POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Toyota Tundra wheels problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $400 · see wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
2crashes
What stands out
Of the 9 model years of Toyota Tundra we track for wheels problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 12.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering wheels on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. ST005-01, SU001-08, and T-SB-0391-08. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this service bulletin before proceeding. This Service Bulletin provides best practice procedures for vehicle pulling complaint, diagnosis, and repair for 2002 ? 2021 model year Toyota vehicles. This information supplements Repair Manual procedures when the symptoms are: ?Vehicle Pulling: The vehicle moves to the right or left when the driver holds the steering wheel while driving straight ahead without exerting steering effort.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report six distinct wheel-related problems on the 2006 Tundra, none resolved by Toyota despite repeated complaints. The most common issue is alloy wheel corrosion and bubbling, occurring as early as 39,000 miles and recurring even after warranty replacement—suggesting a manufacturing defect in the wheel coating or material. Owners describe blistering under the paint, pieces falling out, and eventual structural failure. Related is air-leakage caused by porosity defects in the wheel interior itself, causing constant tire deflation independent of punctures.
More serious are separation failures: one owner experienced left front ball-joint failure during low-speed maneuvering with the cotter pin missing; another had a passenger-side front wheel detach at 60 mph, rolling the truck into an embankment and destroying it; a third reported left wheel separation from the bearing while driving. All were ignored or unfixed by dealers.
One owner also replaced both front tires eight times in seven years despite no suspension defects being found. Separately, a owner received 15-year-old tires sold as new by a BF Goodrich dealer, which exploded at highway speed.
Toyota has declined warranty coverage after initial replacement periods, refused recall action, and in one case attributed corrosion to "extreme use" without thorough inspection.
Failure modes owners describe
Alloy wheel corrosion and bubbling
Alloy wheels develop blistering, bubbling, and corrosion under the paint/sealant, compromising structural integrity. Owners report this recurring even after dealer replacement while under warranty, suggesting a manufacturing defect in the wheel coating or material.
When: 39,000–100,000 miles; some within 2 years of replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Visible bubbling and blistering on wheel surface; Pieces of rim falling out; Corrosion visible under sealant/paint
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replacement performed under warranty; replacement wheels developed same defect out of warranty. No permanent fix identified by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota refused warranty coverage after initial replacement period ended; declined recall action despite multiple complaints; service manager attributed defect to 'extreme use' without detailed inspection.
Air leakage from wheel porosity
Tire pressure loss caused by porosity defects in the wheel interior, allowing air to leak directly from the wheels rather than tires. Diagnosed by both independent mechanics and dealers as a wheel manufacturing issue.
When: 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Constant deflation of air pressure in tires; Air leaking from wheels themselves, not tire punctures
Repairs/costs cited: Identified by independent mechanic and dealer; no repair outcome documented by owner.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no recall or coverage mentioned.
Left front ball joint failure
Ball joint separated from the vehicle, causing the wheel to jam into the quarter panel and become nearly detached. Owner references this as ongoing since a prior 70B recall, suggesting the recall did not resolve the underlying defect.
When: Timing not specified; occurred during low-speed driveway backing
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden ball joint failure while maneuvering; Wheel jammed into quarter panel; Cotter pin missing, fastener nut came loose
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer refused to cover repair cost. Parts affected: ball joint, cotter pin.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 70B issued previously; owner states problem persists despite recall; no additional recall or warranty extension offered.
Wheel detachment at highway speed
Passenger-side front wheel separated completely from vehicle while traveling at 60 mph, causing the Tundra to roll over and crash into an embankment. No injuries reported, but vehicle was destroyed.
When: 188,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Wheel became detached from vehicle; Vehicle rolled over
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; no repairs attempted or documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not contacted by owner.
Wheel separation at bearing
Left wheel separated from the bearing while vehicle was being driven in a residential area. Owner heard a pop, wheel shook, and wheel skidded on the ground after separation.
When: Mileage not specified; vehicle owned since 2006 new purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Wheel shaking prior to separation; Audible pop; Wheel skidded on ground after separating from bearing
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to service center for evaluation; outcome not documented.
Excessive tire wear requiring eight replacements in seven years
Owner replaced both front tires at least eight times over seven years of ownership. Dealer inspection found no suspension defects. Cause not determined, though owner suspected suspension issue.
When: 88,000 miles cumulative; replacements occurring regularly over 7-year ownership span
Symptoms owners cite: Premature tire wear on both front tires; Multiple replacement cycles
Repairs/costs cited: Tires replaced multiple times; suspension inspected and found to have no visible defects.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no issue identified or remedy offered.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had wheels 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 wheels problem on the 2006 Toyota Tundra?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $400.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 88,000 and 188,000 miles, with the median around 160,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 88,000; a quarter make it past 188,000. 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 $400 for wheels 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 wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels 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.