2008 Toyota Tundra: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2008 Toyota Tundra
On the 2008 Toyota Tundra, the failure owners report most often is other speed control problem, and the reports cluster around 27,500 miles. The earliest to appear is other suspension problem, reported by a median of 400 miles. Overall it scores 71 out of 100, high risk for a 2008.
High risk for a 2008 — 88th riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. 460 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 60 named failure modes on the 2008 Toyota Tundra, and the three most-reported carry 33% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other speed control problem leads with 58 reports, about 0.5 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 9k to 40,000 miles.
Other engine problem follows with 49 reports, usually reported between 59k to 122,500 miles.
Other body or interior problem follows with 43 reports, usually reported between 2k to 70,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
By system, the reports fall mostly into adas (80), body (65) and engine (54).
The mileage the reports cluster at
366 of the reports on the 2008 Toyota Tundra came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 48,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 52% by 50,000 miles, 77% by 100,000 miles and 91% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 5 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 19% of the dated reports.
41% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
In the order they tend to show up: other suspension problem around 354, cruise control failure around 12k, wiring harness or short circuit around 21k and other speed control problem around 28k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 60. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 5 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 28 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 7 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.28, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other speed control problem at $250–$2,000, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000 and other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
22% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other speed control problem | adas | 58 | 51 | 9k | 28k | 41k | 0.5 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 49 | 42 | 59k | 100k | 123k | 0.4 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 43 | 30 | 2k | 37k | 70k | 0.4 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 31 | 27 | 18k | 58k | 87k | 0.3 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 23 | 17 | 41k | 58k | 97k | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 23 | 18 | 106 | 354 | 3k | 0.2 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 15 | 9 | 12k | 12k | 180k | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 14 | 14 | 22k | 57k | 95k | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 12 | 8 | 73k | 76k | 171k | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Rust or structural corrosion | body | 12 | 8 | 31k | 88k | 109k | 0.1 | $500–$6,000 | High |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 11 | 9 | 9k | 21k | 23k | 0.1 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 11 | 4 | — | 23k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 10 | 8 | 34k | 49k | 85k | 0.1 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 7 | 3 | — | 21k | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 7 | 4 | — | 14k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 7 | 6 | — | 93k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 6 | 5 | — | 3k | — | 0.1 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 6 | 6 | — | 154k | — | 0.1 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 6 | 6 | — | 9k | — | 0.1 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 6 | 5 | — | 115k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Blower motor or climate control failure | hvac | 5 | 5 | — | 5k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 4 | 3 | — | 195k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 79k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 4 | 2 | — | 155k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 4 | 3 | — | 128k | — | 0.0 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 4 | 3 | — | 38k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Water pump failure | cooling | 3 | 3 | — | 122k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,200 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 3 | 3 | — | 100 | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 50k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 3 | 3 | — | 13k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Paint peeling or clear coat failure | body | 3 | 3 | — | 76k | — | 0.0 | $600–$6,000 | Low |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 3 | 3 | — | 57k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 9k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 2 | 2 | — | 121k | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 2 | 2 | — | 75k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 34k | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 2 | 2 | — | 15k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 2 | 2 | — | 37k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 174k | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 48k | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 2 | 2 | — | 54k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 2 | 2 | — | 24k | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 2 | 1 | — | 154k | — | 0.0 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| Excessive oil consumption | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $900–$6,500 | High |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 69k | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Piston, ring or cylinder wall damage | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 25k | — | 0.0 | $3,000–$9,500 | Critical |
