repaired · 2021 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2006 Toyota TundraProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 545 owner complaints about the 2006 Toyota Tundra, most often about the structure. It is covered by 10 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-396 the manufacturer reports only 24% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 26, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2006 Toyota Tundra has problems
545 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
169Structure4 crash/fire/injury
134Air bags12 crash/fire/injury
91Suspension5 crash/fire/injury
35Vehicle speed control
25Steering
23Power train
20Service brakes
18Engine
17Wheels
7714 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 169 | 4 |
| Air bags | 134 | 12 |
| Suspension | 91 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 35 | 7 |
| Steering | 25 | 2 |
| Power train | 23 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 20 | 2 |
| Engine | 18 | 2 |
| Wheels | 17 | 4 |
| 14 other systems | 77 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
10 recalls
2006 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.
repaired · 2017 Q4
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q1
Air bags: side/window
Risk. If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
repaired · 2021 Q3
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…
Show 6 more recalls
repaired · 2021 Q3
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…
repaired · 2016 Q2
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. INCORRECT LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING OVERLOADED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
no report yet
Control arm: lower ball joint
Risk. IN EXTREME CASES, IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE AND COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF…
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?
120kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 114 structure complaints. 36% were reported before 100,000 miles.
9under 30k miles41under 100k miles73100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2006 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
2006 Toyota Tundra safety ratings
2006 Toyota Tundra Extended Cab in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 3 stars (20.4% risk)
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2006 Toyota Tundra, and the recalls they led to.
- LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURELed to recall 07V-013
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- FRAME CORROSIONLed to recall 09V-444
In owners' words
What Tundra owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The vehicle was at the independent mechanic. For a repair and discovered that the bottom frame was rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was also notified of the failure; however the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate…
My frame is rotting, with literal holes in it. I spoke with a dealership and they stated the recall had been fixed in 2015, prior to me owning it. I was told to contact the manufacturer and they said it would be an out of pocket expense. When I research the recall, the affected area of the frame is…
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that upon further inspection, it was noticed that the frame was rusted. In addition, the contact related the failure to an unknown NHTSA Campaign that was performed in the past; however, the failure reoccurred. The local dealer that…
Own a 2006 Tundra?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.