 144.5 complaints per year, and three recalls cover engine main bearings that may fail on 2022 to 2024 models.
Toyota Tundra Common Problems and Years to Avoid (NHTSA Data)
By the founder of CarWorthItPublished
Short answer
Toyota Tundra years to avoid, going by NHTSA owner complaints: 2000 (1,026 complaints), 2006 (545) and 2002 (511), each at least twice the median model year (144.5). Newer years already past that line: 2022 (428 complaints), 2023 (405) and 2024 (335). The components owners report most are structure (1,729), service brakes (946) and suspension (815). NHTSA lists 81 recall campaigns and 9 defect investigations for the 2000 to 2025 model years.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and defect investigations for the 2000 to 2025 Toyota Tundra, 6,928 complaints in all, pulled September 28, 2026.
Toyota Tundra complaints and recalls by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation and distinct recall campaigns, for every model year with records, counted on September 28, 2026. The median model year up to 2021 drew 144.5 complaints; a year is marked to avoid when it is one of the three highest and drew at least twice that. Years after 2021 have had less time to collect complaints, so they are judged only if they already pass the same line.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Recalls | Crash / fire / injury reports | Most-reported components |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Too new to judge | 132 | 5 | 5 / 0 / 3 | Engine (45), Power train (35), Fuel/propulsion system (26) |
| 2024 | High already | 335 | 10 | 2 / 3 / 0 | Engine (148), Power train (83), Fuel/propulsion system (46) |
| 2023 | High already | 405 | 13 | 7 / 5 / 3 | Engine (163), Power train (85), Fuel/propulsion system (61) |
| 2022 | High already | 428 | 13 | 5 / 0 / 3 | Engine (164), Power train (104), Fuel/propulsion system (75) |
| 2021 | Fewest complaints | 24 | 3 | 1 / 1 / 1 | Electrical system (4), Seats (4), Visibility/wiper (3) |
| 2020 | Fewest complaints | 46 | 5 | 4 / 1 / 2 | Engine (6), Fuel/propulsion system (6), Electrical system (4) |
| 2019 | Fewest complaints | 72 | 10 | 4 / 2 / 5 | Fuel/propulsion system (15), Electrical system (13), Forward collision avoidance (11) |
| 2018 | Typical | 100 | 9 | 4 / 3 / 4 | Electrical system (26), Service brakes (22), Fuel/propulsion system (16) |
| 2017 | Typical | 78 | 6 | 2 / 0 / 1 | Electrical system (27), Exterior lighting (17), Fuel/propulsion system (14) |
| 2016 | Typical | 119 | 6 | 2 / 0 / 3 | Service brakes (34), Electrical system (26), Structure (21) |
| 2015 | Fewest complaints | 48 | 5 | 2 / 1 / 0 | Service brakes (10), Fuel/propulsion system (7), Electrical system (7) |
| 2014 | Typical | 93 | 5 | 2 / 1 / 2 | Electrical system (19), Structure (14), Wheels (8) |
| 2013 | Typical | 85 | 6 | 4 / 3 / 2 | Engine (23), Fuel/propulsion system (13), Electrical system (11) |
| 2012 | Typical | 155 | 4 | 7 / 2 / 1 | Engine (57), Fuel/propulsion system (25), Power train (21) |
| 2011 | Typical | 134 | 11 | 6 / 0 / 4 | Engine (35), Electrical system (21), Steering (19) |
| 2010 | Typical | 163 | 0 | 13 / 0 / 7 | Suspension (31), Structure (25), Vehicle speed control (25) |
| 2009 | Fewest complaints | 38 | 13 | 1 / 1 / 0 | Power train (11), Engine (5), Vehicle speed control (5) |
| 2008 | High | 327 | 13 | 24 / 2 / 7 | Vehicle speed control (77), Structure (56), Power train (46) |
| 2007 | High | 390 | 14 | 26 / 5 / 14 | Power train (73), Vehicle speed control (65), Structure (61) |
| 2006 | Year to avoid | 545 | 13 | 38 / 0 / 15 | Structure (169), Air bags (134), Suspension (91) |
| 2005 | High | 376 | 14 | 33 / 3 / 18 | Structure (91), Air bags (83), Suspension (75) |
| 2004 | High | 466 | 13 | 25 / 1 / 18 | Structure (200), Suspension (152), Air bags (50) |
| 2003 | High | 411 | 10 | 27 / 3 / 13 | Structure (151), Air bags (86), Suspension (63) |
| 2002 | Year to avoid | 511 | 6 | 33 / 1 / 17 | Structure (155), Service brakes (121), Hydraulic (102) |
| 2001 | High | 421 | 5 | 28 / 2 / 18 | Structure (171), Service brakes (113), Hydraulic (99) |
| 2000 | Year to avoid | 1,026 | 7 | 44 / 5 / 23 | Structure (530), Service brakes (276), Hydraulic (251) |
Counts are raw totals and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so a big-selling year draws more complaints than a slow one. Crash, fire and injury columns count complaints that report one, as filed by the owner.