| Transmission slipping | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 5k | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$5,500 | High |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 28k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Alternator or charging system failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 160k | — | 0.0 | $450–$1,600 | High |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 1 | 1 | — | 28k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 130k | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 181k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Tire pressure monitor failure | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 31k | — | 0.0 | $80–$600 | Low |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 1 | — | 186k | — | 0.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Seat, track or recliner failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 77k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Air conditioning failure | hvac | 1 | 1 | — | 122k | — | 0.0 | $400–$2,800 | Moderate |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 45k | — | 0.0 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 62k | — | 0.0 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 55k | — | 0.0 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 21 | 12 | 53k | 89k | 152k | 0.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2008 Toyota Tundra draws about 4.0 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 81st percentile of complaint rates among 2008 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 113,975 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2008 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other speed control problem
Throttle control, 2008 toyota tundra with 5.7 l engine. Electronic "fly by wire" design has delays in advancing throttle on motor. Several complaints on tundra blogs about this as well. Could be dangerous when making u turns or in blind areas as there is a hesitation in the engine response. I asked dealer about adjusting and was told that unit was not adjustable. I have my vehicle in the shop now for a replacement of this unit. *tr
Was returning home via the interstate from fl; we exited to refuel. I filled the truck up at a shell station as we were leaving the pumps I started my tundra placed my foot on the brake to place it into gear and suddenly without warning after placing the vehicle into drive it took off just like I had press the accelerator it although I had not even placed my foot on the gas pedal. I immediately depressed the brake as forcefully as I could the vehicle kept accelerating; I placed the vehicle into neutral with the engine still revving like the gas pedal was still being depressed. I then turned off the key. This was the first and only time I had experienced any such problem since purchasing this vehicle. So far nothing has been done to the vehicle in relation to this problem. *tr
Other engine problem
Vehicle's engine failure do to very poor design and engineering by toyota on oil filter cap assembly #1562038010, toyota tundre 2007/2009 model with v8 -c- 5.7engine. The pertorated steel center tube will come off in the old oil filter and will fail by collapsing in fairly short order and total engine failure. $22,000 to 30,000 for new engine. *tr
The problem with my tundra concerns the engine. Three times since march 2009 the check engine light has come on. Each time I have taken it to the dealer and they agree there is a problem however, the problem is intermittent and they can't duplicate the problem. The problem according to the dealer is a sticking valve in the engine component. The one time I did get it to the toyota dealer in south dakota, when the problem was still occurring, I was told they didn't have the part so they couldn't fix it. When this problem occurs, the engine on occasion has hesitated and almost caused an accident. This was explained both to the dealer and the 'consumer rep.' (compliant 0911112241). I was told by the consumer rep. Not to worry, if there was an accident the problem was documented. I was also told their tech rep was working on the problem and would call me back. That was seven days ago and counting. In summary, the toyota warranty appears to have very limited valve, the consumer rep. Is window dressing, and your safety is optional. *tr
Other body or interior problem
After about 45 days I started noticing scratches all over my truck. It had never been off road and had only been hand washed by the dealership. Toyota corp. And the dealership were of absolutely no help. Yesterday I bumped(and I mean barely bumped) the hood with the water hose while washing it, and it took the paint off all the way down to the metal! Unbelievable! A $40,000 truck that is ruined! I will have to invest thousands of dollars for a new paint job. *tr
I have owned my 2008 toyota tundra for 6 weeks now and love my truck!! The only problem is with the factory paint job. The paint on this vehicle scratches far too easy. If a hose rubs on it, or if someone's jacket rubs along the vehicle, it will scratch all the way down to the metal! I understand that this is a pickup truck, but toyota should stand behind the quality of their work. *tr
Recalls on the 2008 model year
NHTSA has issued 13 recall campaigns covering the 2008 Toyota Tundra, affecting an estimated 319,749 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover steering:hydraulic power assist system, steering:rack and pinion and seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
151 vehicles 2021-12-23- Defect
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.
- Consequence
- An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
22,462 vehicles 2021-11-23- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
7,749 vehicles 2016-06-02- Defect
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- Consequence
- If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
3,233 vehicles 2014-11-19- Defect
- Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.
- Consequence
- Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
- Remedy
- SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
7,525 vehicles 2013-04-09- Defect
- Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of…
- Consequence
- An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.
- Remedy
- Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2,519,424 vehicles 2012-10-10- Defect
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.
- Consequence
- If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify its owners, and dealers will inspect the switch and apply a special grease that inhibits heat build up or replace any switch damaged by the defect, free of charge. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. General Motors will contact the Pontiac Vibe owners affected by this recall and GM dealers will inspect and repair switches as necessary. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
1,629 vehicles 2011-05-12- Defect
- Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 tundra vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 138, "tire pressure monitoring systems." the TPMS on some vehicles may not have been properly calibrated and as a result the low tire pressure warning lamp may not illuminate should the inflation pressure in one or more of the vehicle's tires fall below the threshold for when the low tire pressure warning lamp should illuminate.
- Consequence
- Drivers will not receive a warning from the tire pressure monitor that one or more tires are underinflated, increasing the risk that the vehicle will be driven with one or more underinflated tires, increasing the risk of a tire failure that may lead to a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will recalibrate the tire pressure monitoring system in accordance with the regulation free of charge. The safety recall began during july 2011. Owners may contact southeast toyota customer assistance center toll free at 1-800-301-6859, monday through friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, eastern standard time.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
22,000 vehicles 2011-03-04- Defect
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 fj cruiser, land cruiser, tacoma, sequoia and tundra vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 138, "tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)." when factory-installed wheels and tires were replaced with toyota authorized accessory wheels and lt tires prior to first sale, the tire pressure monitoring systems were not re-calibrated correctly and therefore do not start illuminating the low tire pressure warning telltale at the required minimum activation pressure.
- Consequence
- Failure to warn of tire deflations is a non-compliance with fmvss 138 and could lead to tire failure increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- For the land cruiser, sequoia, tacoma and tundra vehicles, the dealer will re-calibrate the tire pressure monitoring system on affected vehicles and install an updated tire and loading information label at no charge. For the fj cruiser vehicles, the TPMS cannot be reset so the electronic control unit (ecu) for the TPMS will be replaced. Toyota is currently developing the remedy ecu. If an owner is not certain whether his or her vehicle is equipped with these accessories, please contact any toyota dealer for an inspection at no charge. The safety recall began on march 31…
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
271,417 vehicles 2010-02-03- Defect
- Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
- Consequence
- This does not meet the standard requirements.
- Remedy
- Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
153,418 vehicles 2010-02-03- Defect
- Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
- Consequence
- A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2,230,661 vehicles 2010-01-21- Defect
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 avalon, model year 2007-2010 camry, model year 2009-2010 corolla, corolla matrix, rav4, model year 2010 highlander, model year 2008-2010 sequoia, and model year 2007-2010 tundra vehicles. Due to the manner in which the friction lever interacts with the sliding surface of the accelerator pedal inside the pedal sensor assembly, the sliding surface of the lever may become smooth during vehicle operation. In this condition, if condensation occurs on the surface, as may occur from heater operation (without A/C) when the pedal…
- Consequence
- The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal which will allow the pedal to operate smoothly. Gm will notify owners for the pontiac vibe please see 10v-018. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on february 5, 2010 and will be completed on march 15, 2010. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
4,445,056 vehicles 2009-10-05- Defect
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
- Consequence
- A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous…
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2008 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2008 — 88th riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 27 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2014 comes out best at 63 and 2026 worst at 79, with 2008 itself at 71.
If the model year is negotiable, 2014, 2021, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000 and 2002 score lower than 2008 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2003–2008 generation specifically, 2004 is the strongest year at 64 and 2007 the weakest at 72.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2003-2008 generation, 2004 Toyota Tundra scores best at 64 and 2007 Toyota Tundra worst at 72.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other suspension problem from about 106, other body or interior problem from about 2k, wiring harness or short circuit from about 9k and other speed control problem from about 9k.
On a 2008 Toyota Tundra with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other suspension problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
Where these figures stop being useful
460 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 460 reports, 366 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 80% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Tundra?
The most-reported failures are other speed control problem (58 reports, median 27,500 miles), other engine problem (49 reports, median 100,000 miles) and other body or interior problem (43 reports, median 37,500 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2008 Toyota Tundra problems start?
Other suspension problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 400 miles and a quarter of reports before 100 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 48,000 miles.
Is the 2008 Toyota Tundra reliable?
It scores 71 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 88th riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2008 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Toyota Tundra is best?
Within the 2003–2008 generation, 2004 scores best at 64 out of 100 and 2007 worst at 72. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed