Toyota Tundra Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Toyota Tundra years to avoid are 2022, 2023, 2024: the 2022 alone has 424 NHTSA owner complaints and 228 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by engine issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2021 and 2020 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-09-04 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 48 | 287 | 5 | — |
| 2016 | 119 | 228 | 6 | — |
| 2017 | 78 | 182 | 6 | — |
| 2018 | 99 | 227 | 9 | — |
| 2019 | 72 | 172 | 10 | — |
| 2020BEST | 45 | 159 | 5 | — |
| 2021BEST | 24 | 134 | 3 | — |
| 2022AVOID | 424 | 228 | 13 | — |
| 2023AVOID | 396 | 177 | 13 | — |
| 2024AVOID | 326 | 143 | 10 | — |
| 2025 | 130 | 48 | 4 | $65,454 (11 deals) |
| 2026 | 27 | 22 | 1 | $57,494 (43 deals) |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Toyota Tundra problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Toyota Tundra are engine, power train, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2022 Toyota Tundra: 424 owner complaints, 228 service bulletins, 13 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, power train, fuel/propulsion system.
2023 Toyota Tundra: 396 owner complaints, 177 service bulletins, 13 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, power train, fuel/propulsion system.
2024 Toyota Tundra: 326 owner complaints, 143 service bulletins, 10 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, power train, fuel/propulsion system.
2021 Toyota Tundra: cleanest recent federal record (24 complaints, 134 bulletins).
2020 Toyota Tundra: cleanest recent federal record (45 complaints, 159 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Toyota Tundra?
Based on federal records, the Toyota Tundra years to avoid are 2022, 2023, 2024: the 2022 alone has 424 NHTSA owner complaints and 228 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by engine issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2021 and 2020 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Toyota Tundra?
Among recent model years, the 2021 and 2020 Toyota Tundra show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Toyota Tundra reliable?
The Toyota Tundra's reliability varies by model year. Across 1,788 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2022, 2023, 2024 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2021 and 2020 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Toyota Tundra?
The most-reported problem areas for the Toyota Tundra are engine, power train, fuel/propulsion system, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Toyota Tundra before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.