10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,782 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Toyota Tundra drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Toyota Tundra Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #16

Jan 022012

Tundra

  • 104,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that the transfer case spider was rusted. The failure caused the vehicle to make a growling noise and hesitate abnormally when driven. The dealer stated that the gear was supposed to be covered in oil and should not rust. The failure mileage was 104,000 and the current mileage was 106,000.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #15

Feb 062012

Tundra

  • 55,000 miles
My truck was parked for 3 days, then when I started the engine all of the traction control lights started flashing, the check engine light remained on steady, and 4lo light flashed, truck would not travel over 30 mph and became very sluggish. This has happened three times in one week, and disconnecting battery for a few minutes cleared the problem. Local dealership said the problem is a "failed actuator ECU assembly failed communication C1201". cost of repair is $2,280.41. Warranty does not cover repair because this part is only covered by the 3 year/36000 mile warranty. Drivetrain warranty does not cover this component. This is a safety concern because when this problem occurs while driving there is no warning and could result in a multiple vehicle accident. The only other part that causes this problem is an air pump assembly which is now required to be covered by Toyota for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Very discouraging to own a truck less than five years old with 55,000 miles and requires a $2300 repair.

- Port Wentworth, GA, USA

problem #14

Sep 012009

Tundra 4WD 8-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
Engine turns off going down the road and then starts up at full throttle. All the lights are flashing on the dash including the 4 lo light. I have been dealing with this issue since the truck had 10K on it and now it has 42K on it.

- Evans, GA, USA

problem #13

Dec 152011

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 81,200 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The check engine light came on and the vehicle won't accelerate over 45 mph. Almost caused me to have an accident. Seems like Toyota knows about this problem and won't do anything to recall the problem.

- Covington, LA, USA

problem #12

Dec 082010

Tundra 4WD 8-cyl

  • miles
The 2007/2008 Toyota Tundra has a design defect with its air injection pump that allows the pump to injest water when driving for an extended period in rainy weather especially at highway speeds. When the water is then transferred to the switching valves. The vehicle will loose speed rapidly on a medium grade with no ability to accelerate. The cruise control causes the tranmission to downshift repeatedly trying to accelerate. This is extremely dangerous at high speed. In addition the vehicle stablization control is disabled. This condition also short circuits and disables 4W drive and cause the check engine light to come on. The inability to maintain speed or to accelerate creates a very hazardous condition. I have had this problem corrected twice at a cost of $1600. The dealer has informed me that the problem will continue to occur because of a design flaw. Toyota acknowledges the problem in a service bulletin to the dealership (T-sb-039-08 rev 2 dated 10/28/08). There is a remedy for this problem but the dealership claim it has no authorization from Toyota to implement it. As a result I am forced to drive a vehicle that becomes unsafe when it rains.

- Salem , MO, USA

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problem #11

Mar 052011

Tundra

  • 88,000 miles
We were out of town when 3 lights on the dash appeared. Traction, engine and vsb. No dealership in town where we were. My husband disconnected the battery and it reset. Didn't see the lights for three weeks, just came back on after sitting up all night. Dealership said $600, thank goodness I got extended warranty. When you accelerated to 30mph it would not shift out right. And vehicle would not go over 60mph.

- Tallulah, LA, USA

problem #10

May 012009

Tundra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While sitting at stop light and once you let go of the brake the truck jerks within the whole drive shaft from front to back.

- Brandon, FL, USA

problem #9

Feb 272010

Tundra

  • 28,727 miles
Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) subject: Unintentional acceleration event with 2008 Toyota Tundra, [xxx], following recall to insert accelerator pedal shim the purpose of this letter is to document and inform you of an 'unintentional acceleration' event that I experienced with my 2008 Toyota Tundra on the afternoon of February 27, 2010. The event was experienced within 10 minutes/3.5 miles after leaving the dealership following dealer-service work that included, among other items, implementation of the Toyota recall to insert the accelerator pedal shim (ssc). This is the only such event experienced to date with this truck. The event with the vehicle parked and the engine idling normally (approximately 800 RPM), I placed my foot on the brake in preparation of shifting the transmission from park to drive. My foot was well centered on the brake pedal and not in contact at all with the throttle pedal. There was no change in engine speed at this point. I then shifted the transmission from park to drive. As soon as the drive position was engaged, with my foot unchanged from its firm position on the brake pedal, the engine speed immediately went to full throttle. As I heard the engine speed up, I applied full pressure to the brake to hold the vehicle in its stationary position. The rear wheels broke loose from the pavement and began spinning; however, the vehicle remained stationary, held by the braking of the front wheels. Fortunately, the pavement was wet, which facilitated the rear wheels losing traction with the pavement. I immediately turned the ignition off while the drive position was still engaged. Once the engine was shut down, I placed the transmission in the park position. As I never had a chance to place my foot on the throttle pedal before the event occurred, it was not mechanical in nature and can only be attributed to an electrical/control issue.

- Ballston Lake, NY, USA

problem #8

Jan 152009

Tundra

  • 9,178 miles
7/29/09 driving on the freeway at 65 mph transmission started shifting gear and mph was moving from 60 to 80 up and back down. Applied emergency brake, shifted gear to neutral but no actions could stop the Toyota truck. My nephew and I jumped from the truck when I determined that it was slowing down and no cars were passing on the freeway. It came to a sudden stop 1/2 mile away from were we jumped. The engine had smoke coming out and it revving up and down. Towed it to dealer and they said no problem found and accused it was the floormats after their master tech looked at it. No repairs were made and they wanted to charge us for worn brakes and bent rotors which were cause by this event. In-disagreement we towed to another Toyota and they determined that the complaint regarding the sudden acceleration, worn brake pads, and bent rotors cannot be found. We took back the car for 6 months and a second incident happen 1/15/10. I was driving on a residential street and suddenly the truck was accelerated from 25 mph to 60 mph. I performed all ways to stop the truck but it would not stop. To avoid hitting a big-rig I had to verge into an embankment. Again police and fire dept were called but no one accident occurred so no reports were taken. Again we towed it to the dealer stating the same situation and again no problem has been found. They still have the truck until today 3/9/10 and have not gave any answer on what is had occurred and no actions had been taken. I have suffered tremendously. Fear haunts me at night and I am afraid to even step foot into the truck. I am emotionally disturbed on the ordeal and how Toyota persisted that nothing happened. My 15 year old nephew who jumped out while we were on the freeway has been traumatized and yet I cannot get answer.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #7

Mar 012010

Tundra 8-cyl

  • miles
2008 Toyota Tundra. Consumer states floor mat issues interfering with the operation of the accelerator and slow shifting problems the consumer stated he purchased a full set of all weather mats from the dealer designed for his truck and the mat still did not prevent the pedal from becoming trapped under the mat. The radio was replaced due to an internal short.

- Plymouth, PA, USA

problem #6

Aug 122009

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 5,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns 2008 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that when the weather was humid, the check engine light illuminated. The contact stated that he was driving 5 mph when the check engine light came on. The check engine light would come on for a week at a time, then it would go off for a couple days, then back on 3 more times throughout the day. The owner took the vehicle to the dealership for testing. The dealer said that the computer was not showing a code so there was nothing that could be done. The failure mileage was 5,000. The current mileage was 13,5000. The consumer stated the transmission would hesitate during take off as well as during cold temperatures and the engine made a rattle sound. The radio would come on and change stations by itself. The consumer stated the accelerator pedal became stuck even before a recall was issued. The blower motor did not always work properly, the re-circulator would shut off by itself even if the button was held down for 3 seconds. Updated 04/20/10

- Bessemer, AL, USA

problem #5

Dec 042008

Tundra

  • 24,500 miles
We began leasing our new Toyota Tundra 12/07. We noticed thumping in the drive train and complained of the thumping to Toyota dealer 4 times prior to 12/08 and they continued to say nothing was wrong. There was an accident 12/08. Was driving on road the vehicle lost control after locking up. Dealer had vehicle for almost 2 months repairing accident damage. Upon return thumping continued and rear tires wore out in a few months after purchase of new tires (originals needed replaced previously). Returned vehicle to Toyota, they changed rear end housing 4/09. Insurance paid as continued damage from 12/08 accident. The thumping is still continuing and appears there is something still wrong with the vehicle. We did complain to insurance company that we felt the accident was due to an auto defect immediately following the accident. They were to do an investigation. Now I am being told it was closed but were never informed of results of the investigation by allstate. We are unsure what steps to take at this point but are dissatisfied with the performance of our vehicle still at this point and feel dealer and insurance company have been of no help.

- New Brighton, PA, USA

problem #4

Apr 152009

Tundra

  • 19,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Tundra. While driving approximately 10 to 30 mph when he took his foot of the gas pedal the vehicle continued to accelerate and when his foot is on the brake pedal the vehicle lunged forward. Two separate Toyota dealers diagnosed the failure six times and also experienced the failure; however, the dealer is waiting for a response from the manufacturer on how to repair the vehicle. He also filed claim number 0904137238 with the manufacturer who followed up with him to find out if the dealer repaired the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 19,699 and the current mileage was 34,850. Updated 3/4/2010 the consumer stated he had difficulty shifting gears at low speeds. Updated 07/07/10.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #3

Dec 242008

Tundra

  • 3,000 miles
The transmission and transfer case on our 2008 Tundra 4WD drive has failed, repeatedly this past week while operating the vehicle on a public street. In this "fail" condition, the transfer case makes a grinding nose, the transfer case alarm buzzer makes nose and irrespective of transmission position or transfer case selection (2wd, 4WD hi, 4WD lo) fails to engage in low or hi, and most troubling, the vehicle will roll in any gear, no gear will engage, and the car can roll forward or backwards out of control. I was almost hit a by a car today because I could not get the truck to engage in any gear, in any setting, inspite of attempts to roll the vehicle slightly down the hill to allow for the transfer case to engage, as suggested in the owner's manual. While I am not pleased with the (failed) condition of the drive train for this new truck, this is an issue I will address directly with Toyota. In the fail condition of 4WD, the transfer case merely 'beeps' and refuses to engage transmission, resulting in a free-rolling, uncontrolled vehicle. Had this failure happened today as we attempted to enter the freeway, we would have likely been in a accident. This is unacceptable. I am most concerned that other Tundra owners (and the similar sequoia) would have a loss of vehicle control and power, resulting in injury or death. How troubling Toyota would put this vehicle on the road without addressing this issue.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #2

Aug 152008

Tundra

  • 59 miles
Bought a new 2008 Toyota Tundra double cab 5.7 liter V-8 4X4 had 52 miles on it Aug 8, 2008. During the drive home from the dealership the transmission exhibited the rumble strip vibration under light engine load as described in the quote from automotive news October 22, 2007 - 12:01 am et I found on the world wide web. See quote below. Motor trend also mentions it in an online review. I expect the dealer will fix this issue but other online blogs suggest the issue can become severe enough to prevent shifting into or out of gear. If the reports are correct this becomes a safety issue possibly stranding driver and occupants in a dangerous setting with a vehicle that won't move. Toyota should address this and current owners should be notified of the possible safety concern. A google search of Tundra rumble strip vibration will yield information on the issue. Los angeles Toyota motor sales officials have nicknamed the problem "the rumble strip" because the slippage causes vibration similar to the sensation of driving over the wake-up strips at the side of highways. The rumbling usually lasts several seconds. But the problem sometimes worsens to the point that some owners can't shift into certain gears. The problem has been reported only in six-speed transmissions, which are linked to the popular 5.7-liter V-8 engine. Since the 2007 Tundra's February launch, the 5.7-liter engine has been installed in 70 percent of about 135,000 Tundra sold. That means the problem could affect nearly 100,000 vehicles.

- Florissant , MO, USA

problem #1

Mar 152008

Tundra

  • 3,000 miles
The truck is a 2008 Toyota Tundra 4X4 limited supercrew. The drive train thuds and clanks when accelerating and decelerating. It is getting progressively worse. The truck was taken back to the dealer on three occasions. They advise that they can not duplicate the thuds and do not feel them. I have had no less than five people drive my truck and they all advised they can feel the now violent bangs and thuds. Earnhardt Toyota service tech's advised they don't feel the thuds. If they would just tell me the thuds are normal instead of lying to me saying they don't feel anything it would be much easier to swallow. On one occasion I stopped abruptly and the driveline made a very loud noise and felt like the entire undercarriage came out of the truck. I had to pull off the road due to the incident scaring me. The drivetrain in this truck is absolutely junk and I feel dangerous.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

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