With cruise control engaged at 55 MPH any increase in incline will initiate a one or two gear downshift and substantial throttle application. Also when in cruise control using hand control stalk to increase speed slightly will initiate a one or two gear downshift and substantial throttle application. Both of these situations can startle the driver because of the abrupt changes and could cause…
2006 Toyota Tundra cruise control problems
severe 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
5crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 28 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Toyota Tundra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 12 model years of Toyota Tundra in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Tundra has a pattern of unintended acceleration and cruise control issues that dealers and Toyota consistently say are normal or cannot diagnose; multiple owners report crashes, near-misses, and unsafe situations that remain unresolved despite dealer and manufacturer inspection.
Owners of 2006 Tundras report two main electronic throttle problems that dealers and Toyota have consistently failed to fix or diagnose.
Unintended acceleration occurs at low speeds and during highway driving, sometimes reaching 100+ mph, forcing vehicles into poles, embankments, buildings, and other cars. It happens in Park with the engine running, during driveway exits, and unpredictably while driving. Brake pedals lose pressure or travel to the floor without stopping the truck. Owners describe it as electrical in nature; one ASE-certified master technician with 15 years' experience ruled out floor mats and stuck pedals, attributing the problem to EMI (electromagnetic interference). Dealers test micro-chips and find nothing wrong. Toyota's legal department gets involved but provides no resolution. The manufacturer denies warranties on some vehicles and limits recalls to 2007 and later models.
Cruise control failures show up as abrupt, aggressive downshifts and full-throttle application whenever the truck encounters even minor inclines. RPMs jump from 2,000 to 5,000; the truck accelerates rapidly on hills it handles smoothly without cruise engaged. Toyota and dealers call this normal. Corporate told one owner not to use cruise in hilly areas.
One owner suggested the vehicle be impounded for testing; another reports a congressman recommended Toyota use his truck as a test vehicle. None of the 28 reported incidents have been repaired or resolved by the manufacturer.
Same Toyota Tundra cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration while parked or at low speed
Engine races or vehicle accelerates without driver input while in Park or moving at very low speeds (5 mph or less). Owners report RPMs rising at complete stops (red lights, stop signs) and the vehicle lunging forward despite brakes applied. Incidents occurred in garages, parking lots, and driveways.
When: Early ownership (one report at 10,000 miles), variable mileage from 10k–100k
Symptoms owners cite: Engine races unexpectedly in Park; RPMs rise at complete stops without pedal input; Vehicle lurches forward despite brake pressure; Accelerator pedal stuck in some cases; Brake pedal loses resistance or travels to floor; Occurs intermittently and unpredictably
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to duplicate or diagnose; one local shop identified 'electronic system failure between accelerator and computer'; dealer micro-chip tested showed no failures; one report suggests EMI (electromagnetic interference) as possible cause; unrepaired in most cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota stated 'working as designed'; warranty denied on some vehicles; 2006 models excluded from some recall programs (only 2007+ covered); no recalls identified for 2006 models; legal department involvement mentioned but no resolution provided
Unintended acceleration while driving
Vehicle accelerates suddenly and uncontrollably during normal highway or city driving, sometimes at speeds up to 100+ mph. Occurs with or without cruise control engaged. Brake pedal may lose effectiveness. Incidents resulted in crashes into cars, embankments, buildings, and walls.
When: Variable, from 3,000 miles to 100,000 miles; one crash at 56,000 miles involved multiple vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration to 100+ mph on highway; Acceleration during lane changes; Vehicle accelerates when releasing accelerator pedal; Brake pedal unresponsive or loses pressure; Vehicle continues accelerating despite braking attempts; Loud noise heard in cabin during acceleration event
Repairs/costs cited: Fleet-wide inability to diagnose; dealers and manufacturer specialists unable to determine cause; one report of stuck floor mat at 3,000 miles requiring manual removal; one report involved hitting pole to avoid 8-foot embankment; no repairs completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer inspected vehicles and found nothing wrong; specialist inspectors unable to determine cause; Toyota legal department notified; no recalls issued for 2006 models
Cruise control aggressive downshift and full throttle on inclines
When cruise control is engaged at highway speed and vehicle encounters any hill or minor incline, transmission drops one or two gears and applies full throttle abruptly. Normal driving without cruise control handles same inclines in overdrive without aggressive acceleration. Behavior described as startling and unsafe.
When: Occurs during cruise control use on slopes; reported by multiple owners across different mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Abrupt one-to-two gear downshift when cruise encounters incline; Full throttle application accompanies downshift; RPMs jump from 2,000 to 3,000 or higher (up to 5,000); Rapid acceleration on hill that vehicle can handle smoothly without cruise; Same incline handled normally without cruise control active
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota and dealers claim this is 'normal operation'; Toyota corporate recommended avoiding cruise control in hilly areas; warranty and recall programs do not address this issue
Engine surge and lunge at idle
Engine RPMs rise unexpectedly when vehicle is at a complete stop at traffic lights or stop signs. Without firm brake pressure, truck jolts forward. Occurs from first week of ownership. One owner reported very fast cold idle speed at startup.
When: From first week of ownership; occurs intermittently at stops
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs surge at red lights or stop signs; Vehicle lunges forward if brake pressure not maintained; Occurs with foot on brake pedal; Very fast idle on cold start (one report)
Repairs/costs cited: Reported to three dealerships; owner requested documentation in service notes; no repairs documented
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Air pressure in one tire constantly deflates. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that due to the porosity chrome of the wheels, air leaks out from the wheel causing the tire to deflate. *tr
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Toyota Tundra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Toyota Tundra?
It's a meaningful issue. 28 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 30,000 and 66,000 miles, with the median around 44,107. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 66,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Toyota/Tundra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.