Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2011 Toyota Tundra — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2015 to Dec 2011
The most reported issue is engine problems (21 complaints). 6 complaints involved crashes.
Open Safety Recalls (11)
NHTSA Campaign: 14V743000
Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
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.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V689000
Component: VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.
NHTSA Campaign: 11V588000
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 TUNDRA VEHICLES THAT HAVE AN INACCURATE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY LABEL. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.
Risk: AN INACCURATE LABEL COULD LEAD TO VEHICLE OVERLOADING WHICH COULD RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: GULF STATES TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL PROVIDE A CORRECTED LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATE TOYOTA AT 1-800-444-1074.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V014000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.
Risk: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
NHTSA Campaign: 11V148000
Component: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 FJ CRUISER, LAND CRUISER, TACOMA, SEQUOIA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)." WHEN FACTORY-INSTALLED WHEELS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH TOYOTA AUTHORIZED ACCESSORY WHEELS AND LT TIRES PRIOR TO FIRST SALE, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS WERE NOT RE-CALIBRATED CORRECTLY AND THEREFORE DO NOT START ILLUMINATING THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING TELLTALE AT THE REQUIRED MINIMUM ACTIVATION PRESSURE.
Risk: FAILURE TO WARN OF TIRE DEFLATIONS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 138 AND COULD LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: FOR THE LAND CRUISER, SEQUOIA, TACOMA AND TUNDRA VEHICLES, THE DEALER WILL RE-CALIBRATE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM ON AFFECTED VEHICLES AND INSTALL AN UPDATED TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL AT NO CHARGE. FOR THE FJ CRUISER VEHICLES, THE TPMS CANNOT BE RESET SO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE TPMS WILL BE REPLACED. TOYOTA IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THE REMEDY ECU. IF AN OWNER IS NOT CERTAIN WHETHER HIS OR HER VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THESE ACCESSORIES, PLEASE CONTACT ANY TOYOTA DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA Campaign: 11V254000
Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 TUNDRA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3-JOINT TYPE PROPELLER SHAFT. DUE TO IMPROPER CASTING OF THE SLIP YOKES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SLIP YOKE MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE PROPELLER SHAFT TO SEPARATE AT THE JOINT AND COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE.
Risk: THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND INSPECT THE PROPELLER SHAFT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA Campaign: 11V185000
Component: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 FJ CRUISER AND MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 TUNDRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS." THE TPMS ON SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY CALIBRATED AND AS A RESULT THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LAMP MAY NOT ILLUMINATE SHOULD THE INFLATION PRESSURE IN ONE OR MORE OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRES FALL BELOW THE THRESHOLD FOR WHEN THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LAMP SHOULD ILLUMINATE.
Risk: DRIVERS WILL NOT RECEIVE A WARNING FROM THE TIRE PRESSURING MONITOR THAT ONE OR MORE TIRES ARE UNDERINFLATED INCREASING THE RISK THAT A VEHICLE WILL BE DRIVEN WITH ONE OR MORE UNDERINFLATED TIRES AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A TIRE FAILURE THAT MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TOLL FREE AT 1-800-444-1074 MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, 8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM, OR FRIDAY 8:30 AM TO 4:00 PM CENTRAL STANDARD TIME.
NHTSA Campaign: 13V123000
Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
Fix: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
NHTSA Campaign: 11V278000
Component: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 TUNDRA VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS." THE TPMS ON SOME VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY CALIBRATED AND AS A RESULT THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LAMP MAY NOT ILLUMINATE SHOULD THE INFLATION PRESSURE IN ONE OR MORE OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRES FALL BELOW THE THRESHOLD FOR WHEN THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LAMP SHOULD ILLUMINATE.
Risk: DRIVERS WILL NOT RECEIVE A WARNING FROM THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR THAT ONE OR MORE TIRES ARE UNDERINFLATED, INCREASING THE RISK THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE DRIVEN WITH ONE OR MORE UNDERINFLATED TIRES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A TIRE FAILURE THAT MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGULATION FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING JULY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TOLL FREE AT 1-800-301-6859, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM, EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V920000
Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
NHTSA Campaign: 21E103000
Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 134)
Steering →4 issues
Your power steering system is leaking fluid, which caused you to lose steering power while driving. You've temporarily fixed it by adding more fluid, but the leak hasn't been addressed. A mechanic will need to inspect the power steering system to find and repair the source of the leak.
Parts you may need:
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While driving downhill at 40-50 MPH, your power steering suddenly stopped working with no warning light. You noticed an oil leak coming from the steering gear on the passenger side. The dealer diagnosed that your steering rack had failed and needs to be replaced, but they said it's not covered under warranty. Without power steering, your truck will be much harder to steer, especially at higher speeds or when parking.
Parts you may need:
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Your steering rack and pinion is leaking oil, which can reduce steering fluid and potentially affect steering responsiveness over time. You may notice fluid spots under your vehicle or hear noise from the steering system. The fix will likely involve replacing or resealing the steering rack and pinion assembly.
Parts you may need:
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Your steering wheel became very difficult to turn when you started your truck, with no warning light appearing. A mechanic found that your power steering gear was leaking oil into its protective boot, which caused the hard steering. The dealer was unable to diagnose or fix the problem when you brought it in.
Parts you may need:
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Structure →4 issues
Your truck's frame and undercarriage have extensive rust and rot throughout, making the truck bed unsafe with soft spots that are nearly breaking through. The gas tank holder is rusted out, creating a safety concern that the tank could drop from the frame, and other components like the tow hitch, rear bumper, and side steps are also deteriorating. Toyota has a Service Campaign for some Tundras, but your 2011 model (built in 2010) isn't currently included despite being affected by the same issue. Addressing this will likely require frame repair or replacement, rust treatment, and reattachment or replacement of affected components.
