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Best and Worst Years for Toyota Tundra

Updated on Oct 24, 2025

At one time, nobody thought Toyota would ever produce a full-size truck. With the Tundra, Toyota set its sights on the popular and lucrative full-size truck segment for North America. Suffice to say it’s worked out pretty well for Toyota, too.

The Tundra is incredibly popular amongst auto reviewers and customers alike. In challenging the likes of Chevrolet, Ford, and Dodge, Toyota seemed destined to be an also-ran with a truck. Instead, it’s leading the pack.

But, not every model year has been a smash hit. Some years were just plain bad. Some were incredible, too. In this article, we’ll tell you which model years of the Toyota Tundra were great, and which you should avoid.

Table of Contents:

The Worst Years for the Toyota Tundra

The Best Years for the Toyota Tundra

The Most Common Toyota Tundra Issues

FAQs

The Worst Years for the Toyota Tundra

These are widely viewed as the worst year for the Toyota Tundra:

2000
2004
2007
2008

Toyota Tundra Problems by Model Year

2000 and 2004 Models

The 2000 and 2004 Toyota Tundra are the first and last years in the first generation Tundra. The 2000 Tundra is considered the worst model year ever; the NHTSA received over 1,000 pieces of negative feedback about the 2000 Tundra. Luckily, most reports were for issues that had nothing to do with safety. The most widely reported issues were poor paint quality and body panels rusting.

Know that while the 2000 Tundra is considered the worst, not much had changed by 2004. Consider both vehicles to be of equal quality when eyeing a pre-owned Tundra.

2007 and 2008 Models

The 2007 and 2008 Tundras are second-generation trucks from Toyota, and were plagued by significant engine troubles. Reports of complete engine failure, knocking pistons, and air injection pump failures were rampant.

Speed control problems and faulty accelerator pads were unique to the 2007 Tundra, but these issues weren’t widespread. The 2008 Tundra had issues with its exhaust manifold, oxygen sensor, and air injection pump.

The Best Years for the Toyota Tundra

Black Toyota Tundra pickup truck parked on sandy terrain with a distant green landscape.

These are the model years of Toyota Tundra you should buy if you’re shopping for a pre-owned Tundra:

2001
2003
2005
2009
2010
2011
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2022

The Highest Rated Toyota Tundra Years

2019, 2013, and 2009 Models

The 2019, 2013, and 2009 are widely considered the best Tundras, with the 2009 taking top honors. All three model years get high marks for providing owners with great handling and a reliable powertrain in an attractive truck.

The 2009 Toyota Tundra only has about 50 complaints logged with the NHTSA, showing how much Toyota improved the truck since 2000. In 2013, Toyota fixed issues related to head gasket leaks and frame issues that had been reported in previous model years, while the 2019 Tundra was one of the last second-generation Tundras before a revamp in 2022. Late-generation model years are often higher-rated because automakers have sorted issues out as they make iterative changes to the vehicle.

The Most Common Toyota Tundra Issues

Defective Fuel Injector Pump

A defective fuel injector pump is a common issue for earlier Tundras, causing incomplete combustion of fuel, poor fuel economy, and smelly exhaust. Replacement costs are upward of $1,000 for this issue, so be sure it has been resolved before purchasing a used Tundra.

Excessive Wear to Lower Ball Joint

Some model years of Tundra have front suspension issues, specifically excessive wear to the lower ball joint. This issue is the result of a production error; specifically, Toyota failed to ensure the ball joints were finished properly. If left untreated, it can worsen over time and cause significant vibration, squealing, and give drivers problems with controlling the truck.

“Strawberry Milkshake” - Coolant and Transmission Fluid Mix

The 2000-2006 Tundras have automatic transmissions that are prone to slipping, which can cause engine coolant and transmission fluid to mix. When the engine and transmission overheat as a result of the radiator assembly rupturing, specifically the part responsible for sending coolant to the transmission, the transmission likely needs a full replacement.

Brake Issues

Brake problems also plague the Tundra. The most common brake issue is warped brake rotors, which can cause a lot of vibration and shaking during braking. Unfortunately, wobbly rotors often need to be fully replaced.