Check the value and recall status of a specific Toyota Tundra
Model-year counts cannot tell you about the car in front of you. Enter its 17-character VIN for the free report: the exact year, trim and engine it was built with, the safety recalls NHTSA lists for its year, make and model, its crash-test ratings and running costs. No account. Then, from $2.99, see what that Toyota Tundra is worth at its mileage near your ZIP code, with the listings behind the number, and whether the asking price is fair. The $6.99 Full Report also checks that VIN for recalls still outstanding.
Frame and rust complaints on the early trucks
Structure is the largest complaint category, with 1,729 complaints, 530 of them for 2000. Complaints that mention rust or corrosion (1,773) and the frame (1,632) peak in the same three years: 2000, 2004 and 2006. Recall 09V444000 covers 2000 to 2003 trucks where excessive corrosion of the rear cross member may cause the spare tire to separate, and could affect the rear brake lines and proportioning valve, resulting in diminished braking capability. It followed investigation PE09049 into frame corrosion on 2000 to 2006 models. Every year from 2000 to 2008 has more than twice the median complaint count. These are raw totals, not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
Front ball joints on the 2002 to 2006 trucks
Suspension is the second component for 2004 (152 complaints), and 429 complaints mention ball joints, control arms or suspension, with 2004 the peak year (95). NHTSA opened four investigations into front ball joints: PE04040, EA04024, RQ06005 and EA06014. EA04024 led to recall 05V225000 for 2002 to 2004 models, and EA06014 led to recall 07V013000 for 2004 to 2006 trucks whose front lower ball joint may wear and loosen prematurely, with increased steering effort as a possible result. A later campaign, 22E002000, covers 2004 to 2006 models where the ball joint housing may have inadequate hardness.
Air bag inflator recalls and open investigations, 2003 to 2006
Air bags are a top-three complaint component for every year from 2003 to 2006, and 127 of the 492 complaints that mention air bags are for 2006. Campaign 18V883000 (2003 to 2005) covers passenger inflators that may explode due to propellant degradation, and 19V741000 (2003 to 2006) covers trucks whose inflators were replaced under a prior recall with inflators of the same design. NHTSA still lists two related investigations as open: EA15001, Air Bag Inflator Rupture (2003 to 2005), and EA21002, Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (2003 to 2006).
Engine main bearing recalls on the 2022 to 2024 trucks
Complaints rise again with 2022 (428), 2023 (405) and 2024 (335). Engine is the top component in each, and these three years lead complaints describing hesitation, jerking or surging, stalling or loss of power while driving, and engine failure, seizure or knocking. Recalls 24V381000 (2022 to 2023), 25V767000 (2022 to 2024) and 26V320000 (2024) all describe debris from the manufacturing process that may contaminate the engine and cause the main bearings to fail, which can result in an engine stall and loss of drive power.
What to check on a used Toyota Tundra
- On any 2000 to 2008 truck, have the frame, rear cross member and brake lines checked for rust; on a 2000 to 2003 truck, confirm recall 09V444000 was completed.
- On a 2002 to 2006 truck, confirm ball joint recall 05V225000 or 07V013000 was done and listen for front suspension noise.
- On a 2003 to 2006 truck, run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup, which lists any recall not yet repaired on that car (see what else a free VIN check shows) and make sure every air bag inflator campaign is complete.
