Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the fuel system, engine, and brakes. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Toyota Tundra: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2020's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Toyota Tundra. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 14–15 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Toyota Tundra, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Sudden loss of power is the most serious pattern. The truck stops responding to the accelerator, warning lights flash, and in some cases it stalls in traffic. One report describes a "Not ready to drive" message at about 45 mph. Owners report repeat episodes, and dealers find codes but make no repair. Refueling is also a problem. The pump shuts off after a couple of seconds, or fuel spills back out the filler neck, sometimes from new. One report describes the fuel pump running with the engine off.
Hard starting in extreme heat is the clearest pattern. Once the truck has been driven and parked in temperatures above 100F, the engine cranks but will not catch. In the worst cases it stays dead for about 90 minutes. Dealers say they cannot reproduce the fault without a day that hot. Other reports describe a loud air conditioning compressor that slows the truck as if the brakes were applied, and a low-speed noise a dealer could not diagnose.
A slippery plastic brake pedal pad lets the driver's foot slide off while stopping. One crash in a 25 mph zone is blamed on it. The other reports are scattered. On one new truck the brakes, rotors, and calipers failed twice, at a cost of over $2400. Another truck makes an abnormal noise at low speed. A dealer traced that noise to the ABS actuator at 800 miles but did not repair it.
Water leaks through the rear headliner and gets worse over time. One owner was quoted over one thousand dollars for the repair. Sunroof glass also shatters at freeway speed with a loud pop, with no nearby traffic or overpasses. The glass blows upward, and a closed sunshade catches the pieces. Similar reports appear under other categories, which makes sunroof breakage one of the more consistent complaints for this truck.
The front end and steering wheel shake hard, often between 55 and 75 mph and sometimes at low speeds too. Owners describe a rumble-strip feel from new, alignment that keeps drifting, and pulling to one side. Dealers balance and rotate the tires, realign the truck, or replace a shock, but the vibration comes back. One report puts onset at 600 miles. Others say it began within the first months of ownership.
The SOS emergency button can send the wrong VIN to the call center. The center then pulls up a different owner and location, in one case in another state. Toyota has confirmed this fault but has not resolved it. Another report involves recall campaign 21V688000 for exterior lighting, where the dealer did not have the repair part. One more complaint describes a dead battery that will not charge, which leaves the truck unable to start.
Front air bags fail to deploy in frontal crashes. Both reports involve hard impacts, one at 55 mph while towing a trailer, and together they list 3 injuries. One driver describes head and spine injuries after being thrown into the mirror and windshield. The same report says automatic braking did not respond before the impact. The count is small, but both complaints involve real crashes.
A front passenger heated seat catches fire while the truck is parked and empty. The seat burns and melts before the fire goes out on its own, and no warning lights come on. There is only one report, but it is a fire. The other complaint covers headrests that slip out of position too easily, which the owner warns could fail to prevent whiplash in a crash.
Excerpts from complaints Tundra owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Breaks and rotors and caliber broke 2 times and the car is brand new, it cost me over 2400. Bought the truck with 0miles- have all paper work.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2022
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks seventh for owner complaints among 8 Tundra years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the 14th model year of the Tundra's second generation (2007–2021).
It includes the 2014 update.
What changed for 2014
Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.
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.
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 (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.
Risk: An overheated electrical connector can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
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.".
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.
Fix: 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Toyota Tundra, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
