2018 Toyota Tundra Brakes Problems

This case results from the malfunctioning trailer brake ECU on 2018-2019 Tundras. There is a Toyota service bulletin T-SB-0036-19, which specifies an updated controller to replace the defective model. Part # : Original 89547-0C020 Update/replacement 89547-0C060 Toyota will not replace this defective part outside of the original warranty period despite the issuance of an updated replacement part. The service bulletin wasn’t even issued until 4/19 possibly giving no recourse to owners whose warranty had tolled. The newer part number, suggests this was a dangerous defect that was upgraded. A review of this matter online details this problem has frequently occurred. The reason it’s not more commonly reported is that a minority of Tundra owners tow trailers, and even fewer tow with electric brakes. Regardless, this is a significant safety issue where the Tundra owners are forced pay about $1,100 to repair this defective part. This matter should be elevated to a recall since losing the functionality of one’s trailer brakes is a very dangerous situation.

NHTSA ID

11619193

Incident

Jun 12, 2024

I am having problems with the integrated brake controller constantly disconnecting when pulling any type of trailer. When ever I pull a trailer I never know when the controller will disconnect and I'll lose brakes on my trailer. This happens at any speed while towing. This seems to be a thing for 2018 tundras, as I've read about many other complants.

NHTSA ID

11566580

Incident

Jan 19, 2024

While descending a steep grade towing an 8,000lb travel trailer using appropriate hill descent braking techniques, an error message came on the dash indicating a trailer wiring, type, or connection fault. From this point forward, I had no trailer brakes and was left with truck brakes only. I got the truck/trailer combination to the bottom of the grade safely, however this could have been catastrophic for an inexperienced driver or in a different situation. Upon further investigation, this is a common problem with Toyota Tundra’s, and acknowledged by Toyota in TSB # T-SB-0036-19 issued on April 1, 2019. The dealer and Toyota Customer Service will not acknowledge this, and states it is something only covered under the 3 year warranty. My question for you, the NHTSA, is how would this not be considered a safety issue, when the issue comes on unexpectedly under less than ideal circumstances, especially when Toyota has acknowledged that there is a problem with their brake controller. This is a safety issue, not a warranty issue. Toyota will be held accountable for any injury or death caused by my vehicle in this situation.

NHTSA ID

11549166

Incident

Oct 9, 2023

Factory Trailer Brake Controler failed nearly causing collision I was pulling a RV that is over 5 thousand pounds when not loaded we were loaded with holding tanks full when I needed to stop had to go into next lane to avoid collision

NHTSA ID

11451616

Incident

Feb 2, 2022

THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE TRAILER BRAKING SYSTEM. VEHICLE TRAILER BRAKING SYSTEM NOT WORKING

NHTSA ID

11383302

Incident

Nov 2, 2020

2018 TUNDRA INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROLLER INTERMITTENTLY DISCONNECTS TRUCK FROM TRAILER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. TRUCK BRAKES STOP ARE ACTIVATED BUT TRAILER IS DISCONNECTED. TIRES BEGIN TO SMOKE AND THERE IS A BURNING SMELL FROM THE TIRESNOT BEING ABLE TO SLOW OR STOP THE TRAILER. WE HAVE TAKEN 4 TRIPS AND IT HAPPENS ON ALL OF THEM. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DON'T HAVE A FIX. HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET. THIS FORM ONLY ALLOWS DATE ENTRY FOR ONE INCIDENT. BUT THE OCCURRENCE IS EVERY TRIP. IN FACT, WE DON'T HAVE BRAKES CONNECTION NOW AND TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE A FIX.

NHTSA ID

11339957

Incident

Mar 2, 2018

Mileage

9,000 mi

TRAILER BRAKES ARE NO LONGER FUNCTIONING LOST GAIN OUTPUT TO TRAILER BRAKES. WHILE RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FOR 2 HOURS THE WORRYING CAME UP SAYING - NO TRAILER -CAME ON, IN THE HEADS UP DISPLAY WHAT I GOT HOME I USED MY FLUKE METER TO DETERMINE THAT I HAD NO OUTPUT TO THE TRAILER BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

11337855

Incident

May 28, 2020

Mileage

18,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND GOT INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAKS THE PEDAL SEEMED EXTREMELY LOSE AND THE TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO STOP. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO GO UP AND MAKE THE TURN EXTREMELY SLOWLY. WHEN I GOT HOME I NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS LEAKING BREAK FLUID. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323765

