Most common 2001 Toyota Tundra problems
Share of the 415 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Tundra complaints by model year
Best Tundra years: 2015, 2021, 2020. Years to avoid: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2025, 2000. Compare all years →
2001 Toyota Tundra recalls (2)
Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields
Toyota is recalling model year 2000-2003 tundra vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west…
Remedy: Toyota is asking owners of the affected vehicles to remove the spare tire from under the vehicle until a remedy can be obtained.
Wheels
On certain 4x2 vehicles equipped with an alloy wheel tire upgrade (options wm4, wm8, zl1-zl4, dh4, or dh5) installed by the processing centers in jacksonville, florida or commerce, georgia, a label identifying the spare tire as a temporary use spare tire was not installed.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a caution label and an insert for their owner's manual. Owner notification began July 15, 2002.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2001 Toyota Tundra:
Frame corrosion
This investigation was opened based on 20 reports of model year (my) 2000 and 2001 vehicles experiencing severe corrosion of the frame, resulting in either under-body mounted spare tire separation or rear brake failure.the failure report counts shown above are for my 2000 and 2001 vehicles only.by letter of November 16, 2009 Toyota has notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall (09v-444) of…
What 2001 Toyota Tundra owners say
Body & structure all 171 →
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds on a bumpy road surface, the vehicle made abnormal sounds and the rear suspension shuddered and shifted to one side. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the front and rear shocks were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the subframe was severely corroded and had holes. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V444000 (Structure) however, the dealer had only sprayed a corrosion protection compound on the subframe. The failure mileage was approximately 187,149.
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V444000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the underbody frame appeared to be rusted. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was confirmed that the underbody frame was rusted. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the parts were no longer manufactured. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Brakes all 116 →
2001 Tundra brakes failed to stop truck from hitting vehicle in front on a sudden stop on the interstate. Found out later that Toyota knew of defective brakes and issued TSB br004-002 to replace 191mm front brake calipers with larger 231 mm calipers within the warranty period, but did not notify owners of the defect. Only owners who complained of vibration when braking and early failure of front rotors and brake pads were offered the upgraded calipers, but only after repeated complaints. The upgraded calipers were eventually incorporated into the 2004 and later tundras.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. While the vehicle was parked in the garage, the ABS electronic control module melted onto the floor. The garage was filled with grey smoke, ash, and soot. The mechanic stated that an electrical short occurred and the ABS electronic control module's power unit remains operational when the engine is shut off. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic. The ABS control module will be replaced and the wiring harness May also need to be replaced. The washer fluid bottle tubes were damaged. The current and failure mileages were 82,300.
Suspension all 84 →
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving at various speeds on a bumpy road surface, the vehicle made abnormal sounds and the rear suspension shuddered and shifted to one side. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the front and rear shocks were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the subframe was severely corroded and had holes. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V444000 (Structure) however, the dealer had only sprayed a corrosion protection compound on the subframe. The failure mileage was approximately 187,149.
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly pulled to the right and front driver's side wheel detached from underneath the vehicle, causing the vehicle to skid across the highway before coming to a stop. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the front driver's side ball joint had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that there was damage to the subframe of the vehicle caused by the detached wheel. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 233,500.
2001 Toyota Tundra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 16 / 15 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 16 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Toyota Tundra a good car?
Based on 415 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Tundra rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Tundra at the same age. It is one of the Tundra years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Toyota Tundra?
The body & structure — 171 complaints, 41% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frame and members. Next are the brakes (116) and suspension (84).
How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota Tundra have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2001 Toyota Tundra, the most recent from November 18, 2009 (underbody shields). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Tundra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2021 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2025 and 2000. See the full Toyota Tundra years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Toyota Tundra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 102,000 miles; 18% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.