What years 2.5 Gen are more dependable/reliable?

so what was and is wrong with the UCAs

 

Leaking grease

 

that is weird on two different sets of UCAs

 

Well, I have a 2018 bought new and it as been perfect. Zero issues (94k miles) except for a few software recalls in the few months after I got it. Has LED headlights (but can be retrofitted to earlier Tundras from 2014-2017), 5.7 L engine, 38 gallon tank, last year of the transmission cooler. No cam tower or cam chain cover leaks. First year of TSS but I shut almost all of it off, I know how to drive since I first started in 1961. There are a couple of items I do value, one being the RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert) which is very good when backing out of blind parking places in a busy parking lot. Picks up little kids crossing behind me that I might not see otherwise (sees them before they come into the back-up camera view). Personally have no need for the adaptive cruise control, I'm retired, live in the country with no traffic and I do little freeway driving.

Second Tundra, first was a 2006 bought new and my daughter now drives it.

Dan

 

RCTA is definitely a game changer in a crowded Costco parking lot

 

Yeah, the cool thing is lights up the BSM (Blind Spot Moniter) light on whatever side the cross traffic is spotted on so it orients my vision in the correct direction. That plus the back-up camera allows me to be precise in my back-ups and not crunching some expensive bumper (or fender) on the car/truck behind me (not to mention my own).

Dan

 

Dealer said the same thing. My opinion? Folks aren't inspecting these at 20K or 40K and are allowing the dealer to do everything for that first 20K/2 years because of the free maintenance deal.

I honestly think it is a racket. Works like this: dealer offers 2 yrs / 20K maintenance for free, so folks never look under anything and take it in not thinking anything could be wrong in these areas because...well....it's a Toyota and should be fine. Well, after the maintenance period runs out, they are used to not looking so they take it back to the dealer or wherever and they never ask anyone to check the whole thing over because why would they? It's a Toyota and it is under 50K miles and why would anything like suspension be out of whack if they won't feel anything weird or whatever. Then one day they notice something or a noise and at 80K miles or more, they find out their suspension parts are leaking and worn out, etc.... and never think when did it start.

Bottom line: why would anyone check this but a nerd like me at 10K or 20K? I had my first UCA changed at under 10K.

 

Car Care Nut explains it on Youtube. Problems with Tundras, he's never seen any failures over 2014. He even researched it and said there are different part numbers after 2014.

 

If the head gasket is leaking would you be able to see it from above the engine? I figure so. Sounds like they found it in later models and fixed correct?

 

My 21, although an August 21 build has been trouble free. Well, except for the insatiable thirst for gasoline. That's what I get for towing a trailer, I guess. All kidding aside, my MPG is consistently above EPA estimates when not hitched but I do drive it conservatively. I don't mind all the additional safety features and don't think I'd miss them if I had a 17 MY.

 

The only thing I would miss in a 2017 is CarPlay. That's easily remedied with a new head unit.

I will say, LDA is helpful on cross-country drives when one starts to get a bit tired. The safety features are unobtrusive, though. I don't bother with them, and they don't bother me.