Incident

May 6, 2020

Mileage

39,800 mi

1ST OFF, I DRIVE A 2018 TUNDRA, MY INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOESNT APPLY BRAKES ON ANY TRAILER. IT THROWS AN ERROR MESSAGE AND WILL NOT WORK ON ANY TRAILER TYPE SETTINGS. HAD TRAILER CHECKED AND TESTED WITH OTHER VEHICLES AND TRAILER WORKS FINE. AND OF COURSE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET SINCE 2016 AND UP, WITH NO FIX OR RESPONIBILITES TAKEN ON TOYOTAS PART. NOT HABING TRAILER BRAKES IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND BELIEVE THAT IF I PAID FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM I SHOULD HAVE TO BUY AN AFTERMARKET ONE JUST TO PULL MY TRAILERS SAFELY. 2ND ISSUE IS ONCE AGAIN ELECTRICAL, THE RADIO SHUT ON AND OFF EVERY 10 MINUTES OR SO...WILL NOT KEEP PRESETS SAVED ETC, TOLD TOYOTA AND THEY TRIED TO DOWNLOAD AND UPDATE AND SAID THE RADIO WOULDN'T EXCEPT THE DOWNLOAD. OF COURSE TRUCK IS OUT OF THE HORRIBLE OFFERED 30K MILE WARRANTY....SO I HAVE A 2018 TUNDRA 4X4 THAT HAS A BROKEN RADIO AND CAN'T EVEN PULL A TRAILER.....HARD TO WANNA MAKE A PAYMENT FOR THAT KINDA STUFF.

NHTSA ID

11307067

Incident

Oct 10, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE BRAKES SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS TANGLED IN THE WHEEL. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ACTIVATED, BUT IT CAUSED MORE DAMAGE TO THE RIM AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. TEAM TOYOTA OF GLEN MILLS (1050 BALTIMORE PIKE, GLEN MILLS, PA 19342, (484) 407-0835) DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1906060300. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,900.

NHTSA ID

11218479

Incident

Jun 4, 2019

Mileage

13,900 mi

WHEN ITS MOIST OUT. THE CRUISE WILL AUTO CANCEL ITSELF AND THE PCS FAILURE LIGHTS UP ON THE DASH. HAPPENS SEMI OFTEN. DEALER STATES THEY CAN'T FIX IT BUT TO BRING IT IN WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THE TRUCK BRAKES FOR GHOSTS AS I DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THEY CAN'T FIX THIS EITHER.

NHTSA ID

11217105

Incident

Dec 19, 2018

Mileage

1,200 mi

DRIVING AT 45MPH COMMING UPON AN EMPTY INTERSECTION WITH A STOP LIGHT. BRAKES CAME ON AND WARNINGS FLASHED YET NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ID

11194181

Incident

Apr 3, 2019

Mileage

5,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KENNY KENT TOYOTA (5600 DIVISION ST, EVANSVILLE, IN 47715, (812) 618-0061) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,531.

NHTSA ID

11192198

Incident

Feb 19, 2019

Mileage

14,531 mi

ON A QUICK HARD BRAKING..APPLIES BRAKE THEN WITHOUT LIFTING BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE THE. TRUCK AUTOMATICALLY RELEASES IT AND SLIDES FORWARD SOME DISTANCE...THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION...THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE BEFORE....THIS TIME RAN INTO A TURNING VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11173636

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

30,000 mi

TOYOTA INFORMED ME THROUGH MAIL TO MY ADDRESS THAT MY NEW 2018 TOYOTA TUNDRA "FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS (FMVSS) NO.208," "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION," AND 214, "SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION." WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER PROVIDED 1-888-270-9371 TO ASK IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO COVER THE COST OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN ALTERNATE REPAIR FACILITY LOCATED ON MY ISLAND, THEY REFUSED, NOT ONLY DID THEY REFUSE BUT THEY CLAIMED THAT ONLY A TOYOTA AUTHORIZED DEALER COULD PERFORM THE REPAIR. WHEN I ASKED HOW I WAS SUPPOSE TO DEAL WITH THE SAFETY RECALL WITHOUT AN OPTION TO BRING MY VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD JUST HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT ON MY OWN, WHEN I ASKED FOR THE RESPONSE IN WRITING THEY ALSO CLAIMED THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT PROVIDED THAT.

