2011 Toyota TUNDRA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Toyota TUNDRA has 184 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: high idle -cold start, truck starts in morning or when left for a time at 1600-1800 rpm it sounds like its screaming,,stays there for appox 3 minutes then goes to 1300 and 1100 but does not drop down after 5 min ,if vehicles is driven or put in gear ,depending on how long up wait the truck will pull.

6 crash reports 3 injuries

184

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

35 complaints

19%

• HIGH IDLE -COLD START, TRUCK STARTS IN MORNING OR WHEN LEFT FOR A TIME AT 1600-1800 RPM IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS SCREAMING,,STAYS THERE FOR APPOX 3 MINUTES THEN GOES TO 1300 AND 1100 BUT DOES NOT DROP DOWN AFTER 5 MIN ,IF VEHICLES IS DRIVEN OR PUT IN GEAR ,DEPENDING ON HOW LONG UP WAIT THE TRUCK WILL PULL
• TRUCK'S COMPUTER IS READING AN INCORRECT PERCEIVED ALCOHOL DENSITY. TRUCK HAS A FLEX FUEL ENGINE AND THE COMPUTER IS TELLING THE ENGINE THAT THERE IS ETHANOL IN THE FUEL SYSTEM WHILE THERE IS NOT. I HAVE NEVER RUN ETHANOL IN THE TRUCK YET THE COMPUTER IS READING THAT THERE IS A 30-50% ALCOHOL DENS
• ON THEIR 5.7 LITER ENGINE KNOCKS WHEN YOU FIRST TAKE OFF. SOUNDS LIKE EXCESSIVE PISTON SLAP FROM THE MOTOR BEING BORED OUT TO BIG DURING PRODUCTION. I HAVE CONTACTED A TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYOTA THEMSELVES AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. WITH THIS EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE IT WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO HAVE A SH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“HIGH IDLE -COLD START, TRUCK STARTS IN MORNING OR WHEN LEFT FOR A TIME AT 1600-1800 RPM IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS SCREAMING,,STAYS THERE FOR APPOX 3 MINUTES THEN GOES TO 1300 AND 1100 BUT DOES NOT DROP DOWN AFTER 5 MIN ,IF VEHICLES IS DRIVEN OR PUT IN GEAR ,DEPENDING ON HOW LONG UP WAIT THE TRUCK WILL PULL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

22 complaints

12%

• I HAVE A 2011 TUNDRA SR5 WITH A LOUD CLICKING NOISE THAT HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE SHIFT LEVER. WHILE IN PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE PRESSED IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE TRUCK INTO GEAR. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOUD CLICK CAN BE HEARD FROM THE COLUMN SHIFTER. THIS IS THE C
• DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPERATE RIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR. *TR
• ?ON 12/26/2014, I STARTED MY TUNDRA, PLACED IT INTO GEAR AFTER A 30 SECOND PAUSE AND PROCEEDED TO LITERALLY STAND ON MY BREAKS TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM LURCHING FORWARD. THE BACK TIRES SPUN CAUSING SMOKE TO EMANATE FROM THE SCREECHING TIRES. AT THE TIME I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, A PEDESTRIAN W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE A 2011 TUNDRA SR5 WITH A LOUD CLICKING NOISE THAT HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE SHIFT LEVER. WHILE IN PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE PRESSED IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE TRUCK INTO GEAR. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOUD CLICK CAN BE HEARD FROM THE COLUMN SHIFTER. THIS IS THE C”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

20 complaints

11%

• I WAS DRIVING MY TUNDRA WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I THEN LOST MY STEERING ABILITY. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY TURNS. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW SOME TYPE OF FLUID LEAKING VERY FAST. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW I HAVE NO POWER STEERING FLUID. I HAD THE CAR TO
• BOUGHT TRUCK NEW WITH 99 MILES SHOWING,TESTDRIVE PULLED HARD TO RIGHT ,EXTREMELY HARD BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP 3 DAYS LATER TO PERFORM ITS FIRST ALIGNMENT,THEY DID SEVERAL THAT DAY , MORE THAN 16 ALIGNMENT AT THAT DEALERSHIP TRUCK STILL TRACKS RIGHT,EVERY DIP IN ROAD ,ANY BUMP ,TRUCK VEERS RIGHT,
• THIS SAFETY COMPLAINT RELATES TO THE "TILT LATCH MECHANISMS" OF A 2011 TOYOTA TUNDRA'S STEERING WHEEL, THE SET OF MECHANISMS USED TO RELEASE/SAFELY SECURE THE STEERING WHEEL IN PLACE. THERE WERE AT LEAST TWO PARTS AMONG THE LATCHING MECHANISMS, ONE BEING PLASTIC & THE OTHER BEING A METAL ALLOY, BROK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I WAS DRIVING MY TUNDRA WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I THEN LOST MY STEERING ABILITY. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY TURNS. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW SOME TYPE OF FLUID LEAKING VERY FAST. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW I HAVE NO POWER STEERING FLUID. I HAD THE CAR TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

