2006 Toyota Tundra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tundra years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 10 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 545 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota Tundra. That ranks 2nd out of 28 Tundra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (169 complaints, 31%), typically at around 120,000 miles. Complaints mention 38 crashes, 20 injuries. There are 10 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

- 545owner complaints
- 10safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 38complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2006 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 | 169 | 31% | 120,000 | “frame rust” (13%) | — |
| Air Bags problems | 134 | 25% | 110,000 | “takata air bags” (18%) | — |
| Suspension problems | 91 | 17% | 116,000 | “ball joint” (26%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 65 | 12% | 131,750 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 35 | 6% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 25 | 5% | 92,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 23 | 4% | 69,001 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 20 | 4% | 105,442 | — | — |
| Engine | 18 | 3% | 88,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 17 | 3% | 147,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 16 | 3% | 39,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 3% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 2% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 9 | 2% | 79,280 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 1% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 1% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 1% | 52,153 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | 155,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 0% | 79,280 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 0% | 9,100 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 0% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 0% | 36,700 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2006 Toyota Tundra recalls (10)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Problem: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
Air bags:side/window
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
Risk: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.
Air bags
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.
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 occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The recall began on July 13, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-762-2737. NOTE: This recall supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety.
Air bags
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.
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 occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 1-800-762-2737. GM began the recall on June 29, 2015. NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V-655 in its entirety. For vehicles located in the U.S. states not listed above, please see Toyota recall 15V-285 which covers all other U.S. states.
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Problem: 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.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2005 through 2010 passenger cars built from september 1, 2005 to may 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims."
Risk: Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall began on august 18, 2009. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint
Problem: On certain trucks and mini vans, due to possible improper finishing of the front suspension lower ball joint, some ball joints may experience an incidental deterioration of the internal lubrication. This may cause the ball joint to wear and loosen prematurely, which could result in increased steering effort, reduced vehicle self-centering, and noise in the front suspension.
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 vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints. The recall began on february 28, 2007. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
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
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
- Frame corrosion (PE09049) — opened Oct 6, 2009, closed Jan 26, 2010, led to recall 09V444000.
- Lower ball joint failure (EA06014) — opened Aug 2, 2006, closed Feb 28, 2007, led to recall 07V013000.
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 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 frame has rusted so badly that the sway bar mount disengaged from the frame. Brought it to a Toyota dealership and confirmed that frame recalls were performed on earlier models with the same issue . However my year did not qualify.
The contactâs father owns a 2006 Toyota Tundra equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: Discoverer Rugged Trek, Tire Size: 265/70/R16, DOT Number: (N/A). While the contactâs father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver lost control of the vehicle. The contactâs father was able to…
I own a 2006 Toyota Tundra with severe frame corrosion and rot. The rust has eaten through major portions of the frame, especially around the rear crossmember and leaf spring mounts. It has compromised the vehicleâs safety and structural integrity. Toyota previously offered frame replacements and…
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 | 545 | 10 |
| 2005 Tundra | 377 | 12 |
| 2004 Tundra | 466 | 8 |
| 2003 Tundra | 399 | 7 |
| 2002 Tundra | 482 | 3 |
| 2001 Tundra | 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 2006 Toyota Tundra?
Owners most often report structure, air bags, suspension problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 169 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2006 Toyota Tundra?
Yes, 10 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2006 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 2006 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.