YearToAvoid

2021 Toyota Tundra Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

7/100

#15 most-complained of 16 Tundra years

The 2021 Toyota Tundra ranks 15th worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 7 and 24 total complaints — one of the best years for this model. It has 2 recalls (steering, headlights) and no do-not-drive orders.

Complaints
24
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
14.5
13 city / 17 hwy

Top 2021 Toyota Tundra problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other6 (25%)
  2. Structure & Body6 (25%)
  3. Electrical System4 (17%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers3 (13%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (8%)
  6. Fuel System2 (8%)
  7. Steering2 (8%)
  8. Airbags1 (4%)
  9. Engine1 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy during a freeway crash with no prior warning light.
  • Hazard lights blinked on their own after the truck was parked and shut off, in one case tied to a fire report.
  • Driver-side wiper stopped working while the passenger-side wiper kept functioning, with no advance warning.
  • Radio and A/C intermittently fail to respond at startup, requiring the driver to jiggle the key or restart the truck.
  • Fuel nozzle triggers fuel to spill back out onto the driver during refueling, a problem dealers could not duplicate.
  • Rear brake lights fail to illuminate when adaptive cruise control slows the vehicle on its own.
2021 Toyota Tundra complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2021Sep 2022Mar 2023May 2024Dec 2024Jan 2026
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2021 to Aug 2026; peak Jun 2022 (4).

2021 Toyota Tundra recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V920000Nov 23, 2021Steering22,462 vehicles

    Steering:rack and pinion

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

    Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.

  2. NHTSA 21V688000Sep 2, 2021Electrical System158,489 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:headlights

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Tundra vehicles. The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector.

    Risk: An overheated electrical connector can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and replace any damaged bulb, bulb connector, and/or headlight assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB06 and 21TA06.

2021 Toyota Tundra fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
17 MPG
Combined
14.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,475
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Tundra years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Good4772915
2020Best2046414.5
2021Best724214.5
2022Avoid804281320
2023Avoid934051320

All Toyota Tundra years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Toyota Tundra reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Tundra ranks 15th worst out of 16 model years with a complaint index of 7 and 24 complaints, making it one of the better years.
What problems does the 2021 Toyota Tundra have?
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Tundra center on structure and body issues (6 complaints, 25% share), electrical system problems (4 complaints, 17%), and visibility/wiper failures (3 complaints, 13%).
Does the 2021 Toyota Tundra have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a power steering gear assembly that may leak oil, and one for headlight wiring that could overheat when high and low beams power simultaneously. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2021 Tundra compare to other Tundra years?
The 2021 model has a complaint index of 7, far lower than 2022 (80), 2023 (93), 2024 (100), and 2025 (87), all of which carry an Avoid verdict, making 2021 one of the strongest years for the Tundra.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.