2025 Toyota Tundra: What to check before buying

Throttle hesitation from a stop is the dominant complaint. Drivers press the pedal at a light, stop sign, or yield and get no response for 1 to 3 seconds, sometimes longer. The truck then jerks or surges forward. Many describe near misses while turning across traffic or merging. One crash-related report describes a different fault: idle speed climbs after the brake is released and the truck creeps forward faster than expected. Stalling after stops also appears. One dealer could not duplicate the hesitation.

Complete engine failure is the most serious pattern. Three reports describe the engine dying while driving, including at highway speed and around 50 mph, and refusing to restart. One cites a failed bearing, and another was told the engine needs replacement. Most other complaints repeat the throttle lag seen elsewhere: a pause or near-stall when pulling away or turning left, then a sudden lurch. One owner says Sport+ mode reduces the hesitation. A rough vibration at idle is also reported.

Delayed acceleration from a stop dominates here too, starting as early as 600 to 2,200 miles. Some trucks begin moving, then lose power and drift into the intersection before acceleration resumes, leading to several near T-bone collisions. Pressing harder after the delay can spin the tires. Separate reports describe a cluster of warnings for pre-collision, stability control, and the engine computer followed by very weak acceleration, and a speedometer reading 9 mph low at 55 mph.

Throttle lag accounts for most of these reports. The truck hesitates 1 to 2 seconds from a dead stop even at full pedal, sometimes followed by lurching, and several near accidents are described. In one case the truck felt stuck in a high gear and barely moved until it was shifted to Park and back. A separate complaint concerns fuel economy, with real-world mileage near 14.6 mpg against EPA ratings of 18/23.

Sudden steering seizure is the most serious report here. One crash with an injury followed the wheel locking up, with steering warning messages before and after the impact. Another truck's wheel briefly locked during turns at about 4,605 miles. Lane assist complaints describe the truck bouncing between lane lines or drifting out of its lane without warning. One report documents severe outside-edge wear on all four tires at about 13,000 miles, with alignment measured out of specification.

Throttle lag again makes up half of these complaints, including one crash-related report of the truck rolling into an intersection while ignoring the pedal. Other faults vary. The A/C switched from cold to hot air at idle with no alert while still showing as on, causing fatal heat injury to a pet. A power tailgate kept closing on a child's finger. Radar and traction control shut off while driving, disabling collision warning and lane assist until a restart.

Violent shaking under braking at highway speed is reported from warped rotors at around 10,000 miles. One dealer quoted $440 for rotor work and said it is seeing several low-mileage 2025 trucks with the same issue. Other complaints describe brake lights that stay off until the pedal is nearly halfway down and brakes applying on their own with a hard, jarring stop. A loud squeal on cold starts is reported on the Hybrid.

These complaints are mostly about recalls and dealer service, not new failures. One truck sat at a dealer under a stop-sale order with no resolution. Another owner reports brake lights and the backup camera not working, along with a dead media console and disappearing coolant, and says the dealer refused to perform the open safety recalls. Both reports center on getting recall work completed.