10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
74,007 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Toyota Tundra steering problems

steering problem

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2005 Toyota Tundra Owner Comments

problem #20

Feb 152024

Tundra

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Frame corrosion through out the entire frame. Recently the steering rack broke away from the frame cross member. Now every time I turn the wheel there is a popping sounds and the steering feels loose compared to what it did before the sound accord. There is also a hole in the back of the frame behind the back tire. My attached tow package ripped sections of the frame and caused crack to extend towards the front of the frame. The fuel tank straps are also severely corroded.

- Amherst, VA, USA

problem #19

Jun 122019

Tundra

  • miles
Ever since I got it 2 years ago the steering has not been right with random vibration from the steering wheel to feeling like im trying harder to make it go straight. And also a clunk at low speed turns/ vibration on freeway. I was told the rack was going so I replaced it with new poly bushings and tie rods. Helped a little but no, got new rims and tires and no difference still vibration on freeway. It's weird if I pull down on the steering wheel it makes it less worse. Also it feels like all this is wearing my power steering pump as it's the only thing covered in oil under my hood. I'm. Seriousy scared to drive it on the freeway cause of the over correcting and vibration. I only have 82k on it. When I got it from the dealership nothing was said. I'm the second owner.I still have the original rack but the problem is still there. Service was done by independent shop. Airbag stickers on passenger visor are gone and passenger airbag cover sticks out more the it should I think. I received the car facts from the dealership and nothing is in there for all the recalls. As the website says there are none pending. I would like to get a print out of ALL recall repairs if possible. I still have the car fax from them.

- Santa Barbara , CA, USA

problem #18

Mar 032021

Tundra

  • 219,000 miles
Catastrophic ball joint failure (driver side upper ball joint) while driving at slow speed.

- Madera, CA, USA

problem #17

Jul 152020

Tundra

  • 313,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I took this truck into my local Toyota dealer on July 09, 2015 as part of a recall for a frame inspection. The mileage at that time was 295,801. The dealer said the frame was in good shape and applied a corrosion inhibitor as part of the program. In February of this year, (2020) I decided to install new break pads. When I removed the wheel on the driver side, I found a significant hole in the frame and cracking all around the area. In approximately 5 years and 17,000 miles, this developed. I have not driven the truck in the winter for about 8 years as this became a secondary vehicle only for summer project use around the home. I contacted Toyota corporate and they said that there weren't any programs available to remedy the situation and I was basically out of luck. I recently took the trunk to a frame & body shop and was shown much more extensive failure in the frame on both sides. He determined the frame is unrepairable because of the amount of rot and the truck will need a complete new frame. I can't believe that in 5 years driving, averaging 3,400 miles a year that the frame went from good (as the dealer described it) to being undriveable. Toyota new the steel was bad in many of their trucks and SUV's but has refused to repair all that were affected by the bad steel and lack of protection applied during manufacturing. I have had to pull the truck off the road as it has become unstable and hazardous to drive.

- Williamsburg, OH, USA

problem #16

Jan 262018

Tundra

  • miles
2005 Toyota Tundra. Consumer writes front brake line broke and major rusting of brake lines, and rusted frame. * va the consumer stated the power steering metal lines started leaking.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #15

Oct 062017

Tundra

  • miles
Major rusting of frame, rusted brake lines, rusted power steering lines. Vehicles is unsafe due to rusting.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #14

Feb 092016

Tundra

  • 108,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The entire frame of the truck and every component directly in contact with it including the suspension is and has been oxidizing/rusting/rotting off in layers some fragments of rust scale falling off measure 1/8" in thickness I contacted Toyota of North America knowing about the recalls on the Toyota Tacoma model trucks with alot of detailed photos they said basically too bad. Ive kept the undercarriage clean even tried using coatings to slow the deterioration down the truck has 122,000 miles on it and was very well taken care of the problem is Toyota poor quality steel used and improper factory coatings I purchased the truck in 2014 and I glimpsed underneath the day I bought it and thought the frame looked good then a few months go by and I go to do a tune up and I start seeing huge rust scale falling all over upon further investigation noticed the problem and how bad it was as well as the reason I didnt notice it at the dealer was they spray painted the underside black to hide the problem, I am a marine corps veteran I served 2007-2011 active duty every penny I had saved up I used to buy this truck (my first big purchase all in cash) ive put thousands into this truck already replacing suspension components and mounts and its becoming a total loss I cant sell it to a private party knowing how dangerous it can be if the wrong part finally rots all the way thru and I cant afford a new vehicle I can barely find work with the economy and personal struggles I have related to my service, I am beyond upset and I pray someone somewhere can help me I know my truck is not the only Tundra with this major problem

- Naugatuck, CT, USA

problem #13

Jul 232014

Tundra

  • 86,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Toyota Tundra. While driving at approximately 60 mph, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle veered to the right. The vehicle went off the road and crashed into a tree. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was taken to the contact's residence where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 86,000.

- Liberty , SC, USA

problem #12

Aug 312014

Tundra 6-cyl

  • 91,347 miles
For a week I had noticed a leak on the surface of the parking lot of my apartment building where I almost always park my truck. Since it's an apartment, I didn't pay much attention to it, thinking it was someone else's vehicle. Then on Sunday August 31st, I had driven round trip to akron, Ohio and back to willoughby, Ohio and noticed a huge leak. I took it to the dealer who said it was the power steering and that there are two of the parts that need to be replaced. I researched this problem and found they have rusted and leaked on other Tundra's of the same year as mine.