- On a 2022 to 2024 truck, confirm the main bearing recall for that year was completed and note any hesitation, stalling or knocking.
- On a 2022 to 2025 truck, check that the rearview camera works in reverse (recall 25V657000).
- Before you settle on a price, check the seller's asking price against the Toyota Tundras for sale near you with the used car price check.
Before you make an offer, check what a specific Toyota Tundra is worth by VIN. The CarWorthIt valuation, from $2.99, prices that VIN at its mileage near your ZIP code against vehicles for sale.
What Toyota Tundra owners report most
NHTSA files each complaint under one or more component categories. Across all 6,928 Toyota Tundra complaints, these are the most common:
| NHTSA component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 1,729 | 25.0% |
| Service brakes | 946 | 13.7% |
| Suspension | 815 | 11.8% |
| Engine | 805 | 11.6% |
| Power train | 799 | 11.5% |
| Hydraulic | 563 | 8.1% |
| Air bags | 496 | 7.2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 460 | 6.6% |
| Electrical system | 448 | 6.5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 408 | 5.9% |
The categories are broad, so the owners' own descriptions were also searched for specific symptoms. These are counts of complaints whose text mentions each one, not diagnoses, and one complaint can mention several.
| What the complaint describes | Complaints | Share | Model years with the most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rust or corrosion | 1,773 | 25.6% | 2000 (507), 2004 (221), 2006 (201) |
| Frame | 1,632 | 23.6% | 2000 (494), 2004 (220), 2006 (199) |
| Brakes | 1,337 | 19.3% | 2000 (309), 2002 (151), 2001 (135) |
| Air bags | 492 | 7.1% | 2006 (127), 2005 (82), 2003 (81) |
| Steering | 461 | 6.7% | 2000 (74), 2002 (52), 2004 (39) |
| Ball joints, control arms or suspension | 429 | 6.2% | 2004 (95), 2002 (63), 2001 (60) |
| Hesitation, jerking or surging | 388 | 5.6% | 2022 (110), 2023 (72), 2024 (72) |
| Stalling or loss of power while driving | 297 | 4.3% | 2023 (63), 2024 (58), 2022 (51) |
| Engine failure, seizure or knocking | 288 | 4.2% | 2023 (64), 2024 (57), 2022 (40) |
| Check-engine light | 279 | 4.0% | 2012 (37), 2007 (29), 2008 (29) |
Toyota Tundra recalls (81 campaigns)
Every recall campaign NHTSA lists for the Toyota Tundra, newest first, with the model years it covers and NHTSA's own description of the defect, shortened. A recall on the model is not proof a given car was affected or left unrepaired: check a specific car by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or in the free CarWorthIt VIN report.
| Campaign | Reported | Model years | Component | The defect, in NHTSA's words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V571000 | September 2, 2026 | 2025 | Equipment | The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 26V320000 | May 20, 2026 | 2024 | Engine and engine cooling | Debris from the manufacturing process may contaminate the engine and cause a main bearing to fail, which can result in an engine stall and loss of drive power. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. |
| 26V179000 | March 24, 2026 | 2024 to 2025 | Equipment | The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 26V038000 | January 23, 2026 | 2024 to 2025 | Back over prevention | The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility." |
| 25V767000 | November 6, 2025 | 2022 to 2024 | Engine and engine cooling | Debris from the manufacturing process may contaminate the engine and cause the main bearings to fail, which can result in an engine stall and loss of drive power. |
| 25V657000 | October 1, 2025 | 2022 to 2025 | Back over prevention | A software error may cause the rearview image not to display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility." |
| 25V322000 | May 15, 2025 | 2022 to 2025 | Exterior lighting | Moisture may enter the reverse light assemblies and cause a light failure. Reverse light failure may reduce visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 24V767000 | October 15, 2024 | 2024 | Tires | The passenger-side front and rear tires may have inner sidewall damage, which can cause a sudden loss of tire pressure. A sudden loss of tire pressure can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 24V548000 | July 23, 2024 | 2023 to 2024 | Equipment | The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 24V381000 | May 30, 2024 | 2022 to 2023 | Engine and engine cooling | Debris from the manufacturing process may contaminate the engine and cause the main bearings to fail, which can result in an engine stall and loss of drive power. |
| 24V125000 | February 21, 2024 | 2022 to 2024 | Power train | Unexpected vehicle movement may occur when the vehicle is in neutral and the brakes are not applied. Unexpected vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash. |
| 23V757000 | November 9, 2023 | 2022 to 2024 | Equipment | The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 23V633000 | September 13, 2023 | 2023 | Equipment | The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 23V566000 | August 10, 2023 | 2022 to 2023 | Fuel system, gasoline | The plastic fuel tube routed near metallic brake lines may chafe against the brake lines and become damaged, possibly resulting in a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 23V468000 | July 7, 2023 | 2023 | Tires | The steel chain used to secure the spare tire to the underside of the vehicle may have been insufficiently welded. Chains that are not welded sufficiently can break and allow the spare tire to detach, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Show the other 66 Toyota Tundra recalls
