Prospective owner, give it to me straight

So, Are there real issues or not with the 3rd gen, just looking at a general overview. I know how these questions go… so anyone with a level head who’s not going to fanboy or fear monger let me have it. I know when someone posts here it’s usually something bad, and you don’t always hear of the hundreds or thousands of others that don’t have an issue. But, I don’t get a great feeling thumbing trough the third gen threads

I’m a longtime member over at Tacoma world. I currently have a 2015 taco with 145k on the odo and haven’t had an issue. Getting the last year of a generation helps

so, I’m looking at the 3rd gens so I can tow my new to me travel trailer better. The taco does ok, but I’m not going to go on an 8 hr trip with it.i knew this going in, but being up in miles I figured rather than put a bunch of money into things like the front suspension, maybe it’s time to upgrade if I’m thinking about towing more than a couple hundred miles

thanks everyone

 

Every single vehicle ever produced has issues, especially in a complete redesign. I've personally not had a single problem with mine, but you can find no end in complaints on many boards.
Long term I believe Toyota has proven their commitment to quality and expect I'll be driving this for many, many years.
Cheers

 

I have a 2022 1794 edition. I bought it in October of 22 and it's been largely trouble free. My electric thigh support on the driver seat did go out but Toyota replaced it without issue. Other than that it has bee largely trouble free. I have developed a slight rattle in the pano moon roof which I will have the dealer address very soon. The drivetrain has been great, plenty of power and torque down low. It's more powerful than my previous 2019 TRD Pro with the 5.7 and it does get marginally better gas mileage (my average is 18.1).

 

Not sure what you're looking for other than whats already been documented but for those who have had issues, I'm sure they seem pretty real.

EDIT: That above probably sounded snarky but what I mean to say is we could list a bunch threads describing the documented issues but after reading all of them, you'll have to do like the rest of us and calculate your risks given the data.

 

Understood, guess I’m looking for someone who’s been around these trucks and on the forums longer than me who can say yes there are more issues than normal for a 3rd year new gen, or just normal bumps and bruises. I see turbos going and some engines gone, but are they onesie two sizes or worrying. I have been through the forums for a month or so, not years. For instance, I would be be pretty good at giving someone a rundown on tacomas, been an active member on there for 9 years

 

Owning a 2nd Gen Taco I can tell you if you want the same 2GTaco simplicity something like a 2016-2017 Tundra will tow your trailer with the same old school simplicity.

Like all new vehicles, some fancy amenities are pretty nice, more complex can mean a little more can go wrong, more and more emphasis on emissions and EPA crap every year isn’t fun, but new safety and technology features can be a plus for some. I’d go used, but I wouldn’t blame someone for liking the new Tundra either. General consensus and common sense is always better than, like you said initially, naysayers and elitists arguing semantics.

 

Calc risks, it’s what I do, engineering. Thanks

 

You nailed that, the drivetrain in my 15 taco I can work on, now I open the hood and I see covered plastic, sensors galore, turbos, etc. getting harder and harder for the home mechanic to work on

 

as a previous 3rd gen tacoma owner that was on tacomaworld, you second gen tacoma owner will get along just fine with the tundra 2nd gen guys.

 

Owner of a 22 SR5. 6.5 bed with PVM and some advanced technology options. 10000 miles and 20 months usage. Other than the various tech bulletins that are currently released I have not had any concerns or bad experiences like some others have had.
Fuel economy could be better considering I don't drive hard. I am pleased with the truck.

 

If you’re an engineer with this mindset I’d find a used 2nd Gen. Mentioned before, 16-17 are the years before extra sensors and beeping.

If I find another bench seat second gen I’m buying it even though mine runs fine ha.

 

This is my first Toyo ever, I leaped over from Chevrolet because I wanted the Toyota creed of craftsmanship and the loyalty of them standing behind their product.
With that said I have not been disappointed, the only thing that went south on mine was the radio knob and the 2 recalls (the recalls) are a simple time consuming inconvenience but that's it.
Have you read up on them in Consumer report guide?
They are pretty much on point for a non biased based company.

All the best man.

 

I don't know if anyone has collected all the problems into single place but even if they did, the list would be kinda subjective on whats real/important. Heck, I saw someone say they were thinking of ditching their truck because of the fuel gauge problem which to me, given "the list" seems less worrisome than others.

 

If you’re coming from a Tacoma, it’s leaps and bounds better in performance… I just miss the parking spaces and more safety annoyances. 10k miles on mine and not a single issue

 

'22 Limited here, I can't say I've had any more issues with this truck than any other vehicle I've bought new from Toyota, Honda, or Subaru. I've definitely had way less than the Ford I had. I knew when I bought this truck that there was a certain amount of risk for a brand new design and first year of that design. But, after driving it almost daily since August '22, I have no regrets.

