Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Toyota Tundra problems

Owners filed 421 complaints about the 2001 Toyota Tundra with NHTSA between Dec 2000 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is structure (171).

Complaints
421
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
28
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
27
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure171
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic99
  3. Suspension84
  4. Power train31
  5. Steering23
  6. Engine and engine cooling13
  7. Wheels9
  8. Air bags9
  9. Tires8
  10. Fuel system, gasoline8
  11. Vehicle speed control8
  12. Service brakes7
  13. Equipment6
  14. Service brakes, air6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20001
200121
200227
200323
200411
200523
200620
200715
200818
200970
201043
201115
201212
201310
201418
201522
201616
20178
201811
201910
20205
20216
20222
20236
20243
20253
20262

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Structure

171 reports1 crash1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V444000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the underbody frame appeared to be rusted. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was confirmed that the underbody frame was rusted. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the parts were no longer manufactured. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2026StructureODI 11752462

Service brakes, hydraulic

99 reports4 crashes2 fires
“DUE TO PREMATURE CORROSION (VEHICLE 4 YEARS OLD) PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO FUNCTION, FAILED NYS INSPECTION, WAS REPAIRED (03/14/2005). DUE TO PREMATURE CORROSION, SPRING BROKE, WAS REPAIRED (01/02/2008). POWER STEERING RACK ROTTED, HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPROX MILEAGE 150,000. FRONT SUSPENSION LINKS ROTTED OUT. CALLED TOYOTA (04/15/2009) VOICED OUR CONCERN FOR ROTTING FRAME, NO RECALL AT THAT TIME. THEY ISSUED A COMPLAINT #.TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION FOR THREE RECALLS, A0F, B0D, 90M ON 05/02/2012. INSPECTION NOT PROPERLY DONE, CHUNKS OF RUST STILL CAN BE FLAKED OFF, POSSIBLE HOLES BEHIND, BUT THEY SPRAYED CRC OVER TOP OF THE LOOSE SCALING, COVERING OVER THE PROBLEMS. WE HAD NO CHOICE IN WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH OUR PROPERTY. WE TOOK IT IN FOR AN INSPECTION. AFTER SAID INSPECTION, IF IT WOULD NOT GET A NEW FRAME, WE WOULD HAVE OPTED TO TAKE IT HOME, REMOVED ALL LOOSE SCALING PRIOR TO THE CRC BEING APPLIED. WE WERE NOT GIVEN ANY OPTIONS, OUR VEHICLE WAS ALREADY ON THE WAY TO THEIR COLLISION SHOP FOR THE WORK. THIS WOULD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TWO THINGS; THE DEALERSHIP WOULD KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THERE WERE NO HOLES AND THE CRC WOULD STICK DIRECTLY TO THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2012Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10457859

Suspension

84 reports10 crashes
“There is an unresolved body corrosion recall that has not been addressed in over a year, despite receiving an invoice from the dealership. I will attach the invoice that lists all the parts ordered for the remedy of this recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2026Suspension, Wheels, Unknown or otherODI 11721644

Power train

31 reports
“I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2000 AND HAD THE ENTIRE UNIT UNDERCOATED FOR RUST PROTECTION AND SOUND PROOFING. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN GARAGED SINCE NEW AND SINCE I TRAVEL FOR BUSINESS HAS LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS MY PERSONAL VEHICLE NOT A WORK TRUCK. AS TIME WENT ON I BEGAN NOTICING THE RUST UNDER THE CHASSIS AND THEN I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SPARE TIRE BRACKET. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT TOYOTA USED THE SPARE TIRE RECALL TO UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHASSIS RUST PROBLEM. A SHORT TIME LATER I RECEIVED THE RECALL FOR THE CHASSIS EXCHANGE. WHEN I PICKED UP THE TRUCK THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING, THE WHEEL DID NOT RETURN TO STRAIGHT AFTER A TURN. I COMPLAINED THAT NIGHT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. AFTER A FEW HINDERED MILES THE LINKAGE WAS WORN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THE CAB WAS NOT ALIGNED TO THE RACK WHEN THEY CHANGED THE CHASSIS. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE ROT ISSUE. THE REAR AXLE IS NOW ROTTED TO A POINT WHERE IT IS LEAKING THOUGH THE CASING, NOT THROUGH A SEAL OR FITTING BUT THROUGH THE ROTTED METAL. I DO NOT VIEW A REAR AXLE AS A WEAR/REPLACEMENT PART UNLESS IT IS ABUSED THROUGH THE WORKING OF THE TRUCK. I AM 62 YEARS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2016Suspension, Power train, Service brakesODI 10896244

Steering

23 reports2 crashes
“On September 4, 2025, I brought my 2001 Toyota Tundra to Midas at 5325 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002 for an oil change and inspection. Midas advertises a “Closer Look Vehicle Check,” which includes checking steering, suspension, and wheels. Their inspection report marked the steering system as “OK” and only noted mild shock wear. Less than a month later, while exiting the highway, the lower ball joint failed completely, causing the front suspension and wheel to detach. I immediately lost steering control. Fortunately, this occurred at low speed; had it happened moments earlier on the highway, it could have caused a major collision or fatalities. The failed component (lower ball joint and related suspension parts) is still available for inspection. An independent mechanic later confirmed that the joint was severely worn and the failure appeared to be due to long-term deterioration that should have been detected during Midas’s inspection. No warning lights or indicators appeared before the failure. The incident endangered my life, my passengers’ safety, and other drivers on the road. The business has refused to take responsibility or cover repair costs,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2025Steering, Suspension, WheelsODI 11691486

Engine and engine cooling

13 reports
“THE TOYOTA SAFETY RECALL WORK DONE IN 2012 TO TREATED MY VEHICLES FRAME TO PREVENT RUST PERFORATION HAS FAILED. DURING NH STATE INSPECTION AREAS WHERE THE FRAME HAD RUSTED THROUGH WERE IDENTIFIED. THESE AREAS HAD BEEN TREATED UNDER TOYOTA'S GUIDANCE AND AT THEIR EXPENSE. DUE TO FRAME RUST PERFORATION, AND RUST ISSUES IDENTIFIED BELOW MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION. TOYOTA OF PORTSMOUTH, WHERE THE INITIAL RECALL WORK WAS INITIATED, AND TOYOTA MOTOR SALES HAVE BOTH DENIED TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. MANY OTHER 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA OWNERS WERE PROVIDED COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENTS. I WAS PROVIDED WITH A RUST TREATMENT THAT HAS FAILED TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE STATE INSPECTION WAS REQUESTED BY ME PRIOR TO SPENDING $2,776 (AND UP TO $5,000 OR MORE IF INTERNAL PARTS WERE DAMAGED) TO REPLACE A RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL CASE THAT COULD HAVE SEIZED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IF I HAD NOT NOTICED THE LEAK. THIS INSPECTION ALSO IDENTIFIED FOR THE SECOND TIME A RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLDS (THE LEFT MANIFOLD WAS "STARTING" TO LEAK ON 09/16/2014 WHEN THE TRUCK LAST PASSED INSPECTION. I HEARD THE TICKING SOUND, CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Power train, StructureODI 10748396
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.