I was the first one to purchase a Toyota Tundra in our town, because I worked for the dealership and ordered one as soon as I found out they were going to be released. I had previously owned a Toyota Tacoma and had approx. 160,000 miles on it with no problems and it was not babied in any way. I also own an older Camry and have had no real problems with it. Actually my only complaint with the Tacoma was not enough horsepower, so I was very excited when I learned Toyota was coming out with a V-8 engine.
I have used this Tundra somewhat like a 3/4 ton, so I have expected some problems. I had rack and pinion problems at 110,000 and had to rebuild it a couple of times. I have also had some paint issues on the lower door panels. However my main complaint has been the rear differential.
I started having a leak at 90,000 miles, and I replaced the bearings and seals twice as I did not realize the seal ring had to be pressed on a certain distance. Then the ring and pinion went out at 110,000 miles, and I ordered all the parts to put everything back together at a cost of over $1000.00 only to find the differential carrier worn on the inside after I had already installed the carrier bearings.
When I contacted the parts department at a local Toyota dealership again to order the carrier, I was informed that I could purchase a drop-in assembly for $825.00. I asked them why they did not inform me of this information to start with and they just blew it off by saying, I did not ask.
So now I have spent over $1800.00 in parts and guess what? My rear differential is still leaking. I have pulled it down and had a friend of mine make new axle seal rings, which did help until the vehicle had 130,000 miles on it. I have now spent about $2700.00 in the rear differential with new axle brgs. again, and of course each time you tear it down the brakes are soaked, so you have to replace the rear brake shoes.
Needless to say I'm very disappointed. The power is really great on the truck, but the way Toyota designed the rear differential is a joke. I was one of Toyota's strongest advocates, so much so, that I was the number 1 salesman for Toyota in the state of Colorado in the year 2000. Now I'm in the market for a new vehicle again, and I was very interested in the new Tundra, but obviously I have to get the one I now own fixed before I can trade it in, and I have to tell you folks, this experience (which is not over yet), has probably been a deal killer for a long time Toyota customer.
Consider yourself very lucky to have gotten to 90,000 miles before your troubles began. I don't know anyone who has bought a Tundra that went that far without major problems. I also don't know anyone who has bought a SECOND Tundra. They always go back to the more solid and reliable Silverados or F-150's after being burned by Toyota. Once the brakes, steering, engine, transmissions and differentials start falling apart, all of a sudden domestics start to look much better.
17:09.
Agree about people not buying a second Tundra. My neighbor had a Tundra that came and went, after he had previously owned an F-150 and the Tundra was replaced by an F-150 after not too long respectively.
I do not know what the straw that broke the camel's back was with the Tundra, but I know the valvetrain was very problematic among many other severe issues.
Another neighbor has a Tundra that is plagued with suspension and brake problems, but he is still making payments on and cannot get rid of it. Thus, every Tundra that I know of in my neighborhood is a complete disaster.
The latter neighbor sold a perfectly running 200K+ mile Chevy van that he had no problems with for the Tundra. I guess the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence, as some people have found out the hard way.
An attempt by Toyota to play in the truck field. It reminds me of the 4Runner competing with the Jeep Cherokee. Blinded by its alleged reputation for reliability, they turn to be head gasket blower, axle breaker in the rough and a rust nightmare in the north east.
The lack of a standard 100,000 mile warranty says it all on this review.
I totally agree about the 100,000 mile warranty. A company that won't offer to match a competitor's warranty has no confidence in their products. If Tundra offered a 100,000 mile warranty they'd go out of business in a few months with all the repairs required.
And incidentally, a lot of import fans and import dealers are trying to scare people by spreading the BLATANTLY FALSE claim that if the Big Three go bankrupt, the warranties are no good. This IS NOT TRUE!! By law provisions have to be made for honoring the warranties. That's the LAW. If you buy a 2009 Chevy tomorrow, it IS covered for 100,000 miles no matter WHAT people are posting on here and spreading in unfounded rumors.
Have owned my Toyota Tundra SR5 4X4 since 2000.
Have had to replace front brake pads at 68,000 miles.
Had to replace O2 sensors at 80,000.
Truck had otherwise performed flawlessly. Rides as nice today as when it was new. Looking forward to many more mechanical free miles. Love the truck.
19:47 I doubt you ever towed anything then, went up or down hills, or drove much more than 25 mph to stop... referring to brake pads on full size trucks weight. I usually get 25-30,000 miles with better brake pads. Involves hard towing stop and go traffic in my full size domestics and I have a fairly steep incline just coming out a long driveway alone.
Please indicate how and what the vehicle tows and/or carries in its bed with add'l weight added to stop on the brakes mentioned. I suspect it is I don't know or hardly ever.
It's not surprising that there is no reply to the questions asked in comment 15:11. It's been my experience that Tundra and Tacoma owners are a bit evasive about questions to document their comments. I still have not known of even one repeat buyer of a Tundra, and I really doubt there are any. The few people I've known who bought Tundras went back to a real truck (Ford, Chevy or Dodge) once their Tundra's brakes, steering, suspension, transmission and engine started failing (which was usually well before 100,000 miles). I'll take a reliable GM truck with a 100,000 mile warranty or a reliable F-150 any day.
"If you buy a 2009 Chevy tomorrow, it IS covered for 100,000 miles no matter WHAT people are posting on here and spreading in unfounded rumors."
It's covered for 100,000 miles as long as you fork over the extra cash for the extended warranty. This argument that domestics are better than imports because they have longer warranties is totally false. Every car I've ever purchased, import or domestic, has come with the exact same 3 year, 36,000 mile standard warranty.
How people can blurt out info without never stepping into a dealership to confirm standard warranties is amazing. I have a considerable investment to tow. I cannot afford to say I think so it must be confirmed in writing.
Neither poster is exactly correct. GM offer a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty and a 36K generally warranty. How do I know this. GM is currently doing $1400 worth of work on my sister's car under the powertrain warranty because the part that failed actually falls under the 36k warranty, but my sister has 45k on her car. The car is only 2 years old and the part that failed (leaky fuel pump) should not fail period in 2 years, so GM covered it with no problem. Car has been dead reliable other than this instance.
My mom has an 07' GM car with 50k on it and it has never been to the dealer for anything. Not even a brake job. Glad GM stood behind their product, because if they had made my sister pay anything, I would have never purchased another GM vehicle.
"It's covered for 100,000 miles as long as you fork over the extra cash for the extended warranty."
No, it's covered for 100,000 miles for FREE. It's standard with GM. Chrysler now has a LIFETIME warranty. No Japanese maker matches these... NONE.
"No, it's covered for 100,000 miles for FREE. It's standard with GM. Chrysler now has a LIFETIME warranty. No Japanese maker matches these... NONE."
You'll need those warranties with how often GM and Chrysler vehicles break. And by the way, the Chrysler lifetime warranty covers the powertrain only.
For those of you who say Toyota trucks are never used as work/fleet vehicles, your wrong. The True Value Hardware store in my town uses Toyota pick-up trucks ONLY. And, the autoparts store in my town uses Toyota Tacoma's as their delivery trucks.
"No, it's covered for 100,000 miles for FREE. It's standard with GM. Chrysler now has a LIFETIME warranty. No Japanese maker matches these... NONE."
While you're right that no Japanese automaker has these kinds of warranties, Hyundai has a standard 10-year 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.