2018 Toyota Tundra Problems & Complaints

Average15% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Tundra at the same age

Owners have filed 100 complaints about the 2018 Toyota Tundra with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the Tundra at the same age. The most reported problem area is the electrical system (26 complaints, typically around 19,000 miles). 8 recalls cover this model year.

100complaints
8recalls
4crashes
3fires
6injuries
0deaths

Most common 2018 Toyota Tundra problems

  • Electrical system~19,000 miles
    2626%
  • Brakes~8,000 miles
    2222%
  • Fuel & propulsion system~84,000 miles
    1818%
  • Speed control & acceleration~5,000 miles
    1414%
  • Stability & traction control~3,000 miles
    1313%
  • Other / not specified~1,000 miles
    1313%
  • Engine & cooling~34,000 miles
    1212%
  • Driver assistance~3,000 miles
    88%
  • Air bags~28,000 miles
    55%
  • Steering~50,000 miles
    55%
  • Lights~35,000 miles
    44%
  • Wheels & tires
    33%
  • Transmission & drivetrain
    33%
  • Seats
    33%
  • Body & structure
    33%
  • Windows, wipers & sunroof
    11%

Share of the 100 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Toyota Tundra complaints by model year

’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’261.0k415482399466377545390327381631341568593511207810074472443141134614132
Owner complaints per model year, Toyota Tundra. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best Tundra years: 2015, 2021, 2020. Years to avoid: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2025, 2000. Compare all years →

2018 Toyota Tundra recalls (8)

Steering › Hydraulic power assist system

NHTSA recall 21V-920 · Nov 23, 2021 · 22,462 vehicles

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.

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.

Exterior lighting › Headlights

NHTSA recall 21V-688 · Sep 2, 2021 · 158,489 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Tundra vehicles. The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector.

Remedy: Dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and replace any damaged bulb, bulb connector, and/or headlight assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2022.

Exterior lighting › Turn signal

NHTSA recall 20V-410 · Jul 15, 2020 · 183,397 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Toyota Tundra vehicles equipped with LED headlight assemblies. Due to a wiring error, the front turn signals may not flash brightly enough.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will modify the wire harness connected to the front turn signal bulbs free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020.

Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump

NHTSA recall 20V-012 · Jan 13, 2020 · 1,830,752 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on…

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987.

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 18V-711 · Oct 11, 2018 · 508 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra vehicles. The accessory all-weather floormats may have been counted twice when creating the load carrying capacity modification label, resulting in the capacity modification label incorrectly overstating the additional weight by 10…

Remedy: All vehicle owners will be sent a corrected label. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0Z.

Electrical system › Software

NHTSA recall 18V-685 · Oct 4, 2018 · 168,187 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Show 2 more recalls

Electronic stability control (ESC)

NHTSA recall 18V-122 · Feb 20, 2018 · 64,901 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles. Electrical interference within the power supply circuit may cause the vehicle's electronic stability control system to be deactivated.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.

Equipment › Other › Labels

NHTSA recall 17V-831 · Dec 20, 2017 · 649 vehicles

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.

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.

What 2018 Toyota Tundra owners say

Electrical system all 26 →

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, both front headlights would intermittently go dim without warning. The contact then received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V688000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.

35,000 miles · Sep 2021

While descending a steep grade towing an 8,000lb travel trailer using appropriate hill descent braking techniques, an error message came on the dash indicating a trailer wiring, type, or connection fault. From this point forward, I had no trailer brakes and was left with truck brakes only. I got the truck/trailer combination to the bottom of the grade safely, however this could have been catastrophic for an inexperienced driver or in a different situation. Upon further investigation, this is a common problem with Toyota Tundra's, and acknowledged by Toyota in TSB # T-SB-0036-19 issued on April 1, 2019. The dealer and Toyota Customer Service will not acknowledge this, and states it is something only covered under the 3 year warranty. …

Oct 2023

Brakes all 22 →

This case results from the malfunctioning trailer brake ECU on 2018-2019 Tundras. There is a Toyota service bulletin T-SB-0036-19, which specifies an updated controller to replace the defective model. Part # : Original 89547-0C020 Update/replacement 89547-0C060 Toyota will not replace this defective part outside of the original warranty period despite the issuance of an updated replacement part. The service bulletin wasn't even issued until 4/19 possibly giving no recourse to owners whose warranty had tolled. The newer part number, suggests this was a dangerous defect that was upgraded. A review of this matter online details this problem has frequently occurred. The reason it's not more commonly reported is that a minority of Tundra owners tow trailers, and even fewer tow with electric brakes. …

Jun 2024

I am having problems with the integrated brake controller constantly disconnecting when pulling any type of trailer. When ever I pull a trailer I never know when the controller will disconnect and I'll lose brakes on my trailer. This happens at any speed while towing. This seems to be a thing for 2018 tundras, as I've read about many other complants.

Jan 2024

Fuel & propulsion system

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while her husband attempted to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V012000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.

103,000 miles · Oct 2025

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the fuel pump failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V012000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,877.

84,000 miles · Dec 2022

2018 Toyota Tundra engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
4.6L 8-cyl6-speed automaticRWD15 / 19 / 16
4.6L 8-cyl6-speed automatic4WD14 / 18 / 16
5.7L 8-cyl6-speed automaticRWD13 / 18 / 15
5.7L 8-cyl6-speed automatic4WD13 / 17 / 15

EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Toyota Tundra a good car?

Based on 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Tundra rates average: 15% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Tundra at the same age. 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 2018 Toyota Tundra?

The electrical system — 26 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about integrated trailer brake control. Next are the brakes (22) and fuel & propulsion system (18).

How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Tundra have?

There are 8 recalls for the 2018 Toyota Tundra, the most recent from November 23, 2021 (hydraulic power assist system). 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 2018 Toyota Tundra problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 8,000 miles; 88% 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.