Problems · by component
2004 Toyota Tundra power train problems
46 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota Tundra cite power train, 10% of all 466 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
46
10% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES AND THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM SEEM TO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND PROCEEDING DOWN AN INCLINE, TRAVELLING ABOUT 30MPH WHEN THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED.”
“VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE DOWN A STEEP HILL AND NO MATTER WHAT I TRIED TO DO TO STOP THE VEHICLE NOTHING HAPPENED. IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE RIGHT HAND TURN. VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO A DIRT EMBANKMENT, THEN ROLLED OVER AND REVERSED IT'S POSITION. CONSEQUENTLY, I WAS TRAPPED IN A RUNNING VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE LEAKING AND UNABLE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. HAD TO WAIT 30N MINUTES FOR EMS/FIRE RESCUE TO ARRIVE. EXTRICATION TOOK ANOTHER 25-30 MINUTES. TRANSPORTED TO TRAUMA CENTER, YORK, PA.”
“REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS LEAKING OIL. EMERGENCY BRAKE LINE HAS RUSTED AND SNAPPED. THE RIMS HAVE OXIDATED. LEAF SPRINGS HAVE ALSO RUSTED VERY BADLY.”
“VEHCILE WAS REACLLED AND THE FRAME WAS REPAIRED FOR POTENTIAL ROT. NOW HE REAR DIFFERENTAIL IS ROTTING OUT AND LEAKING OIL. IT APPEARS TO BE AN EXTENSION OF THE RECALL FOR THE ROTTING FRAME. LOOKING TO SEE IF THER HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS SIMILAR”
“REAR END FAILURE DUE TO RUST PROBLEM KNOWN TO TOYOTA. THEY REPLACED FRAME WITH NO CONSIDERATION FOR SAFETY OF PASSENGERS. DRIVE TRAIN LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. FOUND BELL HOUSING ON REAR END RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING FLUID TO RUN OUT! DANGEROUS. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR BAD PRODUCT! WELDED BELL HOUSING, CANNOT REPAIR. PLEASE HELP!!!! ALMOST CAUSED WRECK! CARS SWERVED TO AVOID COLISION.”
“FRAME RUSTING AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTING OUT. FRAME IS CORRODING FROM RUST. REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS SEVERAL PIN HOLES CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. THESE ARE BOTH KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE GEN 1 TUNDRA'S. CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THE FRAME RECALL CAMPAIGN ENDED IN 2015. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE FRAME RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL FRO THE DIFFERENTIAL BUT THAT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR TUNDRA'S USED IN NE USA WHEREBY ROAD SALT IS USED IN WINTER. THE SALT CAUSES FRAME AND DIFFERENTIAL RUST BECAUSE MATERIAL USED BY TOYOTA IS OF POOR CORROSION RESISTANCE QUALITY. THE CONSUMER IIS ON THEIR OWN. TOYOTA WON'T DO ANYTHING EVEN THOUGH IT'S THEIR FAILURE TO BUILD THE VEHICLE FIT FOR IT'S INTENDED USE.”
Showing 6 of 46 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.