2023 Toyota Tundra: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 321 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the engine, transmission, and fuel system. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023- Owner complaints
- 321
- Recalls
- 13
- Crashes reported
- 6
- 2 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Toyota Tundra: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
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.
Which Tundra is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cylGas | 4WD, RWD | 19–20 mpg |
| 3.4L 6-cylHybrid | 4WD, RWD | 20–22 mpg |
- The 2023 Toyota Tundra was sold in two versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- On the hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Tundra that averages well under the EPA 19 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Driveshaft and rear differential failure
500–1,200 miles
Throttle lag from stops
5,000–10,000 miles
Fuel gauge reading full
8,000–11,000 miles
Outer-edge tire wear
15,000–19,500 miles
Engine seizure, bearing failure
25,000–34,658 miles
Late engine failure
57,000–72,241 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Toyota Tundra, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Engine861 crash
Sudden failure at speed, often with no warning, dominates these reports. Drivers describe loud knocking, lost power, and highway stalls that can leave them without power steering or brake assist. Dealers find spun bearings, broken connecting rods and metal debris, then replace the short block or install a full engine. Failures cluster between 25,000 and 34,658 miles, with more near 58,000 to 65,000. Several owners say their VIN was not in the engine recall. One fire left a truck a total loss, and one crash is blamed on lost power. Turbo, throttle body and catalytic converter failures also appear.
Most of these reports are about recall campaigns 24V381000 and 25V767000, where dealers confirm the repair parts are not yet available. Many owners say the wait has gone on too long, and one says a buyback request was declined. Some trucks fail while they wait. Owners describe loss of motive power, stalls near 60 mph, knocking on startup, rough cold idle, and hesitation on acceleration. One dealer found metal debris and rebuilt or replaced the engine. Another found a failed engine assembly but had no parts to fix it.
Transmission641 crash
Throttle lag from a stop or rolling stop is the main complaint. The driver presses the pedal, nothing happens for a second or two, and then the truck lunges forward. Owners describe near misses at stop signs, roundabouts and left turns. Some notice it from about 5,000 miles, and dealers often call it normal. Other reports describe engines that lock up with metal shavings in the oil, driveshaft and rear differential failures in the first 1,200 miles, hard shifts, and stalls in 4WD. One crash followed a shift into park while the truck was moving.
Fuel system351 crash
The fuel gauge reads full when the tank is not, often after parking nose-up on an incline. One owner needed 14.4 gallons to fill a tank the gauge showed as more than 3/4 full. Dealers rarely find a fix, and online workarounds fail for many owners. Throttle lag from a stop, followed by a lurch, persists even after a software flash or service bulletin. Owners also complain that the fire-risk recall 23TA09 went months without an available remedy. A hybrid owner reports fuel leaking onto a garage floor.
Nearly every report concerns recall 23V566000. Owners are notified, but dealers have no parts for the repair, and one dealer sold reserved parts before the appointment. The underlying risk is real. One owner reports a fire at the driver-side fuel tank that destroyed the truck, and another smelled fuel while driving at 30,000 miles. Other complaints include a fuel gauge that reads high, low fuel economy, and screens that shut off or demand a PIN while driving.
Electrical25No crashes
Two reports describe fires starting in the engine bay. One began with an acrid smell after the heaters were switched on. The other came shortly after a 45,000-mile service, with shaking and loss of power before the fire. A common nuisance is a fuel gauge that jumps to full when the tank is not full, so the driver could run dry. Other complaints include a blacked-out instrument cluster, parking and lane cameras glitching in rain, stalling with engine knock, a sudden loss of oil pressure, and a musty HVAC smell when it rains.
Brakes18No crashes
Brakes squeal or screech from new, worse after startup and in rain. Pad and rotor work often fails to stop it, and some dealers call it a known issue or are still waiting on parts. Several owners report the automatic emergency system slamming the truck to a stop with nothing ahead, including once from 40 mph. In one fire, the brakes failed completely while the truck was moving. Other reports are open recalls with no parts and heavy oil consumption with misfires during a dealer test.
