A year with a 2023 Tundra – not fully satisfactory

We bought this truck to pull our trailer, for wilderness trips Northern Canada, summer and winter. Why Toyota? Over decades, after many good experiences with vehicles built in Japan (of most brands), we liked their reliability, good engineering, and being well equipped and supported by dealers.

These expectations fell short with this US built Tundra. First, with the local Toyota dealer, we encountered issues as he unfairly charged more, abusing his temporary power as the demand was high. Then it took longer than announced to get the truck. With the second key delivered seven months later.

Finding accessories was another hassle. With 2022+ Tundra's new dimensions, most suppliers did not have them, or only at very high price. For example, not even Toyota was able to provide a tonneau cover. Same remarks for the crazily priced trailer mirrors.

We chose the Limited Off-Road trim because of several features: 4x4, trailer brake controller, lockable differential, all around cameras, 18’’ wheels. It came with more gimmicks, cheap electronics tricks to justify the higher prices, which are not well documented in the manual.

On the road we got some other surprises, like a whistling fan, a lame AC. Off-road, on our habitual itinerary, we preferred driving our previous vehicle, with less clearance but much less shaking.

With the 7500lb trailer, the drive is quite bouncy are need more precaution than with other trucks, porpoising particularly on uneven freeways. It improved driving slowly and by adding a sway control brake. Fuel mileage, 24lt/100km or 9.8mpg, is OK, as long as the turbos are not used. Be ready to reconfigure the electronics when hauling, like disabling the automatic parking brake when hitching and un hitching. Get use to buckle/unbuckle the seat belt every time you get in and out when maneuvering the trailer. Toyota impertinently cares about your safety.

Getting ready for winter, it was almost impossible to get 265/70 winter tires for the 18 wheels from stock here. Winter driving showed more issues: the engaging or disengaging of the 4x4 (4H) takes too long by very cold temperature. Even at full blast, the defrosting of side windows is not strong enough. Electronic gadgets became a nuisance when cameras or radars got covered by ice. Many unnecessary messages + beeping etc. Needed a hazardous stop on the freeway to open the manual and disable sensors.

The remote start works only with the app, which works only with when there is a network present. Not so smart engineering for an Off-Road … There is a mod at high price for that. Seems there is a trend to make you pay extra to use options you already bought.

After an unwanted encounter with a snowbank, the rear taillight broke in many pieces. It was easy to replace, but the cost of this spare part, OEM around CAD800, is not reasonable. It would have cost less than half with Ford.

The rear plastic bumpers, lightweight, are quite flimsy for an Off-Road trim. Got a hole in one of the 5’’ plastic side cover, and used duct tape to not spent CAD300 for an OEM one. I wonder how much the replacement of the whole bumper, made of many parts, would have cost.

As there is a recall, I drove to the dealer for service, where I lost time, and I had to pay CAD65 for the filter and gasket +labour for an oil change. But they could not fix the fuel line, as the parts not yet available. Are recalls used by Toyota to give work to dealers?

Self maintenance is more difficult. For my last vehicle, I got access to a full trove of instructions on its forum. The subscription to Toyota’s website is not reasonable priced for an occasional use.

Lately, I learned that the is a major safety issue with the motor. The reason for finding debris in the motor is vague at this time, but a recall will be sent for probably 100k trucks in July. When inquiring about the extend of this recall I got censored on this website, without any explanation.

 

This is inaccurate. There MIGHT be a safety issue with SOME of the engines. It's not a blanket concern because it won't impact all of them.

Were you "censored" or was a thread you commented in with tons of others nuked because it was out of hand? If you really are being targeted, go to the "Ask the Staff" section and ask why it happened. https://www.tundras.com/forums/chat-with-the-staff.59/

 

Maybe it’s time you buy a Ford and find a new forum.

 

This truck is a 100% failure on every level. I'm going to get major enjoyment out of what happens with all these problems over the next several months.

 

It's a 100% failure but you're going to majorly enjoy it?

 

Do you have a 3rd Gen tundra? I have been thru every model of tundra made and this truck is definitely not a 100% failure on every level. But hey I have only driven it 64k miles so what do I know.

 

You can remote start with the FOB. 3 pushes of the lock button about 1 second apart and hold on the third press. You will see the lights flash and it will start up. The timing can be a little tricky until you get used to it.

 

I wouldn't call it tricky. But it's a great, and free feature I use it a bunch in the winters and I don't have to pay for remote start.

