VehicleVerdict

2017 Toyota Tundra problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2017 Toyota Tundra is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 6 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 112 owner complaints run below the Tundra median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (27), lighting (17), and fuel system (16), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

112

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

1

Investigations

3

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2017 compare to other Tundra years?

Tundra NHTSA complaints by model year, 2017 highlighted1,334 complaints1999: 1 complaints2000: 1,334 complaints2001: 542 complaints2002: 645 complaints2003: 524 complaints2004: 652 complaints2005: 491 complaints2006: 677 complaints2007: 535 complaints2008: 460 complaints2009: 53 complaints2010: 218 complaints2011: 184 complaints2012: 214 complaints2013: 105 complaints2014: 115 complaints2015: 58 complaints2016: 154 complaints2017: 112 complaints2018: 153 complaints2019: 103 complaints2020: 54 complaints2021: 30 complaints2022: 619 complaints2023: 580 complaints2024: 479 complaints2025: 218 complaints2026: 22 complaints
Tundra NHTSA complaints by model year, 2017 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Tundra years to avoid →

What are the most common 2017 Toyota Tundra problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System2724%
Lighting1715%
Fuel System1614%
Brakes1413%
Other1110%
Transmission65%
Steering54%
Engine54%
Body & Structure33%
Airbags33%
Tires & Wheels22%
Speed Control22%
Suspension11%

Does the 2017 Toyota Tundra have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21E103000SteeringDecember 23, 2021 · 151 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

Consequence

An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.

21V920000SteeringNovember 23, 2021 · 22,462 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

Consequence

An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.

18V123000SeatsFebruary 20, 2018 · 8,769 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Tundra vehicles. One of the rear split bench seat leg brackets may not have been properly tightened to the vehicle's floor pan, possibly allowing the seat to move in a crash. A vehicle with an improperly tightened seat leg bracket could fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages," and 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems."

Consequence

If the rear split bench seat moves in a crash, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the five seat leg bracket bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0I.

17V831000OtherDecember 20, 2017 · 649 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence

An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.

17V311000Tires & WheelsMay 11, 2017 · 1,325 units

Defect

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2017 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles accessorized with Southeast Toyota accessory 20-inch Rockstar wheels installed by Southeast Toyota or a Southeast Toyota dealer. The Rockstar wheels were installed with lugnuts that may crack and detach.

Consequence

Lugnuts that crack and detach may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

SET will notify owners, and dealers will install new replacement lugnuts, free of charge. The recall began June 23, 2017. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET17A.

17V051000Body & StructureJanuary 24, 2017 · 72,847 units

Defect

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tundra vehicles equipped with a resin rear step bumper and resin reinforcement brackets (vehicles with chrome step bumpers are not affected). In the event of an impact to the corner of the bumper, the resin bracket may be damaged but not be noticed.

Consequence

If a person steps on the corner of the bumper that is damaged, a portion of the bumper may break away, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the resin rear bumper reinforcement brackets with steel ones, and replace the rear bumper tread, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is H0C.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“TL* THE CONTACT'S PARENTS PURCHASED A 2018 TOYOTA TUNDRA (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A VEHICLE SUDDENLY CUT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER AND CAUSED A CHAIN REACTION OF SUDDEN STOPS WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES. THE DRIVER REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS AND TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · October 31, 2017 · crash

“WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS ARE ON AUTO, PRESSING DOWN FOR THE LEFT SIGNAL THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND THE DASH BECOMES DIM AS IF I AM DRIVING DURING THE DAY WHICH IM NOT. THE VEHICLE IS MOVING WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT . PLEASE FIND A RESOLUTION BECAUSE THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · December 4, 2020

“PURCHASED TRUCK NEW IN NOVEMBER 2016..ABOUT A YEAR LATER STARTING HAVING ROUGH STARTS AND HAVING TO CRANK TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES AT COLD START. MASSIVE RECALLS FOR ECM AND FUEL PUMP HOWEVER 17S NOT INCLUDED...ALSO RECENTLY HAD FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL/RUNNING LIGHT REPLACED AND STILL DIDNT WORK.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · August 4, 2017

“WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, THIS VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. WHEN THE POLICE OFFICE COMMANDED ME TO REMOVE MY VEHICLE AND PARK IT INSIDE A PARKING SPOT, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AGAIN, LEADING TO…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 23, 2016 · crash

“TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOES NOT WORK AND IT ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. NOW IT DOES NOT EVEN SHOWS UP ON DISPLAY AS IF TRUCK IS NOT EVEN EQUIPPED WITH THIS MODULE. EXTREMELY SCARY AND DANGEROUS WHEN TOWING 6000IB BEHIND YOU AND YOUR TRAILER BRAKES FAIL TO ENGAGE. INTERNET IS BUSSING WITH TUNDRA OWNERS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · December 20, 2020

2017 Toyota Tundra — common questions

Is the 2017 Toyota Tundra reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 112 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Tundra year, with 6 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2017 Tundra problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (27 complaints), lighting (17 complaints), fuel system (16 complaints).

Does the 2017 Toyota Tundra have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2017 Toyota Tundra. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2017 Toyota Tundra under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Toyota Tundra years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Tundra years to avoid are 2000, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2022, 2023, 2001, 2007, 2003, 2005, 2024, 2008. The cleanest record among Tundra years belongs to 1999.

How safe is the 2017 Toyota Tundra?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2017 Toyota Tundra earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.