NHTSA ID

11151590

Incident

Nov 14, 2018

Mileage

3,200 mi

PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM WARNING AND "BRAKE" WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND WARNING ME FOR NO REASON, TOYOTA HAVE REPEALED THE SENSOR 3 TIMES SO FAR AND THE SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE VEHVIAE WILL START BRAKING FOR NO REASON AND END UP GETTING REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS BEEN HAPPING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK, PICTURES SHOWS ALL WARNING OVER THE LAST 14000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11151453

Incident

Nov 14, 2018

PRE-CRASH SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, WITH NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY, AT TIMES IF A VEGICLE PASSES ME ON EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE, THE CRASH WARNING BEEPED AND BRAKES APPLIED, NOTE: NO ONE IS IN FRONT OF ME, THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, SINCE THE INITIAL RECALL FOR UPDATES, MY PRE-CRASH SYSTEM INTICATES ITS ON, HOWEVER, ITS NOT WORKING, YESTERDAY AT ABOUT 2:15 PM ON 8/27/2018 IT FAILED AND I HIT SOMEONE IN THE REAR AND SPEED UNDER 10 MPH, I WAS TOLD BY FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA OF SANFORD NC SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAVE HAD SOME THAT WAS OUT OF CALIBRATION AND THAT MINE SHOULD HAVE WORKED WETHER IF CRUISE CONTROL IS ON OR OFF.. WELL IT DOESN'T NOT WORK, MY TRUCK GOES INTO TOYOTA TODAY 8/28/2018 AT FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA TO BE CHECKED AGAIN SINCE THE SOFTWARE RECALL UPDATE. I HAVE 650.00 IN DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK, NOT SURE ON THE AMOUNT OF THE VEHICLE I HIT BECAUSE THE SYSTEM FAILED. I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, AND IT SEAMS TOYOTA IS NOT DOING NOTHING

NHTSA ID

11122895

Incident

Aug 27, 2018

Mileage

8,000 mi

PRE-COLLISION SENSORS. PRE-COLLISION SENSOR HAS GONE OFF TWICE ADVISING ME TO BRAKE. BOTH TIMES THERE WAS NO OTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME NOR WAS THERE ANYTHING TO THE SIDES OR IN FRONT. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE (?). WAS ADVISED THERE'S NO FIX AND TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ANNOTATE ALL FACTORS SURROUNDING MY VEHICLE IF IT GOES OFF AGAIN. SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE ALTERNATIVE TO FINDING OUT WHY A PRE-COLLISION SENSOR GOES OFF. I SHOULD NOT FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11097123

Incident

May 1, 2018

Mileage

4,800 mi

THE PRE COLLISION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES A VARIOUS TIMES. THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT WORK WHEN ILLUMINATED. THE SENSOR HAS BEEN KEPT CLEAN. IT DOES NOT GIVE A FAILURE CODE AT THE DEALER. IT WAS REPROGRAMED. THE PRE COLLISION BRAKING WAS A MAJOR FEATURE IN MY BUYING PROCESS AND IT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ID

11079518

Incident

Mar 14, 2018

Mileage

7,000 mi

MULTIPLE EVENTS. 2500 MILES ON VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 70MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL THE PRE-COLLISION WARNING CAME ON AND VEHICLE APPLIED BRAKES FORCEFULLY WITHOUT ANY VEHICLE AHEAD OF MY VEHICLE UNTIL I TURNED OFF CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER THE EVENT THE TRALER BRAKE MALFUNCTION STATEMENT AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. PRE -COLLISION FAILURE LIGHT RESET AFTER KEY CYCLED OFF AND BACK ON. FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES IN MULTIPLE DRIVING CONDITIONS, CURRENTLY TRAILER BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. EACH TIME I HAD TO EXIT OR PULL OVER AND STOP VEHICLE, CYCLE KEY TO HAVE WARNING CLEAR.

NHTSA ID

11074699

Incident

Feb 23, 2018

Mileage

2,500 mi

INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROLLER NOT FUNCTIONING. TOOK IT TO DEALER A WEEK AND NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID

11065975

Incident

Dec 24, 2017

Mileage

500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA TUNDRA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE PEDESTRIAN WARNING INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TEJAS TOYOTA (19011 HIGHWAY 59 N, HUMBLE, TX 77338), BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,800.

NHTSA ID

11065633

Incident

Jan 28, 2018

Mileage

7,800 mi

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE MALFUNCTION CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION, TRAILER BRAKE ERROR, PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHTS. TRUCK. MALFUNCTION IS INTERMITTENT AT ALL SPEEDS AND DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

11053745

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

Mileage

184 mi