| Campaign | Reported | Model years | Component | The defect, in NHTSA's words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23V142000 | March 3, 2023 | 2022 to 2023 | Structure | The tonneau cover attachment joints may come loose and allow the cover to detach. A tonneau cover that detaches while driving can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 23V111000 | February 22, 2023 | 2022 to 2023 | Electrical system | A software error in the combination meter's electronic control unit (ECU) may cause the Instrument Panel LCD display to go blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays." |
| 22V854000 | November 18, 2022 | 2023 | Equipment | The load carrying capacity modification label may indicate less weight than the actual total weight of accessories installed on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 22V661000 | September 1, 2022 | 2022 | Service brakes, hydraulic | The Skid Control ECU within the Brake Actuator Assembly may falsely detect an overcurrent condition of the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) Actuator and enter a failsafe mode which prevents the EPB from being engaged. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems." |
| 22V501000 | July 13, 2022 | 2022 | Electrical system | Incorrect programming of the parking-assist electronic control unit (ECU) software, may cause the front camera image to appear on the multimedia display instead of the rear camera image when the shifter is placed into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." |
| 22V445000 | June 23, 2022 | 2022 | Power train | The flange nuts on the axle shaft sub-assemblies can loosen over time and potentially cause one or both axle shaft sub-assemblies to separate from the axle housing. |
| 22V285000 | April 28, 2022 | 2022 | Electrical system | The parking assist electronic control unit (ECU) software may prevent transmission of the rearview camera signal during cold weather, preventing the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." |
| 22E002000 | January 14, 2022 | 2004 to 2006 | Suspension | The ball joint housing may have inadequate hardness, causing premature failure. A ball joint failure may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 21E103000 | December 23, 2021 | 2007 to 2009, 2011 to 2021 | Steering | The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak. An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 21V920000 | November 23, 2021 | 2007 to 2009, 2011 to 2021 | Steering | The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak. An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 21V688000 | September 2, 2021 | 2018 to 2021 | Exterior lighting | The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector. An overheated electrical connector can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 20V682000 | November 4, 2020 | 2019 to 2020 | Fuel system, gasoline | The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 20V410000 | July 15, 2020 | 2018 to 2020 | Exterior lighting | Due to a wiring error, the front turn signals may not flash brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." |
| 20V012000 | January 13, 2020 | 2018 to 2019 | Fuel system, gasoline | The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 19V741000 | October 17, 2019 | 2003 to 2006 | Air bags | The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. |
| 19V244000 | March 27, 2019 | 2019 | Equipment | The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 18V900000 | December 19, 2018 | 2019 | Equipment | The load carrying capacity modification label may have been incorrectly calculated. If the label is followed, the vehicle may be overloaded. An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash. |
| 18V883000 | December 12, 2018 | 2003 to 2005 | Air bags | These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation. |
| 18V711000 | October 11, 2018 | 2018 to 2019 | Equipment | The accessory all-weather floormats may have been counted twice when creating the load carrying capacity modification label, resulting in the capacity modification label incorrectly overstating the additional weight by 10 pounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 18V685000 | October 4, 2018 | 2018 to 2019 | Electrical system | The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended, in the event of a crash. |
| 18V123000 | February 20, 2018 | 2017 | Seats | One of the rear split bench seat leg brackets may not have been properly tightened to the vehicle's floor pan, possibly allowing the seat to move in a crash. A vehicle with an improperly tightened seat leg bracket could fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages," and 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems." |
| 18V122000 | February 20, 2018 | 2018 | Electronic stability control (esc) | Electrical interference within the power supply circuit may cause the vehicle's electronic stability control system to be deactivated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems." |
