Toyota Tundra Years to Avoid (and the One to Buy) — 431 vs 24 Complaints

The 2021 Toyota Tundra — the last one with the 5.7 V8 — has 24 owner complaints on file with the federal government. The 2022 Tundra, the first with the twin-turbo V6, has 431. Same badge, same company, one year apart. We pulled every owner complaint and every recall NHTSA has on file for the Toyota Tundra, model years 2014 to 2026 — 1,916 complaints in total — and ranked every year from worst to best. Then we adjusted for sales: per 10,000 trucks sold, the 2022 has around 14 times more complaints than the 2021. No automaker pays this channel. Every number comes from owner complaints filed with NHTSA and from Toyota's own recall filings. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 24 complaints vs 431 1:32 Part 1: Why the Tundra is a legend 3:09 Part 2: How we ranked them 4:19 Avoid #1: 2022 Tundra 5:51 Avoid #2: 2023 Tundra 6:56 Avoid #3: 2024 Tundra 7:59 #4: 2016 Tundra (worst V8 year) 8:45 #5: 2018 and 2014 9:35 The good years: 2015, 2017, 2019 10:06 The surprise: 2025 Tundra 11:34 The best Tundras: 2020 and 2021 13:19 Part 3: What to actually do 15:50 The bottom line 📊 EVERY TUNDRA YEAR (NHTSA complaints · recalls) 2014: 93 · 5 | 2015: 51 · 5 | 2016: 120 · 6 | 2017: 78 · 6 | 2018: 100 · 9 | 2019: 74 · 10 | 2020: 47 · 5 | 2021: 24 · 3 2022: 431 · 13 | 2023: 411 · 13 | 2024: 346 · 10 | 2025: 141 · 5 | 2026: 0 · 1 (too new to judge) ✅ BEFORE YOU BUY (OR IF YOU OWN ONE) Check any VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — free, about 30 seconds 2022–2024 Tundra: engine recalls 24V-381, 25V-767 and 26V-320 (manufacturing debris → main bearing failure). Ask for written proof every engine recall was completed, and whether the engine was replaced 2025 Tundra: not in any engine recall; ask the dealer about service bulletin T-SB-0032-26 (delay when accelerating from a stop) 2014: look under the truck for rust (frame, fuel tank straps) and peeling paint 2016: get a brake and steering inspection On any test drive: start it cold and listen for knocking, pull away from full stops a few times, ask for the oil change records Hear knocking? Don't keep driving it — get it towed 📊 SOURCES NHTSA owner complaints (api.nhtsa.gov), Toyota Tundra model years 2014–2026: 1,916 complaints (data pulled October 22, 2026). Complaints are owners' reports and are not verified by NHTSA. 2022: 165 complaints about the engine, 59 describe a stall/shutoff, 20 a replaced engine. 2023: 167 engine complaints, 71 stall/shutoff, 5 fires, 7 crashes. 2024: 152 engine complaints, 54 stall/shutoff. 2025: 67 of 141 complaints describe a delay when accelerating from a stop or near-stop. 2016: 43 complaints mention the brakes. NHTSA recalls by model year (api.nhtsa.gov/recalls), including Toyota Part 573 Safety Recall Reports 24V-381 (May 2024), 25V-767 (November 2025) and 26V-320 (May 2026) for the V35A engine. U.S. Tundra sales: 81,959 in 2021 and 104,404 in 2022 (GoodCarBadCar / carsalesbase.com). Calendar-year sales vs. model-year complaints, so the per-truck comparison is an approximation. Toyota technical service bulletin T-SB-0032-26, as cited in owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Video: includes short excerpts of official videos from Toyota USA and Toyota Canada, plus short excerpts (without their audio) from Bros FOURR Speed, MikesCarInfo, TheTopher, Winding Road Magazine, Chris Drives, Gizzie's Garage, AutoNetwork, ruskymx, Auto Joe, Jakeman21642, Attrell Toyota, Smart Motors Toyota, West Coast Toyota, Carson City Toyota, Toyota of Katy, Fowler Toyota of Norman, Summit Toyota of Akron, Toyota of Redlands, Rustless Rides, JDesigns, TVO Ventures, selfemployedMechE, brnrmbo, Chuys channel, iTorqueDIY, The Car Care Nut, SuperTransmissionman, I Do Cars, TFL, Driving Sports and Autoblog, used for commentary and news reporting. Photos: Wikimedia Commons — A. Bailey (CC BY-SA 3.0); Ee2mba (CC BY-SA 4.0); Rutger van der Maar (CC BY 2.0); MonkeyKnight (CC BY-SA 3.0); UltraTech66 (CC BY-SA 4.0); HJUdall (CC0); MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Kevauto (CC BY-SA 4.0); Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0); Mr.choppers (CC BY-SA 3.0); THEWHITEBOY503 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photos were cropped, resized and darkened, with text and graphics added. Official documents: NHTSA / U.S. Department of Transportation (public domain). Music and sound effects: original, created for this channel. #toyota #toyotatundra #tundra