There are 28 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2005 Toyota Tundrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA WITH JUST 60,000 MILES. IN 2014 TOYOTA WAS ALLOWED TO PUT A BAND-AID ON A PROBLEM THAT NEEDED A TOURNIQUET - APPLYING A RUST CONVERTER COATING TO A FRAME THAT, BECAUSE OF THEIR FAILURE TO MANUFACTURER IT PROPERLY, DESERVED REPLACING. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA (CASE NUMBER [XXX]) THAT BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK THE BAND-AID THEY WERE NO LONGER LIABLE UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT FORCED THEM VIA FURTHER GOVERNMENT SAFETY RECALL ACTIONS TO DO MORE. MY HOPE IS BY WRITING THIS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE PROACTIVE AND SOLVE THIS SAFETY CONCERN BEFORE THEY HAVE TO COLLECT ENOUGH DEATH AND ACCIDENT STATISTICS TO TAKE NOTICE OF THIS ISSUE. NOT ONLY THAT, I SEE THAT TOYOTA IS BEING OFFERED THE SAME BAND-AID SOLUTION ON A NUMBER OF NEW MODELS WITH THE SAME ISSUE - PROVING THAT THEY DIDN'T LEARN ANY LESSON JUST HOW THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH ACTUAL MURDER. THE RESULT WILL BE MORE VEHICLES IN 5 YEARS IN WORSE SHAPE DUE TO THE LENIENT RECONCILIATION MANDATED BY THE GOVERNMENT. DO NOT PUT MORE LIVES AT RISK IN ORDER TO SAVE A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES BOTTOM LINE. THE FRAME WHICH IS KNOWN TO BE PRONE TO EXCESSIVE, PREMATURE RUST CORROSION BECAUSE THE FRAMES WERE NOT PROPERLY PREPARED AND TREATED AGAINST RUST CORROSION WHEN THEY WERE MANUFACTURED SHOULD ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED UNDER THIS RECALL TO PROTECT AMERICAN DRIVERS. THIS EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION COMPROMISES THE VEHICLES' SAFETY, STABILITY, AND CRASH-WORTHINESS BECAUSE IMPORTANT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, ENGINE MOUNTS, TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, AND BODY MOUNTS ANCHORED TO THE VEHICLES' FRAMES ARE AT RISK OF FAILURE. DO YOU WANT THIS VEHICLE (PICTURE ATTACHED) PASSING YOUR FAMILY ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE A LOT, AND SOON TO BE EVEN MORE, DOING IT EVERY DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TUNDRA HAD ELECTRICAL FAULT IN TRANSMISSION DUE TO WIRING HARNESS CORROSION. TUNDRA WILL DROP OUR OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND REENGAGE VIOLENTLY. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE AND I AM UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO NATIONAL BACKLOG ON NECESSARY PARTS. MY TUNDRA WAS PART OF THE RUST RECALL A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHICH WAS NEVER PROPERLY RECTIFIED AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION ISSUE SEEMS TO OCCUR MOSTLY AT SPEEDS UP TO 45 MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE MOVED WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED. THE CONTACT JUMPED INTO THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER LEFT LEG THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING RUSTED THROUGH SO THAT THE LUBRICATING FLUID LEAKED OUT ONTO THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED BOTH WHEN THE TRUCK WAS MOVING AND AT REST. TOYOTA HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE VEHICLE FRAME AS RAPID CORROSION AND RUSTING CAUSED A RECALL. THE DIFFERENTIAL TRANSFERS POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS SO THE LACK OF LUBRICATION COULD HAVE CAUSED THE REAR WHEELS TO LOCK WHILE DRIVING WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A REAR END COLLISION OR COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGH SPEED. USED REPLACEMENT DIFFERENTIAL HOUSINGS ARE UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE OF HIGH DEMAND DUE TO FAILURE OF ORIGINALS DUE TO RUST.
