2004 Toyota Tundra Problems and Recalls (460 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2004 Toyota Tundra is Body / frame (32% of 460 owner reports). There are 13 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Body / frame — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 460 complaints · 13 recalls

What problems show up on the 2004 Toyota Tundra?

148 of 460 filings named Body / frame (32% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Suspension (110 reports).

There are 13 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine, Suspension, Airbags, and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2003 has 393 reports on file; this year has 460. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2004 Toyota Tundra

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 13 campaigns on file below.
  2. Body / frame. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck.
  3. Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
  4. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Body / frame. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Body / frame 148 complaints · 32.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 24
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 20
  • Deaths 1
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Body / frame (STRUCTURE) appears in 148 of 460 owner complaints (32.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 148 complaints, 32.2% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 148 · 32.2% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 110 complaints, 23.9% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 5 crash reports 110 · 23.9% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 41 complaints, 8.9% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 5 crash reports 41 · 8.9% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 29 complaints, 6.3% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 2 crash reports 29 · 6.3% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 22 complaints, 4.8% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 crash reports 22 · 4.8% Steering (STEERING): 12 complaints, 2.6% of reports Steering (STEERING) 2 crash reports 12 · 2.6% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 9 complaints, 2.0% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 6 crash reports 9 · 2.0% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 8 complaints, 1.7% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 8 · 1.7% Wheels (WHEELS): 8 complaints, 1.7% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 1 crash reports 8 · 1.7% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 280 complaints, 60.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 11 crash reports 1 fire reports 280 · 60.9% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 148 32.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 110 23.9% 5 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 41 8.9% 5 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 29 6.3% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 22 4.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 12 2.6% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 9 2.0% 6 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 8 1.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 8 1.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 280 60.9% 11 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 2004; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 2005. 2004-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2006-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2006-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2007-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2007-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2007-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2007-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2008-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2008-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2009-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2010-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2012-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2013-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2013-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2013-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2013-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2014-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2014-Q4: 22 owner reports 22 2015-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q3: 16 owner reports 16 2015-Q4: 19 owner reports 19 2016-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2016-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2017-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2017-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2017-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2017-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2019-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2019-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2019-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2020-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2020-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2021-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2021-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2024-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 2004 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 05V123000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V123000 Recall campaign 05V225000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V225000 Recall campaign 05V254000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V254000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 06E049000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E049000 Recall campaign 06E065000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E065000 Recall campaign 07V013000 ◆ Recall campaign 07V013000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Recall campaign 15V285000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V285000 Recall campaign 15V286000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V286000 Recall campaign 18V883000 ◆ Recall campaign 18V883000 Recall campaign 19V741000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V741000 Recall campaign 22E002000 ◆ Recall campaign 22E002000 Investigation RQ06005 ● Investigation RQ06005 Investigation EA06014 ● Investigation EA06014 Investigation PE09049 ● Investigation PE09049 Investigation PE14016 ● Investigation PE14016 Investigation EA15001 ● Investigation EA15001 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002
  • Campaign 07V013000 was reported 525 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 18V883000 was reported 3,780 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V741000 was reported 4,089 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 22E002000 was reported 5,999 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2004-Q1 Owner reports 1
2004-Q2 Owner reports 3
2004-Q3 Owner reports 2
2004-Q4 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 3
2005-Q2 Owner reports 3
2005-Q3 Owner reports 5
2005-Q4 Owner reports 3
2006-Q1 Owner reports 2
2006-Q2 Owner reports 4
2006-Q3 Owner reports 10
2006-Q4 Owner reports 12
2007-Q1 Owner reports 10
2007-Q2 Owner reports 8
2007-Q3 Owner reports 9
2007-Q4 Owner reports 4
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 3
2008-Q3 Owner reports 4
2008-Q4 Owner reports 1
2009-Q1 Owner reports 1
2009-Q2 Owner reports 2
2009-Q3 Owner reports 3
2009-Q4 Owner reports 3
2010-Q1 Owner reports 7
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 2
2011-Q1 Owner reports 2
2011-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q3 Owner reports 3
2011-Q4 Owner reports 3
2012-Q1 Owner reports 4
2012-Q2 Owner reports 3
2012-Q3 Owner reports 7
2012-Q4 Owner reports 10
2013-Q1 Owner reports 10
2013-Q2 Owner reports 12
2013-Q3 Owner reports 8
2013-Q4 Owner reports 8
2014-Q1 Owner reports 5
2014-Q2 Owner reports 5
2014-Q3 Owner reports 7
2014-Q4 Owner reports 22
2015-Q1 Owner reports 3
2015-Q2 Owner reports 4
2015-Q3 Owner reports 16
2015-Q4 Owner reports 19
2016-Q1 Owner reports 5
2016-Q2 Owner reports 17
2016-Q3 Owner reports 5
2016-Q4 Owner reports 8
2017-Q1 Owner reports 6
2017-Q2 Owner reports 11
2017-Q3 Owner reports 9
2017-Q4 Owner reports 4
2018-Q1 Owner reports 3
2018-Q2 Owner reports 4
2018-Q3 Owner reports 4
2018-Q4 Owner reports 8
2019-Q1 Owner reports 5
2019-Q2 Owner reports 18
2019-Q3 Owner reports 7
2019-Q4 Owner reports 11
2020-Q1 Owner reports 5
2020-Q2 Owner reports 7
2020-Q3 Owner reports 3
2020-Q4 Owner reports 9
2021-Q1 Owner reports 8
2021-Q2 Owner reports 1
2021-Q3 Owner reports 4
2021-Q4 Owner reports 3
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q2 Owner reports 4
2022-Q3 Owner reports 3
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 4
2023-Q2 Owner reports 2
2023-Q3 Owner reports 4
2023-Q4 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 4
2024-Q2 Owner reports 1
2024-Q3 Owner reports 1
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
2025-Q3 Owner reports 2
2026-Q1 Owner reports 2
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 05V123000
Recall campaign 1 05V225000
Recall campaign 1 05V254000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 06E049000
Recall campaign 1 06E065000
Recall campaign 1 07V013000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Recall campaign 1 15V285000
Recall campaign 1 15V286000
Recall campaign 1 18V883000
Recall campaign 1 19V741000
Recall campaign 1 22E002000
Defect investigation 1 RQ06005
Defect investigation 1 EA06014
Defect investigation 1 PE09049
Defect investigation 1 PE14016
Defect investigation 1 EA15001
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (13)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Engine, Suspension, Airbags, and Lights.

  1. Recall campaign 05V123000

    Engine

    Report date
    Component:
    Engine (ENGINE)
    Consequence:
    IN THIS CONDITION, THE EXHAUST PIPE FLANGE MAY RUB AGAINST THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE, WHICH COULD CAUSE BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE OF VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF SO EQUIPPED, WILL REPLACE THE TRD DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. DURING THIS REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE SPECIFIC BRAKE LINE TO ASSURE IT HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  2. Recall campaign 05V225000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  3. Recall campaign 05V254000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    THIS STANDARD ESTABLISHES REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THEIR PROPER LOCATION AND STRENGTH FOR THE EFFECTIVE SECURING OF CHILD RESTRAINTS, TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS' FAILURE, AND TO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT CHILD RESTRAINTS ARE PROPERLY SECURED AND THUS MORE FULLY ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS IN MOTOR VEHICLES.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE MANUAL AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH, REPLACE THE OWNER'S MANUAL, AND AFFIX A NEW SUN VISOR AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. THE RECALL BEGAN IN EARLY JANUARY 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  4. Recall campaign 06E026000

    Safety recall 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  5. Recall campaign 06E049000

    Safety recall 06E049000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  6. Recall campaign 06E065000

    Safety recall 06E065000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  7. Recall campaign 07V013000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    IN EXTREME CASES, IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE AND COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 28, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  8. Recall campaign 09E025000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  9. Recall campaign 15V285000

    Safety recall 15V285000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The recall began on July 13, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-762-2737. NOTE: This recall supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  10. Recall campaign 15V286000

    Safety recall 15V286000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 1-800-762-2737. GM began the recall on June 29, 2015. NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V-655 in its entirety. For vehicles located in the U.S. states not listed above, please see Toyota recall 15V-285 which covers all other U.S. states.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  11. Recall campaign 18V883000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, or replace the air bag assembly that includes an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for these recalls are J0A (Zone A Toyota), J0B (Zone B Toyota), J0C (Zone C Toyota), JLI (Zone A Lexus), JLJ (Zone B Lexus), and JLK (Zone C Lexus). Note: This recall includes vehicles that have had their air bag previously replaced under an earlier air bag campaign.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  12. Recall campaign 19V741000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
  13. Recall campaign 22E002000

    Suspension

    Report date
    Component:
    Suspension (SUSPENSION)
    Consequence:
    A ball joint failure may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    DRiV will work with distributors to return unsold parts. Dealers will inspect and replace the ball joint as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 17, 2022. Owners may contact DRiV customer service at 1-877-489-6659 or at RECALL.SUPPORT@DRIV.COM.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 9 of 460 complaints · page 1 of 19
2026-04-14Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
NHTSA ODI 11731089
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that the vehicle was Emissions tested, and rust was discovered on the driver’s and passenger’s side subframes. The dealer was notified of the issue, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE09049 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Tires, Fuel System, Gasoline, Structure). The failure mileage was 72,000.
2026-02-17Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11718541
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal screeching sound coming from the vehicle. The contact then saw sparks coming from the rear driver’s side of the vehicle, and the driver’s side rear wheel was turned sideways. The vehicle was pulled over to the shoulder and was later towed back to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the ball joint, control arms, front suspension, and several other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The independent mechanic made the contact aware of an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
2026-01-08Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
NHTSA ODI 11709590
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that after purchasing tires for replacement, the tire technician stated that the subframe was damaged from corrosion to the front frame, the side members, and the rear subframe. The contact was informed that the most severe corrosion was located on the driver's side front subframe behind the wheel well. The subframe was almost fully rusted through. The contact was referred to a welder by the tire shop. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and issued a customer complaint report. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
2025-09-20Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11688676
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Frame rot on the original frame with a recall
2025-08-19Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11681547
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that on several occasions, while driving at undisclosed speeds and then parking the vehicle, the contact observed oil leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that on another occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was inspected, and the contact observed corrosion and holes on the frame of the vehicle, and the motor mounts were rusted, causing the engine to run abnormally low. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the vehicle was flexing due to the holes throughout the frame of the vehicle. The mechanic was unable to lift the vehicle due to the excessive corrosion. The vehicle was deemed unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
2024-12-31Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11633351
CrashFireInjuryDeath
2004 Toyota Tundra. Left rear upper shock mount rotted away and the shock absorber is no longer connected. (rust) Auto Service report 12/30/2024. October 21, 2021 Toyota Dealership report: Recommends replace spare tire cross member. (rust perforation damage) Recall issued for rust and dealership performed a very limited service repair to this vehicle years ago. The recall repair consisted of rust proof paint applied to a very small limited area, not to frame, not to cross member, not to any shock mount) Concerned about rust currently causing the shock mount to fail and the cross member rust damage along with frame rust on the passenger side. 2 different dealerships told me this concern it is not under a recall. This Toyota Tundra truck is well maintained with regular scheduled auto service checks and appointments. It is never used for towing or off road use. I am the original owner, central New Jersey use only. The truck runs and looks good. The high amount of rust under the truck should not have occurred to the level of a shock mount rusting out and a cross member rusting out and frame rust.
2024-09-19Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11615451
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the sub frame underneath the vehicle was rusted. The contact was concerned that the sub frame could collapse. The vehicle was taking to the dealer to be inspected. The contact was informed that the sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 157,000.
2024-04-21Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11584352
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Frame is rusting out, only one bolt is holding left frame per tire dealership & Toyota dealer knows of rusting frame. Spare tire underneath fell out while turning on road, thankfully no cars following.
2024-03-19Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11578243
CrashFireInjuryDeath
This truck has a frame that is rusting out. It has rust holes and is now unsafe to drive.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2004 Toyota Tundra?

Owners named Body / frame most often — 148 of 460 reports (32%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2004 Toyota Tundra?

NHTSA lists 13 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine, Suspension, Airbags, and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2004 Toyota Tundra?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Look for rust, collision repair and body gaps that do not match a clean truck. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources