2017 Toyota Tundra — Known Issues & Recalls

Your 2017 Toyota Tundra is having trouble starting and requires multiple attempts to turn on. A Toyota dealership diagnosed the problem as a faulty fuel pump made by Denso and identified that your engine's computer software also needs updating. Your truck could lose power while driving due to this fuel pump issue, and there are currently no warning lights alerting you to the problem. The repair will require replacing the fuel pump and updating your vehicle's engine control module software, though the dealership says the pump is on back order and may take months to arrive.

Your truck is having trouble starting, requires extended cranking before the engine turns over, and runs roughly once it starts. You discovered that 2018-2019 flex fuel Tundras have a recall for this exact issue, but your 2017 flex fuel model isn't covered by it. You paid over $2,000 to replace the fuel pump and reprogram the engine control module to fix the problem. A repair typically involves fuel pump replacement and reprogramming the vehicle's computer system.

Your truck is having trouble starting in cold weather. The dealer found that the fuel pump is defective and not delivering fuel properly to the engine when it's cold. Getting the fuel pump replaced should resolve the starting issue.

Your 2017 Tundra has been starting roughly for the past couple of weeks, and on January 16, 2025, it wouldn't start at all — no fuel was reaching the engine. You discovered that a recall was issued for 1.5 million 2017 Tundras for this issue, but your VIN doesn't show up in the recall system, and you believe your truck should be covered. The truck won't start, so you can't drive it to the dealership for repair. This likely requires Toyota to investigate whether your vehicle qualifies for the existing recall or needs a fuel pump and related fuel system diagnostics.

Your 2017 Tundra's fuel pump isn't delivering enough fuel pressure, and a dealer has recommended replacement. You've learned that the 2018 Tundra and other Toyota vehicles have been recalled for this same issue, but your 2017 model year hasn't reached the complaint threshold for a recall yet. The repair will involve replacing the fuel pump assembly to restore proper fuel system pressure.

Your truck has trouble starting when the engine is cold, specifically with the flex fuel system. You've taken it to the dealer multiple times, but the problem keeps coming back. This appears to be a recurring issue affecting other flex fuel Tundras as well.

Your driver's and passenger's side curtain airbags deployed unexpectedly while you were starting the vehicle and idling in park, with no crash involved. The dealer was unable to identify what caused this sudden deployment. The manufacturer has been notified and opened an investigation case into the issue.

Your airbag warning light came on and stayed on after you started the engine while the vehicle was parked. The airbag sensor appears to be faulty, and your powertrain warranty doesn't cover this safety system failure. You'll need to have a mechanic scan the airbag system with diagnostic equipment to identify which sensor is malfunctioning and replace it.

Your truck's factory integrated brake controller (IBC) may not adequately control trailer brakes when towing. Even at maximum gain settings, the trailer brakes don't engage properly, making it unsafe to tow trailers—especially heavier loads or in emergency braking situations. Many owners report this issue affects multiple model years and have had to install aftermarket brake controllers as a solution. Fixing this typically requires replacing or upgrading the brake controller unit.

Your power steering rack and pinion is leaking fluid and making a popping or clunking noise when you turn the steering wheel. This could potentially lead to loss of steering control and create a safety hazard. The repair will likely involve replacing the power steering rack and pinion assembly and refilling the power steering fluid.

Your truck has a cam tower leak where oil is dripping directly onto the exhaust manifold. According to the service technician, if this leak worsens, the oil could ignite and cause an engine fire. You've documented oil burning or leaking since you purchased the truck at 43,000 miles, but Toyota didn't identify the specific leak until now at 107,192 miles. The repair will likely involve replacing the faulty cam tower seal and possibly related gaskets to stop the oil leak.

Your trailer brake controller is intermittently failing to send the signal that activates your trailer brakes, leaving your trailer without braking power—a serious safety issue when descending hills or in emergency stops. The system rapidly clicks and disables the trailer brakes at random times, sometimes immediately when you plug in the trailer. The trailer's wiring and brakes tested normal on another truck, suggesting a wiring or electrical connection problem in your Tundra. A technician will need to inspect and repair the trailer brake controller wiring harness and connections in your truck's electrical system.

Your steering suddenly failed when backing out of a parking spot at work — the driver's side outer tie rod had broken and was hanging down, making it impossible to turn the front wheel. The Toyota dealer discovered that the threads on all four tie rods (both inner and outer on both sides) were stripped, requiring replacement of all of them. With only 86,000 miles on your truck and no prior front-end damage, this premature failure is concerning, especially since a tie rod failure at highway speeds could have caused a serious collision.

Your transmission's solenoid D is producing too much voltage, which triggers your check engine light. You've noticed the light flickering on and off randomly over several months, and now your transmission occasionally gets stuck in 4th gear until you slow down. Based on other owners with this issue, replacing the solenoid (specifically the S4 solenoid) should resolve the problem.

While driving at highway speeds, your tire pressure warning light came on and you discovered the rear passenger tire was losing air. When you tried to use the factory jack to change the tire, it was too short to safely lift the vehicle, forcing you to use rocks to add height—creating a safety concern about the vehicle falling. The tire was patched at the dealer, but the dealer refused to replace the inadequate jack. A repair would likely involve getting a properly-sized floor jack or jack stand kit that can safely lift your truck.

Your headlights randomly shut off, usually when you use the turn signal, leaving you without visibility at night. This intermittent issue is hard to reproduce consistently, making it difficult for a dealer to diagnose and fix. The problem may involve the headlight wiring, relay, or control module that manages both the headlights and turn signals.

Your truck's diagnostic report identified a faulty shift solenoid that should be replaceable, but the dealership quoted you for a full transmission replacement instead of just replacing the solenoid. This appears to be an unnecessary upsell on the repair cost.

Your truck may have trouble starting and could stall while driving due to a fuel pump failure and computer issues. Even after the dealer replaced the fuel pump and reprogrammed the computer, the problem came back—your truck stalled while you were driving and the check engine light turned on. The computer was incorrectly detecting ethanol fuel when you had actually used regular gasoline, causing the system to malfunction. Fixing this will likely require the fuel pump to be replaced again and the engine control computer to be diagnosed and reprogrammed.

Your horn has stopped working, which you discovered during an emergency situation. Since the horn is an important safety feature, this is a concern even though your vehicle has relatively low mileage. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and replacing a faulty horn relay, horn switch, or the horn itself.

Your truck has an issue covered in Toyota's technical service bulletin, but the dealer won't fix it because your vehicle is 3,000 miles beyond the emission warranty coverage limit (which typically ends at 80,000 miles). You may need to pay out-of-pocket for the repair, or contact Toyota customer service to request a warranty exception given the minimal mileage overage.