Acceleration and cruise control18No crashes
Acceleration from a stop often stalls for 2 to 3 seconds and then surges, leaving drivers exposed in cross traffic. Some first notice it around 10K miles, and it shows up more often shortly after startup. Dealers often cannot reproduce it, and an ECU flash did little for one owner. One driver was hit while pulling out. Others lose power while merging onto highways. The pre-collision system brakes hard with no reason, once from 65 to about 35 mph, and lane keep assist fights the wheel.
Steering10No crashes
The truck pulls hard to the right, and repeated alignments fail to fix it or make it worse. That pull goes with fast front tire wear. Some TRD Pro owners say the factory alignment specs were wrong. Several reports describe engine stalls at speed that leave steering heavy, including one at 57,000 miles where the VIN was not in the recall. Owners also report clicking from the front suspension when turning, vibration at low speeds, and multiple safety-system warnings appearing at once.
Wheels and tires51 crash
Factory 265/60R20 tires wear hard on the outer edges, with dealers recommending new tires at 16,920 miles and calling one tire unsafe at 19,500. Owners tie the wear to alignment, and one got only two tires replaced. A rear tire split its sidewall at 55 mph with 4,601 miles on the truck. One crash report describes the Bridgestone Dueler H/T tires swaying on the highway, worse in rain and with a trailer fishtailing.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Tundra owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Engine started knocking at 58,000 miles, lost power and then completely lost all oil, pressureand then the vehicle became undrivable. Toyota has it in their service department and said it needs an engine replacement. It also does not have a part for the recall that we’ve been waiting on for over a year. They said it’s gonna take two months to repair.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2024
At 65,000 mile engine died. Just the same as the recall for this truck but mine wasn't in the recall. Since it was over 60,000 miles its not covered by Toyota. WE have a third party warranty we bought at the dealer that is saying we have to pay $7,000 out of pocket
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
Vehicle started making loud clunking sounds at around 500 miles in rear of vehicle while moving at low speeds. Gradually became louder. Dealership claimed bad rotors on rear wheels causing this, turned rotors then eventually replaced. Found that driveshaft was "bad". Attempted to replace, and discovered rear differential damaged beyond repair. Vehicle has approximately 1100 miles on it total.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2023
Excessive hesitation in acceleration from stop or slow start. No warnings displayed car has less than 18000 miles. The excessive hesitation poses a real danger when pulling into traffic or trying to avoid an accident. The truck can randomly take several seconds to respond to accelerator input. This issue halls been reported my many 2022 and later Tundra owner.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
Add a stoplight or stop sign at a full and complete stop…. I pressed down the accelerator and nothing happens for about a second and a half… When it finally does respond, it jumps as if it was struggling to get into gear and popped itself… However, then it goes right back to normal.. But the slow starting happens very often. Definite lag when punching on the gas.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
On multiple occasions my fuel gauge has randomly reset from 3/4 full to above full. Had I not noticed this change I could have run out of gas. Toyota refuses to do anything about this and I have reported this to corporate and two different dealerships. Taken it in for repairs 4 times. They tell me there is nothing they can do???
Filed with NHTSA, December 2023
The display on the speedometer stops working and turn off completely and die, you lose all lane departure and speedometer, car tenperature, etc etc, you can’t drive it since you dont know the speed you’re going, and all the functions for radars, etc. even turn it off and on multiple times i got stranded at work, the truck has 500 miles only…
Filed with NHTSA, February 2023
This is ridiculous if there’s debris in the engine of a risk for it and risk for the engine to go I want a new vehicle there’s 18k miles on this truck brand new shape and I will be putting my family in this. This is a risk I’m not willing to take. This needs to be bought back
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
How the 2023 compares with other Tundra years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 Tundra years, about 2.4 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Engine8628
- Transmission6425
- Fuel system3514
- Electrical2513
- Brakes188
- Acceleration and cruise control188
Where the 2023 fits in the Tundra's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2023 is the second model year of the Tundra's third generation (2022–2023).
