10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
82,464 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Toyota Tundra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #141

Mar 182024

Tundra

  • miles
The warranty work done on the frame of my Tundra that has since failed. The Bracket holding my SwayBar has broken off the frame and, more importantly, the frame has rusted to the point where there is now a hole in it. These are areas where the warranty work occurred.

- Sheboygan, WI, USA

problem #140

Dec 212023

Tundra

  • miles
I took my truck to a garage for simple tire repair. I had a slow leak. In the process of trying to lift my truck, the technician hear 'crumbling sounds'. They stopped the lift immediately. Upon looking at the my chassis frame, the technicians saw major rust damage. One technician used flashlight to tap against the frame and he poked through it. The technician stated that this was not the first time seeing this problem on this truck model style. I contacted a local dealership. The individual I spoke with at the dealership also confirm rusting issues on the frame of my truck style model. I researched this on the internet to find out multiple complaints concerning the premature rusting of these frames due to poor quality steel and inadequate rust prevention coating. I reached out to my vehicle manufacture "care line". They stated they could not help me. My fear is my frame could break while driving and cause a vehicle accident. The worst frame damage is near the front wheels, both sides. The body, engine, transmission and all other safety components are solid and working well. Side Note: My dad owns a 1992 full size pickup truck (different manufacture). The frame is still solid. My truck is 10 years newer and the frame is falling apart due to manufacture using poor quality steel.

- Goshen, IN, USA

problem #139

Jan 152024

Tundra

  • miles
2004 Toyota Tundra-??s Frame is abnormally rusted. The paint and the mechanical function of the vehicle is pristine however the frame has corroded and rusted egregiously. There was a class action suit a few years back but they failed to notify me of the open recall to replace and even on file there was never any pending notice of such recall for my vehicle although it qualified and I have been the only owner of the vehicle.

- Revere, MA, USA

problem #138

Oct 162023

Tundra

  • miles
Noise in front end. Inspection reveals rust holes on the frame rail near the sway bar bracket. Multiple areas rusted through.

- Morganton, NC, USA

problem #137

Jul 102023

Tundra

  • miles
Informed by Al Serra at 4200 Bay Rd in Saginaw, MI 48603 that there are holes present in the frame that pose a dire safety concern. This is a known issue with this model year, but Toyota says the recall is no longer valid.

- Cass City, MI, USA

problem #136

Jan 012023

Tundra

  • miles
Frame is rotting for some reason and I take care of my vehicle. At some point in time it will be very dangerous to drive.

- New Britain , CT, USA

problem #135

Jan 012023

Tundra

  • miles
Frame is rotting for some reason and I take care of my vehicle. At some point in time it will be very dangerous to drive.

- New Britain , CT, USA

problem #134

Jan 172023

Tundra

  • miles
When I was driving, the mount for the brake line dropped and twisted and damaged the steering rod. I drove straight to a mechanic, and he showed me that the frame was rusted out completely, and the truck is not safe to drive.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #133

Jan 022023

Tundra

  • miles
I have severe frame rot, holes forming in the frame!

- Rochester, NH, USA

problem #132

Jul 262022

Tundra

  • miles
Purchased new Toyota Tundra in 2004. Performed rust recall at dealer on 07/22/15. October 2016, brakes failed. Brake line completely rusted. July 26, 2021, Toyota Tundra rejected at state inspection for badly rusted frame. Inspectors were unable to get wheel off to inspect brakes because of rust damage. Took to Toyota dealer on March 9, 2022. They performed airbag recall. Unable to do front suspension lower ball joints recall. Dealer said frame could break when they put it on lift. Dealer said Timeframe to repair frame had expired. Estimate to fix frame over $15,000; Plus would need a lot more parts to go with replacement. Vehicle has approximately 68,500 miles on it.

- Buena Vista, VA, USA

problem #131

Aug 192022

Tundra

  • miles
I inherited my father-€™s Tundra which now only has 95,000 and almost flawless body. As part of the recall for Tundra frames, I took it to the dealer and they wanted nothing to do with the frame replacement and only put on undercoating. This has made it worse. On my last inspection (May) I was told that this truck frame is failing and I won-€™t be passing another inspection. I called a different dealer in the area and they said they cannot replace the frame now because of the other dealer-€™s coating. Would it be possible to have Toyota still replace the frame because it-€™s a safety issue? There is no reason to scrap the truck seeing as the rest of it is fine. Please advise and thank you for reading this!

