Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Toyota Tundra OWNERS: Rate your truck!
I've heard about a few problems (some major, some
minor) with the new Tundra. If you are a Tundra
owner, please rate your experience as follows:
* = Horrible
** = Below Average
*** = Average
**** = Above Average
***** = Excellent
In categories:
1. Owner Satisfaction (Are you happy with it?)
2. Reliability (so far)
3. Fit & Finish (Build quality, any quirks?)
4. Overall score
5. Comments
I am debating between the Tundra and the Tacoma or
Nissan 4-door. I was really leaning towards the
Tundra until I heard all these problems.
This will give future buyers an idea of what they
are getting into.
THANKS!
minor) with the new Tundra. If you are a Tundra
owner, please rate your experience as follows:
* = Horrible
** = Below Average
*** = Average
**** = Above Average
***** = Excellent
In categories:
1. Owner Satisfaction (Are you happy with it?)
2. Reliability (so far)
3. Fit & Finish (Build quality, any quirks?)
4. Overall score
5. Comments
I am debating between the Tundra and the Tacoma or
Nissan 4-door. I was really leaning towards the
Tundra until I heard all these problems.
This will give future buyers an idea of what they
are getting into.
THANKS!
Tagged:
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
2.*****
3.*****
4.*****
5.*****
While I think there are a lot of good trucks out there, I'm 5 Star with mine.
Also, Please list what model Tundra you have (ie: Limited 4WD Access Cab)
If you don't know these simple basic things, you may want to pick up a copy of Consumer Reports. Seems that most Toyota Tundra owners go there to get all there superiority information.
To bud light dude: Does it pain you so that we Tundra owners so enjoy our truck?
Regarding the Tundra engine design question: The 4.7L V8, which is nearly identical to the ones used in the 1998-2000 Landcruiser and Lexus LX470, uses direct coil-on-plug ignition, it has multiport fuel injection, and it has a fuel rail. Not sure about that "dis" ignition. Did you mean distributor? If so, no. Regarding the 32 valve question, the Toyota 4.7L V8 makes more torque than any of the similar sized domestic V8s, and more HP than all but the 4.8 Chevy (Chevy 4.8L, 255 HP, 285 Torque; Toyota 4.7L, 245 HP, 315 Torque).
And BLD, please give that condescending attitude a rest. It's getting very old.
I think I will hold on to my inferior Silverado. At least until a few more Tundra's self destruct. Then I will want to rush and join the crowd of Tundra Engine Pulp ownership.
Good luck on this one now.
I forgot if you own a Ford or a Chevy, but whatever you own it's one of the two. The Toyota Tundra came out and you are MADLY jealous that you bought your truck and then the Toyota came out. So you cut down every possible problem with the Tundra, and act like anything wrong with the Chevy is "just them yuppies". Give me a break. It's obvious your jealous or else you wouldn't have to mudsling the whole time. Take your 80 or 30 year old as* to another website, as I am getting real sick of your stupid comments. (They were kinda funny at first with the hillbilly accent, but now they are very old). Plus, this message board is for TUNDRA OWNERS ONLY if you can't read, so I assume you must of bought a Tundra.
Get the hell out of here now you hear?
professor at a prestigious SC university in fact I have a quote from a friend of his, AL who says -Now there's a good ol' boy (probably a college prof putting us on) who has never posted anything worthwhile. Good luck on this one now!-
The 4.7L V8 in the Tundra seems to be a sweet engine to me and it suits my needs (I don't work out of it, I use it to get to and from work, as well as chores around my small cattle operation - 52 acres owned + 69 acres leased - and hunting and fishing). Time will tell on reliability, but the engine has been in the Landcruiser and Lexus LX470 for over 2 years with no recalls or TSBs that I can find.
2. Reliability *****
3. Fit & Finish *****
4. Overall score *****
5. Comments
I have a Tundra Access Cab SR5 4X4 V8. I have 2000 miles on it so far. Since I will use the truck only 5% of the time for towing and hauling, I wanted a truck that handled and rode well when used the other 95% of the time. The truck is amazingly quiet and the ride is the best of the 1/2 ton pickups I tried.