THE CONNECTOR ON THE CABLE FROM THE ECU TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THIS CAUSES THE TRUCK TO ACCELERATE FROM A STANDING STOP IN A MANNER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THANKFULLY THIS DIDN'T OCCUR WHEN PULLING OUT ON A BUSY STREET. THE SITUATION IS DANGEROUS. THE TRUCK ALREADY HAD A FRAME RECALL DUE TO CORROSION. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR AND REPRESENTS A DESIGN FLAW WITH DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES. *TR
WAS TAKING IT TO HAVE ITS OIL CHANGED AND NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER THE REAR AXLE SETTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER I ASK THEM TO CHECK THE REAR AXLE TO SEE WERE THE OIL WAS COMING FROM THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AXLE HOUSING HAD RUSTED THROUGH TOYOTA WONT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE WARRANTY DOSNT COVER RUST AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME 3600.00 FOR THEM TO FIX IT . TO ME I THINK THIS IS A BUNCH OF BULL THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 70192 MILES ON IT THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD OF RUSTED OUT CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF I DIDN'T NOTICE THIS THE REAR AXLE COULD HAVE LOST ALL OF ITS OIL CAUSING A MAJOR MALFUNCTION THE AXLE COULD OF LOCKED UP BROKE THE AXLE CAUSING TO LOOSE CONTROLL CREATING A BAD ACCIDENT THEY SAY IT DOSNT COVER RUST BUT YET I GOT A RECALL NOTICE TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE THE FRAME INSPECTED FOR EXTREME RUST CORROSION. THIS DOSNT MAKE MUCH SENCE TO ME THEY WILL COVER THE RUSTY FRAME WHICH IS GREAT BUT THEY WONT COVER THE RUSTED OUT REAR AXLE THAT COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT AS WELL AS THE FRAME. *TR
AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. MADE RIGHT TURN UPHILL. TRUCK ACCELERATED QUICKLY LIKE IT WAS FLOORED. ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE EASILY TO SLOW DOWN. TRUCK SPUN 180 ON PAVEMENT, CRASHING SIDEWAYS INTO ISLAND DIVIDER. RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS SHEERED OFF. TRUCK WAS STOPPED BY REAR BUMPER SMASHING INTO LIGHT STANDARD. SHEERED WHEEL HAD GRIND MARKS AS WHEELS WERE STILL UNDER POWER. THIS WAS POINTED OUT AT SCENE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. I AM A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER USED TO DRIVING EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. MY TRUCK ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. *TR
2005 TUNDRA CREW SR5 4.7L. WHEN I COME TO A STOP - THERE IS A HEAVY BUMP (LIKE SOMEONE BUMPED THE REAR END). I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT TO DEALER - I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS TO SEE IF MY ISSUE WAS LEGITIMATE. IT SEEMS OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I WILL FOLLOWUP MY COMPLAINT AFTER I VISIT DEALER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME RESISTANT WHEN DRIVING UPHILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED A FAULTY TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
TUNDRA 2005 SR5 DOUBLE CAB. PURCHASED ON MARCH 2005 AND I NOTICED VERY EARLY ON SOMETIMES A HESITATION TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR FROM LOW SPEEDS SPECIALLY WHEN WAITING TO MAKE A TURN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL BUT THE TRUCK DOES NOT MOVE OR MOVES VERY SLOWLY AND THEN A JUMP TO START MOVING NORMALLY AGAIN. *TR
MY 2005 TUNDRA DOUBLE CAB 4X4 HAS AN ISSUE WHERE YOU FEEL A STRONG THUD AND PUSH FORWARD COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP (SUCH AS A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT). TOYOTA'S ONLY FIX IF TO GREASE THE PROPELLER/DRIVE SHAFTS WELL. I DO THIS WITH EACH OIL CHANGE BUT THE CONDITION PERSISTS EVEN AFTER LUBING THE POWERTRAIN. OTHER TUNDRA OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS AS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. TOYOTA SHOULD CONSIDER A MORE SUITABLE FIX THAN JUST APPLYING GREASE. THIS ISSUE HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS IN MY TUNDRA. *TR
