Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, seats, and wipers and visibility. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2021 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 2021's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 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 2021 Toyota Tundra, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
A fire is the most serious report. The cab fills with black smoke after the truck is parked and shut off, with no prior warning, and the dash and its wiring burn. Other reports describe the instrument panel LCD going blank again and again, even after repeat dealer visits. On TRD Pro trucks, the factory LED light bars come loose, rattle and flicker over bumps or above 40 mph, with no approved repair. Some trucks also start without the radio or A/C powering on until the key is jiggled or the engine is restarted.
The driver seat comes loose and rocks back and forth when the truck brakes or accelerates. Some reports describe side-to-side movement in slow turns. The play gets worse over time, and owners worry the seat could collapse or fail in a crash. Dealers give mixed answers. Some blame the cushion, seat track or seat frame, while others say nothing is wrong. Replacement parts can sit on back order for about a year, so many trucks go unrepaired after several visits to more than one dealer.
Wiper failures and windshield cracks are the two patterns. A wiper can stop working with no warning. In one case the driver-side wiper fails while the passenger side keeps working. In another, snow load strips the wiper arm, and dealers report the replacement arm is no longer made, which leaves the truck unsafe to drive in rain or snow. Separately, small pebble strikes chip the windshield, and the chips spread into full-length cracks, which raises concerns about glass quality.
The brake lights stay off when adaptive cruise control slows the truck on its own. Drivers behind get no warning, which raises the risk of a rear-end crash. One report puts this at about 3,000 miles. The pre-collision system also triggers false warnings with no vehicles, pedestrians or animals ahead, in one case more than 10 times on the same stretch of road. Both problems involve the driver-assist system acting in ways that surprise the driver or nearby traffic.
Power steering fails outright, and the fix is replacing the entire steering assembly. One owner reports a failure at around 38,000 miles and a quoted cost of more than $6,000. Many 2021 trucks fall under steering recall 21V920000. Reports here are mostly about that recall. Repair parts are not yet available, dealers cannot do the work, and owners wait longer than they consider reasonable. A sudden loss of power assist makes the truck hard to steer, which creates loss-of-control risk.
Excerpts from complaints Tundra owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The software in the combination meter's electronic control Instrument Panel LCD display frequently goes blank I have taken my vehicle at least 5 times since I bought it 18 months ago as a new vehicle and it is yet to be remedied. This is the same issue that the 2022 Thundra has, 2021 should be included in the recall as well to remedy this problem
Filed with NHTSA, March 2023
When I turn the key to crank my radio doesn’t come on , A/C won’t blow and I have to jiggle the keys or restart it to end the issue. My husband has witnessed thi happen many times. Scared I might have an electrical issue. Contact me back for assistance to me for this issue please. It doesn’t happen every time either.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
The seats shifts back and forth when brakes applied or hit the accelerator pedal. I’ve taken to two different dealers n made complaints but not results or repairs have been made.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2022
Drivers seat has lateral movement in it associated when vehicle is engaged in a slow speed descending right turn. Dealer claims nothing is wrong.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2024
Driver side wiper does not work while passenger side works. Has not been into dealer yet, due for state inspection now, June 2022. No warning, would not work when attempting to leave home.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2022
Pre collision warning has erroneously activated numerous (>10) times on the same section of roadway. No other vehicles, pedestrians or animals were present on roadway.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2024
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 has the fewest owner complaints of the 8 Tundra years we cover, 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 2021 is the 15th 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Toyota Tundra, with their own 2021 checklists.
2021 owner complaints, side by side