The rear seat is perfect for my 5 y.o. and 9y.o. children - in fact they prefer riding in the truck. I have had six footers in the back for short distances with no complaints - I just slide the seat forward when they are back there. It seems to have about the same room as the Ford and less than the Chevy. The truck is just the right size for my needs.
The fit and finish is superb. I have had zero problems with rattles, squeeks or vibrations. One problem is that the front doors have to be open pretty wide in order to open the rear doors - tough to do when you are in a tight parking space, but this has rarely been a problem.
The engine runs like a watch and has plenty of power. The transmission shifts so smoothly that sometimes I can't tell that it has shifted.
The Access cab has a large blind spot on the driver's side. I have heard that putting a wide angle spot mirror on the driver's side fixes this.
The 4 wheel antilock brakes work very well and unobtrusively.
I am now secretly looking to replace my inferior Silverado truck with one of them smaller, exploding valvetrain Tundra's I read in CR about. Thanks CR for setting me straight on how much more reliable the Tundra is!
Reliability only:
Ford - 4
Chevy - 4
Dodge - 4
Toyota - 3
Now my question is this:
How would they know that the Toyota is a "3" for average on reliability when it is essentially a new model. I guess it has been almost a year (or has it), enough time for feedback. I am surprised that it got this rating. However, it was just some site on the internet.
CR's report was as follows:
Ford - Above average 2WD, Average 4WD
Chevy - Below Average
Dodge - Well Below Average
Toyota - Not enough info.
One of the main reasons I would buy a Tundra is because of the reliability Toyota has consistently shown throughout the years. I am slightly concerned from reading some of the posts of the problems people have been having. But then I think that these are just a few select cases here, and most people seem pleased. Many time when an entirely new model comes out there are some glitches that are fixed usually next model year or inbetween even. In fact the Mercedes SUV came out with one of the worst reliability of ANY SUV initially, and now I see it is rated very high.
This is why I am asking about Tundra reliability problems.
I just have a hard time purchasing a Dodge or Chevy because of stories I have heard. Maybe the new ones are much better, but I still think Toyota will prove to be the most reliable ..
With that info that you provided, it sounds like that the Ford is the best buy.
Never trust ANY magazine survey for accurate info. I don't care if my mom writes the story, I still wouldn't give it a second look of any kind of authority.
As far as the Tundra, I give you a bit of credit for not being like most Tundra owners who state that their Tundra is factually more reliable because of Toyota's past repuation for reliability, even though the Tundra has only been on the market for about 8 months.
1. *
2. *
3. **
4. **
I think when you talk about bad experience in other areas, you are probably talking about mine (Topic #1060 - Tundra experiences). As far as comments, at this point I'm not real pleased. However, I am happy for everyone else that is having a enjoyable experience. Sounds like RS Petty has had a great one so far (I'm jealous).
How prevalent these problems, that I'm having, is hard to say. How many of these people would use a computer to share their experiences in these particular chat rooms. And how many of these people would be completely honest (so others may benefit - at the expense of embarrassment).
I think what is boils down to is this. You have to take the chance if it feels right (the rest of us did - except for Mr. BLD). You are always taking a chance with a new model, but remember, the Silverado is a new model too. I thought I did my research very well preceeding my purchase, yet here I am. You might want to wait to find out how my experience ends (which I will post in topic #1060). I hope this is helpful.
So far I would have to give it 5 stars for everything but reliability. I have had no problems whatsoever but I don't like to make sweeping comments on reliability until at least a year or two into a vehicle or I get hit or something. So far lets say 4 stars for reliability because up to this point 5000 miles it runs like a charm and I have had none of the other problems mentioned.
A bit of advice, I think if you go for the Tundra you probably have a better than average chance of getting a good one. I mean you could get a lemon with any of the makes but from the people I have talked to 90% of them have good ones.
If you consider the Silverado, I would wait until the 01 model year. This is probably the second best personal use pickup on the market but they seem to be having more bugs carrying over into the 2000 model year. I am confident they will be worked out by 01.
Don't know how reliable the Nissan is from a real world exp. only by rep. The Tacoma has some pretty grim crash scores on the side but the people I know who own them love them. Don't get the 4 cyl. If you are looking for a personal use pickup hold out for the Tacoma Crew cab. It looks just as attractive as the Dakota crew cab.
Well that is my 2 cents. Hope it was helpful info.
Good luck to all!!
Good luck.
1. 5
2. 5
3. 5
4. 5
I have 8000 miles on it and love this truck. I have absolutely no vibration, brake, problems whatsoever. The only problem I had was my door would un-lock on the freeway. I called the dealership, and they said they were aware of the problem. I took my truck in, and they fixed it (new latches - I think). It wasn't a big deal, and they were already aware of the problem and had a fix (they changed the oil while I had the truck at the dealership, so it wasn't like a special trip or anything). Other than that, it has been a GREAT truck. I have two kids (3 and 1)who loves riding in the back, and it's easier to get them in and out of their seats than our Camry.
To BLD: I chose this truck because I really liked the design of the wishbone front suspension, rack n pinion steering, and the use of stainless steel waterpump shafts. Although some people wouldn't like it, I personally like the way the throttle is connected to the throttle body (it isn't: it's connected to a potentiometer (sic), and the throttle is controlled by the ECU). I think the Toyota has the right idea of a large bore long intake track to balance the power/torque and maintain the use of regular unleaded. I looked into the concept of direct ignition and think this is the way to go. It's a little more expensive to have 8 small (cheaper) coils, than one large coil, but it make sense. A coil only fires 1/8 of the time of the single coil, and has a little more time to re-charge.
As far as the driveline (I knew that it used Tacoma parts). I had a old Toyota PU that I abused for 140,000 miles. And the only parts I purchased for it were tires, shocks, brakes and a one battery 3 days before I traded it in. With all the abuse, I never had a driveline problem. In fact, in all the years I've been around Toyota's (in general) I have never seen a broken driveline on a Toyota PU (or Tacoma). So to me it wasn't an issue.
BLD: Let me know if you want more info as to why I like the engineering of this truck.
Don't mean to rip on your truck... well yeah I guess I do - a little friendly rivalry never hurt anyone! I just can't see myself getting a Japanese truck - pickups are an American thing, or they should be, in my humble opinion.
In spite of my ribbing here, I am actually serious about my question and curious about what you guys have to say.
What are you talking about??
The Tundra is a "compact" FULL SIZE TRUCK.
It seems nowadays bigger is simply better (ie: Suburban, Excursion, etc.)
Who wants to drive around a monster tank?? Not me, I would like to be able to park and get out of the car without smashing my door into the car next to me. C'mon, the Tundra's back seat is probably too small for full size adults, but it's great for kids, and the front seats have more legroom than any of the full size trucks. The only thing you can complain about is the backseat room. If you are going to be riding in the backseat all the time then don't buy it. However, I plan to be in the driver's seat when I get mine.
I'm single with no kids and mainly use the back of the extended cab for toting stuff like hunting and fishing gear, luggage, groceries, etc. and having that 4th door on the drivers side is really handy. When I was looking at purchasing a truck, GM still did not have the 4th door available. So that left me with Ford and Toyota (sorry Dodge, but I really don't care for that look). The difference between the Ford F150 and Tundra backseat was negligable. After driving the Ford and Toyota, I felt that the Toyota was the better of the two.
The size is kinda deceptive. When I drove the other three, the cab appeared larger. Alot of the feel in size was because the front wind shield was so much farther away, and the seats were larger. I'm not a big person (5'6, 150lb) so the large seat reminded me of sitting in my Dad's Lincoln. Maybe if I were over 6'2 and 240lb I would think differently.
