Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Toyota Tundra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN I-95 SOUTH IN THE DC AREA WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AND DRIFT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. *TR
AT FIRST SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO GEAR WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, AND IMPOSSIBLE A FEW TIMES. I HAD THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE LINKAGE THAT WAS DRIED OUT AND STICKING. TRANSMISSION IS SKIPPING 3RD GEAR SHIFT AND SLAMMING INTO OVERDRIVE WITH A NERVE RACKING BANG, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN ACCELERATING. TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *TR
ON THE DAY OF THE MALFUNCTION, I HAD STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. IN MY HOME TOWN, AFTER A 60 MILE TRIP TO RI. THE ENGINE DIED. REPEATEDLY 3 OR 4 TIMES WITH THE LEVER IN PARK, I WOULD START MY 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. ENGAGING THE LEVER, THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS NO GOOD. 72,110 REGISTERED ON ODOMETER. 4 WEEKS PREVIOUS TO THAT DATE, I HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE LEVER. DEALER INSPECTED SAID LEVER, COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THEY ADJUSTED LINKAGE AND LUBRICATED. NOW THEY TELL ME I NEED AN ENTIRELY NEW FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND THEY CHARGED ME 2/3 OF COST (I PAID APPROXIMATELY $2,000) BECAUSE THEY SAID I WAS A "GOOD CUSTOMER" AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY ACCORDING TO THEM. HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS MALFUNCTIONS WITH TRANSMISSIONS FOR NO REASON IN TUNDRAS AND SEQUOIAS USING THE SAME TRANS. AN OUTSIDE TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST (NOT TOYOTA) WHEN CONTACTED, TOLD ME THAT WHEN I HAD THE PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY WITH MY SHIFTING LEVER, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, B/C IT WAS NOT A LINKAGE PROBLEM BUT A TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION (PROBLEM FOR A FACT). I DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PART, THE TOYOTA DEALER KEPT IT. *TR
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR LEVER ARM ON MY 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA FELL OFF WHEN I TRIED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. I FOUND THAT THE METAL CONNECTION OF THE LEVER ARM HAD SHEARED OFF THE ASSEMBLY ON THE STEERING COLUMN. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN (I.E. WHEN SHIFTING INTO A LOWER GEAR ON A HILL) IT COULD HAVE HAD SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. *TR
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER SNAPPED SOMETHING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THIS FAILURE SEEMS TO BE SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM AS I HAVE FOUND MANY CASES OF THIS ON THE WEB. ONE OF THE MANY INSTANCES I FOUND SAYS THIS: THE CASTING DESIGN HAS A STRESS RISER IN IT ( A TAPPED HOLE) IN THE WORST PLACE POSSIBLE AS FAR AS STRESS IS CONCERNED!. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX! ESTIMATES COMING IN AT > $700.. I THINK TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL !! *TR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER FAILURE. LEVER FAILED AT THE BASE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THIS IS A PIECE OF CAST ALUMINUM BEING USED IN A HIGH USE SAFETY ROLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS DESIGN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED IN MY OPINION. I SEE AT LEAST ONE OTHER COMPLAINT FILED ON THE SAME MATTER. MY DEALER IS STILL DIAGNOSING THE ISSUE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WHILE ACCELERATING TO 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE LOCAL MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE, BUT BELIEVES IT MAY BE THE TRANSMISSION. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000.
ON 3/15/07 THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LEVER IN MY 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA SR5 BROKE OFF AS I SHIFTED IT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF MY TUNDRA'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LEVER APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF EITHER A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT OR AN ASSEMBLY ERROR SINCE FAILURES OF THIS TYPE ARE UNHEARD OF. NOTWITHSTANDING THE 101,904 MILES ON MY TUNDRA, COMPONENT FAILURES OF THIS TYPE SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN DURING NORMAL USAGE REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE MILEAGE. THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN EXPECTING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHOULD NEVER BREAK OFF. HAD THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED HAD I BEEN DOWNSHIFTING ON A STEEP INCLINE, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I HAVE SINCE PAID TO HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTER LEVER AND SHIFTER PIVOT FOR MY TUNDRA REPLACED BY A TOYOTA DEALER.
YES I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA THAT THE TRANSMISSION EXPLODED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING US TO GET WIPED OUT. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE TRANSMISSION GOING OUT EXCEPT A PARTS FAILURE. ITS OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO QUITE A FEW OF THE 2001 TUNDRAS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. *JB
DRIVING IN FAST LANE ON HWY, EVERY TIME I ACCELERATED THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE PROCEEDED TO GET LOUDER, STARTED MAKING MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER, GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND THEN FELT A "SNAP" WHEN I GOT TO THE SHOULDER. CALLED FOR A TOW AND SAT ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHERE TWO HIGHWAYS MERGE FOR 45 MIN. AT 8:00PM ON A SAT. NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A REALLY BAD RAIN STORM. VERY UNSAFE CONDITIONS! TOWED TRUCK TO A GARAGE, THEY RECOMMENDED A TRANSMISSION SHOP. HAD IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THE OD PLANETARY GEAR WAS BAD IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT HAD DESTROYED THE ENTIRE THING. MY TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT, $3000 LATER, + $300 CAR RENTAL, + ONE DAY OFF WORK. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE GRINDING NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
MY 2001 TUNDRA, V-6, SR5 ACCESS CAB TRUCK TURNED 105,000 MILES RECENTLY. MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD ONE DAY. I TOOK THE TRUCK AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AND IT SEEM TO GET BETTER FOR A WHILE, THEN THE OVERDRIVE BEGAN TO MAKE A ROAR WHEN IT WOULD ENGAGE. SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS 1-3 WORKS FINE, BUT WHEN OVERDRIVE KICKS IN, THE NOISE AND VIBRATIONS OCCUR. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS AND GOT THE SAME MESSAGE. THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA TRUCKS (TUNDRA/SEQUOIA) AROUND 100,000 MILES, WHERE THE OVERDRIVE SLIPS AND A BEARING MUST BE CHANGED IN THE TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING AN OVERHAUL.*JB
JUST LIKE ANOTHER CONSUMER LISTED I TOO HAD A FAILED TRANSMISSION. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS AROUND $3,100.00. A BARELY 4 YR OLD TRUCK SHOULD NOT HAVE LOST A TRANSMISSION ALREADY. WE OWN A 1970 MODEL CHEV P/U THAT HAS NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION. THE QUALITY OF TOYOTA HAS NOT STOOD UP TO THE COST OF THE "BETTER" MANUFACTURED VEHICLE. I AM TRULY DISAPOINTED IN THE QUALITY, ONE OF THE HANDLES IN THE BACK HAS STRIPPED OUT AND IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF, THE BACK DIRVER'S WINDOW LOCK HAS BROKEN AND FLOPS IN THE WIND WHEN THE WINDOW IS OPEN. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE VERY SAME BRAKE SHUTTER HAS OTHER CONSUMERS AND I JUST PAID FOR A $450.00 BRAKE JOB WITH NEW ROTORS AND PADS AND STILL HAVE THE SHUTTER. NOW AFTER READING THESE OTHER REPORTS I AM CONCERNED ABOUT RELIABILITY OF MY TRUCK.*AK
1. DRIVING IN TOWN TRAFFIC. WHILE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION WITH STOP SIGN. STARTED TO DRIVE THROUGH INTERSECTION AND HERD AND FELT CLUNKING AND GRINDING, INCLUDING JERKING OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT DRIVE. HAD TO GET OUT OF TRUCK AND PUSH BY HAND TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. CALLED AAA TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO VALLEY-HI TOYOTA. 2. DEALESHIP STATED THAT IT WOULD BE $78.00 TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION AND GIVE ME A REPAIR ESTIMATE. I RECEIVED A CALL 3 HOURS LATER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION BLEW UP AND IT WAS TOAST. I ASKED WHAT WAS DONE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND COULD NOT GET A CLEAR ANSWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT MY WARRANTY WAS UP AT 60,000 AND I HAD 67.000 MILES. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHAT WAS WRONG UNLESS THEY REMOVED THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD COST MORE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER OVERDRIVE PLANETARY GEAR ASSEMBLY HAD LITERALLY CAME APART. THIS RESULTED IN A TOTAL REBUILD OF TRANSMISSION, COSTING $2600.00 3. OVERDRIVE PLANETARY GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED. I HAVE DAMAGED PARTS, INCLUDING THE GEAR ASSEMBLY.*AK