18 complaints

10%

• S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO MR. GENACHAOWKI REGARDING HIS NEW 2011 TOYOTA TUNDRA PICK UP TRUCK *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IT CAME WITH A TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION TO SIRIUS XM SATELLITE RADIO. THE CONSUMER STATED THE S
• WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOSS ENGINE POWER AND BEGAN TO SLOW. AFTER I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND IT BECAME UNSAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING AND POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH, I PULLED
• I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW, THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE NEVER WORKED RIGHT.I HAVE HAD THE RELAY OR MOTORS THAT WORK THE DOOR LOCKS FIXED 6 OR 7 TIMES, AND HAVE ONE GOING BAD NOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR. THIS WILL BE THE 3RD TIME FOR THIS DOOR.THEY SAY THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THESE BUT WILL NOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO MR. GENACHAOWKI REGARDING HIS NEW 2011 TOYOTA TUNDRA PICK UP TRUCK *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IT CAME WITH A TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION TO SIRIUS XM SATELLITE RADIO. THE CONSUMER STATED THE S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

18 complaints

10%

• I HAVE A 2011 TUNDRA SR5 WITH A LOUD CLICKING NOISE THAT HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE SHIFT LEVER. WHILE IN PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE PRESSED IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE TRUCK INTO GEAR. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOUD CLICK CAN BE HEARD FROM THE COLUMN SHIFTER. THIS IS THE C
• 2011 TOYOTA TUNDRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIR BAGS AND TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HER HUSBAND TURNED DOWN THE WRONG STREET, AND WHEN HE WENT TO TURN AROUND, HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND STEPPED ON THE GAS, BUT THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD OVER A FORTY FOO
• BOUGHT TRUCK NEW WITH 99 MILES SHOWING,TESTDRIVE PULLED HARD TO RIGHT ,EXTREMELY HARD BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP 3 DAYS LATER TO PERFORM ITS FIRST ALIGNMENT,THEY DID SEVERAL THAT DAY , MORE THAN 16 ALIGNMENT AT THAT DEALERSHIP TRUCK STILL TRACKS RIGHT,EVERY DIP IN ROAD ,ANY BUMP ,TRUCK VEERS RIGHT,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 184 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: HIGH IDLE -COLD START, TRUCK STARTS IN MORNING OR WHEN LEFT FOR A TIME AT 1600-1800 RPM IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS SCREAMING,,STAYS THERE FOR APPOX 3 MINUTES THEN GOES TO 1300 AND 1100 BUT DOES NOT DROP DOWN AFTER 5 MIN ,IF VEHICLES IS DRIVEN OR PUT IN GEAR ,DEPENDING ON HOW LONG UP WAIT THE TRUCK WILL PULL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I HAVE A 2011 TUNDRA SR5 WITH A LOUD CLICKING NOISE THAT HAS BEEN COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE SHIFT LEVER. WHILE IN PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE PRESSED IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE TRUCK INTO GEAR. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOUD CLICK CAN BE HEARD FROM THE COLUMN SHIFTER. THIS IS THE C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: I WAS DRIVING MY TUNDRA WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I THEN LOST MY STEERING ABILITY. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY TURNS. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW SOME TYPE OF FLUID LEAKING VERY FAST. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW I HAVE NO POWER STEERING FLUID. I HAD THE CAR TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING-LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM RE COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO MR. GENACHAOWKI REGARDING HIS NEW 2011 TOYOTA TUNDRA PICK UP TRUCK *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IT CAME WITH A TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION TO SIRIUS XM SATELLITE RADIO. THE CONSUMER STATED THE S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)