Still don't think the Tundra has any significant advantage, if any over the Silverado, but I am glad you like it all the same....:)
Some respect bestowed upon you.......
I don't think there is any significant advantage. In fact, I don't think it's a competition. It's a truck. If you like the Siverado, good for you. I almost bought the GMC counter part. But engineering didn't have anything to do with why I chose the Tundra. If I based all my buying decisions on how things are engineered, I'd lead a pretty (make that VERY) boring life (you're not married or have kids; are you?)
I've said it before, people make their buying decisions based on their experiences. If we get some good advise from reading posts on the web, we may be inclined to use the web to help our decisions. On the contrary, if we get some bad advice off the web, we would be inclined to dis-believe anything we read. Much is the same with this reliability ballyhoo (sic). If someone has had good experience (or even knew someone who he/she trusted that had a good experience) with a particular manufacturer, then that person would be inclined to buy that product.
I buy a lot of Craftman tools. I have Craftman power saws and drill that I inherited that still run like new. In fact I just ordered a new handle assembly for a +20 yr old saw off the web on the Sears web site. To me, Craftman tools are awesome. I have a friend who is just as devoted to Black and Decker. Is there an engineering advantage? I don't know, I don't care. He's still a friend.
To make a long story short, it all comes down to personal preference. If you try to understand it, you will make yourself crazy. It's not a race (as much as magazines would like to make you think). It's a truck.
tp4unc has been one of the biggest domestic bashers. His last post is about as hypocritical as it gets.
My wife put a stop to all of my dates with Gidget on the beach.
Can't be. I guess if you can change, I can change. Rocky did in movie #4.....:)
I also knew that the bed of the truck was 2" shorter and that the overall width of the bed was 2.5" shorter. However, as long as I can put a 4x8 piece of plywood flat on the floor of the bed, then that's good enough for me. (The distance between the wheelwells on the Tundra is 49.3").
I also knew that the depth of the bed is about 2" less. However, since I don't fill the cargo box of the truck to the brim with anything, then that 2" doesn't matter to me either.
In the end, I bought the truck that met my needs and that I LIKED the best. Performance, handling, ride, quietness, comfort, perception of the quality of materials used, fit and finish, and perception of potential reliability were factors that went into deciding what I liked best. I was also impressed by the technical aspects of the truck that pcheng so aptly described, however this alone was not, and should not be the sole basis for any purchase.
If my needs included something that the Tundra could not meet but the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado could have(example, towing beyond 7,200 lbs), then I would have purchased my second choice in trucks, the Ford F-250 SD CC with the Triton V-10.
1.) Ownership Satisfaction- **
2.) Reliability- *
3.) Fit & Finish- **** (MY trucks best Feature)
4.) Overall Rating- ** and 1/2
5.) Comments as Follows ...
Little concerning MY Tundra has been a pleasant experience. From the purchase to the ownership of MY Tundra! As it stands right now I feel like I own the biggest "Toyota-Lemon" of them all!!! Interestingly enough, is that I owned a 97 T-100 SR5 for two years and my Tundra has been in the shop almost twice as much as that vehicle ever was! Warranty work and oil changes only!
Currently MY Tundra has approximately 6750 miles and MY Tundra has or has had the following problems ...
During MY first week of ownership, due to a vibration problem, I had to replace ALL four tires AND wheels. I also had to pay the difference concerning the switch out of my own pocket. This was roughly $250! Remember I just purchased a new vehicle that cost almost $30,000! In case you are wondering I switched from Good Year tires to Michelin tires. (I see nothing "Good" about Good Year tires!) I feel like I now have a tire worthy of my vehicle. Consequently, this was probably the smartest thing I have done to date regarding MY Tundra!
The next problem I encountered was a vibration problem in the steering wheel portion of the vehicle. The steering wheel was eventually replaced with a "Heavier" steering wheel and it helped the vibration problem ever so slightly.
