Unhappy New (3rd) Owner of 2007 Toyota Tundra 88,900 miles

Hello

I would like to inform you of my introduction to the 2007 Toyota Tundra.

In May 2018, I purchased a 2007 Tundra LE Double Cab 4WD 5.7L SB TRD Pro, as 3rd owner, with 88,900 miles on the odometer. A Carfax report showed no history of accidents. The truck had not sold after two months on the lot, even after the price had been reduced. I searched the internet for problems with 2007 Tundra, and comparable pickups - Ford F-150, Nissan Titan, Dodge Ram, GMC Sierra. It looked like the Tundra was no worse than the others - they all had lists of problems and complaints. However, I did not search the website https://www.vehiclehistory.com. I purchased the truck so that I can move up from decades of tent camping to sleeping under the roof of a light-weight pickup camper.

As a precaution, I kept my 2003 Subaru Outback, purchased in 2004 with 15,000 miles on it, and which now has 196,000 miles. Since 2004, the only original parts that have failed have been the head gasket (huge expensive repair for defective design, Subaru refused to recall or pay) and the alternator belt. Although Subaru recalled the vehicle for the Takata airbag on the passenger front seat, I have yet to get the repair done. My children have grown up and moved out, and my dog does not ride on the passenger front seat.

As of yesterday, I had put 550 miles on the Tundra. Most of my driving in town continued to be the Subaru because of better gas mileage. Yesterday morning I turned the Tundra ignition and there was banging and sputtering under the hood. No warning lights or alerts were on. I opened the hood and saw that the serpentine belt was disintegrating and pieces of it were hitting other wires. I had the Tundra towed to a local auto repair. I never use dealerships for repairs unless there is a warranty.

The owner of the repair shop just called me to tell me that 1) the belt tensioner had failed, which 2) caused the serpentine belt to run partially off track, which 3) caused the belt to partially disintegrate, and 4) somehow the water pump failed with all of this. He also said that a service code showed a problem with another part (I forgot the name), which would cost $150 to replace, plus labor. I can pick up the truck tomorrow. The price tag will be at least $1,000, but probably not more than $1,200.

During the past 24 hours I have been searching the internet more thoroughly for problems associated with 2007 Tundras, and found the Vehicle History website, the NHTSB website, and a few others, which made it clear the 2007 Tundra is a super-sour lemon. My 2003 Subaru has been recalled only once for the Takata airbag inflator canister explosions. The 2007 Tundra has had 12 safety recalls. I used the VIN search to verify that my Tundra recall repairs had been done. The results was "no open recalls..." but there are no dates and places of repairs provided, nor are the recall repairs listed on the Carfax report.

I cannot afford to sell the Tundra at a loss and try for better luck with a Ford, Dodge, GMC or Nissan truck. I also cannot afford to continue owning a truck, and using it as a camping vehicle, if it breaks down and requires towing to an auto repair several times per year. Either way I lose.

Based on the collective experience of people who use this forum, which loss will be less: selling the Tundra and buying a comparable Ford / GMC / Nissan / Dodge; or keeping the Tundra and having it towed to a repair shop several times every year?

If Subaru manufactured trucks, I would have bought a Subaru truck, as my Subaru Outback is the most reliable car I have ever owned.

 

Subaru does make a “pick up”



Sorry about your issues. Don’t recall many members having these issues with their 07. Those that do have that model year will chime in soon.

 

Welcome from NC. I am sorry to hear about the issues you are having! My neighbor has a Subaru Outback that has had no issues in the 15 years and 275,000 miles he has driven! All I hear is good things about Subaru’s.

 

sell truck, get another subaru. Don't get another truck if you don't need it.
if you need truck then repair it. labor is the expensive part.

 

You couldn't be more wrong. My 07 has zero flaws. Nothing. No leaks anywhere. As far as 07 recalls............most very minor in nature. There was an early production run with bad cam shafts from a normally reliable supplier. Affected about 2 dozen Tundras. 2007 production run was around 200,000. So.....0.012% of 200,000 had a serious issue that was corrected. We have had members here post that they got over 270,000 miles with their 07's with only regular maintenance and belts THAT WEAR OUT IF NEGLECTED. Get real. Maybe you should have had a mechanic check out your Tundra before you bought it. Some owners don't take care of their vehicles. Don't let your lack of due diligence cause you to trash a very successful 200,000 plus first year production run. Quite frankly the new "3rd " gen Tundras are experiencing more issues but fixable. Yes some early production run Tundras have had AIP issues which Toyota addressed. "Super Lemon?" Get real...post your sources. Legit ones...Just sayin......

 

Sorry to hear about your luck but I by far wouldn't give up on the truck.

 

So you're willing to condemn an 11 year old truck with an unknown maintenance history over a $1,000 repair?

While I agree it sucks you have to be realistic, depending on location it's very possible for a spring loaded tensioner to freeze up with low mileage.

I'll also place some blame on you for not shutting the engine down with "banging and sputtering under the hood" you placed yourself in danger my doing that with God know what going on under there. It also would have minimized any damage done by the failed belt.

You also need to get to the Subaru dealer because your 03 Outback has 12 safety recalls.

 

Welcome from CO. 2007 TRD PRO?

 

@lizaspang...Get your Tundra squared away. It sounds like it was neglected. Sucks, but you should have a heck of a lot more years enjoying it.

 

Oh yeah and Welcome from Ohio!

 

LOL

 

Lol. You’ve driven your used truck for 550 miles and you’re blaming Toyota for something that broke which seems more likely from neglect from the POs? And you already know you’re going to have to tow it to a shop several times a year? Then... yes, sell it and get a Ford. You’ll never have to tow that to the shop.

 

My first Tundra was a 2007 D/C 5.7, only recall I had was the throttle sensor, floor mat recall. Truck ran perfect until I traded it at 45,000 for an FJ in 2012.

Mine was not a 2007 TRD Pro though, just a TRD/SR5. Did not know they had the pro then?

 

No Pro then....... Oh wait.....I think I might have one of 2 Pro's made that year.............Going Elk hunting now............hint.........

 

That roll bar is bad ass!

 

it's all in the roll bar

 

Where's the RTT

 

Should open up his own fab shop!!

 

Yikes! Sorry bout the issues your going through, Welcome from Texas

 

That roll bar saved Joon's ass

 

Ahhh......what's "Bana yardim et i(lsa?)" mean???

 

Sorry about your bad luck. I to have a 2007 5.7, purchased with 125,00 miles on it. I had a similar issue when first acquired. The serpentine belt was squeaking so I changed the belt. less than 50 miles later the belt was making noise and beginning to shred. Replaced with another with similar results. Turns out that either I was too rough with the tensioner and damaged it or it was time to change as well. Luckily no other damage. Replaced belt and tensioner, good as gold. Other than that, it has been trouble free.

I have never heard of the "sour-lemon" for the 2007's. Too many of them are still on the road. I wouldn't anticipate any other issues, get it fixed, check up on all the other maintenance that it may need. Hopefully enjoy it after your short bad honeymoon.

 

No mailboxes involved? Sounds fishy..

 

One of my recorded recall fixes was for the tensioner/pulley assy. Mine was replaced after only a few months in 07 according to the records. You can verify if your Tundra was taken in to have it done. I'm betting not. It's always important when buying used to make sure what if any recalls were addressed by the previous owner(s). I'd bet that OP's Tundra wasn't fixed either according to the recall.

 

It means “Help me Tom Cruise. Use your witchcraft on me.”