CSR

Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2018 Toyota Tundra

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 100 safety complaints about the 2018 Toyota Tundra with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 3 mention a fire, 6 people were injured and no death is recorded. 8 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 26 complaints, 26% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 7,900 miles, the median across the 48 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers December 2017 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

100 complaints on file

100

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

3

Mention fire

6

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints rose by half year on year: 13 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 7 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 26 · 26%
SERVICE BRAKES 22 · 22%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 16 · 16%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14 · 14%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 13 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13 · 13%
ENGINE 12 · 12%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 8 · 8%
AIR BAGS 5 · 5%
STEERING 5 · 5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 · 4%
POWER TRAIN 3 · 3%
0 12 23

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 100.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2018 at 25.

28 21 14 7
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2018 Toyota TUNDRA, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test PU/CC 4WD PU/CC 2WD PU/EC 2WD PU/EC 4WD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 19.8% 21.9% 21.9% 19.8%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

8 on file

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

21V920000 · November 23, 2021

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
The risk
An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 22,462 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

21V688000 · September 2, 2021

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Tundra vehicles. The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector.
The risk
An overheated electrical connector can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and replace any damaged bulb, bulb connector, and/or headlight assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB06 and 21TA06.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 158,489 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

20V410000 · July 15, 2020

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Toyota Tundra vehicles equipped with LED headlight assemblies. Due to a wiring error, the front turn signals may not flash brightly enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
If the turn signals or hazard lamps do not flash brightly enough, other drivers may fail to see that the turn signal or hazard lamp functions have been activated, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the wire harness connected to the front turn signal bulbs free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB12/20TA12.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 183,397 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

20V012000 · January 13, 2020

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,830,752 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

18V711000 · October 11, 2018

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra vehicles. The accessory all-weather floormats may have been counted twice when creating the load carrying capacity modification label, resulting in the capacity modification label incorrectly overstating the additional weight by 10 pounds. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The risk
Since the incorrect label is not within 1% of the additional weight, the vehicles are not compliant with the FMVSS.
The remedy
All vehicle owners will be sent a corrected label. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0Z.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 508 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

18V685000 · October 4, 2018

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 214, "Side Impact Protection."
The risk
If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0X. Note: 18V-122 was superseded by this recall. The software remedy also includes the updates to the software for 18V-122.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 168,187 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

18V122000 · February 20, 2018

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles. Electrical interference within the power supply circuit may cause the vehicle's electronic stability control system to be deactivated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
The risk
Deactivation of the vehicle stability control system can increase the risk of a crash in certain conditions.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0H. Note: This recall has been superseded by 18V-685. The software remedy for 18V-685 includes the updates to the software for this recall.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 64,901 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

17V831000 · December 20, 2017

The defect
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The risk
An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 649 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 96,000 miles

The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 65mph, he was involved in a head-on collision with an unknown vehicle. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was provided medical attention. The occupant of the front passenger seat sustained a sternum injury and medical attention was provided. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and sent an investigator to evaluate

NHTSA complaint 11485713, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured

Was rear ended while at a stop in traffic. Was pushed into another truck in the front and ricochet back and was hit again by the car that hit me. After everyone came to a stop my dashboard information center stated the SRS Airbag System Malfunction Visit Your Dealer. My truck was totaled.

NHTSA complaint 11553095. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed · 30,000 miles

ON A QUICK HARD BRAKING..APPLIES BRAKE THEN WITHOUT LIFTING BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE THE. TRUCK AUTOMATICALLY RELEASES IT AND SLIDES FORWARD SOME DISTANCE...THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION...THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE BEFORE....THIS TIME RAN INTO A TURNING VEHICLE

NHTSA complaint 11173636. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

1 injured · crash

I was inspecting the vehicle for an extended warranty company the issue was the transmission. I was in the process of inspecting the vehicle when I was installing the Blue Diver to retrieve the stored codes in the system when I leaned in to turned the accessory key the vehicle started in gear and drove froward. Causing the left front door to close on me from the lift.

NHTSA complaint 11592291. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The vehicle is a 2018 Toyota Tundra and failed state inspection at an authorized dealership due to the power steering rack and pinion assemble leaking at both ends. This is the same failure described in Toyota recall 21V920000, but Toyota claims my VIN is not covered. This is a severe safety issue occuring preamturley at 54,000 miiles.

NHTSA complaint 11766137. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS:ACTIVE SHUTTERS/GRILL
Front Upper Grille Hood Scoop becomes loose and flys off during highway speeds and can distract a driver to the point of having an accident. Has been replaced once and is loose again held down by duck tape.

NHTSA complaint 11743578. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Vehicle never been crash or hit by other car, but is showing problem with the air bag system

NHTSA complaint 11742842. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
The upper grille and hood trim assembly on my 2018 Toyota Tundra 1794 Edition failed and partially detached from the vehicle due to apparent mounting clip and retainer failure. The failed component is available for inspection upon request. Photographs of the damage and detached trim assembly have been documented. This failure created a significant safety risk because the panel could have fully detached while the vehicle was in motion and become a roadway hazard to other motorists. The detached component also created concerns regarding possible interference with the front grille assembly and Toyota Safety Sense components located behind the grille area. Prior to the failure, there were no

NHTSA complaint 11736050, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Sometimes the engine will randomly turn off while driving and become hard to restart like it’s not getting fuel.

NHTSA complaint 11730736. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

fire

Seat back on driver side caught fire burn 2" x 2" hole in the seat back

NHTSA complaint 11717903. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Tundra

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 32 1 —
2025 134 5 —
2024 339 10 —
2023 407 13 —
2022 428 13 —
2021 24 2 —
2020 46 4 —
2019 74 9 —
2017 78 5 —
2016 120 5 —
2015 49 4 —
2014 93 4 —
2013 85 5 —
2012 155 3 —
2011 134 10 —
2010 163 15 —

Other 2018 Toyota models

Every Toyota on this site — 281 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst