2007 Toyota Tundra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about two different things: unwanted or surging acceleration linked to the accelerator pedal, and widespread underbody corrosion, especially of the frame, bed and fuel tank straps. These are largely separate themes with different mileage patterns — acceleration complaints cluster early in life and in service-bulletin or recall discussions, while rust-related complaints tend to arrive years later on trucks that were driven in road-salt climates.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Unwanted acceleration / sticking accelerator pedal

   • 63 complaints (16%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (55 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2024

   Complaints describe the truck accelerating on its own or the pedal staying down after being pressed, sometimes with the engine at full throttle and brakes having little effect until the vehicle is shifted into neutral. Several owners mention floor mats trapping the pedal, while others say the pedal dropped or stuck even without a mat involved. Dealers often reported they could not duplicate the condition; some owners say a recall notice for the accelerator pedal arrived but the repair was delayed. Scattered across the life of the truck, from a few hundred miles up to about 116,000 miles, and not tied to cold weather.

   Recall 10V017000Recall 09V388000

   What to check: Ask whether the accelerator pedal recalls (09V388000 and 10V017000) were completed and confirm the floor mats are the correct factory type and properly clipped. During a test drive, check that the pedal returns fully when released.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Toyota 2007 thru 2010 I leased a 2007 Tundra double cab and get recall on safety the mat making gas pedal to get stuck and makes veh go 90mp cant stop. Found article in los angeles times saying worries may not come from mats but from brain in veh. Which I believe USA gov. Is making them check if that were the problem is coming fromunder Toyota's runaway car worries may not stop floor mats. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10293622, filed 2009-11, 9,000 miles

   “On july 12, 2009 I attempted to stop for a red light in my 2007 Toyota Tundra. No matter how hard I put on brakes, my vehicle continued to accelerate. The traffice report and insurance company documented my experience (of being unable to stop my truck). My truck was totaled.”

   NHTSA complaint #10305227, filed 2010-02, 20,000 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Frame, bed and fuel tank strap rust

   • 57 complaints (15%)
   • median 109,500 mi at 11.1 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,500 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Owners report heavy corrosion underneath — frame rails rusted through, bed panels rusting around the mounting bolts, and fuel tank straps or brackets rusting away so the tank hangs low. Some describe the tank skid plate dropping off or the tank resting on the fill and evap hoses. Several say the dealer inspected the frame, treated it, or declined help once a corrosion warranty period had passed. Typically shows up on trucks well past 100,000 miles, with many reports between about 125,000 and 165,000 miles, mostly on vehicles used in road-salt areas.

   What to check: Get the truck on a lift and inspect the frame rails, bed crossmembers and fuel tank straps for flaking or holes; a ball-peen hammer test on the frame is commonly used. Ask about any past frame inspection or corrosion treatment and keep the paperwork.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On july 18 2019 my file tank strap rusted off. I noticed the tank hanging down when my g and I were on a dinner date. When I tried to repair it the bracket that bolts to the frame tore off due to rust. I had no way to fix it so I put up the tank with a ratchet strap and drove it only minimally. On april 15th 2020 my truck would not start and so after about a week or so I had a tow truck pick it up and bring it to a local shop. Before the shop got started on the vehicle they told me the frame is in really rough condition. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11322401, filed 2020-04, 162,000 miles

   “I own a 2007 Toyota Tundra and while stationary in my garage I noticed bubbling under my spray in bedliner where the bed contacts the frame cross rails front and back. I then crawled under the truck bed and saw a massive amount of rust on the underside of the bed. I took it fort's Toyota of pekin and they said they could not help me and that I could call Toyota customer service but didn't think it would help since I didn't notice it till after warranty was expired even though I've had every service done at their place since new. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10967592, filed 2017-03, 135,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Limp mode with air injection pump/valve faults

   • 69 complaints (18%)
   • median 77,915 mi at 4.7 yrs old (66 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 20 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2025

   Complaints describe several warning lights coming on together (check engine, VSC, traction control) followed by reduced power, often limiting the truck to roughly 20-30 mph. Owners say mechanics traced it to the secondary air injection pump or valve, sometimes after water intrusion, and that it could return after codes were cleared. Some mention an extended warranty period for the part that had already run out for them. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 150,000 miles, with a few much earlier; some owners note it appeared after damp or rainy weather.

   What to check: Ask for any service records involving the air injection pump, valves or related codes, and have a scan tool read stored codes before purchase. A test drive should confirm the truck pulls cleanly without a power cut or warning lights.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 5.7l 2007 Toyota Tundra. It has been raining real bad in texas and the other day the check engine light came on when I was going down the highway and it lost power. I took it and had it checked. I have an error code p0419. I have read multiple instances online and an extended warranty was issues for 10 years 150k miles, but I am out by time, and I only have 88k miles. This is a safety issues as if I was passing someone and lost power, I could have been in a wreck. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11129194, filed 2018-09, 88,000 miles

   “2007 Toyota Tundra. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine, ESC, and vsc warning indicators illuminated as I was entering the freeway then the vehicle started to lose power and would not accelerate more than 60mph, the truck went into a limp mode. I reset the ECM by disconnecting the battery but it came back. The approximate failure mileage was 71k. This issue is all over the internet and should be covered by emissions warranty. Called the dealer and it is not covered by federal emissions warranty after 10yrs. Not good!”

   NHTSA complaint #11405838, filed 2021-03, 71,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Driveshaft and tailshaft seal problems

   • 27 complaints (7%)
   • median 48,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2022

   Owners describe a clunk or bang from underneath when stopping or accelerating, sometimes feeling like the truck was hit from behind, and in some cases a separated yoke or worn U-joint and carrier bearing. Others report transmission fluid leaking from the tailshaft seal, recurring after replacement, noticeable once the truck is warm and moving. Dealers in some reports said the noise was normal or replaced seals without resolving the leak. Reported from very low mileage up to about 160,000 miles, with several around 70,000 to 120,000 miles.

   Recall 07V579000

   What to check: Look for transmission fluid residue around the tailshaft housing and rear of the transmission, and listen for a clunk during stops and starts on a test drive. Ask whether recall 07V579000 for the driveshaft slip yoke applies to this 4WD truck and was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When coming to a stop, I feel a clunk and after coming to a complete stop, it feels like another vehicle bumps the rear bumper. This has happened since I bought the truck but Toyota dealer says that's normal, nothing wrong. The problem seems to be getting worse.”

   NHTSA complaint #10428774, filed 2011-10, 4,000 miles

   “A new transmission was put in my 07 Tundra in 2018 (do to improper service) worked well at that time. In 2019 tail shaft seal started to leak again was then replaced with a new seal geniune Toyota seal has worked well for about 3k miles and has started to leak again it seems to only leak after once the truck gets warmed up and only when it is in motion on hwy or streets. I am seeing a lot of complaints online about this! Will include links. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11323286, filed 2020-05, 90,000 miles

Buying note. Inspect the frame and underbody closely for rust before buying, and confirm that the accelerator pedal recalls were completed and the truck has service records for the air injection system and driveshaft. These are older trucks with well-documented, checkable issues, so a pre-purchase inspection that includes a lift is worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.