2001 Toyota Tundra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tundra years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 415 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Toyota Tundra. That ranks 6th out of 28 Tundra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (171 complaints, 41%), typically at around 111,320 miles. Complaints mention 27 crashes, 2 fires, 27 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 415owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 27complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 Toyota Tundra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure problems | 171 | 41% | 111,320 | “frame rust” (18%) | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 99 | 24% | 43,450 | “applying brakes” (12%) | $3,500 |
| Suspension problems | 84 | 20% | 132,000 | “ball joint” (37%) | — |
| Power Train | 30 | 7% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 23 | 6% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 14 | 3% | 145,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 3% | 43,927 | — | — |
| Wheels | 9 | 2% | 172,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 2% | 158,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 | 2% | 71,838 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 2% | 79,184 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 2% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 6 | 1% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 1% | 111,649 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 5 | 1% | 80,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 4 | 1% | 66,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 1% | 33,130 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 1% | 94,900 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 1% | 101,809 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 0% | 113,663 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 0% | 82,469 | — | — |
| Trailer Hitches | 2 | 0% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 86,125 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Toyota Tundra recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Structure:frame and members:underbody shields
Problem: Toyota is recalling model year 2000-2003 tundra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, wisconsin and the district of columbia. Excessive corrosion of the rear cross member may cause the separation of the spare tire stowed under the truck bed which would present a road hazard that could cause a crash. Also, corrosion of the rear cross member could affect the rear brake lines and the proportioning valve resulting in diminished braking capability.
Risk: Separation of the spare tire and diminished brake capacity could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota is asking owners of the affected vehicles to remove the spare tire from under the vehicle until a remedy can be obtained. Dealers will inspect the rear cross member and related components, including the brake lines, and replace them if necessary. If the cross member does not need to be replaced, it will be sprayed with a corrosion protection compound. These services will be performed free of charge, however multiple visits to the dealer may be required. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about april 30, 2010. Owner may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Wheels
Problem: On certain 4x2 vehicles equipped with an alloy wheel tire upgrade (options wm4, wm8, zl1-zl4, dh4, or dh5) installed by the processing centers in jacksonville, florida or commerce, georgia, a label identifying the spare tire as a temporary use spare tire was not installed. The upgrade includes 4 larger size tires with alloy wheels. The original spare tire/steel wheel is not part of the upgrade and was not changed.
Risk: Different operating characteristics can be experienced when the spare tire is installed on the vehicle.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a caution label and an insert for their owner's manual. Owner notification began july 15, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Frame corrosion (PE09049) — opened Oct 6, 2009, closed Jan 26, 2010, led to recall 09V444000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
There is an unresolved body corrosion recall that has not been addressed in over a year, despite receiving an invoice from the dealership. I will attach the invoice that lists all the parts ordered for the remedy of this recall.
On September 4, 2025, I brought my 2001 Toyota Tundra to Midas at 5325 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002 for an oil change and inspection. Midas advertises a âCloser Look Vehicle Check,â which includes checking steering, suspension, and wheels. Their inspection report marked the steering…
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle started making a metallic cracking sound, and the steering wheel was pulling to the right. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not…
Toyota Corporate is refusing to acknowledge my Tundra's eligibility for remedy under a safety recall and campaign. My Tundra is experiencing the failure mode outlined in the safety recall 90M and extended safety campaign Tundra BXD. The spare tire crossmember of the frame is almost entirely rotted…
Other Toyota Tundra years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tundra | 32 | 1 |
| 2025 Tundra | 139 | 5 |
| 2024 Tundra | 345 | 10 |
| 2023 Tundra | 410 | 13 |
| 2022 Tundra | 431 | 13 |
| 2021 Tundra | 24 | 2 |
| 2020 Tundra | 46 | 4 |
| 2019 Tundra | 74 | 9 |
| 2018 Tundra | 100 | 8 |
| 2017 Tundra | 78 | 5 |
| 2016 Tundra | 120 | 5 |
| 2015 Tundra | 51 | 4 |
| 2014 Tundra | 93 | 4 |
| 2013 Tundra | 85 | 5 |
| 2012 Tundra | 156 | 3 |
| 2011 Tundra | 134 | 10 |
| 2010 Tundra | 163 | 15 |
| 2009 Tundra | 38 | 12 |
| 2008 Tundra | 327 | 12 |
| 2007 Tundra | 390 | 12 |
| 2006 Tundra | 545 | 10 |
| 2005 Tundra | 377 | 12 |
| 2004 Tundra | 466 | 8 |
| 2003 Tundra | 399 | 7 |
| 2002 Tundra | 482 | 3 |
| 2001 | 415 | 2 |
| 2000 Tundra | 1,011 | 3 |
| 1999 Tundra | 1 | 0 |
See all Toyota Tundra problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Toyota Tundra?
Owners most often report structure, service brakes, hydraulic, suspension problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 171 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Toyota Tundra?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 Toyota Tundra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tundra model years, the 2001 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.