Recalls to confirm (13)
Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V767000EngineNov 2025
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Toyota Tundra, Lexus LX, and 2024 Lexus GX vehicles equipped with a V35A engine. Debris from the manufacturing process may contaminate the engine and cause the main bearings to fail, which can result in an engine stall and loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: The remedy is currently under development. Once the repair is available, repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed December 16, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated April 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB14 and 25TA14. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB07 and 25LA07. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V381.
25V657000Backup cameraOct 2025
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, and 2023-2025 Sequoia Hybrid vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview image not to display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the multimedia display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB10 and 25TA10.
25V322000Exterior lightsMay 2025
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles. Moisture may enter the reverse light assemblies and cause a light failure.
Risk: Reverse light failure may reduce visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both reverse light assemblies and repair the wire harnesses as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in July 2025.Some owner notification letters were mailed September 11, 2025. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated in first quarter 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB06 and 24TA06.
24V548000EquipmentJul 2024
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia Hybrid, Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Venza Hybrid, 2023-2025 Crown, and 2025 Camry Hybrid vehicles equipped with GST accessories. The load carrying capacity modification label may display inaccurate added weight values. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.
24V381000EngineMay 2024
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tundra and Lexus LX600 vehicles equipped with a V35A engine. Debris from the manufacturing process may contaminate the engine and cause the main bearings to fail, which can result in an engine stall and loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the engine assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed between December 17, 2024 and February 19, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB07/24TA07 and 24LB04/24LA04.
24V125000TransmissionFeb 2024
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, Lexus LX600, and 2023-2024 Sequoia Hybrid vehicles. Unexpected vehicle movement may occur when the vehicle is in neutral and the brakes are not applied.
Risk: Unexpected vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the transmission control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TA02 and 24LA02.
23V757000EquipmentNov 2023
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Toyota Tundra vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will mail a new modified label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2023. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET23B.
23V633000EquipmentSep 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles equipped with a spray-on bed liner accessory. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the load carrying capacity modification label, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 29, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA11.
23V566000Fuel systemAug 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles. The plastic fuel tube routed near metallic brake lines may chafe against the brake lines and become damaged, possibly resulting in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install protective materials and a clamp on the fuel tube, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 6, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB09/23TA09.
23V468000Wheels and tiresJul 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Tundra, Tundra Hybrid, and Sequoia Hybrid vehicles. The steel chain used to secure the spare tire to the underside of the vehicle may have been insufficiently welded.
Risk: Chains that are not welded sufficiently can break and allow the spare tire to detach, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the spare tire carrier assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 14, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB06/23TA06.
23V142000Body and structureMar 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles that may be equipped with a Toyota genuine accessory tonneau cover. The tonneau cover attachment joints may come loose and allow the cover to detach.
Risk: A tonneau cover that detaches while driving can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners of the subject vehicles will be notified by first class mail to return their vehicles to a Toyota dealer. Dealer will install new hardware (bolts, spacers, washers, nuts, rubber washers and cotter pins) to the existing bracket and tonneau cover. If the tonneau cover has tears or splits at the mounting holes to the extent that new hardware cannot be installed, it will be replaced with a new tonneau cover and hardware. Owners will receive a notice once the remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB03/23TA03.
23V111000ElectricalFeb 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles. A software error in the combination meter's electronic control unit (ECU) may cause the Instrument Panel LCD display to go blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays.".
Risk: A blank display will not show critical information such as the speedometer or warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the combination meter ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 17, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA02.
22V854000EquipmentNov 2022
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2023 Tundra pickup trucks equipped with non-skid spray-on bed liners. The load carrying capacity modification label may indicate less weight than the actual total weight of accessories installed on the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GST will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 22R2.
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