- Willoughby, OH, USA

problem #11

Apr 012010

Tundra

  • 50,000 miles
Bought this vehicle used in 2010 and it had a lot of corrosion underneath then. Currently has 50 K miles. My brakes are squealing due to corrosion preventing the calipers from moving and the wheel was corroded to the hub and it took a lot of effort to remove it. The structural members and all the components have loose layers of rust. The exhaust heat shields fell off. The spare tire restraint system looks too weak so I removed the spare. The spare wheel is so corroded that the bolt holes are no longer smooth for the lugs to bear against evenly. I am concerned that something bad will happen eventually if a weakened critical part were to fail. I doubt the undercoating Toyota is offering for 04 to 06 trucks can help much at this point. I don't want to be the guy who drops a fuel tank on the freeway.

- Hollywood, MD, USA

problem #10

Apr 222014

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Steering rack failed safety inspection due to leaking power steering fluid caused by rust. The dealership I was using had 3 other of the same or similar Toyota trucks with the same failure at this same time. They had problems locating enough parts to do all the repair.

- Fredericksburg , VA, USA

problem #9

Dec 132012

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 83,939 miles
Took to the shop "meinke" and was listed as; replace the leaking power steering rack and pinion gear - $975.

- Lahiana, HI, USA

problem #8

Feb 062014

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
January 28th (2014) I was into york's Toyota for diagnosis of a check engine light and rough idle problem. The clerk at york's Toyota advised me of (2) recalls on my pickup truck (ball joint & spray frame) and said "we will call you to schedule when to have these completed at no cost to you". February 6th while driving southbound on interstate 95 at the posted speed of 75mph in sherman Maine the front driver's side of my 2005 Toyota Tundra buckled. After pulling to side of the highway I got out of the truck and saw the front driver's side ball joint appeared to have sheered off causing damage to tie rod end, other front steering components and some front quarter panel damage. I called the Maine state police which completed an accident report. York's has refused to pay for the repairs to the vehicle. My insurance refuses to pay because the cause of the accident was a recalled part. Toyota Corp in California has refused to pay for all the repairs to my vehicle stating the ball joint recall was for premature wear and since my truck has 150,000miles it doesn't qualify. This is completely unacceptable. A recall was issued and Toyota is refusing to fix the recalls and the damages.

- Easton, ME, USA

problem #7

Aug 102013

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 83,840 miles
Gear shift on steering wheel column became loose and it became very difficult to place truck into park. It started gradually until the play in the shifter was so bad that I could no longer put it into drive, reverse or neutral without the shifter handle hitting the windshield wiper handle and causing the windshield wipers to activate and squirt cleaner onto the windshield. I was concerned that it was going to slip out of gear or into gear causing injury or death, and it became increasingly hard to put the vehicle into park. I took it to Toyota dealer and they replaced it. I have the part (A1 shaft sub-assembly / BD376 housing, steering column) and it is defective inferior metal part broken into two pieces.

- Mission Viejo, CA, USA

problem #6

Aug 082013

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 112,000 miles
I have been told my truck has excessive rust on the brake line, front brake rotors and power steering unit. They will al need to be replaced.

- Hopewell Junction, NY, USA

problem #5

Jul 022013

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 55,000 miles
While starting from a stop, either in drive or reverse, I heard a squealing sound when turning the wheels to the left. I am also losing power steering fluid, and my right side rack & pinion boot appears to be filling with fluid. It appears that my power rack & pinion system is failing, and the vehicle has only 55,000 miles on it with no hard use (just Transport, mostly local.) I am worried that my steering system may fail while driving. Note: I am scheduling an inspection of the steering issue with a local Toyota dealership.

- Gorham, ME, USA

problem #4

Oct 152011

Tundra 8-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
I have a 2005 Tundra 2wd trd. I have to replace the steering rack and recommended that I replace both rear bearings. When looking the problems on the internet I have discovered that these issues are very common for the Tundra in earlier production. The steering rack was manufactured with inferior material that has been known to where out. The same with the rear bearings. If this is such a common problem why hasn't a formal investigation ever been performed on these two elements of the Tundra.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #3

Aug 012007

Tundra

  • miles
When Toyota recalled the balljoints on the 2005 Tundra's I took mine in...after they replaced it my truck pulled to the right and had a noise and vibration...I took it back several time but it was never fixed...now it is 2010 and I rarely drive it im afraid to..the vibration is worse and the pull is worse..the dealer always tell me the same thing...they cant find anything wrong..my truck has since gone out of warranty due to years...not miles...I want my truck fixed, ,,Ford has offered me a trade in im seriously thinking of switching...also my title says I have a 3/4 ton truck but Toyota swears they don't make one"???..it is the Texas limited edition 4door Toyota pickup...do I have 3/4 or not...cause I paid for a 3/4 ton..???"

- Edna, TX, USA

problem #2

Dec 102005

Tundra 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,009 miles
2005 Toyota Tundra quad cab. Front end alignment problems, extreme pulling to the left and right, consistent rattling in the front end. Control issues at 5 mph, extreme shimmering over 65 mph. Recommended parts by service department knuckle sub assembly, bearings, ring hole, seals. Vehicle loses power, and steering control, caused accident. Manufacturer refuses to honor warranty and repair vehicle. Problems began at 2000 miles, taken in at 5009 miles for service and reported problem, 4 attempts at repair with no success.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 232005

Tundra 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,000 miles
I had my 2005 Tundra bed loaded to the maximum advertised weight capacity. Once I entered the hwy and reached a speed of 45 the vehicle went out of control. I have been driving for many years and have never experienced a loss of control like this. The vehicle left the road and flipped upside down. The cab held up great and everyone was wearing their seatbelt therefor there were not signifigant injuries. Atleast one of the tires were off the rim but I'm not sure if this was a result of the accident or a cause.

- Claremore, OK, USA

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