2025 Toyota Tundra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a delay or hesitation when accelerating from a stop — pressing the gas and waiting a second or more before the truck moves — with many saying it happens at intersections and includes the hybrid version. Complaints also cover unintended or delayed braking, intermittent lane-keeping behavior, and a smaller but notable group reporting engine stalling or seizure, oil leaks, and reverse-camera failures. Most reports arrive at very low mileage, often within the first few thousand miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Throttle lag or hesitation pulling away from a stop

   • 63 complaints (45%)
   • median 2,700 mi at 1.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe pressing the accelerator from a stop or rolling stop and waiting one to three seconds before the truck responds, sometimes with the pedal fully down and the engine revving without the vehicle moving. Several say it happens when turning across traffic or merging and that they had to lift and reapply the pedal to get moving. Complaints report dealers saying the concern could not be duplicated or that it is normal for these trucks, and one owner points to a service bulletin on hesitation that did not cover their year. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand up to about 17,000 miles, and often appears at stop signs, traffic lights and turns into moving traffic.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, try several gentle pull-aways from a stop and a rolling stop, including a turn into faster traffic, and see whether the truck moves immediately. Ask the dealer whether any transmission or throttle software updates have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Continue getting a 1-2 second delay when accelerating from a dead stop after pushing on gas pedal with normal acceleration- not just an “lead foot” acceleration trying to quickly clear my intersection & merge into traffic. Happens when engine is at normal operating system or just pulling out of my neighborhood onto a 45mph road on a normal temp day.”

   NHTSA complaint #11711326, filed 2026-01

   “Making a right turn from a stop. I pressed the accelerator and the vehicle barely moved. Cars were coming in my direction and I had to move. I let off the accelerator quickly pressed the accelerator again. The vehicle did start moving at normal rate. This first attempt was very concerning and almost caused me to get in an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11701530, filed 2025-11
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Rear camera or reverse lights not working

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • median 22,498 mi at 1.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Complaints describe the rearview image not displaying when reverse is selected, including one owner who saw a solid pink screen, and others reporting brake lights or backup lights that stopped working. Several owners mention receiving recall notices for these items and being told the parts were not yet available at the dealer. Reported from a few dozen miles up to about 23,000 miles; some complaints were about the recall notice itself rather than a failure.

   Recall 26V038000Recall 25V657000Recall 25V322000

   What to check: Shift into reverse and confirm the camera image appears clearly, and have someone watch the brake and reverse lights while you operate the pedal. Ask whether recalls 26V038000, 25V657000 and 25V322000 have been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Cherokee County Toyota sold me a truck that has consistently had recalls. Brake lights not working, back up camera not working, media console not working, evaportating coolant. I took it to Cherokee County Toyota several times with zero issues resolved. I then left them a negative review on google due to their lack of professionalism and honesty. They then sent me a text stating they refused to fix any of the safety recalls at their dealership due to the negative google review that they fully deserved. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11705256, filed 2025-12

   “The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rearview camera displayed a solid pink image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 22,498.”

   NHTSA complaint #11742736, filed 2026-06, 22,498 miles
3. 3
   Forward collision avoidance

   Braking that activates or holds without the pedal

   • 5 complaints (4%)
   • median 2,000 mi at 1.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Complaints describe the brakes applying on their own or the truck refusing to move when the gas is pressed, sometimes with a brake warning appearing. One owner says the pedal had to travel far down before the brake lights came on; another describes a hard stop that threw occupants forward. Dealers contacted about these events generally reported no fault found or that the vehicle operated as designed. Reported at low mileage, from a few hundred to a few thousand miles, and generally in slow-speed traffic or approaching intersections.

   What to check: Ask whether any brake or driver-assist related updates have been performed, and check during a test drive that the brake lights come on with light pedal pressure.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   ““I own a 2025 Toyota Tundra Platinum. The brake lights do not activate until the brake pedal is nearly halfway depressed. This is a safety defect because drivers behind me are not warned when I’m slowing or braking early. My dealership said ‘that’s the way it is’, but I believe this violates safety standards and puts me at risk. I want this documented and escalated for inspection and repair.””

   NHTSA complaint #11699566, filed 2025-11

   “While driving approximately 10–15 mph approaching a green light, a truck in front of me suddenly slammed on its brakes. As soon as I saw the brake lights I immediately applied my brakes before any system alert activated. I stopped within approximately 3–5 feet of the vehicle in front of me. At the same time, a truck behind me was approaching quickly. To avoid being rear-ended I pressed the accelerator to move out of the way. However my vehicle would not respond. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11735032, filed 2026-05
4. 4
   Steering

   Lane-keeping assist steering the truck out of its lane

   • 9 complaints (6%)
   • median 5,800 mi at 0.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners report the lane-keeping system steering the truck toward the lane edge, into a turning lane, or off the road, including one case where it pulled the vehicle into a ditch during a swerve. Others say the system fails to intervene when the truck drifts over a line. According to complaints, dealers ran alignments or replaced parts in some cases and told owners in others that the system was working as intended. Complaints span roughly 3,000 to 5,800 miles and typically involve higher-speed highway or main-road driving with cruise control or lane assist engaged.

   What to check: During a test drive on a straight road, engage lane assist and cruise control and note whether the truck tracks smoothly or pulls toward a lane edge. Have the alignment checked before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When using the cruise control and lane keeping system the truck will jerk into oncoming traffic and try to swerve off to turning lanes. I took it to Toyota and they couldn't find any problem. no warning lights or any indication of a problem shows on the dash. At this point the system is unusable. I have seen many post of similar incidents on the internet.”

   NHTSA complaint #11766396, filed 2026-09

   “The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the Lane Keep Assist feature activated, the vehicle steered to the right, leaving the lane, and entering oncoming traffic. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the radiator and adjusted the alignment, but the failure persisted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11671887, filed 2025-07, 3,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Engine stall, seizure or overheating

   • 12 complaints (9%)
   • median 34,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   A few owners describe engines locking up completely at highway speed with no power and being towed to a dealer, and another describes an overheating warning with smoke after an engine malfunction message. One complaint links the seizure to machining debris reaching the bearings; another owner reports an oil leak traced to a gasket. In most cases the vehicle was left awaiting diagnosis or repair under warranty. Reported at a range of mileages, from several thousand up to roughly 34,000 miles, sometimes on the highway and sometimes shortly after a cold start.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for fresh leaks or drips under the engine and transmission, and ask for the service history for any engine-related repairs or software updates.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My truck showed “Hybrid Engine Malfunction contact dealer” upon start up, then “Reduced Engine Performance Check Engine” warnings. I was not warned that I should not drive at all so I took my son to school. As I was driving home up a hill around 35 mph the temperature gauge began to climb fast towards the upper limit. At the upper red limit the car warned “Engine Overheating Stop Immediately” and I pulled over. The engine began smoking as I pulled over. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11772333, filed 2026-10

   “My truck engine seized at highway speeds on 4/29/2026. Machining debris seized to the engine’s bearings causing oil to dump from the engine and the engine to completely seize. This is the same issue that NHSTA forced Toyota to issue a recall on 2022-2024 Toyota Tundras.”

   NHTSA complaint #11737181, filed 2026-05

Buying note. Check that all open recalls have been performed before purchase, and spend time on a test drive doing repeated stop-and-go pull-aways to see whether the hesitation owners describe is present. Ask the dealer for the vehicle's service history, particularly for engine, transmission or software updates.

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.