Parts you may need:
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Your truck's bed has developed four 3-inch holes near the bed bolts due to corrosion, and the frame is also corroded. When someone stepped on the bed, their foot went through it, though no injury occurred. The corrosion appears to have been caused by water becoming trapped underneath the truck due to missing underbody protective coating. Addressing this will likely require replacing the corroded bed sections and applying protective coating to prevent future rust.
Parts you may need:
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Your truck bed bolts that connect the bed to the frame have rusted badly. You took your truck to the dealer, but they said your VIN isn't part of a recall for this issue, so Toyota won't cover the repair. This problem appeared at around 104,000 miles.
Parts you may need:
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Your truck's paint is chipping and peeling off in various areas, exposing bare metal underneath. This is happening in places that wouldn't normally be affected by wind or debris. The issue appears to be a defect in the paint application or quality rather than normal wear.
Parts you may need:
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Engine →3 issues
Your check engine light came on while driving. The dealer diagnosed water getting into your fuel injection system, which caused error codes. There's a recall for this issue, but your truck exceeded the mileage limit for coverage. Even after the dealer repaired it, the problem came back. The repair will likely involve inspecting and replacing fuel injectors and sealing any water intrusion points in the fuel system.
Parts you may need:
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Your truck's secondary air injection system is stuck in a closed position, causing it to enter "limp" mode where you can only drive 35 mph. This prevents your exhaust from being properly diluted, and harmful fumes may enter the cabin. The check engine light (code P2441) came on around July 24th and symptoms worsened over time. While Toyota issued extended warranties for 2007-2010 Tundras with this design flaw, your 2011 model—which shares the same generation and the same defective design—is not covered. The repair will likely involve replacing the air injection pump and valve assembly.
Parts you may need:
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During a routine inspection of your 2011 Toyota Tundra, mechanics found engine oil on the heat shield. The dealer diagnosed a leaking cam tower (on the passenger side) as the source, which needs replacement. This happened at approximately 32,000 miles.
Parts you may need:
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Unknown Or Other →3 issues
Your check engine light, 4-wheel low light, and traction control light are all on at the same time, and your truck is running in limp mode (reduced power). The diagnostic code P2442 is stored, which typically relates to the secondary air injection system. Getting this diagnosed and repaired should restore normal engine performance and warning light function.
Parts you may need:
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Your truck is developing severe rust underneath the truck bed where the bolts connect the bed to the frame. The rust is so extensive that it's bubbling through the protective bed coating, and you're concerned the bed could eventually become unsecured from the chassis. You've found that other 2011 Tundra owners have reported the same issue, but Toyota has declined to take responsibility for what appears to be a widespread material or manufacturing defect.
Parts you may need:
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You visited a Toyota dealership in Riverside, CA to check on a potential recall for your 2011 Tundra, but staff said there was no recall on file for your vehicle. You're unsure about your vehicle's warranty status and whether it might be affected by a recall that applies to some—but not all—vehicles from the same model year.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,air Bags,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your horn stopped working shortly after purchase, and you've identified the likely cause as a faulty airbag clock spring — a component that controls your horn, airbags, and other electrical systems. The defective clock spring may have a manufacturing defect that causes the wiring harness to rub and damage the wires, which could disable your horn and potentially affect your airbags. This is a safety concern since non-functional airbags could fail to deploy in a crash. Replacing the clock spring typically requires professional service to ensure all electrical connections are properly restored.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System →1 issue
You discovered a significant mileage discrepancy on your 2011 Toyota Tundra after purchase. The odometer showed 147,497 miles when you bought it, but it was actually 275,143 miles at the time of registration—a difference of over 127,000 miles. This suggests the odometer may have been rolled back fraudulently. Addressing this issue may require contacting your state's motor vehicle fraud division or consulting with an attorney about the private sale.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train →1 issue
Your truck lost power when you tried to accelerate from a stopped position at a traffic light, even though the gas pedal was fully pressed and no warning lights appeared. A mechanic suggested the problem might be related to a known Toyota power train issue, but your vehicle's identification number wasn't included in that recall, so the problem wasn't officially diagnosed or fixed. The issue occurred at around 174,000 miles and may involve fuel delivery or transmission components that need inspection and possible replacement.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,vehicle Speed Control,engine →1 issue
Your truck's secondary air injection pump has failed, causing the engine to enter a reduced-power mode (limp mode) that suddenly drops your speed from 70 mph to 40 mph without warning. This happened multiple times on the highway, especially when starting a cold engine, creating a dangerous situation where other vehicles nearly hit you from behind. The check engine light and traction control light are on.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,structure,service Brakes →1 issue
After purchasing this used truck from a dealership that assured you it was in excellent condition, you discovered multiple serious issues within weeks: the truck won't start due to a failed battery and alternator, extensive rust damage throughout the vehicle, improperly installed brakes, coolant leaks, and exhaust leaks. A mechanic also indicated the truck wouldn't pass Virginia's legal inspection, and the dealership has stopped responding to your calls after you made a $5,550 down payment. Addressing these issues would require a new battery and alternator, brake system reinstallation, rust repair, and fixes to cooling and exhaust systems.
Parts you may need:
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Vehicle Speed Control,engine →1 issue
While driving at highway speeds (55-70 mph), your check engine light came on and the engine lost power, forcing you to pull over and restart the vehicle. You also noticed a delay between pressing the gas pedal and the engine responding. This problem happened multiple times and your truck went into limp mode (reduced power mode). The diagnostic codes were read but the issue wasn't properly diagnosed or fixed at the dealer. Fixing this will likely require a full diagnostic scan to identify the engine fault code and then replacing or repairing the faulty sensor or component causing the power loss.
Parts you may need:
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