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2021 Toyota Tundra

Gas
Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
77 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA24
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA15 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Toyota Tundra is sold in the U.S. as a gas pickup truck with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tundra 2WD, is EPA-rated at 15 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 24 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Tundra 2WDGasRWD5.7L 8-cyl131715$4,150
Tundra 4WDGas4WD (part-time)5.7L 8-cyl131714$4,450

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43010, 43018.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Toyota Tundra is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Steering

21TB10 / 21TA10
22,462 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.RiskAn oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.
NHTSA campaign 21V920000reported Nov 23, 2021Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
!critical

Electrical System

21TB06 / 21TA06
158,489 vehicles
ProblemToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Tundra vehicles. The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector.RiskAn overheated electrical connector can increase the risk of a fire.FixDealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and replace any damaged bulb, bulb connector, and/or headlight assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB06 and 21TA06.
NHTSA campaign 21V688000reported Sep 2, 2021Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
24complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 1 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 3

Most-cited components

Unspecified6
Electrical System4
Seats4
Visibility/Wiper3
Exterior Lighting2
Forward Collision Avoidance2

What owners describe

“Airbag , it was bad accident on freeway , but my car airbag did not work.car did not inspect with dealer , they were not any waring sign”Jan 6, 2026 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“When I turn the key to crank my radio doesn’t come on , A/C won’t blow and I have to jiggle the keys or restart it to end the issue. My husband has witnessed thi happen many times. Scared I might have an electrical issue. Contact me back for assistance to me for this issue please. It doesn’t happen every time eit…”Oct 11, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly hesitated and jolted, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the …”Mar 21, 2025 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
PU/CC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆22%
PU/CC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆20%
PU/EC 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆22%
PU/EC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆20%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Compare the 2021 Tundra with

2021 Ford F-150 →2021 Chevrolet Silverado →2021 Ram 1500 →

Other Tundra model years

A

2026 Toyota Tundra

2 recalls · 28 complaints

B

2025 Toyota Tundra

4 recalls · 131 complaints

F

2024 Toyota Tundra

10 recalls · 332 complaints

F

2023 Toyota Tundra

13 recalls · 398 complaints

F

2022 Toyota Tundra

13 recalls · 429 complaints

D

2020 Toyota Tundra

4 recalls · 45 complaints

F

2019 Toyota Tundra

9 recalls · 72 complaints

F

2018 Toyota Tundra

8 recalls · 99 complaints

D

2017 Toyota Tundra

5 recalls · 78 complaints

D

2016 Toyota Tundra

5 recalls · 119 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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