Next up was the vibration in the center console of MY Tundra. It seemed that the console would shake severely at speeds of 50mph-60mph. After visiting THREE different Toyota dealerships AND having THREE different alignments performed on MY Tundra, I finally found a Toyota dealer whom actually knew how to put weights on my wheels! You see, the truck had no weights on ANY of the FOUR wheels! Problem SOLVED ... FINALLY!
The next problem I encountered was a COMPLETELY dead battery! After having the Tundra towed this problem was eventually solved by replacing the Tundra with a new battery! Damn that was a cold morning! BUURRRR!!!
The next problem on the agenda was my SecurKey + keyless entry. It seems that if you buy a truck from one region of the country and move to another, certain accessories are unable or unknown how to be repaired! Its a GENUINE Toyota part! DAMN! This problem is still unresolved but after calling Toyota and bitching ... they are seeking a resolve to the problem! I figured I had a right to [non-permissible content removed] at this point!!!
Soon thereafter another problem reared its ugly little head. I noticed that the defrost and heater were working worse than usual, so, the water coolant valve was replaced and another day was wasted at a dealership! YIPPEE! Damn! I wish they had free donuts!
The next problem I encountered was that upon braking I noticed MY Tundra pulling to the left. After another two hours in the dealership they diagnosed the problem and cleaned my brakes. At least this dealership has good coffee! AHHH!
A week later I noticed that my defroster was working worse than ever. So, this resulted in my SEVENTEENTH trip to a Toyota dealership concerning repairs on MY Motor Trend truck of the year Tundra! After another two hours and finding the problem it was found that my defroster was indeed bad. They promptly ordered the parts and had me come back a week later! They had to replace the recirculating switch AND the printed integration board in my defrost/heating system. This repair would have cost around $600 if I hadn't still been under warranty! Finally, I have a defroster that works!!! YIPPEE!
This is my FIFTH Toyota! I have had little or no problems with a Camry, MR-2, T-100, and a 4Runner! But MY Tundra has been a tremendous disappointment! I had to convince my wife to buy it! Now, we are strongly considering getting rid of it! A Ford F-150 is looking pretty good right now:(
I am very happy that most of you have had little or no problems with your Tundra's! I am a little jealous because I too bought the Tundra based on past Toyota experience and Toyota reputation. Unfortunately, that reputation is taking on a competely new meaning! My wife's 99 4Runner is a better vehicle than my 2000 Tundra! Damn! It hurts to say that!
Best wishes to you all! I hope some of your good fortune rubs off on me!
Todd~~~
I wanted to get one but I am a little nervous.
Look on the bright side - at least the dealer has been able to solve all 17 of your problems. I can not honestly say you would have had any better luck with a Ford, GM or Dodge - all truck manufactures have some problem vehicles. Most Toyota owners pay a few thousand $$$'s extra to not have these problems. So I can understand why you are so upset about these problems.. Good luck solving them.
You are right. There is a big conspiracy among all Tundra owners to distribute false info on our ownership experience.
t100Todd,
If my Tundra experience was like yours, I'd be driving that F150. Good luck with your problems.
TTodd: With the exception of the heater (and the battery--I'd chalk the battery up to luck-of-the-draw) it sounds like your other problems are dealer prep problems and other after market equipment problems. You might consider a different dealer. BTW, Your alarm is dealer installed (or port installed) and isn't offered in the Pacific NW. Hope it all works out for you!
Will be taking a 12-1500 mile trip in next couple weeks and will post if any significant problems.
So far at least, this has been one of the nicest driving vehicles I have ever owned. Contrary to some comments I have read on this post you may rest assured I will not be hesitant in reporting any problems I might have. I think it's helpful to other owners regardless of the make and model.
One other thing ! Hard starting sometimes after it's been driven which I attribute to the fuel injection system. Those of you who 'drive airplanes' with fuel injection know what I'm talking about when they're still warm.
Have a good one...
Mine was manufactured 1/7/00 and the VIN ends with 054743, i.e. #54,743 off the line.
Thanks for the info...