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2005 Toyota Tundra Engine Problems

19 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

19
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Crashes
Jan 2015Dec 2015
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Engine Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #05V123000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BOTH VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC) AND THE TRD DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEMS. THE TRD DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM MET ALL CLEARANCE SPECIFICATIONS ON MODELS WITHOUT VSC, HOWEVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXHAUST LOCATED IN A POSITION WHERE CONTACT BETWEEN A BRAKE LINE FOUND ONLY ON VEHICLES WITH VSC AND THE TRD EXHAUST PIPE MIGHT OCCUR.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF SO EQUIPPED, WILL REPLACE THE TRD DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. DURING THIS REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER WILL ALSO INSPECT THE SPECIFIC BRAKE LINE TO ASSURE IT HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Owner Complaints (19)

criticalENGINE
Filed: Oct 2025

Your engine suddenly accelerates on its own multiple times even when you're pressing the brake and not touching the gas pedal. This is a serious safety concern that needs immediate investigation by a mechanic to check the throttle control system and engine management components.

NHTSA #: 11696186
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2019

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SECONDARY AIR INTAKE THIS WAS A RECALL IN 2007-10 YEARS BUT IS ALSO BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM IN EARLIER MODELS. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.

NHTSA #: 11192995
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Dec 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR INJECTOR PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA #: 10817173
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2015

TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED ITS WARRANTY FOR THE AIR INJECTION PUMP AND AIR SWITCHING VALVES ON 2007-2010 TUNDRAS. THE EXTENSION IS FOR 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES FROM FIRST USE. I HAVE A 2005 TUNDRA THAT HAS A FAILING AIR INJECTION SYSTEM. I AM WITHIN THE MILEAGE RANGE OF FIRST USE . THE TRUCK HAS THE SAME AIR INJECTION SYSTEM AS THE TUNDRAS WITHIN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION, BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY EXTENSION ON MY TRUCK. THIS IS A $4000 FIX AND THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE CURRENT STATE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10672044
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, AIR BEGAN LEAKING FROM THE AIR INJECTION SYSTEM AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIR INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA #: 10626298
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE EMISSION CONTROL FAILED AND THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT THE SECOND AIR INJECTION SYSTEM BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA #: 10619547
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2014

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRUCK LOST POWER. THE ENGINE REVVED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO GO, BUT HAD NO MORE FORWARD MOMENTUM. THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS 50MPH. HOOKED UP THE COMPUTER AND THE ERROR CODE READ THAT IT IS THE AIR SWITCHING VALVE. ERROR CODES P-1442, SWITCHING VALVES ARE STUCK CLOSED, #2 IN BANK 1 AND #2 IN BANK 2 OF THE SECONDARY AIR INSPECTION SYSTEM. SAME ISSUE ON 2007-10 TUNDRA AND WAS RECALLED DUE TO DEFECT. MY TRUCK HAS THE SAME ISSUE, HAS UNDER 150,000 MILES, AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IT IS NOT A RECALL AT THIS TIME AND IF THERE IS ONE IN THE FUTURE, THEY WILL REIMBURSE US OUR COSTS. DRIVING DOWN A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH 18 WHEELERS BEHIND YOU AND LOSING POWER, GOING 65-70MPH, IS GOING TO CAUSE A WRECK. I DON'T KNOW HOW TOYOTA WOULD REIMBURSE ME MY HUSBAND. *TR

NHTSA #: 10578543
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jan 2014

LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER. DEALER QUOTE $3,745 TO REPLACE PUMP/VALVE/DRIVER ASSEMBLIES. TOLD BY REPAIR SHOP SAME ISSUE AS TECHNICAL BULLETIN ADDRESSED ON 2007-2010 TUNDRAS POWER ISSUES. IF TRUE, SEEMS A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO REPAIR 2005 YEAR MODELS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10561714
mediumENGINE
Filed: Mar 2013

LOSS OF POWER DEALER SAID I NEED A SECONDARY SMOG PUMP AND CHECK VALVES AT A COST OF 2158.90 TRUCK HAS ONLY 38000 MILES FIND OUT IF MY INFO IS CORRECT SAME PROBLEM ON 2007 THRU 2010 AND TOYOTA DID EXTEND THERE WARRANTY. LOSS OF POWER A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10503311
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2012

DASH LIGHT "CHECK ENGINE" CAME ON AND WHEN THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS THIS EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM LISTED ABOVE ( SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM SWITCHING VALVE NO. 2 BANK 1 AND BANK 2) THAT WOULD COST OVER $3,000 I WENT ONLINE AND SAW MANY TUNDRAS AND SEQUOIAS WITH EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THE 2007 TO 2009 TUNDRAS WITH THE EXACT PART NUMBERS WERE WARRANTED FOR 10 YEARS, IT TELLS ME THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, SO WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *TR

NHTSA #: 10480174
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2012

2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR INDUCTION PUMP DESIGN FLAWS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC'S REPORT, THE SECOND AIR PUMP, SECONDARY AIR SWITCHING VALVE, BANK 1 AND BANK WERE REPLACED. THEY WERE ALL CLOGGED WITH INSULATION FOAM AND STUCK TO THE VALVE SEATS WHICH KEPT THE VALVES OPEN. THE SECONDARY AIR INLET WAS ALSO REPLACED, DUE TO THE HOSE BEING HARD BECAUSE OF THE HEAT UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO COOL PROPERLY. FURTHER RESEARCH ABOUT AIR INDUCTION PUMP DESIGN FLAWS ON TOYOTA VEHICLE REVEALED A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM AFFECTING TUNDRA'S UP UNTIL THE 2010 MODEL.