MY TOYOTA TUNDRA 2005, V8, 4.7L, 4X4(83,000 MILES) LOST ITS TRANSMISSION POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE TRANSMISSION POWER CAME ON AND OFF ALL THE WAY HOME. LUNGING EACH TIME IT DROPPED OFF AND CAME ON. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $4000.00. IT WAS DISPLAYING P0986 CODE. THE NEXT DAY BROUGHT IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY FOUND THAT THE WIRE CONNECTOR (15 PIN) THAT GOES FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE ECM WAS CORRODED AND THE PINS WERE BROKEN AND NOT MAKING CONTACT. ITS DESIGN IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. IT IS NOT PROTECTED AND IS LOCATED IN A PLACE WHERE IT IS EXPOSED TO ALL THE SALT AND WATER RESULTING IN THE PINS BEING CORRODED. INFORMATION COMMUNICATED FROM THE COMPUTER TO THE TRANSMISSION AND BACK IS INTERRUPTED OR INACCURATE. I FOUND THIS INFORMATION ON A WEBSITE AT THE SAME TIME THE INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP DISCOVERED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE FOLLOWING SITE DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM VERY CLEARLY WITH PICTURES AND DESCRIPTIONS: HTTP://WWW.TECHNO-FANDOM.ORG/~HOBBIT/CARS/TUNDTRAN/ I CONTACTED TOYOTA. THEY GAVE ME A RUN AROUND WITH ONLY FRUSTRATION AND STRESS. I SEE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH ALL THESE TRUCKS IN ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE IT IS WET. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR THE FIX AND NOT ME. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND CAUSES UNEXPECTED POWER LOSE OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHEN DRIVING. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP IF YOU WANT THE OLD PART AFTER THE NEW ONE IS INSTALLED. IT SHOULD HAPPEN IN A FEW DAYS. *TR
2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA DOUBLE CAB SR5 TRANSMISSION MOUNT HAS 4 BOLTS AND A PLASTIC CENTERING PIECE 3 OF THE BOLTS HAD WORKED THEIR WAY OUT AND THE 4TH WAS HALF WAY OUT CENTERING PIECE WAS LOOSE AND FLOATING IN THE CROSSBEAM TIGHTENED THE ONE BOLT WENT TO BOB TYLER TOYOTA IN PENSACOLA, FL. ALL THAT WAS ASKED OF MEWAS DID I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I SAID NO I THOUGHT THE TUNDRA WAS COVERED FOR 100,000 MILES. BESIDES I CONSIDERED THIS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MY TRANSMISSION COULD HAVE BECOME DISCONNECTED AND CAUSED A WRECK OR WORSE. I CONSIDER THIS UNACCEPTABLE AND THE ATTITUDE OF THE ASSOCIATE WAS UNCONCERNED. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? TW*
WHEN COMING TO A STOP THERE IS A PERIODIC, LOUD CLUNK THAT COMES FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE EVEN THOUGH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO DEALERS. MY BROTHER AND A FRIEND ARE BOTH EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM HTTP://WWW.TOYOTAPARTSANDSERVICE.COM/PUB/PDF/TECHCENTERLIBRARY/TIS/T-SB-0067-09.PDF. *TR
I HAVE BEEN HEARING SOME CLICKING NOISE WHEN MY CAR IS MOVING AND IT SOUNDED LIKE METAL RUBBING. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. SO WHEN I WENT TO GET MY EMISSIONS TEST DONE, THE MECHANIC AT THE AUTO SHOP SAID THAT HE HEARD THE NOISE TOO AND IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE. SO THEY LIFTED THE CAR AND SAW WHERE THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IS WORN OUT AND THE MANUFACTURER SEAL IS DETERIORATING CAUSING THE JOINTS TO RUB TOGETHER. THERE ARE NO GREASE FITTINGS ON THIS SO I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE UNIVERSAL JOINTS AS THE PROBLEM IS GETTING LOUDER AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE FIXED SO THAT IT DOES NOT BREAK WHILE I AM GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHICH COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I CALLED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS TODAY AND THEY SAID THAT WOULD ONLY BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IS 60,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. I HAVE 70,000 MILES ON THE CAR. TOYOTA FAILED TO CHECK ALL OF THESE ITEMS AND CATCH THEM WHEN I DID MY YEARLY SERVICE AND MILEAGE APPOINTMENTS WITH THEM AND NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IT FAILED WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. *TR
WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP, THE REAR AXEL FEELS LIKE A LOT OF TORQUE IS RELEASED FROM THE REAR END, LIKE SOMEONE HITS YOU FROM BEHIND. IT WILL MAKE THE TRUCK MOVE FORWARD A FOOT OR TWO EACH TIME. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE THE REAR AXLES ARE DESIGNED WITH SUCH TIGHT CLEARANCE, THAT THE SLIP YOKE NEEDS TO BE GREASED EVERY SO OFTEN TO KEEP THE TORQUE FROM BUILDING UP, BUT NO FIX HAD BEEN DESIGNED FROM TOYOTA. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. I WAS ALSO TOLD IT ONLY HAPPENS WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE TUNDRA MODELS. MINE IS A 2005 4 DOOR, 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODEL. *TR
2005 TUNDRA WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS ISSUE WITH 3RD GEAR GRINDING AND POPPING OUT OF GEAR WHEN DRIVING CAN SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH TUNDRA AND TACOMA WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND SOME INDICATIONS TOYOTA NEW THE ISSUE WAS BAD SYNCHROS IN TRANSMISSION AND CHANGED TRANSMISSIONS OUT WITH ONES CONTAINING HEAVY-DUTY SYNCHROS WHEN THEY WERE FAILING WITH 18000 MILES, OTHERWISE ONCE OUT OF WARRANTY YOUR PROBLEM. SOME PEPOLE STATED REPLACEMENT DONE MORE THAN ONCE. POPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON STREET
THE CAR IS DEAD. WE CALLED A TECHNICAIN AND HE CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION, HE SAID IT WAS A FAILURE. HE ADDED TRANSMISSION FLUID SO WE COULD DRIVE THE CAR TO POWER TOYOTA IN IRVINE, CA . THE MECHANIC AT THIS DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIED. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY2005, AND ITWAS A TUNDRA 6 CYLINDER 2005.*AK
I HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA, SR5 ACCESS CAB, 6-CYL AND A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IN FEB 2007 THE THROWOUT BEARING STARTED TO GO BAD AT APPROX. 30,000 MILES (VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 8 MONTHS OLD) AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE CLUTCH UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT A YEAR LATER THE THROWOUT BEARING WENT OUT AGAIN, WITH ABOUT 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AGAIN REPLACED THE ENTIRE CLUTCH UNDER WARRANTY AND ALSO REPLACED THE BELL HOUSING, STATING THAT THE BELL HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 82,000 MILES ON IT, IS 5 YEARS OLD, AND THE THROWOUT BEARING IS AGAIN MAKING NOISES, INDICATING THAT THE CLUTCH IS GOING OUT AGAIN. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CLUTCH TO WEAR OUT 3 TIMES IN 5 YEARS. I DO MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING ON FLAT ROADS AND DO NOT TOW ANYTHING. THE TRUCK IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE CLUTCH REPLACEMENT COSTS QUITE A BIT. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING ELSE IS THE CAUSE OF THE CLUTCH REPEATEDLY GOING OUT. NOT MANY TUNDRAS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION EVER CAME OUT AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF PARTS OR DESIGN FLAW THAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED APROX 10 YEARS AGO. THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE HAD LOOKED AT BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REMAINS UNRESOLVED. WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT IMMEDIATELY LUNGES FORWARD AND TRAVELS WITHOUT FOOT ON THE GAS UP TO SPEED OF 15 MPH ON FLAT LEVEL GROUND. IT IS DEFINITELY NOT SAFE. IT COULD CAUSE?AN ACCIDENT. MY BROTHER'S INSISTED THAT I HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I HAVE NOT HAD A SATISFACTORY ANSWER TO THIS ISSUE. AGAIN THE ANSWER REMAINS THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. COULD IT BE A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE?
Showing 1–20 of 28 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026