Skip to main content
The 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro on display

The Most Frustrating Toyota Tundra Issues

In the battle of the big trucks, the Toyota Tundra comes in hot against the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. As a reliable option with a V8 in the base model, what could go wrong with choosing this truck? Well, a lot can actually. Check out what frustrates Toyota Tundra drivers the most.  Popular Toyota …

In the battle of the big trucks, the Toyota Tundra comes in hot against the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. As a reliable option with a V8 in the base model, what could go wrong with choosing this truck? Well, a lot can actually. Check out what frustrates Toyota Tundra drivers the most. 

Popular Toyota Tundra Complaints 

Toyota Tundra Brake Issues 

The 2017 Toyota Tundra has received a few different complaints from drivers dealing with the brakes. The massive truck seems to burn through brakes too quickly. At around 47k miles, one driver had to replace his brakes entirely. Then after another 53k miles, the rotors needed to be turned again. 

The 2020 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro on display
The Toyota Tundra | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Another driver had his brakes replaced with pads that were 3/16” thicker than the brake pads from the factory. This was to enable the truck to make it past 42k miles before you had to redo the brakes completely. 

Other drivers dealt with brake warping that led to shaking and vibrations at highway speeds. However, rotor warping isn’t covered past 12k miles, so the drivers had to pay to have them resurfaced themselves. 

Toyota Tundra Interior Problems 

A variety of Toyota Tundra drivers report interior problems for the 2014 model. Before reaching 14k miles on their brand new Tundra, a driver had to replace the power actuators twice in one month.

They were concerned over safety for their passengers because you couldn’t exit the back seat without manually moving the locks. Also, their Toyota Tundra alarm wouldn’t set unless you manually engaged each lock first. 

RELATED READ: When Will Ram Truck And Jeep Production Resume?

Another driver had to pay $500 out of pocket to have each door lock replaced, but replacing them only seems to make the issues worse. The locks continued to fail, and then the radio started randomly turning off while driving. 

2019 Toyota Tundra parked near the woods
2019 Toyota Tundra | Toyota

Speaking of radio issues, one driver dealt with 12V plugs that didn’t provide an electrical charge. It failed to charge phones, and the Bluetooth connectivity wasn’t worth the headache. If the radio was off, then no time was displayed in the truck either. 

Toyota Tundra Engine Problems 

The 2012 Toyota Tundra has racked up multiple complaints about engine issues. After getting a replacement truck with 32k miles on it, one driver developed an engine knock around 112k miles.

2019 Toyota Tundra driving down country road
2019 Toyota Tundra | Toyota

Despite having a 100k mile warranty from the date of purchase, the driver was left responsible for the $13k charge to replace the engine with a certified used one that had 40k miles on it already. 

Another driver started noticing a knock in the engine around 4k miles. This is pretty early on for engine issues. The knocking was louder toward the passenger side of the truck.

Mechanics advised the Tundra owner that the knocking was normal, but because the truck burns through a quart of oil every 4k to 5k miles, something else had to be going on. 

Toyota Tundra TRD Pro pickup truck on display at auto show
A 2019 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro pickup truck | Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Other drivers experienced their Toyota Tundras go into limp mode or the fail-safe mode. The check engine light would suddenly flash on, and then their trucks would lose power. This would occur randomly in traffic or while going up hills. It was a serious issue that many felt like Toyota should have issued a recall for.

Related

The Legendary Ford F-250 Powerstroke Is a Good Used Diesel Pickup Truck