The best Tundra years to buy are 2015 and 2020. Avoid the 2022 for now: the new twin-turbo V6 brought about four times the Tundra's usual complaints, including throttle lag and engine failures that led to a large engine recall.
Best years: 20152020 Years to avoid: 2022
Every Tundra year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Tundra problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 356 | - | 10 | Engine | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 416 | - | 13 | Engine | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 435 | 417 | 13 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2021 | 24 | 29 | 3 | Other | Few reports |
| 2020 | 47 | 43 | 5 | Other | Good buy |
| 2019 | 74 | 66 | 10 | Fuel System | Good year |
| 2018 | 100 | 85 | 9 | Electrical | Average |
| 2017 | 78 | 67 | 6 | Electrical | Good year |
| 2016 | 120 | 105 | 6 | Brakes | Average |
| 2015 | 51 | 43 | 5 | Brakes | Good buy |
| 2014 | 93 | 78 | 5 | Electrical | Good year |
| 2013 | 85 | 75 | 6 | Engine | Good year |
| 2012 | 156 | 154 | 4 | Engine | Average |
About the Tundra
For years the Tundra was one of the most reliable full-size trucks, with its 5.7L V8 known to run past 200,000 miles. That changed with the 2022 redesign. The new twin-turbo V6 and its electronics drew a flood of complaints, and Toyota later recalled many trucks to replace engines damaged by machining debris.
- 2012-2021: Second generation with the 5.7L V8. Very durable; watch for secondary air pump faults on 2012-2014 trucks.
- 2022 on: Third generation with a twin-turbo V6 and hybrid. Engine recall and throttle complaints; check every recall.
Tundra warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Toyota files with NHTSA. 1,003 Tundra bulletins are on file in total.
Dealer Daily Message: ZH3 Warranty Enhancement Program ?
Dealer Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for the outside door handles on certain 2008 ?
Region Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for the outside door handles on certain 2008 ?
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Tundra
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2022 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Engineering analysis EA19001 · 2012–2017 · opened Apr 2019, closed Sep 2024 · led to recall 20V024
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
Tundra vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Toyota Tundra?
2015 and 2020. The best Tundra years to buy are 2015 and 2020. Avoid the 2022 for now: the new twin-turbo V6 brought about four times the Tundra's usual complaints, including throttle lag and engine failures that led to a large engine recall.
Which Toyota Tundra years should I avoid?
2022. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Toyota Tundra average.
Based on 2,035 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.