| 17V831000 | December 20, 2017 | 2017 to 2018 | Equipment | These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 17V416000 | June 29, 2017 | 2016 | Air bags | The affected vehicles have a passenger knee air bag module that was attached to the instrument panel mounting brackets with incorrect bolts. The incorrect bolts may cause the air bag module to loosen over time, affecting the performance of the knee airbag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. |
| 17V311000 | May 11, 2017 | 2013 to 2017 | Wheels | The Rockstar wheels were installed with lugnuts that may crack and detach. Lugnuts that crack and detach may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 17V051000 | January 24, 2017 | 2016 to 2017 | Structure | In the event of an impact to the corner of the bumper, the resin bracket may be damaged but not be noticed. If a person steps on the corner of the bumper that is damaged, a portion of the bumper may break away, increasing the risk of injury. |
| 16V420000 | June 9, 2016 | 2015 to 2016 | Equipment | The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars." |
| 16V396000 | June 2, 2016 | 2005 to 2009 | Seats | The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| 16V065000 | February 5, 2016 | 2005 to 2006 | Air bags | The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently. If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury. |
| 15V689000 | October 22, 2015 | 2009, 2011 | Visibility | During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts. If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire. |
| 15V315000 | May 27, 2015 | 2015 | Equipment | These vehicles have a tire placcard that incorrectly states the recommended cold tire inflation pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less." |
| 15V286000 | May 13, 2015 | 2003 to 2006 | Air bags | The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death. |
| 15V285000 | May 13, 2015 | 2003 to 2006 | Air bags | This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. |
| 14V743000 | November 19, 2014 | 2006 to 2009, 2011 | Seats | The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant. |
| 14V556000 | September 11, 2014 | 2014 | Air bags | Due to the possible misinstallation of the upper tab of the B-pillar interior trim, the Curtain-Shield Air Bags (CSA) may not deploy properly in the event of a crash. |
| 14V429000 | July 16, 2014 | 2013 to 2014 | Wheels | The coating on the lug nuts may give, causing the lug nuts to loosen or the wheel studs to fracture. If the lug nuts loosen, or the wheel studs fracture, the wheel may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 13V123000 | April 9, 2013 | 2008, 2011 to 2013 | Equipment | These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 13V014000 | January 16, 2013 | 2011 to 2013 | Air bags | During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed. |
| 12V491000 | October 10, 2012 | 2007 to 2008 | Visibility | The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat. |
| 11V588000 | December 14, 2011 | 2011 | Equipment | These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, tire selection and rims. an inaccurate label could lead to vehicle overloading which could result in tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 11V278000 | May 12, 2011 | 2007 to 2009, 2011 | Tires | The TPMS on some vehicles may not have been properly calibrated and as a result the low tire pressure warning lamp may not illuminate should the inflation pressure in one or more of the vehicle's tires fall below the threshold for when the low tire pressure warning lamp should illuminate. |
| 11V254000 | April 26, 2011 | 2011 | Power train | Due to improper casting of the slip yokes, there is a possibility that the slip yoke may break, causing the propeller shaft to separate at the joint and come into contact with the road surface. |
| 11V185000 | March 16, 2011 | 2009, 2011 | Tires | The TPMS on some vehicles may not have been properly calibrated and as a result the low tire pressure warning lamp may not illuminate should the inflation pressure in one or more of the vehicle's tires fall below the threshold for when the low tire pressure warning lamp should illuminate. |
| 11V148000 | March 4, 2011 | 2008 to 2009, 2011 | Tires | When factory-installed wheels and tires were replaced with Toyota authorized accessory wheels and lt tires prior to first sale, the tire pressure monitoring systems were not re-calibrated correctly and therefore do not start illuminating the low tire pressure warning telltale at the required minimum activation pressure. |
| 10V036000 | February 3, 2010 | 2005 to 2009 | Equipment | These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash. |
| 10V035000 | February 3, 2010 | 2005 to 2009 | Equipment | These vehicles were sold between September 1, 2005 and June 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. |
| 10V017000 | January 21, 2010 | 2007 to 2009 | Vehicle speed control | Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation (without A/C) when the pedal assembly is cold, the friction when the accelerator pedal is operated may increas... |