As for the OP you complain about the buying a high-end truck with lots of technology then decry when it costs a lot to replace said technology when you break it such as the tail light. You have sequential tail lights which cost more, and cost more to replace. If you wanted a barebones tuck you shouldn't have bought the limited or a truck that costs $55k+. If you wanted a truck with a ton of aftermarket support you shouldn't have bought a new design on a truck that historically has not had that much volume compared to F-150/Ram/Silverado which makes aftermarket slower to design parts for it. Plastic bumpers are standard on every vehicle from the factory besides some very high end trims on other brands and Jeeps how are you surprised by this? You failed to read the manual on how to operate your truck and the sensors before you started driving it.

Don't blame Toyota for your own poor decisions.

 

As we use this truck only with the trailer, not every day, we have issues remembering all set-ups and codes.

Another annoying thing is when we get to an area with poor network we are asked, too many times, to re enter our PIN. Why this nuisance happens off grid? Is this truck meant only for city dwellers?

A special version for the ones who are towing, with wireless camera at the back of the trailer linked to the truck display, with extended mirrors, would be great!

 

1/2 tons are light duty. Usually for tons of towing a bigger truck is the choice, and the options available reflect that. 1/2 toons are the new family wagons.

 

4 messages.
Don't take the bait.

 

https://youtu.be/qBRznQfN8jo?si=tnkxTe8jbmPy4D11

 

It is what is meant for us. I will have to check if it works with a 2023 Ltd TRD OR. The above youtube link is missing the monitor showing the rearview once it is mounted on the trailer and reversing. What is the video lag?

 

Meanwhile, I found an OP about it, and did not find positive postings about it. Offered on the web for Tacoma only...

 

Hes not wrong about Toyota part pricing though. Its obnoxiously high when I have had to replace parts on my Toyota's. Lexus wanted $10,000(not a typo) to replace the nav unit on my GX460 that had the equivalent computing power of the Apollo capsule from 1968 all because the digitizer crapped the bed. You can't just get a new screen, you need the whole unit.

Truck needs to be reliable because you would go broke if you had to fix things regularly.

 

Anyone that would enjoy watching individuals experience problems is an elevated level of douche-bag.

 

Quite a few of your issues are not Toyotas fault. Tire availability, accessory availability in your area. You have remote start in your key fob by pushing lock three times. And I can see the sequential LED limited tail light being more costly than a standard tail light. Once again not Toyota's fault.

 

What? Did you try with your fob? I did with mine, 3 pushes of the lock button about 1 second apart and hold on the third press does not start the truck. Seems only for some, is a hoax, is a parameter to be adjusted or do you need a special accessory? What is your Tundra?

 

Your are absolutely right. Never trust advertising! Towing was meant for another generation

 

I feel like 1 second apart is too long and doesn’t work for me. I press it immediately after each push(but not as fast as I can) and hold on the 3rd push and it starts everytime. Distance isn’t every good though.

 

Yes, I’ve used it many times. But I struggled to time it correctly on the first few tries. But it absolutely works. Used it all winter. 2024 SR5 4x4 with convenience package. There are videos on YouTube you can watch to see the timing.

 

So why are you on this forum?

 

But you have to be like 3’ away for it to work . Our Tahoe remote starts from key fob like a mile away in a building

 

3'? Should not be called remote!

 

Mine remote starts like this as far away as the fob will work to lock or unlock the truck.

 

I've remote started with the FOB from over 70 feet away. That's good enough for me.

If yours doesn't, put a new battery in it and try again.

 

I have to agree with you regarding satisfaction. The bumpers are pathetically flimsy and despite not having hit anything, I recently noticed that the front left mounting bracket on my 2023 is trashed. I suspect it may have occurred when I drove through some tall weeds at my in-laws, but who knows? This is truly injury to insult after I noticed the poor workmanship, manufacturing and design of the vehicle. The hood appears to have been made for a different model with the gaps varying from 3/8' of an inch down to 1/8". This includes the gap between the hood and the front grill, as it is noticeably uneven. There are leading edges on the box that are just begging for chips, and the gas mileage is woefully unsatisfactory. I have always been a Toyota guy because of quality, longevity and features, but now after hearing of potential engine problems I am definitely suffering from buyers regret.

 

@Eurodriver for rebuttal replete with ground zero, pine tree evidence.

 

Tall weeds lol

 

Whenever I read a post like this, I have to wonder if the poster even looked at, or drove, their trucks before buying it? Did the "flimsy" bumpers, "poor workmanship, manufacturing, and design", and hood gaps magically appear after the buyer drove it home? IMO, if those things are unsatisfactory to you, then you obviously weren't paying attention when you purchased the truck.

BTW, I was disappointed in the flimsy bumpers too. I didn't notice any poor workmanship, manufacturing, or design flaws. The body gaps on my truck aren't perfect, but they are as close to it as my previous two Tundras. Bottom line, I knew exactly what I was buying when I wrote the check for it.