 

Yup, and the reason I got a dcsb, parks everywhere

 

Nothing major, 4000lb loaded 22’ wolfpup, which is good because the payload on the 3rd gentundras seems abysmal. From this forum whether or not the payload listed is accurate is up for debate

 

Could it do it, yes, do I want to, no
Edit. And it’s not just the actual towing, but I am using up all my payload on the taco with tongue weight, me, my wife, dog and few accessories

 

Hate to break it to ya, but I’m also pert near payload with a Tundra and the fam on a trip.

If there was a Tundra 3500 I’d own it haha.

Iirc, you’re adding about 300 or so lbs of payload from Taco to Tundy. Maybe more, but can’t be much.

 

Doesn’t sound like much, but 300 lbs is a small grill,table, bikes, whatever etc. my payload is 1050

 

What ideal Tundra configuration/trim would you be looking for?

 

Just buy one, doesn't work for you, sell it. If you plan to haul or tow big weight get the OEM air lift. Understand the once you yank off the OEM tires your milage will take a hit. Some ( me being one) have no problem getting 25-28 MPG while others are in the teens. Probably aftermarket add ons and driving styles. Hybrid engine is solid.

I would buy another tomorrow

 

This thread pretty much covers most of the issues, both major and minor including which issues have been attempted to be resolved by TSB: https://www.tundras.com/threads/off...ssues-major-minor-updated-feb-29-2024.137190/

I only just bought a used 23 Limited last month after cross shopping every full size truck and the Tundra was my favorite in terms of performance and features. After owning it for a month, it's definitely got some quality issues that are pretty frustrating given how much the truck cost. These issues are covered in the thread above but I've got excessive wind noise from the front windows, a rattling center console, a creaking front seat backrest, a noisy bed and a weird, very faint droning sound at highway speed that a few others have complained about. As an engineer that's worked for both Ford and Honda, I see these as issues related to poor interior quality and NVH testing, but I have a good bit of confidence in the mechanical parts of the truck given what I know about modern day durability testing and, from my stint at Honda, the expectations that executives have for durability and convenience.

IMO, I doubt that those people that claim their trucks are perfect actually have perfect trucks, they just have a higher floor for when they start noticing out-of-place noises or vibrations.

 

Nice find. I had forgotten that @ryanwgregg had put that together.

 

im not 100% sure i understand every option, but limited off road, i really just want heated seats! I enjoy the off road package on my tacoma. i also like the double cab, (kidless with a dog) and like the longer bed without the truck getting to big. they dont seem to be popular, or the dealers are just slow getting them

 

Buy the truck it is great. Buy the extended warranty just in case. Enjoy the truck.

 

im well aware of the toyota truck creaks! my 15 specializes in them. i can put up with stuff like that, in the end i want a truck thats going to start and get me from point a to point b everyday without huge unexpected maint costs. I know it can happen, just dont want a truck where its a good chance it does.
and thanks, ill check out that thread

 

Wait until 2025s are out.
2024s still have flimsy window seals and other qc issues...

 

I'm also a long time member at Tacoma World (same name and avatar there).

2017 Taco OR bought new given to my kid, and I replaced it with a 2023 Tundra 1794 Hybrid.

I haven't looked back.

 

I'm a retired engineer, so things bother me that many people won't even notice. I am particularly annoyed by things that don't work as intended, abnormal noises, and vibrations.
I came from a 22 F-150 that I had planned to keep for several years. My disappointment with the F-150 and the way Ford responded to problems had progressed to bitterness by the time I decided on a replacement and traded for a 24 Tundra 1794. I researched every major brand before deciding on a Tundra. There is no perfect truck and there are always tradeoffs between the various manufacturers, but the Tundra seemed to be the best fit for me.

The seats in the Tundra are not as comfortable for me as those in the Ford, but they aren't bad.
The technology is not as mature in the Tundra, but that's not necessarily a bad thing since much of the Ford technology malfunctioned periodically anyway.
I have a couple of squeaks/rattles in the Tundra, but they are nowhere near as bad as the many obnoxious interior noises my F-150 King Ranch had.
The drivetrain on the Tundra is smooth and controlled. The F-150 had a drivetrain shudder that the dealer determined was due to a faulty transmission. Ford refused to allow a replacement. I could be wrong, but I believe Toyota would allow a dealer to replace a transmission that was determined to be faulty.
Everything on the tundra seems to work the way I would expect it to. I couldn't say that for the Ford.
On paper, the turning radius of the Tundra is greater than that of a comparably configured F-150. That was a bit worrisome to me since the Ford turned like a small yacht. I have instead found that the Tundra turns noticeably sharper than the Ford which makes me think there was a problem with the steering on the Ford that I never recognized.

After six months and just over 7,000 miles, I am very pleased with the Tundra, but I also bought an extended warranty.