| 09V444000 | November 18, 2009 | 2000 to 2003 | Structure | Excessive corrosion of the rear cross member may cause the separation of the spare tire stowed under the truck bed which would present a road hazard that could cause a crash. Also, corrosion of the rear cross member could affect the rear brake lines and the proportioning valve resulting in diminished braking capability. |
| 09V388000 | October 5, 2009 | 2007 to 2009 | Vehicle speed control | The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death. |
| 09V223000 | June 15, 2009 | 2006 to 2009 | Equipment | These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims." |
| 09E025000 | May 11, 2009 | 2000 to 2004 | Exterior lighting | These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. |
| 08E029000 | March 31, 2008 | 2007 | Wheels | The wheel nuts can crack and break if the wheels are not installed carefully or not carefully tightened. This wheel nut condition could occur at the time of wheel installation, tire rotation, or service. |
| 08V080000 | February 25, 2008 | 2007 | Wheels | Affected vehicles were originally sold in florida, georgia, alabama, north carolina or south carolina. When the vehicle was processed at the port, the upgraded alloy wheels were fastened with new wheel nuts. |
| 07V579000 | December 18, 2007 | 2007 | Power train | On certain 4-wheel drive pickup trucks, due to the improper heat treatment of the slip yokes that had been reworked during the manufacturing process, the hardness of the slip yoke may be insufficient. |
| 07E023000 | March 29, 2007 | 2006 | Service brakes, hydraulic | Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987mza, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than dca7078 sold as replacement equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. The seal on master cylinder can fail and leak brake fluid. |
| 07V013000 | January 19, 2007 | 2004 to 2006 | Suspension | On certain trucks and mini vans, due to possible improper finishing of the front suspension lower ball joint, some ball joints may experience an incidental deterioration of the internal lubrication. This may cause the ball joint to wear and loosen prematurely, which could result in increased steering effort, reduced vehicle self-centering, and noise in the front suspension. |
| 06E065000 | July 17, 2006 | 2000 to 2004 | Exterior lighting | Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. |
| 06E049000 | May 24, 2006 | 2004 to 2006 | Exterior lighting | Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. |
| 06E026000 | March 23, 2006 | 2000 to 2004 | Exterior lighting | Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. |
| 05V328000 | July 20, 2005 | 2005 | Air bags | Certain pickup trucks equipped with automatic transmissions and optional fabric front captain's chairs fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 208, 'Occupant Crash Protection.' These vehicles were built with an incorrect front passenger occupant classification system indicator light lens which will not display the status of the front passenger air bag. |
| 05V254000 | June 2, 2005 | 2003 to 2005 | Air bags | Certain pickup trucks fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 225, 'Child Restraint Anchorage Systems.' These vehicles have a manual air bag on-off switch to disable the front passenger air bag and do not have a child restraint lower anchorage system in the front passenger seat. |
| 05V225000 | May 17, 2005 | 2002 to 2004 | Suspension | On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a manufacturing issue in the front suspension lower ball joint, there is a possibility that the surface of the ball of the joint may have been scratched. The ball joint may eventually experience excessive wear and looseness, resulting in increased steering effort. |
| 05V123000 | March 30, 2005 | 2004 to 2005 | Engine and engine cooling | Certain pickup trucks equipped with both vehicle stability control (vsc) and the trd dual exhaust systems. The trd dual exhaust system met all clearance specifications on models without vsc, however the driver's side exhaust located in a position where contact between a brake line found only on vehicles with vsc and the trd exhaust pipe might occur. |
| 02V129000 | May 1, 2002 | 2000 to 2002 | Wheels | On certain 4x2 vehicles equipped with an alloy wheel tire upgrade (options wm4, wm8, zl1-zl4, dh4, or dh5) installed by the processing centers in jacksonville, florida or commerce, georgia, a label identifying the spare tire as a temporary use spare tire was not installed. The upgrade includes 4 larger size tires with alloy wheels. |
| 01E041000 | August 1, 2001 | 2000 | Trailer hitches | The connectors integrate the vehicle's tail lights, brake lights, and turn signal lights with those equipped on the trailer, are defective. Affected part numbers are: pt207-34000, pt207-34002, pt207-04981, and pt214-04985. |
| 99V347003 | January 18, 2000 | 2000 | Exterior lighting | Vehicle description: light duty trucks. The tail light socket may have been improperly molded, resulting in the locking tab having insufficient force to retain the bulb. |
NHTSA defect investigations
Investigations are opened when NHTSA sees a possible safety defect, often from complaints like the ones above. PE is a preliminary evaluation, EA an engineering analysis, RQ a recall query into whether an earlier recall went far enough, DP a defect petition and AQ an audit query.
