Editor’s note: This article was updated on 05/17/2023

Buying a full-size truck isn’t an easy thing to do. There are so many excellent models in this popular class of vehicles that choosing one is nearly impossible. For years, many buyers have relied on experts like Consumer Reports to determine which are the best models to buy. CR compiles data about every vehicle to give ratings to each model, determining whether it’s a recommended truck. One full-size truck, the 2023 Toyota Tundra, originally received the title of “recommended”, but now, Consumer Reports has removed it. Reliability is the primary reason the 2023 Toyota Tundra lost the highly-coveted title.

Does the latest version of the pickup actually have worse reliability? Let’s compare more opinions on the matter.

1 expert says the Tundra’s reliability is down

Consumer Reports recently released information on its latest car reliability survey. It sends out surveys to thousands of owners with models registered to them to determine how reliable each one has been. One full-size truck, the Toyota Tundra, declined enough in reliability to be stripped of its title. Toyota is known for being a reliable car brand whose vehicles last long. That’s why it’s no surprise CR scored the Tundra very high for reliability prior to this survey. The model has been one owners can count on for a long time, but it seems that could be changing.

A few vehicles had enough declining reliability to make CR take back its recommendation. However, the Toyota Tundra is the only truck to make the list. Outside of Toyota’s pickup offering, the Ford Bronco Sport, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Kona, Nissan Sentra, and Volvo XC60 also declined in reliability.

The latest Tundra’s reliability

Another source, J.D. Power, uses the same type of consumer polling for its reliability ratings. For the Toyota Tundra, reliability has declined in both years since 2021. During that time, the Tundra earned an impressive score of 86 out of 100, which is considered above average. However, for the 2022 and 2023 model years, reliability is down, scoring just 70 points in both instances. Additionally, it’s the lowest full-size truck in JDP’s ranks overall.

With an average reliability rating, one of the automaker’s strongest historical attributes is gone. Since JDP says the reliability of the latest Tundra is simply “average,” the truck is as well. The publication’s reliability rating “measures the level of defects, malfunctions, and design flaws experienced by vehicle owners.”

The 2022 and 2023 Toyota Tundra got worse

A few things go into Consumer Reports’ decisions to recommend vehicles or not. For the 2023 Toyota Tundra, its reliability, a thorough road test, predicted owner satisfaction, and of course, price. Most CR review information is unavailable, but many experts agree the Tundra is overpriced. Toyota’s pickup is expensive compared to the most popular full-size trucks, like the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado. For example, the most basic F-150 starts at $34,445, but the cheapest Tundra is $36,965. Mid-tier trims for the Tundra are also much more costly than rivals.

Furthermore, it’s difficult for a publication like CR to tell its readers to purchase the Tundra with the newly discovered below-average reliability rating. Although it has a lot going for it, Toyota’s strongest feature has always been that owners can count on their vehicles. Without this attribute, the Tundra suffers tremendously. Since another trusted expert agrees with the sentiment, it’s difficult to argue against the full-size truck’s declining reliability. Overall, the most recent model year’s Toyota Tundra reliability is actually worse.