Toyota Tundra Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Toyota Tundra options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Toyota Tundra has 1,622 owner complaints and 74 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2022 drew the most complaints; 2021 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Toyota
- Model
- Tundra
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,622
- Safety recall campaigns
- 74
- Crash-related complaints
- 34
- Fire-related complaints
- 15
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2022 (425 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2021 (24 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Toyota Tundra: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe TOYOTA TUNDRA has 1,622 NHTSA complaints and 74 recalls on record. 34 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 1,622 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 74 federal recall campaigns
- 34 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
74 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,622 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,622 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The TPMS display went thermal. It blew smoke out of the unit that is mounted to the drivers side front windshield. We were able to disconnect USB power to the device and roll the windows down to ventilate the cabin and ultimately remove the device from the windshield and isolate it. If we would not have been in the vehicle at the time of the failure this could have been a catastrophic failure between the solar collector and the LiFePO4 battery going thermal. There has been no inspection of the vehicle as we were able to remove the device prior to any serious damage. There were no warnings, the TPMS display simply went dark and quite reporting tire data, then a strong burning smell followed by smoke.
Were were driving, my 2021 Toyota Tundra, just stopped running. No check engine lights had come on until the engine stalled as we coasted to a stop on the side of the road. We had it towed to the Central Maine Motor in Waterville, Maine 04901. Central Maine Motor -Toyota service just got my truck in to a service bay today 1/29/26 and in formed me the failure was due to the fuel pressure module and a fuel pump failure. Toyota has other years of vehicles that they have issues recalls for and my truck has the same fuel system and fuel pump as in those year vehicles, but no recalls for my truck, a 2021 Toyota Tundra built in Sept/Oct of 2020. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Airbag , it was bad accident on freeway , but my car airbag did not work.car did not inspect with dealer , they were not any waring sign
When I turn the key to crank my radio doesn’t come on , A/C won’t blow and I have to jiggle the keys or restart it to end the issue. My husband has witnessed thi happen many times. Scared I might have an electrical issue. Contact me back for assistance to me for this issue please. It doesn’t happen every time either.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly hesitated and jolted, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 48,000.
The power steering failed at around 38,000 miles. The dealership indicated the entire assembly needs to be replaced which cost more than $6,000. This is apparently a known manufacturing issue as they recalled a significant portion of the vehicles made in 2021.
Read 14 more owner reports
My sunroof exploded due to weather conditions while i was driving with my family on highway during heavy rain storm
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that after inserting the fuel nozzle into the vehicle, fuel spilled back out of the vehicle onto the leg of the contact. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate or determine the cause of the failure. The failure reoccurred approximately one year later, and the dealer was unable to duplicate or determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that during the failures the fuel tank had approximately a quarter tank of fuel and the vehicle had been driven for approximately six hours on an extremely hot day while the air temperature was above 105 degrees. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 18,000.
My moon/sunroof exploded while driving for no apparent reason.
Drivers seat has lateral movement in it associated when vehicle is engaged in a slow speed descending right turn. Dealer claims nothing is wrong.
Pre collision warning has erroneously activated numerous (>10) times on the same section of roadway. No other vehicles, pedestrians or animals were present on roadway.
I've taken my truck in 3 times for a problem with the driver seat having excessive play. Whenever I stop at a light or pull off the seat rocks back and forth. Each time I've taken it in to the dealership they tell me that it is a seat track issue and that if I raise my seat the play will lessen? I've tried that and it still didn't correct the issue. This problem has gotten progressively worse and I'm worried that the seat is going to collapse completely one day when I stop or pull off. I've driven different Tundras of friends and relatives and those trucks don't have this problem. I feel like this is a major safety issue and Toyota should correct this issue or replace the seat track. The first time took it in for this issue was on 7-12-2021 and the last time I took it in for this issue was 23-Jan-2024 .
I purchase a bren new tondrua 2021, and sain moment q have the I realize I didn’t find the ac drain for condensed wather to drop, And then look around the car a found the cone, yes is cone, because the por desing the ac house star to have electric issue because the m wather, Toyo need to make a recol to solve this problem o ac house drain
The software in the combination meter's electronic control Instrument Panel LCD display frequently goes blank I have taken my vehicle at least 5 times since I bought it 18 months ago as a new vehicle and it is yet to be remedied. This is the same issue that the 2022 Thundra has, 2021 should be included in the recall as well to remedy this problem
When I was driving and snow accumulating on the windshield put stress on the windshield wiper arm. The arm stopped working and I later found that the arm stripped out. I contacted three different dealerships and Toyota America and was told the wiper arm is no longer made ( part #85221-0C021 ). I told Toyota if it rains or snows I can not drive the vehicle due to laws and safety issues. I thought under the Magnuson-Moss act, a manufacture had to keep parts for items under warranty.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V920000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The seats shifts back and forth when brakes applied or hit the accelerator pedal. I’ve taken to two different dealers n made complaints but not results or repairs have been made.
The seat has been loose since I first purchased the truck, first time at the dealer they said it was the cushion which it wasn’t and they ordered part and it didn’t fix the situation. The next oil change I took it in and they said it was the frame, bottom of seat, and they ordered one and it’s been on back order a year now or thereabouts. Now I’ve owned the truck for over a year and a half and still no resolution. If an accident occurs will the seat completely break and fling me out of the vehicle? Anyhow multiple phone calls to dealership and now a phone call to Toyota themselves has yielded no resolution.
Vehicle is now 6 months old from original & new purchase. Within 30-days of ownership, (1) approx 1.5mm in size chip was fully repaired half way up from the front of the windshield. Eight hours ago (1) extremely small pebble, approx 2mm in size, contacted the front windshield 2 inches from lower portion centered in front of the driver and NOT in the area of the previous repair. Now, the same chip is a full length horizontal crack. Windshield material(s) seem to be extremely prone to failure and possibly not up to NHTSA or federal specifications...
LED lights are loose and rattle and flash all over the place. While driving over 40+mph or going over any bumps on the road . This only affects TRD PRO tundra’s with factory Ridgid lights . Toyota does not have a toyota approved repair even after going to dealership multiple times and calling toyota USA . They will not do anything for this safety issue besides offer lemon law options . Toyota states this is the only one with this issue . I have done research and brought this issue on a toyota trd forum and received over 100 complaints of other trd pro tundra owners with the same issue and toyota just gives them the run around . I brought this up to my toyota case manager and declined this is an issue . This can cause Photosensitive Epilepsy seizures and can cause serious injuries or death. Toyota has already replaced bezels once and issue persist they state they have updated bezel but have no ETA on when will be made available to be replaced. Toyota should make a recall on these trd pro tundras . My Toyota USA claim number is 220519001173
Showing 20 of 1,622 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Toyota Tundra
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Toyota Tundra, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Toyota Tundra has 1,622 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Toyota Tundra has 74 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 34 of the Toyota Tundra's 1,622 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Toyota Tundra vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Toyota Tundra vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Toyota Tundra has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Toyota Tundra.
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Toyota Tundra reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota Tundra reliable?
Poor. The Toyota Tundra has 1,622 NHTSA owner complaints and 74 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Toyota Tundra years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2022 (425 complaints), 2023 (396 complaints), 2024 (326 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Toyota Tundra problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (540 complaints); POWER TRAIN (321 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (263 complaints).
Does the Toyota Tundra have recalls?
Yes — 74 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Toyota Tundra. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.