Is the 2010 Toyota Tundra a bad year?
163 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Tundra years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2010 Toyota Tundra are in line with other Tundra years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2010 Tundra owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 88,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 31 (19%) | 66k–131k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Engine | 17 (10%) | 38k–95k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 16 (10%) | 42k–115k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 11 (7%) | 54k–104k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 6 (4%) | 46k–90k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 25 (15%) | 42k–83k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 25 (15%) | 2k–32k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 19 (12%) | 12k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 19 (12%) | 22k–86k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 88,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 163 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 7 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jun 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2010 Toyota Tundra: 16
The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak. An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak. An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts. If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. 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.
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. 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.
During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed. If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position.
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. 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…
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. Drivers will not receive a warning from the tire pressuring monitor that one or more tires are underinflated increasing the risk that a vehicle will be driven with one or more underinflated tires and increasing the risk of a tire failure…
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… 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.
Due to this improper weld, this joint may separate and the separated shaft may come into contact with the road surface. This may result in a loss of vehicle control increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. This does not meet the standard requirements.
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. 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.
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. 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.
These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 139
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2010 Toyota Tundra. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
Some vehicles may exhibit a howling or growling noise from the rear of the vehicle that increases with vehicle speed
SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained…
The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
Neighbouring years
2009 Tundra: 38 complaints, keep it · 2011 Tundra: 135 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Tundra year
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Questions
Is the 2010 Toyota Tundra a bad year?
163 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Tundra years. At 88,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Toyota Tundra?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: suspension (31), engine (17), electrical system (16), fuel system (11), steering (6).
How many recalls does the 2010 Toyota Tundra have?
16 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 21E103000), Steering (NHTSA 21V-920), Seats (NHTSA 16V-396), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 15V-689) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.