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2017 Toyota Tundra Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2017 Toyota Tundra carries 6 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering hydraulic power assist system. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Integrated trailer brake controller failure.” Toyota's owner's manual splits service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1 because it covers short trips, extreme temperatures, dusty roads, or heavy idling. The intervals below reflect Schedule 1 — the schedule Toyota recommends for typical real-world use.

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6 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Campaign #21V920000 · Nov 23, 2021

Issue: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Campaign #21E103000 · Dec 23, 2021

Issue: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Campaign #17V831000 · Dec 20, 2017

Issue: 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."

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

Fix: 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.

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

Campaign #17V051000 · Jan 24, 2017

Issue: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Campaign #18V123000 · Feb 20, 2018

Issue: 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."

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

Fix: 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.

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

Campaign #17V311000 · Nov 5, 2017

Issue: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2017 Toyota Tundra.

Reported to NHTSA

Integrated trailer brake controller failure

SERVICE BRAKES

14 NHTSA complaints · 2017-03 → 2025-12

“TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, GAIN MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IN BRAKING. TWICE I HAVE HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP AND FELT NO BRAKING FROM THE TRAILER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11002724
“Integrated Brake Controller (IBC) not sending sufficient power to electric dual-axle travel trailer brakes producing weak if any braking ability”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11448201
“IBC IS A COMPLETELY TERRIBLE PART IN THE TRUCK. 3 TIMES PULLING A TRAILER AND THEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY GIVE OUT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11122230

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel pump failure causing hard starting

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

11 NHTSA complaints · 2020-09 → 2026-01

“Fuel Pump failed. Vehicle is currently at dealership awaiting 2+ week repair. Currently available to inspect. Failure began while driving. Caused misfire in cylinder 1, caused electrical fault that disabled traction control”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11499782
“My 2017 Toyota Tundra had been starting roughly the past couple of weeks, I initially thought this was due to the very cold weather we recently had. It has just over 71k miles on it, so there should be no issues with this truck”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11636497
“Began experiencing long cranking, difficulty starting, then rough idling. Started researching online and found recalls for 2018 -2019 Flex fuel 5.7 Tundras. My 2017 is also a Flex fuel 5.7 with exactly the same issue”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11708488

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission shifting malfunctions

POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-04 → 2025-10

“The transmission solenoid D shows high voltage which sets my check engine light off. At first no difference would be noticed and it would randomly turn off and then back on randomly”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11695329
“I BOUGHT THIS 2017 TUNDRA DLB CAB BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD TO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTING AND THEN UP- SHIFTING ON SLIGHT INCLINES, NOT ENGAGING WHEN PUT IN DRIVE THEN SLAMMING INTO GEAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11090487
“THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES TODAY THE VEHICLE WOULD STAY AT 1000 RPM WHILE DRIVING WITH NO ACCELERATION POSSIBLE, IT WAS AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS DISCONNECTED, TRIED TO CROSS BUSY INTERSECTION , BUT COULD ONLY COAST THREW”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11350952

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rodent damage to wiring and fuel lines

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2018-03 → 2019-02

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA. AFTER THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11181046
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RODENTS DAMAGED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE BY EATING THE SOY-BASED WIRES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11162335
“MICE ARE ABLE TO ENTER THE AIR VENTILATION SYSTEM FROM A LARGE GAP AT THE ENDS OF THE AIR INTAKE GRILL BELOW THE WINDSHIELD, ONCE IN, THEY ENTER THE CAB AND DASH AREA”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11080895

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlights shutting off when turn signal is used

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

14 NHTSA complaints · 2019-03 → 2025-01

“THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURN OFF WHEN I USE THE TURN SIGNALS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAD THE TRUCK, THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE LIGHTS WERE OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11408278
“MY 2017 TOYOTA TUNDRA 1794 CREWMAX, DURING WINTER MONTHS IN SOUTH CAROLINA - THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERNAL INSTRUMENTATION WILL TURN OFF WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WITH TURN SIGNAL ENGAGED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11377261
“Headlights go out randomly usually when using turn signal. Because this happens at night all visibility is lost temporarily”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11634722

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Steering gear and tie rod failures

STEERING, SUSPENSION

4 NHTSA complaints · 2022-03 → 2025-10

“Power steering rack and pinion failure on 2017 Toyota Tundra Limited. Leak and Popping clunk noise when turning steering wheel . Potential for steering loss and accident”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11690798
“Vehicle was driven 30 miles to work with no steering issues and parked in work parking lot. Upon returning to vehicle to return home when backing out of parking spot the front driver wheel would not turn almost causing me to back into parked car next to me”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11502926
“The contact's son owns a 2017 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21E103000 (Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11455591

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag system malfunctions

AIR BAGS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2017-10 → 2023-08

“The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, while the vehicle was idling in park, the driver’s and passenger’s side curtain air bags deployed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11541940
“My airbag sensor is active. My vehicle only has 94000 miles on it. Power training warranty does not cover this failure”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11518674
“THE AIR BAGS AND TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE SYSTEM FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE SAFETY SENSE FEATURE WAS SUPPOSED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DUE TO OBJECTS (VEHICLE) BEING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AT A FAST RATE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERE DAMAGE AND WAS TOWED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11041800

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Camshaft tower seal oil leak

ENGINE

2 NHTSA complaints · 2018-11 → 2024-08

“My 2017 Toyota Tundra Limited has 107,192 miles. I took the vehicle to Berlin City Toyota in Portland, ME for an oil change. The service technician told me that the truck has a cam tower leak”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11610529
“TOYOTA 3UR-FE 5.7L V8 ENGINE CAMSHAFT TOWER SEAL IS PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE, WHICH LEADS TO ENGINE OIL LEAKING ON THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL FIRE/FLASH HAZARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11149499

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil and filter every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1, or 10,000 miles under Schedule 2. Toyota covers the first 2 oil changes through ToyotaCare.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends rotation at every oil change to maximize tire life on FWD and AWD models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 5,000 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 5,000 miles. Toyota recommends measuring pad thickness at each service.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months. Critical for the integrity of the ABS, VSC, and brake assist systems.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Earlier under Schedule 1 if driven on unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Toyota labels ATF as 'lifetime fill' on most automatics, but recommends inspection and replacement every 60,000 miles under severe service. Use Toyota WS or Type-IV — no substitutes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 120,000 mi

Toyota iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated for 120,000 miles. Earlier replacement reduces fuel economy and can cause misfires on direct-injection engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Super Long Life Coolant (SLLC)

Every 50,000 mi

Toyota SLLC (pink): first change at 100,000 miles, then every 50,000 miles. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it will damage the cooling system seals.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner in dusty climates. Located behind the glove box on most Toyota and Lexus models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Serpentine / Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect the serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Toyota uses long-life EPDM belts that rarely fail before 100,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Timing Chain — No Replacement

On condition / lifetime

Toyota's 2AR-FE, 2GR-FKS, A25A-FKS, and most Toyota engines built since 2010 use a timing chain rated for the life of the engine. No scheduled replacement.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Pro only

Timing chains are normally lifetime. Listen for rattle on cold start — that's the actionable signal. Replacement is major work, quote separately.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

18 crashes 1990–2024

How the 18 occupant deaths break down

14

driver deaths

4

passenger deaths

18

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2019 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

2

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2017 Toyota Tundra reflects Toyota's published service intervals and the Maintenance Required Light system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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