I PURCHASED A TOYOTA TUNDRA BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN MY TRUCK TO ANY OTHER MECHANIC SHOP FOR SERVICE. I AM DILIGENT IN KEEPING UP MY MAINTENANCE SERVICE AND DO SO ONLY AT THE PLACE OF PURCHASE. AT AROUND 24K MILES, TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. IT WAS REPLACED AND COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 84K MILES, TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT AGAIN. I TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND FOR REPAIR. I ASKED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND IT WAS TOLD TO ME "I DON'T HAVE ANSWER...I WISH I COULD TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON". WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, THEREFORE I ENDED UP SPENDING $3,000 TO HAVE IT REPLACED.
MY 2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA HAS 71,000 MILES AND I AND HAVING TRANSMISSIN PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT AN AAMCO AND NEEDS A FULL TRANSMISSION REBUILT. I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS A REACCURING PROBLEM FROM OTHER TOYOTA CUSTOMERS. I ASLO KNOW OF TWO OHERS WITH THE SAMES RELATED ISSUES. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONCE. SINCERLEY, FIDEL DELGADO. *AK
2001 TOYOTA TUNDRA BRAKES SHAKE EXCESSIVELY EVEN AFTER REPLACING THEM WITH NEW ONES. TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD THUMP WHEN GOING INTO OVERDRIVE. *LA
THE GEAR SELECTOR FAILS WHEN TRYING TO MOVE THE SELECTOR FROM PARK TO REVERSE TO DRIVE. ALSO FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE TO PARK. THE PROBLEM HAS DEGRADED TO THE POINT THAT ALL I HAVE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME IS NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE CABLE THAT RUNS FROM THE COLUMN SELECTOR TO THE TRANSMISSION IS KINKED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CABLE IS SPECIAL ORDER WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT EXPECT THIS PART TO FAIL. THE CABLE IS $150.+ AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL IS $350.+ ON THREE OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ONTO PA RT 24 AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS HAD TO STOP WHILE I TRIED TO MOVE THE SELECTOR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. MY POSITION IS THAT THIS CABLE WAS EITHER MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY WHICH CAUSED THE KINKING OR WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING ASSEMBLY. THE TRUCK IS NOT USED COMMERCIALLY AND HAS NOT BEEN SUBJECTED TO HARSH USE DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE TRUCK WILL BE REPAIRED THIS WEEK AT MY EXPENSE AND I WILL BE REQUESTING THE DEFECTIVE CABLE FOR EXAMINATION. NLM
WHEN ABS KICKS IN IT INTERMITTENTLY MAKES A LOUD BANGING NOISE, ALMOST LIKE VEHICLE IS BACK FIRING. WHEN VEHICLE MAKES SUDDEN STOPS PEDAL SHAKES AND ABS KICKS IN. TOYOTA INSPECTOR SAYS NOISE IS NORMAL.*AK
VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING AFTER EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON AND IN PARK. CONSUMER WAS STEPPING OUT OF VEHICLE AND DOOR KNOCKED CONSUMER DOWN. TOYOTA SENT INSPECTORS TO LOOK AT VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF INADVERTENT ROLLING. CONSUMER PLEASE ADD THE VIN# AND MILEAGE TO THE COMPLAINT FORM.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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