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2021 Toyota Tundra Owner Complaints

Updated May 30, 202616 Critical Recalls
Daniel Wilson
2021 Toyota Tundra Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary

The 2021 Toyota Tundra has 27 reported complaints.

  • Top issues involve unknown or other and electrical system.

Reliability Score

Reliability Score

6.3/ 10

Based on 27 complaints

Most Frequent Issues

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

6 22.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 14.8%

SEATS

4 14.8%

VISIBILITY/WIPER

3 11.1%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2 7.4%

Quick Insights

  • The top category is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, accounting for 22.2% of all complaints.

  • Owners have reported issues across 11 distinct vehicle systems.

  • Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.

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Complaint Summary

What owners keep reporting on the 2021 Toyota Tundra

The 2021 Toyota Tundra has 27 owner complaints in this dataset. UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the most common complaint category, representing about 22% of the reports shown here.

Most common complaint categories

The top complaint groups for the 2021 Toyota Tundra are UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (4), SEATS (4).

Are these complaints a serious red flag?

Potentially. 7 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.

What should buyers inspect on a used 2021 Toyota Tundra?

Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.

Read the full buyer guideRecall report and remedy notesMaintenance costs and intervals2020 Tundra complaints2022 Tundra complaints2019 Tundra complaints

Detailed Complaint Log

Showing 11 of 11 systems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

6 Reports22% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

UNKNOWN

10/3/2021

Wayne drove the truck to work. It was an icy day in Texas so he drove slower than usual. He went to pick up a part (for work) from another shop, he arrived at the shop, turned off the truck and went inside to retrieve the part for work. A few minutes later he came out to his truck and the hazard lights were blinking. He did not turn them on. He then noticed the cab of the truck filled with black smoke, he opened the door, raised the hood to take off the battery cables. The fire destroyed his dash and all electrical in the dash. There were no warnings or messages that appeared prior to the fire.

2/5/2022

4 more complaints are available in this category.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

4 Reports15% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Wayne drove the truck to work. It was an icy day in Texas so he drove slower than usual. He went to pick up a part (for work) from another shop, he arrived at the shop, turned off the truck and went inside to retrieve the part for work. A few minutes later he came out to his truck and the hazard lights were blinking. He did not turn them on. He then noticed the cab of the truck filled with black smoke, he opened the door, raised the hood to take off the battery cables. The fire destroyed his dash and all electrical in the dash. There were no warnings or messages that appeared prior to the fire.

2/5/2022

LED lights are loose and rattle and flash all over the place. While driving over 40+mph or going over any bumps on the road . This only affects TRD PRO tundra’s with factory Ridgid lights . Toyota does not have a toyota approved repair even after going to dealership multiple times and calling toyota USA . They will not do anything for this safety issue besides offer lemon law options . Toyota states this is the only one with this issue . I have done research and brought this issue on a toyota trd forum and received over 100 complaints of other trd pro tundra owners with the same issue and toyota just gives them the run around . I brought this up to my toyota case manager and declined this is an issue . This can cause Photosensitive Epilepsy seizures and can cause serious injuries or death. Toyota has already replaced bezels once and issue persist they state they have updated bezel but have no ETA on when will be made available to be replaced. Toyota should make a recall on these trd pro tundras . My Toyota USA claim number is 220519001173

6/26/2022

2 more complaints are available in this category.

SEATS

4 Reports15% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

The seat has been loose since I first purchased the truck, first time at the dealer they said it was the cushion which it wasn’t and they ordered part and it didn’t fix the situation. The next oil change I took it in and they said it was the frame, bottom of seat, and they ordered one and it’s been on back order a year now or thereabouts. Now I’ve owned the truck for over a year and a half and still no resolution. If an accident occurs will the seat completely break and fling me out of the vehicle? Anyhow multiple phone calls to dealership and now a phone call to Toyota themselves has yielded no resolution.

9/18/2022

The seats shifts back and forth when brakes applied or hit the accelerator pedal. I’ve taken to two different dealers n made complaints but not results or repairs have been made.

10/27/2022

2 more complaints are available in this category.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

3 Reports11% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Driver side wiper does not work while passenger side works. Has not been into dealer yet, due for state inspection now, June 2022. No warning, would not work when attempting to leave home.

6/1/2022

Vehicle is now 6 months old from original & new purchase. Within 30-days of ownership, (1) approx 1.5mm in size chip was fully repaired half way up from the front of the windshield. Eight hours ago (1) extremely small pebble, approx 2mm in size, contacted the front windshield 2 inches from lower portion centered in front of the driver and NOT in the area of the previous repair. Now, the same chip is a full length horizontal crack. Windshield material(s) seem to be extremely prone to failure and possibly not up to NHTSA or federal specifications...

6/27/2022

1 more complaint is available in this category.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2 Reports7% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

Wayne drove the truck to work. It was an icy day in Texas so he drove slower than usual. He went to pick up a part (for work) from another shop, he arrived at the shop, turned off the truck and went inside to retrieve the part for work. A few minutes later he came out to his truck and the hazard lights were blinking. He did not turn them on. He then noticed the cab of the truck filled with black smoke, he opened the door, raised the hood to take off the battery cables. The fire destroyed his dash and all electrical in the dash. There were no warnings or messages that appeared prior to the fire.

2/5/2022

LED lights are loose and rattle and flash all over the place. While driving over 40+mph or going over any bumps on the road . This only affects TRD PRO tundra’s with factory Ridgid lights . Toyota does not have a toyota approved repair even after going to dealership multiple times and calling toyota USA . They will not do anything for this safety issue besides offer lemon law options . Toyota states this is the only one with this issue . I have done research and brought this issue on a toyota trd forum and received over 100 complaints of other trd pro tundra owners with the same issue and toyota just gives them the run around . I brought this up to my toyota case manager and declined this is an issue . This can cause Photosensitive Epilepsy seizures and can cause serious injuries or death. Toyota has already replaced bezels once and issue persist they state they have updated bezel but have no ETA on when will be made available to be replaced. Toyota should make a recall on these trd pro tundras . My Toyota USA claim number is 220519001173

6/26/2022

STRUCTURE:BODY

2 Reports7% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

LED lights are loose and rattle and flash all over the place. While driving over 40+mph or going over any bumps on the road . This only affects TRD PRO tundra’s with factory Ridgid lights . Toyota does not have a toyota approved repair even after going to dealership multiple times and calling toyota USA . They will not do anything for this safety issue besides offer lemon law options . Toyota states this is the only one with this issue . I have done research and brought this issue on a toyota trd forum and received over 100 complaints of other trd pro tundra owners with the same issue and toyota just gives them the run around . I brought this up to my toyota case manager and declined this is an issue . This can cause Photosensitive Epilepsy seizures and can cause serious injuries or death. Toyota has already replaced bezels once and issue persist they state they have updated bezel but have no ETA on when will be made available to be replaced. Toyota should make a recall on these trd pro tundras . My Toyota USA claim number is 220519001173

6/26/2022

My sunroof exploded due to weather conditions while i was driving with my family on highway during heavy rain storm

11/5/2024

STEERING

2 Reports7% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V920000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

12/9/2022

The power steering failed at around 38,000 miles. The dealership indicated the entire assembly needs to be replaced which cost more than $6,000. This is apparently a known manufacturing issue as they recalled a significant portion of the vehicles made in 2021.

12/7/2024

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

1 Report4% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds using adaptive cruise control mode, the rear brake lights failed to illuminate whenever the vehicle slowed down independently. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure and the contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000. Adaptive cruise control having no brake lights shown when doing it's job. This is a MAJOR safety factor and need rear brake lights to avoid accidents from behind.

2/17/2022

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

1 Report4% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

Pre collision warning has erroneously activated numerous (>10) times on the same section of roadway. No other vehicles, pedestrians or animals were present on roadway.

3/12/2024

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1 Report4% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that after inserting the fuel nozzle into the vehicle, fuel spilled back out of the vehicle onto the leg of the contact. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate or determine the cause of the failure. The failure reoccurred approximately one year later, and the dealer was unable to duplicate or determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that during the failures the fuel tank had approximately a quarter tank of fuel and the vehicle had been driven for approximately six hours on an extremely hot day while the air temperature was above 105 degrees. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 18,000.

10/21/2024

POWER TRAIN

1 Report4% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly hesitated and jolted, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 48,000.

3/21/2025

About This Data

Data and Methodology

MethodologyHow we score →

Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.

FAQ

What are the most common owner complaints for the 2021 Toyota Tundra?

The most reported complaint category for the 2021 Toyota Tundra is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, with 6 owner reports. That is about 22% of all complaints logged here. Other recurring themes include UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS.

Are complaints about the 2021 Toyota Tundra a serious warning sign?

Potentially. 7 complaint reports fall into higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components. That does not prove every vehicle has a defect, but repeated complaints in those systems justify a more careful pre-purchase inspection.

How should buyers use complaint data for the 2021 Toyota Tundra?

Use complaints as an early pattern to investigate, not a standalone verdict. Start with the top complaint categories, compare those themes against the recall report and maintenance guide, then inspect service records for evidence that the same problem areas were already addressed. If the same issue appears repeatedly across complaints and recalls, treat it as a real ownership-risk flag.

Are complaints about the 2021 Toyota Tundra severe?

7 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection before purchase.

Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.

Read complaint summaries

Toyota Tundra: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?

Use complaint patterns together with recalls and maintenance guidance to estimate ownership risk and inspection priorities.

Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.

Return to full vehicle report
Complaint entries
27
Top-topic view
5 grouped topics shown
Primary source
NHTSA ODI owner complaint records

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In this guide

  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Common Problems
  3. 03Owner Complaints
  4. 04Data and Methodology

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