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2001 Toyota TundraProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 415 owner complaints about the 2001 Toyota Tundra, most often about the structure. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

2001 Toyota Tundra
37
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.7× the Tundra median · #8 of 25 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints41547 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage112kStructure, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 23, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: DestinationFearFan, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2001 Toyota Tundra has problems

415 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Structure1712
Service brakes, hydraulic996
Suspension8411
Power train300
Steering232
Engine and engine cooling120
Wheels92
Air bags87
Fuel system, gasoline80
15 other systems5712

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2001 Toyota Tundra recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Frame and members: underbody shields

Recall 09V-444 · Nov 18, 2009 · 110,000 vehicles

Risk. SEPARATION OF THE SPARE TIRE AND DIMINISHED BRAKE CAPACITY COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.

Mileage at failure

When do structure problems start?

112kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 132 structure complaints. 36% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles47under 100k miles85100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Service brakes, hydraulic

10 owners mentioned a cost

$2,000median

Middle half: $2,000 – $2,150

Power train

8 owners mentioned a cost

$2,300median

Middle half: $1,675 – $3,025

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2001 vs. every other Tundra year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tundra median. How we score

'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2001 Toyota Tundra safety ratings

2001 Toyota Tundra Extended Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2001 Toyota Tundra frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Rollover: 3 stars (0.0% risk)
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2001 Toyota Tundra, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FRAME CORROSIONPE09049 · closed Jan 26, 2010
    Led to recall 09V-444
In owners' words

What Tundra owners report

Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V444000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the underbody frame appeared to be rusted. The vehicle was…
Complaint 11752462 · Jul 23, 2026 · 200,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an inspection station where it was reported that the vehicle could not be lifted due to extensive rust located behind the cab on the sub frame. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was…
Complaint 11554298 · Nov 9, 2023 · 216,000 miles
I brought my 2001 Toyota Tundra into my dealer today, and he advised me that the frame of the Toyota is very rusted and cracking and close to completely breaking. He said Toyota issued a recall on this, but it is no longer in effect. I have learned this is a common issue with the 2000-2003 Toyota…
Complaint 11543163 · Sep 7, 2023

Own a 2001 Tundra?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.