NHTSA #: 10471045
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2011

MY 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA HAS A LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLD. ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE HARDWARE STORE MY NEW CO DETECTOR WENT OFF INDICATING CO IN THE CABIN. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR. *KB

NHTSA #: 10413921
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2011

AIR INDUCTION PUMP 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA PUMP FAILURE. DEFECTIVE DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10411512
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jan 2011

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER HAVING CODES READ, PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE AIR INDUCTION PUMP. THE ISSUE IS THAT WHEN THIS PUMP GOES OUT, IT PUTS THE ENGINE IN A "LIMP" MODE, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE ACCELERATION TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS DRIVERS DO NOT KNOW THAT THE "LIMP" MODE OCCURS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE REPLACEMENT PART COST OVER $1300. I WOULD THINK A PART OF THAT EXPENSE SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN A LITTLE OVER 50,000 MILES.

NHTSA #: 10380475
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Mar 2010

2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA EXPERIENCE ELECTRONIC FAILURE*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC FAILURE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS INJURIES. THE CONSUMER STATED ALL HE REMEMBERED WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY IN EVENING TRAFFIC WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, HIS VEHICLE RAMMED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED PRIOR TO THE COLLISION AND HE HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF BEING ABLE TO BRAKE. HE ALSO STATED THE ENGINE FAILED IN JUNE 2009. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SEAMS IN THE RADIATOR. APPARENTLY, IT BLEW OUT THE BOTTOM, WHICH CAUSED THE INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF THE RADIATOR FLUID. *JB

NHTSA #: 10318707
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Mar 2010

THE TRUCK WAS BRAND NEW AND ONLY HAD 4,500 MILES ON IT WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRUCK STARTED ACTING FUNNY. TOYOTA SAID THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX IT AND I WAS NEVER GIVEN A REPLACEMENT UNDER LEMON LAW WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAD JUST GOT THE TRUCK IN OCTOBER 2005 AND IN DECEMBER 2005 IT STARTED ACTING UP. I AM A TRAINED MECHANIC AND I KNOW THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A NEW VEHICLE. I WANT TOYOTA TO REFUND ME THE MONEY I PUT DOWN ON THE TRUCK, WHICH IS AROUND 8 GRAND. *TR

NHTSA #: 10318368
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Mar 2010

LONG DELAY BETWEEN DEPRESSING "DRIVE-BY-WIRE" GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE RESPONDING. MY 2005 TOYOTA TUNDRA HAS AN ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE CURRENT "SURGING" PEOPLE ARE SEEING IN OTHER TOYOTAS. THIS IS A 100% SOFTWARE PROBLEM (I AM A ELECTRONIC ENGINEER). DESCRIPTION: WHEN THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE, OR EVEN WORSE, WHEN YOU ARE DECELERATING AT IDLE POWER, AND YOU INCREASE THE THROTTLE POSITION OF THE GAS PEDAL, THERE IS A NEARLY 1-SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS TO THE THROTTLE INPUT. IF THE DRIVER, NOT SENSING ANY RESPONSE TO THROTTLE, APPLIES MORE AND MORE THROTTLE DURING THAT ONE SECOND DELAY, WHEN THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE FINALLY DOES RESPOND IT WILL IMMEDIATELY GO TO THE HIGHEST THROTTLE SETTING THE DRIVER WAS SELECTING, CAUSING A HUGE LURCHING FORWARD ACTION OF THE VEHICLE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE DRIVER APPLIED THROTTLE IN THIS FASHION: 0SEC=5% THROTTLE; 0.25SEC=10% THROTTLE; 0.5 SEC=20% THROTTLE; 0.75SEC=35% THROTTLE; 1.0SEC=50% THROTTLE. THE ENGINE'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE WILL RESPOND LIKE THIS: 0SEC=0% THROTTLE; 0.25SEC=0% THROTTLE; 0.5 SEC=0% THROTTLE; 0.75SEC=0% THROTTLE; 1.0SEC=50% THROTTLE. CAUSING THE HUGE LURCH AT 1.0 SECOND. THIS HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHILE CHANGING LANES DURING STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF I AM RUNNING AT PARTIAL POWER/THROTTLE, THIS BEHAVIOR DOES NOT HAPPEN, AND THE GAS PEDAL RESPONSE IS PROPER. ONLY FROM IDLE OR DECELERATING. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO MY TOYOTA DEALER, TO WHICH THE SERVICE MANAGER FINALLY REPLIED TO ME "YOU THINK THE TUNDRA IS BAD... YOU SHOULD TRY DRIVING THE SIENNA! IT'S WORSE!" SO APPARENTLY THE FOLKS AT TOYOTA KNOW ABOUT THIS AND THINK IT'S FUNNY. I CAN DEMONSTRATE THIS DEFECT AT ANY TIME. I HAVE CHANGED MY DRIVING STYLE TO PROTECT ME FROM THE VEHICLE'S DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA #: 10316348
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Dec 2009

NOTICED LIQUID ON GROUND UNDERNEATH ENGINE AFTER DRIVING. OPENED HOOD TO DISCOVER ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT DRIPPING FROM OVERFLOW RESERVOIR WHICH WAS FULL. COOLANT WAS EXTREMELY DARK BROWN IN COLOR. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO COMPLETED FLUSH, REPLACED SENSOR, AND FAULTY RADIATOR CAP (TORN GASKET). *TR

NHTSA #: 10294770
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jun 2005

DT: WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED COLD IT IDLES VERY HIGH. WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE OR PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR IT ACCELERATES QUICKLY. NO ACCIDENTS REPORTED. ALSO, NO OTHER PROBLEMS. TAKEN TO DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THIS, DEALER STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL. IT SEEMED TWICE AS FAST AS A NORMAL VEHICLE IN IDLE. WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT THIS PROBLEM GOES AWAY. *AK *NM

NHTSA #: 10122206

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