- Whitesboro, NY, USA

problem #130

Jun 012022

Tundra

  • miles
I had my truck inspected for the frame recall a few years ago. My current mechanic says the frame should not look as bad as it does for the 125k miles it has on it. They have concerns that using a lift on it will damage the frame. This could make it nearly impossible to remove/change the tires. I look at other trucks from ford/Dodge/GM near the same age and I do not see anything similar on the frames. More of a surface rust then flake. The body and engine look great. Suspect while everything looks good the frame will be unable to perform as designed. I have reached out to Toyota and they want me to contact local dealer. I am concerned as recently a brake line failed and I am not sure if this will cascade into a large repair bill due to rusted components.

- Muscatine, IA, USA

problem #129

Apr 112022

Tundra

  • miles
The frame on my newly purchased 2004 Toyota Tundra is rotted through. The consumer protections Toyota claims to have taken to correct this, in this instance, the application of water seal to the frame in 2014 has trapped moisture and caused extensive corrosion rendering the vehicle unsafe. I have visited multiple Toyota locations received the same message. Toyota claims no responsibility for this course of events leaving consumers in my position with no recourse and with an unsafe vehicle we cannot use and in my case have spent almost eleven thousand dollars on. Where is the responsibility to consumer safety?

- Limerick , ME, USA

problem #128

Feb 152019

Tundra

  • 175,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated the sub-frame of the vehicle was corroded. The contact also stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V741000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the frame was cracked in the process of completing the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000.

- Anderson, SC, USA

problem #127

Oct 182021

Tundra

  • miles
Brought vehicle in for service and frame is completely rusted through in critical areas where suspension and body mounts are supposed to be mounted. The car is not road worthy and unsafe to drive. I came to understand that there was a recall for these truck frame, however my frame was never replaced. My frame was never treated for rust. This truck has always been maintained and serviced at a Toyota dealership. Now I'm told their is nothing they can do.

- Blue Mounds, WI, USA

problem #126

Sep 012021

Tundra

  • miles
The frame of my 2004 Toyota tundra sr5 has a big rutted hole on the bottom of the frame, right under the driver's door side. the hole is about 1.5 ft long and 1 inch with. now I feel unsafe doing anything on the truck since I don't know how big the problem is. these problems Affect brakes, suspension, etc, I see many tundra owners complaining about this problem. I don't know when the previous owner got the truck sprayed at the dealer but it didn't work. I'm very disappointed since it's a nice truck, Toyota should take action on this matter, it is very unsafe for many people on the road. Toyota needs to find a resolution.

- Pennsauken, NJ, USA

problem #125

Apr 102014

Tundra

  • miles
I'm the second owner of this 2004 Toyota truck, my father was the first. This truck has been babied since my dad drove it off the lot. Everything is in superior condition except for the frame, it has almost completely rusted off. My dad passed away and this is all I have of his. Back in 2014, it was sprayed with a rust prevention as part as the Toyota campaign which did nothing besides cover the already existing rust and increase the breakdown of the frame. Google is filled with hundreds of people saying the same thing and I don't understand how Toyota is getting away with this.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #124

Aug 212021

Tundra

  • miles
2004 Toyota Tundra frame Rusted out should have been changed years ago. Toyota of stamford covered it up says my truck is unsafe to drive. Toyota wont help me please help. Ive tried everything. Little guy like me cant take on Toyota. Toyota will win everytime

- Norwalk, CT, USA

problem #123

Jul 162021

Tundra

  • 184,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for an unknown repair, the contact was informed that the sub-frame underneath the vehicle was severely corroded. The dealer stated that it was too dangerous to go underneath the vehicle to complete the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 184,000.

- Newfield, NJ, USA

problem #122

Jan 112021

Tundra

  • 156,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle for state inspection, he was informed that the undercarriage and subframe was corroded and that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The contact drove the vehicle to fowler Toyota of tulsa (6868 East broken arrow, frontage road, tulsa, ok 74145) to be inspected. The mechanic confirmed the extreme rust condition and stated that the vehicle was not safe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000.

- Columbia, MO, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »