2010 Toyota Tundra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe rear leaf spring breakage, rust and corrosion on the bed, subframe and fuel tank straps at higher mileages, and unwanted or erratic acceleration reported mostly on low-mileage trucks. Brake complaints cluster at low mileage too, with pedals that fade toward the floor and rotors that warp and cause vibration. Many complaints are filed years after purchase, so condition depends heavily on climate and how the truck was used.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended or erratic acceleration

   • 27 complaints (17%)
   • median 6,700 mi at 0.5 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2019

   Owners describe the engine revving to several thousand rpm on its own, sometimes while parked at startup and sometimes at very low speed, with brakes or the emergency brake needed to stop the truck. Others report hesitation when pulling away, surging when passing or on hills with cruise control set, and cruise control that does not release with a light brake tap. Dealers often could not duplicate the concern or found no trouble codes, and some repairs were performed under an accelerator pedal recall. Mostly reported on trucks under about 10,000 miles, though some complaints came in at 50,000 to 75,000 miles.

   Recall 10V017000Recall 09V388000

   What to check: Ask whether the accelerator pedal recalls were completed and whether floor mats are the correct retained type, then test the throttle response from a stop and check that cruise control cancels with a light brake tap.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have made a report on this before but it occurred again today 4/8/2010. I have a Toyota Tundra 2010 which accelerates on its own when I start it, up to 4500-5000 RPM's . It will rev up 3-4 times and then bog down and die, I then start it up again and it is like nothing ever happened. It has never occurred while the vehicle is moving always in park when I first start it up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10324626, filed 2010-04, 9,857 miles

   “Problem with cruise control not disengaging properly when tapping the brake. The brake must be pressed to the point of actual braking for the cruise control to disengage. There have been several times when while trying to disengage by pressing the brake the engine started to rev up as if I was also pressing the gas pedal. The most reliable was to disengage the cruise control is the control on the side of the steering wheel (main cruise control on my truck). Will be taking the truck to the dealer this week.”

   NHTSA complaint #10297307, filed 2009-12, 1,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal fading to the floor

   • 20 complaints (12%)
   • median 13,550 mi at 0.8 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2019

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking slowly to the floor while stopped at a light or while parked, and in some cases needing extra pressure or traveling to the floorboard without stopping the truck. Some complaints describe seized or stuck rear brakes, a burning smell, and vibration after braking. Several say the dealer called it normal operation or could not find a fault, while independent shops replaced calipers, rotors or pads. Reported across a wide range, from under 2,000 miles to about 150,000 miles, with many under 30,000 miles.

   What to check: Hold steady pressure on the pedal at a stop and see whether it creeps down, and have the rear calipers, slide brackets and rotors checked for sticking or heat marks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving after braking the truck the vehicle developed a severe vibration throughout the truck. It felt like a loose wheel. After having it to the dealer on two occasions I discovered that the rear brakes had become somewhat frozen in the brake shoe bracket. The pad bracket is made from a metal that road salt blisters and it becomes very rough not letting the brake particularly the inner pad to retract. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10744867, filed 2015-07, 9,400 miles

   “2010 Toyota Tundra crewmax, current mileage 16,752. For the last month or so while the vehicle is stopped, waiting for a light etc. With my foot on the brake pedal, the pedal will slowly go all the way down to the mat. The vehicle still remains braked, even when the pedal is all the way down. Release of the pedal and immediate reapplication of the brakes results in an initial normal pedal, followed by the pedal slowly going to the floor. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10346955, filed 2010-08, 15,500 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Broken rear leaf springs

   • 16 complaints (10%)
   • median 95,557 mi at 8.7 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2022

   Owners describe a rattle or abnormal noise from the rear, then find a leaf in the rear spring pack cracked or separated, sometimes with the broken piece resting against the tire or rim. Several say the truck sat low or became undrivable, and a few note that new spring assemblies were expensive and hard to get. Most report no heavy towing or impact beforehand; one notes a dealer quote for a replacement assembly. Mostly reported between roughly 68,000 and 150,000 miles, with a few earlier.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the rear leaf spring packs for cracks, missing leaves or rust, and look for rubbing marks on the inside of the rear tires. A service bulletin describes new parking brake plate parts for a rear rubbing or grinding noise on turns.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “One of the leafs in the rear passenger side leaf spring broke and slid against the tire rim while driving on a city street. The piece of leaf spring could have jammed in my rim and caused an accident or damage or fallen off causing a problem for drivers following me. I have spoken to several other Toyota Tundra owners and they have had the same problem with cracked / broken rear leaf springs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11044843, filed 2017-11, 68,000 miles

   “I noticed a rattling coming from the rear end of the vehicle while driving. I stopped to investigate and found a broken leaf spring rubbing against the rear passenger side tire. There was damage to the inside of the tire. Had I been on the highway it may have cause the tire to pop. There are multiple posts detailing the same break of the leaf spring and the resulting tire damage on the internet.”

   NHTSA complaint #11155906, filed 2018-12, 133,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Bed, frame and underbody rust

   • 21 complaints (13%)
   • median 79,338 mi at 7.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe rust starting where bed cross members meet the frame, bubbles and holes in the bed and tailgate, and corrosion on the subframe that inspectors described as cracked or holed. Some owners also report rusted-through fuel tank straps and a rusted rear axle housing. According to complaints, dealers and the manufacturer generally declined assistance, and one owner was told the truck was outside an extended coverage program. Typically reported from about 70,000 miles upward, often on trucks in rust-belt or coastal use.

   What to check: Look underneath at the bed cross members, frame rails, subframe, fuel tank straps and rear axle housing for flaking or holes, and check the tailgate lip for paint bubbling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this truck new. It has 70,000 miles. The bed and bumpers have extensive rust holes, completely through. Last year, the gas tank fell out while driving due to rusted through fuel tank straps. Now, the rear axle has started leaking due to a rusted out rear axle housing.I am a 64 yr old vet and afraid to drive the truck. If I fill up the rear axle it will get on the road and tires I have called and emailed Toyota and they told me to fix it at my expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #11385234, filed 2020-12, 70,000 miles

   “The truck tailgate was noticed to have paint bubbling toward the bottom on the tailgate. Further inspection shows moderate rust on the inner lip of the bottom of the tailgate where two panels come together, and is noticable when it is in a lowered position. After calling Toyota corporate national customer service line and notifying them of the issue, I was asked if rust was on the frame. Further more, I was told there is no program they have to help with such an issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10773833, filed 2015-09, 79,338 miles

Buying note. Check the underside for rust and the rear springs for cracks before buying, since those account for many of the reports here and are costly to repair. Ask for proof that the accelerator pedal recalls were completed, and test the brakes and driveline carefully, preferably with an independent inspection.

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.