NHTSA (USA)High Risk
This page covers 12 recalls, 97 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Toyota Tundra.
14–16 mpg combined
14.7–16.8 L/100km
Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2018 Tundra's complaint picture is spread across a few systems, with the fuel and propulsion system drawing the most reports. Owners frequently describe engine stalls or shutoffs while driving, often accompanied by hard restarts, and a pattern of rough idle at cold start that gradually smooths out, symptoms owners connect to fuel delivery. The electrical system accounts for a similar share of reports, with owners describing various failures and erratic behavior, though no single electrical symptom dominates the way the stall-and-restart pattern does in the fuel complaints. Vehicle speed control rounds out the top three, with owners reporting unexpected behavior from the cruise and throttle systems. A handful of reports also mention exterior trim pieces, particularly hood and grille assemblies, partially detaching due to mounting clip failures.
97
Total Complaints
4
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Toyota Tundra has 12 recalls, the most serious involving a fuel pump that can fail without warning, stalling the engine at highway speeds and leaving the driver with no power to accelerate or maneuver.
The airbag control unit appears in two related recalls: in one, the unit can mistakenly detect a sensor fault during startup and then fail to deploy front or side airbags in a crash; in the other, the same type of erroneous self-check fault can prevent the airbags from firing as intended. These represent the same underlying problem approached across different filings, and the real-world result is the same — airbags that may not protect occupants in a collision.
On the stability and steering side, electrical interference in the power supply circuit can cause the electronic stability control system to shut off, which reduces the truck's ability to recover from a skid or slide. Separately, the power steering gear assembly can develop an internal oil leak that causes sudden loss of power-assisted steering, making the wheel significantly harder to turn at low speeds or in tight situations.
The headlight system has its own set of concerns. On trucks with halogen headlamps, switching on the high beams can cause both high and low beams to run at the same time, overheating the bulbs and wiring and raising the risk of a fire or loss of light. Trucks equipped with LED headlight assemblies have a wiring error that causes the front turn signals to flash too dimly, making the truck harder for other drivers to see when signaling or using hazard lights.
Two label recalls round out the
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 4 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The power steering gear assembly may have been made incorrectly, causing oil to leak from it.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the power steering gear assembly and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On some trucks with halogen headlamps, switching to high beams turns on both high and low beams at once, causing the headlamps and wiring to overheat.
What the fix does
Dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and inspect headlamp assemblies, bulbs, and connectors for damage, replacing any damaged parts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The headlight electrical circuit may power both high and low beams at the same time, causing the electrical connector to overheat.
What the fix does
Dealers will modify the engine wire harness and replace any damaged bulb, connector, or headlight assembly as needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wiring error causes the front turn signals to not flash brightly enough, making them difficult to see.
What the fix does
Dealers will modify the wire harness connected to the front turn signal bulbs at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wire harness connecting the front turn signal lights was installed incorrectly, causing the turn signals and hazard lights to be too dim to meet Canadian safety rules. Other drivers may not see when your signals are on.
What the fix does
The dealer will modify the front turn signal light wire harness to restore proper brightness.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail, potentially affecting fuel delivery to the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The load carrying capacity label was created with the all-weather floormats counted twice, causing the label to overstate the additional weight by 10 pounds.
What the fix does
Toyota will send owners a corrected label showing the accurate load carrying capacity.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The airbag control unit may incorrectly detect a fault in front or side airbag sensors during startup. If a crash occurs, the airbags may not deploy as designed, increasing injury risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the airbag control unit software to correct the sensor fault detection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The airbag control unit may incorrectly detect a fault during startup and fail to deploy airbags in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the airbag control unit software at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Electrical interference can disrupt the yaw rate sensor in the airbag control unit, causing the Vehicle Stability Control, Pre-Collision systems, and Trailer Brake Controller to malfunction or stop working.
What the fix does
The dealer will update the software in the airbag control unit to fix the sensor interference.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Electrical interference in the power supply circuit may disable the electronic stability control system, which helps prevent loss of vehicle control during emergency maneuvers.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a software update to restore proper operation of the electronic stability control system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The load carrying capacity labels on these vehicles are incorrect, causing them to not meet federal tire and rim safety standards.
What the fix does
Toyota will provide owners with corrected labels at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
