Toyota Tundra 2000–2006
1st generation · XK30 (2WD) / XK40 (4WD)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20264,869 complaints, 3,281 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 55,729 and 140,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 216 complaints (6.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 23,250
- 25%
- 55,729
- Median
- 99,000
- 75%
- 140,000
- 90%
- 180,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 98 | 3.0% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 71 | 2.2% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 52 | 1.6% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 63 | 1.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 57 | 1.7% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 35 | 1.1% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 93 | 2.8% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 91 | 2.8% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 70 | 2.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 69 | 2.1% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 92 | 2.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 75 | 2.3% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 85 | 2.6% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 103 | 3.1% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 80 | 2.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 93 | 2.8% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 120 | 3.7% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 91 | 2.8% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 112 | 3.4% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 111 | 3.4% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 147 | 4.5% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 103 | 3.1% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 111 | 3.4% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 86 | 2.6% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 90 | 2.7% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 87 | 2.7% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 73 | 2.2% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 71 | 2.2% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 82 | 2.5% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 64 | 2.0% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 93 | 2.8% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 56 | 1.7% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 67 | 2.0% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 35 | 1.1% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 65 | 2.0% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 41 | 1.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 42 | 1.3% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 31 | 0.9% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 36 | 1.1% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 24 | 0.7% |
| 200,000+ | 216 | 6.6% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 4,869 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000–2006 Toyota Tundra, and 3,281 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 55,729 and 140,000 miles. The median is 99,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are body structure (31.0% of complaints, typically around 113,000 miles), the suspension (14.1% of complaints, typically around 110,000 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (12.4% of complaints, typically around 35,000 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Body structure113,000median 113,000 miles, middle half 83,000 to 150,000
- Suspension110,000median 110,000 miles, middle half 73,000 to 158,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit35,000median 35,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 60,000
- Airbag system110,000median 110,000 miles, middle half 74,000 to 155,000
- Transmission and driveline87,000median 87,000 miles, middle half 49,000 to 117,000
- Problems owners could not categorise139,000median 139,000 miles, middle half 104,000 to 174,000
- Steering106,000median 106,200 miles, middle half 68,000 to 149,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body structure | 1,509 | 31.0% | 113,000 | 83,000–150,000 |
| Suspension | 685 | 14.1% | 110,000 | 73,000–158,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 605 | 12.4% | 35,000 | 15,000–60,000 |
| Airbag system | 402 | 8.3% | 110,000 | 74,000–155,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 280 | 5.8% | 87,000 | 49,000–117,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 242 | 5.0% | 139,000 | 104,000–174,000 |
| Steering | 200 | 4.1% | 106,000 | 68,000–149,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 124 | 2.5% | 54,000 | 28,000–103,000 |
| Brakes | 113 | 2.3% | 105,000 | 79,000–158,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 97 | 2.0% | 52,000 | 32,000–80,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 99,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Body structure accounts for 31.0% of complaints (1,509 reports, 1,132 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 113,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 83,000 and 150,000 miles.
A single system taking 31.0% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The suspension accounts for 14.1% of complaints (685 reports, 478 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 110,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 73,205 and 158,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 12.4% of complaints (605 reports, 378 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 35,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 60,500 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 8.3% of complaints (402 reports, 123 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 110,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 73,880 and 155,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.8% of complaints (280 reports, 225 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 87,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,648 and 117,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 5.0% of complaints (242 reports, 113 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 139,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 104,000 and 174,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2000 model year drew the most — 1,334 complaints — while 2005 drew the fewest at 491. The median year sits at 648.
That makes 2000 an outlier: roughly 2.1 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (5), seats (2), equipment (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 4,869 complaints filed against this generation, 309 reported a crash; 22 reported a fire; 227 reported an injury; 9 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 6.3% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 55,729 and 140,000 miles, with a median of 99,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, body structure and the suspension are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The suspension in particular shows a median failure mileage of 110,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Frame/Structure 2000–2003
Frame corrosion and perforation. Toyota recalled roughly 110,000 MY2000-2003 Tundras across 20 cold-weather states and DC for frame rust that could allow the spare tire carrier to separate from the vehicle and, in advanced cases, compromise frame integrity. Inspection criteria centered on rust-through holes larger than about 10 mm; qualifying trucks received frame replacement. Toyota subsequently extended corrosion warranty coverage to later first-generation trucks.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,334 | 900 |
| 2001 | 543 | 390 |
| 2002 | 648 | 502 |
| 2003 | 524 | 352 |
| 2004 | 652 | 444 |
| 2005 | 491 | 302 |
| 2006 | 677 | 391 |
Recalls (9)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 19V741000 | 2019-11-20 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 18V883000 | 2019-01-23 | Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| 16V065000 | 2016-12-01 | Air Bags:side/Window |
| 16V396000 | 2016-07-14 | Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler |
| 15V286000 | 2015-07-13 | Air Bags |
| 15V285000 | 2015-07-13 | Air Bags |
| 14V743000 | 2015-01-29 | Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/Cooler |
| 10V036000 | 2010-05-27 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 10V035000 | 2010-05-27 | Equipment:other:labels |
What owners reported
I have a 2000 Toyota Tundra. It has a terrible vibration in the front end due to the undersized calipers in the brake system. I know this because Toyota has told me this personally. Unfortunately once the vehicle is out of warranty, they will not do anything about the problem, even though according to their service…
2000 · Hydraulic brake circuit
2000 Toyota Tundra frame rust - recall id 64780. Analyzed by my mechanic and he says there are issues. Known problem. Local Toyota dealer (a1- Toyota, new haven, ct) says it needs special equipment to fix problem and is waiting for equipment - i notified them on aug 8, 2011 and they have failed to respond. I am…
2000 · Body structure
When i apply the brakes on my Tundra, the entire truck shakes violently. I have had the brakes replaced and the shaking continues. I was told by my repairman that Toyota knows of the problem with this year and model however, will not cover the replacement to correct the problem. My truck has 82,000 miles now and…
2000 · 40 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Serious vibration, soft brake pedal and limited travel. This vehicle has exhibited brake problems since new. It was returned to the dealer which replaced the master cylinder under warranty. The problems continued to which the dealer insisted the symptoms were normal. Later, they said it needed another master cylinder…
2000 · 100 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
Built from 3,281 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page