Car Defect Radar

Ford F-150 vs Toyota Tundra: problems, recalls & years to avoid

NHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the Ford F-150 and the Toyota Tundra, with the 16 model years both have (2010–2025) set side by side. Each model is measured against its own typical year, not against the other model.

Years to avoid and years with the fewest complaints

Ford F-150

Years to avoid
20112013
Fewest complaints
No year stands out yet

The typical Ford F-150 year has 1,064 complaints on file, across 16 model years (2010–2025).

Toyota Tundra

Years to avoid
202220232024
Fewest complaints
201520202021

The typical Toyota Tundra year has 109 complaints on file, across 16 model years (2010–2025).

A year is one to avoid when it drew at least 2 times the complaints of its model's typical year (the median across the model's years on this site) and at least 200 complaints, or when its complaints include 5 or more reports of a death. The years with the fewest complaints have no such flag and are from 2023 or earlier: newer years have not been on the road long enough to compare. Each model is measured only against its own years. Source: NHTSA owner complaints, as of October 26, 2026.

The 16 model years both have, side by side

Complaints by model year

Ford F-150

2.6× its typical year in 2013, its worst year

2,796 complaints against a typical year of 1,064.

Years to avoid: 2011, 2013. Fewest complaints: no year yet.

Toyota Tundra

3.9× its typical year in 2022, its worst year

428 complaints against a typical year of 109.

Years to avoid: 2022, 2023, 2024. Fewest complaints: 2015, 2020, 2021.

typical yearavoid zonesolid bar = a year to avoid

Ford F-1502 years to avoid · typical year 1,064avoid zone: 2,129+01,0002,0003,0002010Ford F-150 2010: 842 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2011Ford F-150 2011: 2,137 complaints, 2.0× its typical year, a year to avoid2,137avoid2012Ford F-150 2012: 1,717 complaints, 1.6× its typical year2013Ford F-150 2013: 2,796 complaints, 2.6× its typical year, a year to avoid2,796avoid2014Ford F-150 2014: 1,362 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2015Ford F-150 2015: 1,425 complaints, 1.3× its typical year2016Ford F-150 2016: 1,750 complaints, 1.6× its typical year2017Ford F-150 2017: 1,120 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2018Ford F-150 2018: 1,902 complaints, 1.8× its typical year2019Ford F-150 2019: 1,000 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2020Ford F-150 2020: 544 complaints, 0.5× its typical year2021Ford F-150 2021: 1,009 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2022Ford F-150 2022: 590 complaints, 0.6× its typical year2023Ford F-150 2023: 408 complaints, 0.4× its typical year2024Ford F-150 2024: 187 complaints, 0.2× its typical year2025Ford F-150 2025: 102 complaints, 0.1× its typical yearFord F-150avoid zone: 2,129+typical 1,0642025Ford F-150 2025: 102 complaints, 0.1× its typical year1022024Ford F-150 2024: 187 complaints, 0.2× its typical year1872023Ford F-150 2023: 408 complaints, 0.4× its typical year4082022Ford F-150 2022: 590 complaints, 0.6× its typical year5902021Ford F-150 2021: 1,009 complaints, 0.9× its typical year1,0092020Ford F-150 2020: 544 complaints, 0.5× its typical year5442019Ford F-150 2019: 1,000 complaints, 0.9× its typical year1,0002018Ford F-150 2018: 1,902 complaints, 1.8× its typical year1,9022017Ford F-150 2017: 1,120 complaints, 1.1× its typical year1,1202016Ford F-150 2016: 1,750 complaints, 1.6× its typical year1,7502015Ford F-150 2015: 1,425 complaints, 1.3× its typical year1,4252014Ford F-150 2014: 1,362 complaints, 1.3× its typical year1,3622013Ford F-150 2013: 2,796 complaints, 2.6× its typical year, a year to avoid2,796avoid2012Ford F-150 2012: 1,717 complaints, 1.6× its typical year1,7172011Ford F-150 2011: 2,137 complaints, 2.0× its typical year, a year to avoid2,137avoid2010Ford F-150 2010: 842 complaints, 0.8× its typical year842
Toyota Tundra3 years to avoid · typical year 109avoid zone: 218+01002003004005002010Toyota Tundra 2010: 163 complaints, 1.5× its typical year2011Toyota Tundra 2011: 134 complaints, 1.2× its typical year2012Toyota Tundra 2012: 155 complaints, 1.4× its typical year2013Toyota Tundra 2013: 85 complaints, 0.8× its typical year2014Toyota Tundra 2014: 93 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2015Toyota Tundra 2015: 48 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints48fewest2016Toyota Tundra 2016: 119 complaints, 1.1× its typical year2017Toyota Tundra 2017: 78 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2018Toyota Tundra 2018: 99 complaints, 0.9× its typical year2019Toyota Tundra 2019: 72 complaints, 0.7× its typical year2020Toyota Tundra 2020: 45 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints45fewest2021Toyota Tundra 2021: 24 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints24fewest2022Toyota Tundra 2022: 428 complaints, 3.9× its typical year, a year to avoid428avoid2023Toyota Tundra 2023: 400 complaints, 3.7× its typical year, a year to avoid400avoid2024Toyota Tundra 2024: 334 complaints, 3.1× its typical year, a year to avoid334avoid2025Toyota Tundra 2025: 130 complaints, 1.2× its typical yearToyota Tundraavoid zone: 218+typical 1092025Toyota Tundra 2025: 130 complaints, 1.2× its typical year1302024Toyota Tundra 2024: 334 complaints, 3.1× its typical year, a year to avoid334avoid2023Toyota Tundra 2023: 400 complaints, 3.7× its typical year, a year to avoid400avoid2022Toyota Tundra 2022: 428 complaints, 3.9× its typical year, a year to avoid428avoid2021Toyota Tundra 2021: 24 complaints, 0.2× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints24fewest2020Toyota Tundra 2020: 45 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints45fewest2019Toyota Tundra 2019: 72 complaints, 0.7× its typical year722018Toyota Tundra 2018: 99 complaints, 0.9× its typical year992017Toyota Tundra 2017: 78 complaints, 0.7× its typical year782016Toyota Tundra 2016: 119 complaints, 1.1× its typical year1192015Toyota Tundra 2015: 48 complaints, 0.4× its typical year, one of the years with the fewest complaints48fewest2014Toyota Tundra 2014: 93 complaints, 0.9× its typical year932013Toyota Tundra 2013: 85 complaints, 0.8× its typical year852012Toyota Tundra 2012: 155 complaints, 1.4× its typical year1552011Toyota Tundra 2011: 134 complaints, 1.2× its typical year1342010Toyota Tundra 2010: 163 complaints, 1.5× its typical year163
Bars are NHTSA owner complaints per model year. The dashed line is the model's typical year (the median of its years on this site). A year that reaches the hatched avoid zone, twice the typical year and at least 200 complaints, is a year to avoid. The two panels have different scales. Each model is measured only against its own years: the counts are not adjusted for sales, so the chart does not say one model has more problems than the other. Hover a bar for its numbers; every value is also in the table below.
Model yearFord F-150Toyota Tundra
ComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur readComplaintsTimes its typical yearRecallsOur read
20251020.1×13Few red flags1301.2×5Few red flags
20241870.2×11Few red flags3343.1×10Approach with caution
20234080.4×13Some concerns to check4003.7×13Approach with caution
20225900.6×23Some concerns to check4283.9×13Approach with caution
20211,0090.9×29Some concerns to check240.2×3Few red flags
20205440.5×11Some concerns to check450.4×5Few red flags
20191,0000.9×9Some concerns to check720.7×10Few red flags
20181,9021.8×19Some concerns to check990.9×9Few red flags
20171,1201.1×18Some concerns to check780.7×6Few red flags
20161,7501.6×14Some concerns to check1191.1×6Few red flags
20151,4251.3×14Some concerns to check480.4×5Few red flags
20141,3621.3×8Some concerns to check930.9×5Few red flags
20132,7962.6×3Approach with caution850.8×6Few red flags
20121,7171.6×4Some concerns to check1551.4×4Few red flags
20112,1372.0×6Approach with caution1341.2×11Few red flags
20108420.8×1Some concerns to check1631.5×16Few red flags

Complaints link to each model year's report. "Times its typical year" sets a year against the same model's typical year. The two models' counts can't be compared directly: they are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Most reported problem, by model year

Model yearFord F-150Toyota Tundra
2025Transmission and drivetrainEngine
2024Transmission and drivetrainEngine
2023Transmission and drivetrainEngine
2022Transmission and drivetrainEngine
2021Transmission and drivetrainElectrical system
2020Transmission and drivetrainFuel system
2019Transmission and drivetrainFuel system
2018Transmission harsh and erratic shiftingElectrical system
2017EngineElectrical system
2016Brake master cylinder failureBrakes
2015BrakesBrakes
2014Transmission and drivetrainElectrical system
2013Transmission sudden downshifts and lead frameEngine
2012Transmission sudden downshift to low gearEngine
2011Transmission sudden unexpected downshiftsEngine
2010Wipers and visibilitySuspension

Top problems of each model

The areas of the car NHTSA owner complaints name most, all model years together. A complaint can name more than one area.

Ford F-150

Biggest named problems, in the model years whose complaints we have read and grouped: Transmission sudden downshifts and lead frame (2013, roughly 1,081 complaints); Transmission sudden unexpected downshifts (2011, roughly 548 complaints); Transmission sudden downshift to low gear (2012, roughly 464 complaints).

Toyota Tundra

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns. A campaign that covers several model years is counted once.

What the data can't show