| Number | Opened | Status | Toyota Tundra years | Subject | Recall campaign linked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EA21002 | September 17, 2021 | Open | 2003 to 2006 | Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture | No |
| EA19001 | April 19, 2019 | Closed September 19, 2024 | 2012 to 2017 | Electrical overstress | 20V024 |
| EA15001 | February 24, 2015 | Open | 2003 to 2005 | Air Bag Inflator Rupture | 14V668 |
| PE14016 | June 11, 2014 | Closed March 2, 2015 | 2003 to 2005 | Air Bag Inflator Rupture | 13V172000 |
| PE09049 | October 6, 2009 | Closed January 26, 2010 | 2000 to 2006 | FRAME CORROSION | 09V444000 |
| EA06014 | August 2, 2006 | Closed February 28, 2007 | 2004 to 2006 | LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE | 07V013000 |
| RQ06005 | April 10, 2006 | Closed August 9, 2006 | 2004 | LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATION | No |
| EA04024 | August 20, 2004 | Closed July 8, 2005 | 2002 | BALL JOINT SEPARATION | 05V225000 |
| PE04040 | April 13, 2004 | Closed August 20, 2004 | 2002 | FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT BREAKAGE | No |
How these numbers were counted
Complaints: NHTSA's complaints API for NHTSA model names TUNDRA, TUNDRA CREW CAB, TUNDRA DOUBLE CAB, TUNDRA REGULAR CAB, each complaint counted once per model year; hybrid and plug-in versions, which NHTSA files separately, are not included. Recalls: distinct campaign numbers from NHTSA's recalls databasefor the same names and years. Investigations: NHTSA's defect investigation file. All pulled September 28, 2026. These are counts of reports, not failure rates, and they say nothing about any individual car. For that, check the VIN.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the Toyota Tundra?
Structure is the top NHTSA complaint component with 1,729 complaints, followed by service brakes (946), suspension (815), engine (805) and power train (799). Complaints that mention rust or corrosion (1,773) and the frame (1,632) are the most frequent, peaking with the 2000 model, while complaints about 2022 to 2024 trucks center on the engine.
What Toyota Tundra years should I avoid?
The years to avoid are 2000 (1,026 complaints), 2006 (545) and 2002 (511). Every year from 2000 to 2008 is above twice the median of 144.5 complaints, and among newer trucks 2022 (428), 2023 (405) and 2024 (335) have already passed that line.
How many recalls does the Toyota Tundra have?
NHTSA lists 81 recall campaigns for the Tundra. Two groups stand out for used buyers: 09V444000, for rear cross member corrosion on 2000 to 2003 trucks, and 24V381000, 25V767000 and 26V320000, for engine main bearings that may fail on 2022 to 2024 trucks.
Does the Toyota Tundra have frame rust problems?
Rust and the frame are the subjects Tundra complaints mention most: 1,773 complaints mention rust or corrosion and 1,632 mention the frame, with the 2000 model the peak year for both (507 and 494). NHTSA's frame corrosion investigation PE09049 on 2000 to 2006 models led to recall 09V444000 for 2000 to 2003 trucks.
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