2001 Toyota TUNDRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
415 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
102,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 290 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 82 of 415 complaints (19.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 138 | 33.3% |
| Steering behavior | 36 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 17 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 82 |
| Suspension | 50 |
| Structure:Body | 48 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 33 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 29 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 28 |
| Steering | 23 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 17 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 82; Suspension: 50; Structure:Body: 48; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 33; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 29; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 28; Steering: 23; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 34 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 33 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 48 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 84 |
| 150,000 and above | 72 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 34; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 48; 100,000 to 149,999: 84; 150,000 and above: 72
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (84). 125 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 26 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 70 |
| 2010 | 43 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2001: 19; 2002: 26; 2003: 23; 2004: 11; 2005: 22; 2006: 20; 2007: 14; 2008: 18; 2009: 70; 2010: 43; 2011: 15; 2012: 12; 2013: 10; 2014: 18; 2015: 22; 2016: 16; 2017: 8; 2018: 11; 2019: 10; 2020: 5; 2021: 6; 2022: 2; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 138 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002858 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE BRAKING BETWEEN 50 MPH TO 40 MPH. DEALER STATED THAT REAR DRUMS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT'S A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A KNOWN FLAW THE COMPANY NEVER NOTIFIED ME OR OTHERS THAT I KNOW THAT HAVE 2001 TUNDRAS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 36,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003786 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE ESPECALLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. TS THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED THEN ADJUSTED AND THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER VIBRATION, SHUTTER AND HIGH PITCHED NOISE STILL EXIST. ON ONE OCCASION CONSUMER HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE AND FOUND THE CALIPER PIN STICKING OUT OF TRIM OF HUBCAP. WITH CALIPER PIN IN HAND, CONSUMER WAS ANGRY WHEN DEALERSHIP HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF SERVICE BULLETIN FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. BALANCING WEIGHTS FELL OFF. HEATER STOPPED WORKING DUE TO PACKING MATERIAL. FOAM MATERIAL WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 17,864 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114443 · 2005-03-21 (March 21, 2005)
THERE IS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING SYSTEM, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES MOST NOTICABLE WHEN BRAKING FROM SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH OR ON DOWN HILLS. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED, AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED IN A FEW WEEKS. I ASKED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR, THEY REFUSED, THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044136 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN GOING UP A HILL. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE ENGINE FELT AS IF IT WERE DRAGGING AND WOULD BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT WHEN PUT INTO GEAR, THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED WITH A TOYOTA REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *SCC ALSO THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, IT WAS DETERMINED THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE AIR CONDITION DID COOL PROPERLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045535 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA BRAKES SHAKE EXCESSIVELY EVEN AFTER REPLACING THEM WITH NEW ONES. TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD THUMP WHEN GOING INTO OVERDRIVE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10287180 · 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)
I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA PICKUP TRUCK. ON 9/5/09 I LOST MY POWER STEERING, AND THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL GARAGE, GIL'S GARAGE IN BURNT HILLS, NY. GIL'S GARAGE FOUND THAT MY STEERING RACK HAD RUSTED OUT AND THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. ONE AT THE LEFT REAR SPRING SHACKLE AND ONE IN THE FUEL TANK MOUNTING BRACKET AREA. THE TRUCK, THEREFORE, COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. I OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA'S NATIONAL HOTLINE (CASE REFERENCE # 0909115275). I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER, NEW COUNTRY TOYOTA, IN SARATOGA, NY AND TOYOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 111,640 miles reported. Look up ODI 10287180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289296 · 2009-10-21 (October 21, 2009)
GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. THE TOYOTA DEALER STATED THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144102 · 2005-11-30 (November 30, 2005)
I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. IT HAS JUST ABOUT 59,000 MILES. WHEN I USE THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP, THE TRUCK WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC. I WILL HAVE TO RESTART THE TRUCK AND IT WILL STALL. I WILL TRY TO START IT AGAIN AND I HAVE TO GUN THE ENGINE AND HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL SO AS NOT TO CRASH INTO SOMETHING, AND HOPE THE TRUCK WILL MOVE. IF I GO ABOUT 300 FEET AND APPLY THE BRAKE AGAIN, IT MAY STALL. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER 3 SEPARATE TIMES FOR THIS AND EACH TIME THEY TELL ME IT IS 'GUNK' THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED, OR A STICKY THROTTLE. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208376 · 2007-11-07 (November 7, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE MELTED ONTO THE FLOOR. THE GARAGE WAS FILLED WITH GREY SMOKE, ASH, AND SOOT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURRED AND THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE'S POWER UNIT REMAINS OPERATIONAL WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WILL BE REPLACED AND THE WIRING HARNESS MAY ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE WASHER FLUID BOTTLE TUBES WERE DAMAGED. THE CURRENT AND FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239967 · 2008-08-27 (August 27, 2008)
SEVERE FRAME RUST. WHILE REPAIRING A TRAILER WIRING HARNESS I NOTICED MY FRAME IS RUSTED VERY BADLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10239967 at NHTSA ↗