2004 Toyota TUNDRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
465 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
102,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 310 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 141 of 465 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 66 | 14.2% |
| Steering behavior | 38 | 8.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 14 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 1.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.4% |
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:Body | 141 |
| Suspension | 94 |
| Air Bags | 48 |
| Unknown Or Other | 48 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 46 |
| Power Train | 36 |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 34 |
| Steering | 21 |
Structure:Body: 141; Suspension: 94; Air Bags: 48; Unknown Or Other: 48; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 46; Power Train: 36; Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields: 34; Steering: 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 43 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 52 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 95 |
| 150,000 and above | 69 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 43; 75,000 to 99,999: 52; 100,000 to 149,999: 95; 150,000 and above: 69
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (95). 155 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 28 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 38 |
| 2014 | 39 |
| 2015 | 42 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2017 | 30 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 41 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2004: 7; 2005: 14; 2006: 28; 2007: 31; 2008: 11; 2009: 9; 2010: 10; 2011: 11; 2012: 24; 2013: 38; 2014: 39; 2015: 42; 2016: 35; 2017: 30; 2018: 19; 2019: 41; 2020: 24; 2021: 17; 2022: 9; 2023: 12; 2024: 8; 2025: 2; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 66 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 14 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 10089780 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING TRACKING DEVICE CAME ON AND OFF ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP. THEN, CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107178 · 2005-01-11 (January 11, 2005)
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL IN LIGHT SNOW THE VEHICLE WAS PICKING UP SPEED AS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE BRAKES, AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078468 · 2004-06-19 (June 19, 2004)
THE 2004 TUNDRA IS AVAILABLE WITH A FULLY EXTENDED CAB, WHICH I OWN. THIS MODEL USES A DIFFERENT ELECTRONIC/MECHANICAL MECHANISM TO SHIFT GEARS THAN OTHER MODELS. WITH 1200 MILES ON THE 2004 TUNDRA I REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM IF YOU SHIFT FROM OVERDRIVE TO 3RD GEAR TO SLOW DOWN WHILE GOING DOAN A HILL, THEN SHIFT BACK TO OVERDRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL TO SWITCH. THERE IS A BUTTON YOU DRPRESS ON THE STEERING SHIFT KNOB THAT ELECTRONICALLY SHIFTS IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE. IF THIS BUTTON IS BRIEFLY TAPPED TO SWITCH GEARS, THIS WILL CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135113 · 2005-09-29 (September 29, 2005)
DT: 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEPARATED AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. THE CONSUMER FOUND RECALL, 05V225000, BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 31, 2005. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING FELT FUNNY, LIKE THERE WAS LOW AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIRS. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED; IT PULLED OUT OF THE AXLE FROM THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. IT BENT THE UNDER CARRIAGE, THE FENDER, TIE ROD ENDS…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,595 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134129 · 2005-08-24 (August 24, 2005)
ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED, THEN FINALLY WOULD NOT START WHEN SHUT OFF, DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP, SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES, DIFFERENT DEALER REPLACED PUMP AGAIN, SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN WITHIN 1000 MILES, ANOTHER DEALER REPLACED WIRING HARNESS TO PUMP, IN LESS THAN 20 MILES SAME THING AGAIN, THIS TIME THE SAME DEALER REPLACED WIRING HARNESS TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT, TRUCK MADE IT BACK TO OFFICE, UNKNOWN IF THIS FIX WILL WORK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134129 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200347 · 2007-08-21 (August 21, 2007)
GAS TANK DEFECT, SOMETIMES IT INDICATES EMPTY TANK BUT IT IS NOT EMPTY, SOMETIMES IT INDICATE FULL TANK BUT IT IS NOT FULL. THIS TANK IS UNPREDICTABLE POSSIBLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. ALSO THE TIRES WEARS FASTER ON THE OUTER SURFACE UNEVEN. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE VEERS OFF TO LEFT AND SOMETIMES TO THE RIGHT MAY BE RELATED TO BALL JOINTS DEFECT OR SLOPPY TOYOTA TECHNICIAN WORK OR BOTH. *TR UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10200347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189497 · 2007-05-02 (May 2, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A NOISE WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND SUSPECTED FAILURE WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. ALSO, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TIRES, BATTERY, AND POWER STEERING FLUID FLUSH. HE STATED THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE EXPENSES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RCALL AND W…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104107 · 2004-12-19 (December 19, 2004)
PURCHASED A TOYOTA TUNDRA BRAND NEW WITH 16 MILES IN AUGUST 2004. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER I NOTICED A HIGH-PITCHED SCRAPING NOISE OCCURRING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NO RESOLUTION THEY CONTACTED TOYOTA IN FLORIDA AND SENT A SOUTHEAST REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT. THE NOISE WAS OCCURRING WHEN THE TRUCK SHIFTED INTO OVERDRIVE WHILE DOING APPX. 30 MPH AND 1100 RPMS. LETTING OFF THE GAS CAUSED THE NOISE TO CEASE. GIVING GAS ALSO CAUSED THE NOISE TO CEASE. THE NOISE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE SPEED WAS MAINTAINED AT …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357921 · 2010-09-27 (September 27, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. SHE WOULD ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED A THIRD TIME YET IT DID N…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,484 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10670669 · 2015-01-07 (January 7, 2015)
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE DISLODGED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE UPPER BALL JOINT, THE LOWER BALL JOINT, THE CONTROL ARM, THE ABS SPEED SENSOR, AND RT FRONT BRAKE LINE LEADING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V013000 (SUSPENSION) AND 05V225…
Owner-reported narrative. 123,360 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670669 at NHTSA ↗