Engine and powertrain issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2023 Toyota Tundra is a full-size truck built by a Japanese manufacturer. The Tundra has been driving on America’s roads since 1999. Just a year after its introduction, it was awarded the North American Truck of the Year award by Motor Trend. It won the same award again in 2008. Today, it’s the only full-size pickup still manufactured in Texas.
The best sales years of the Toyota Tundra were 2005 and 2006. However, the 2022 Tundra isn’t much lower than these years, proving it’s still a leader. The 2023 Tundra could show even better sales numbers when the year is over.
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Many drivers look forward to hauling, towing and going off-road with the 2023 Toyota Tundra. It’s packaged as a capable truck meant for any adventure. Yet owners have been left dealing with a great number of mechanical malfunctions. Whether it’s the engine issues or the powertrain failures, most drivers are caught off-guard. There have also been reports of electrical system issues and trouble with the tires and wheels, as well as issues with many other components and systems These include backover prevention, equipment, forward collision-avoidance, brakes, steering, structure, vehicle speed control, and visibility.
One of the most recent problems to emerge relates to the fuel/propulsion system. In addition to complaints, one of four recalls issued for the Tundra and other Toyota vehicles is because of a fuel leak problem. There is also a class action lawsuit that alleges 2022-2023 Tundra trucks risk catching fire.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Power Train | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Electrical System | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Steering |
Complaints to the National Highway Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2023 Tundra fuel/propulsion system started in June 2023. Ironically, they don’t report a fuel leak, which is the reason for the fuel system recall, but rather a fuel gauge issue.
The first complaint states that the fuel gauge was at ¾ of a tank. But after parking on a ”slight incline” for two hours the gauge had “issues”. The main issue was that while driving home, the owner noticed that the “fuel gauge was reading completely full.”
A more recent complaint, from an owner in Nevada in August 2023, also reports a faulty fuel gauge. Initially, when fueling up, the gauge remained static as though no fuel had been put in the tank. Then, after driving, there was still “no change to the fuel gauge. I parked the vehicle at home and planned to take it into the dealership the following day, but my fuel gauge corrected itself later displaying a full tank. I’ve seen in the forums this has been a problem.”
On August 10, 2023, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) issued a recall for 168,179 2022-2023 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles. The initial problem is that a “plastic fuel tube routed near metallic brake lines may chafe against the brake lines and become damaged, possibly resulting in a fuel leak.” But more dangerously, a fuel leak near an ignition source is a very real fire risk.
NHTSA Campaign Number 23V566000 states that dealers will undertake an interim repair until a final remedy is available. This involves installing “protective materials and a clamp on the fuel tube, free of charge.” When there is a “final remedy,” they will replace the fuel tube, free of charge.
Even though the recall was posted on the NHTSA website on August 10, documentation from Toyota shows that owners will only be notified by October 9, 2023.
On August 24, 2023, two weeks after the recall was announced, Benjamin Murphy filed a class action complaint against Toyota in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas, Lufkin Division. The preliminary court statement provides details of the action brought “on behalf of himself, and all similarly situated persons who purchased or leased any 2022 or 2023 Toyota Tundra Trucks.”
It states that the “aggregated claims of the individual Class members exceed the sum or value of $5,000,000, exclusive of interests and cost.”
Some of the points mentioned are the fact that the defect is a massive fire risk because of the highly flammable liquid gasoline and vapor. Additionally, environmental and economic impacts include the potential waste of millions of gallons of gas and “the volatile nature of the earth’s climate.”
Murphy states that he believed he was buying a high-quality, highly reliable vehicle. While he heard about fuel line defects on social media, no-one affiliated with Toyota informed him of any defects. He maintains that the resale value of the vehicle is now diminished because it has “the reputation of being a faulty vehicle.”
The lawsuit alleges that the recall is “a repeatedly ineffective waste of time” because “ there is no true fix for the fuel line defect.”
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The following is a list of potential benefits from a Lemon Law case. However, your outcome will depend entirely on your circumstances, so it is best to call today for a free consultation!
Your Toyota may be a lemon if it has a manufacturing problem that makes it unsafe, less valuable, or otherwise inadequate to drive. If the common issues with the Tundra that this article discusses are familiar, or if your Toyota has similar problems, you may have been sold a lemon. It is important to note that not every car with a defect is a lemon. Lemon Laws will vary from state to state, so it is best to discuss your legal options with an attorney before moving forward.
Lemon Laws can be complex, especially because they vary from state to state. If you want to make sure your Toyota qualifies as a lemon, it is best to discuss your case with an attorney with experience in the field. Call Lemberg Law today for a free consultation, and we will figure out all the complex legal details for you. That way, you can receive the highest compensation possible for your defective Toyota.
You can also check out our useful guide for understanding Lemon Laws state-by-state. Or, take a look at this general reference to see if your Toyota might be a lemon:
Once you confirm that your Toyota is a lemon, all that’s left to do is win compensation! To do so, hire an experienced Lemon Law attorney at Lemberg Law. We will handle every legal detail for you, free of charge.
You shouldn’t have to worry about your safety or the quality of your car when buying from Toyota. If this manufacturer burdens you with a lemon, we know that the last thing you need is an expensive, tedious legal process. Working with Lemberg Law, you will enjoy a free and easy path to justice. We prioritize your time, and we will make sure you receive the compensation and justice you deserve.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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I have a 2023 tundra I force max hybrid and it keeps throwing codes 2 days after I get gas. The truck is 8 weeks old and has been in the dealership every week since I have owned it for the same problem with no fix. The dealership says they have to drive it every time they try and fix it so they have put 500 miles on it and used my gas with no fix. I also have lost 8 days of work because of this at 560.00 a day in loses in income. I have been in contact with Toyota and have a case manager but they don’t call me back and have no even contacted dealer to try and solve this issue. I have purchased many accessories that have cost me another 3500.00 dollars. The dealer says they can not take it back or buy it back because they would have to give me ten thousand dollars less for it than I paid 8 weeks ago. Can you help with this