TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections have been updated. October 30, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2018 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0012-13. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0012-13 is obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. Flash reprogramming allows the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software to be updated
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Toyota Tundra powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Toyota Tundra have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 70,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Tundra | 64 |
| 2008 Tundra | 37 |
| 2009 Tundra | 8 |
| 2011 Tundra (this page) | 17 |
| 2012 Tundra | 19 |
| 2014 Tundra | 5 |
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 17 powertrain complaints filed for the 2011 Toyota Tundra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been interrupted.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: World Standard (WS) Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) was introduced to reduce maintenance costs and increase the mileage between scheduled maintenance checks. Here are some important tips when working with ATF-WS in Toyota vehicles requiring it's use.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide information regarding transmission and/or park neutral position switch installation. If the manual shift lever is rotated prior to installing the park neutral position switch, the detent spring may become detached from the manual shift lever.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or transmission damage. Use the information in this bulletin when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2011 Tundras report recurring failures across the powertrain that create real safety hazards. The transmission has two critical failure modes: the park engagement fails intermittently, allowing vehicles to roll downhill or unexpectedly jump into reverse while parked, and the reverse engagement sometimes goes forward instead of backward—one driver went over a 40-foot embankment because of this.
Secondary air injection pump failures trigger limp mode and drastic power loss on highway, dropping from 70 mph to 25–40 mph without warning. Check engine lights illuminate. These failures occur between 50k and 174k miles.
Driveshafts fracture, causing severe vibration and grinding noise. Rear axle bearings fail around 66k–72k miles, producing metal-on-metal grinding and howling during turns. Toyota has TSB T-SB-0013-13 on file but refuses warranty, calling it normal wear. One owner reports transmission shaking requiring a $3,000 replacement at 90k miles. Shift lock solenoid chatter in the column is common; dealers say excess factory grease is the cause. Electrical gremlins including rodent damage to wiring harnesses have also appeared.
Same Toyota Tundra powertrain reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Shift Lock Solenoid Chatter
Column shift lock solenoid produces excessive clicking or rapid chattering, particularly when brake pedal is depressed while vehicle is in gear. Dealer attributed to excess factory grease preventing full solenoid engagement.
When: Intermittent, occurs when braking while in gear
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clicking from steering column near shift lever; Single click, double click, or rapid series of clicks when brake pedal pressed in gear; Clicking is normal in park but abnormal occurrence while in gear
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer cleaned excess grease from shift lock solenoid
Unintended Park Disengagement / Transmission Fails to Lock
Transmission does not lock in park; vehicle remains in neutral or shifts unexpectedly into reverse. Multiple incidents of vehicle rolling backward or jumping into reverse on inclines or flat surfaces, creating hazard situations.
When: Winter parking, on driveways and flat parking lots; incidents reported at 60k and higher mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward when placed in park on inclined surface; Vehicle jumps into reverse while parked in flat parking lot; Plastic and rubber components in shifter found loose inside shifter case; Transmission remains in neutral instead of locking in park
Repairs/costs cited: Plastic and rubber pieces pushed back inside shifter case; dealer inspection found nothing wrong on report
Reverse Engagement Malfunction
Vehicle shifted into reverse but moved forward instead, or engaged forward motion when driver intended reverse operation. One incident involved vehicle going over embankment.
When: At point of gear engagement
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle moves in opposite direction from selected gear; Vehicle lurches forward unexpectedly when placed in gear after startup
Secondary Air Injection Pump Failure
Secondary air pump fails, triggering limp mode and drastic power loss. Check engine light illuminates. On highway, causes sudden velocity drop from 70 mph to 40 mph or from 50 mph to 25 mph, creating hazardous situations.
When: 50k to 174k miles; occurs during highway driving and cold start
Symptoms owners cite: Limp mode activation with drastic velocity drop on highway; Check engine light and traction control light illumination; Loss of power on acceleration from red light; Failure to accelerate as intended despite pedal depression
Codes mentioned: Secondary Air Injection Pump code
Repairs/costs cited: Secondary air pump needs replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Campaign 11V254000 (Powertrain); some VINs not included in recall
Driveshaft Fracture
Driveshaft develops fractures, causing severe vibration and abnormally loud grinding or clunking noise. Vehicle shakes at all speeds. One case involved clunking at low speeds during complete stops.
When: 100k miles and above
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking and vibrating throughout vehicle; Abnormally loud sound from drivetrain; Clunking noise from rear driveshaft at low speeds and complete stops; Feels like drop in rear end
Repairs/costs cited: Driveshaft confirmed fractured by independent mechanic
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Campaign 11V254000 (Powertrain); some VINs not included in recall
Rear Axle Bearing Failure
Rear axle bearings fail, causing metal-on-metal grinding noise and rubbing during turns. Rear brake disks rub on metal brake disk shield during lateral loading in curves. Problem worsens over time.
When: 66k to 72k miles; degradation over 12-18 months and 10-15k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent rubbing or metal-on-metal grinding noise from rear wheels in turns; Howling noise while driving, predominant at 30-40 mph; Noise escalates in frequency and intensity over months
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0013-13 exists; owner replacement cost unknown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota TSB T-SB-0013-13 available; dealer claims normal wear and refuses warranty coverage
Transmission Shaking and Rumbling
Transmission develops shaking and rumbling vibration, particularly in 5th gear. Diagnosed as internal transmission failure requiring replacement.
When: 90k miles on vehicle; problem developed 2,000 miles prior to complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shaking and rumbling; Vibration most pronounced in 5th gear
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement estimated at $3,000
Electrical System / Wiring Harness Damage
Vehicle experiences stalling and multiple warning light activation. Diagnosed as battery failure on first incident, then transmission on second incident, finally identified as rodent damage to engine wiring harness.
When: 60k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle deceleration and stalling while driving 60 mph; All instrument panel warning indicators illuminate prior to stalling; Unexpected stalling while reversing from driveway
Repairs/costs cited: Rodents chewed through wiring harness; wiring harness required replacement
Front Differential Noise
Noise in front end of truck from front differential and shaft, particularly when cold and at speeds under 50 mph. Owner reports similar complaints among other new Tundra owners.
When: Cold start and low-speed operation below 50 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Noise in front differential and shaft; Occurs when vehicle is cold and at lower speeds
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
?on 12/26/2014, I started my tundra, placed it into gear after a 30 second pause and proceeded to literally stand on my breaks to stop the vehicle from lurching forward. The back tires spun causing smoke to emanate from the screeching tires. At the time I placed the vehicle in gear, a pedestrian was walking in front of the tundra. I almost squashed them.? *js
I am very concerned about a noise in the front end of the truck (front differential and shaft) while the car is running still on cold and at a speed lower than 50mph. I do not know if it could lead me to have a car accident into the city. I have seen many other people with the same complain with absolutely new tundras. I wonder if it is about time for Toyota tundra put hands on it and fix this…
Truck is a 2011 Toyota tundra with 66,000 miles. Truck has been diagnosed with faulty left rear axle bearing that is creating a howl type noise while driving. Noise is predominant at 30-40 MPH. Toyota needs to extend t-sb-0013-13 for certain 2011 model tundras.
I have a 2011 tundra sr5 with a loud clicking noise that has been coming from the steering column near the shift lever. While in park, the brake pedal must be pressed in order to shift the truck into gear. When I press the brake pedal, a loud click can be heard from the column shifter. This is the column shift lockout solenoid and is normal. However, recently I can hear the solenoid clicking…
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a red traffic light, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and remained at the residence for further investigation. In addition, a local independent mechanic was contacted, and the…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2011 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 powertrain problem on the 2011 Toyota Tundra?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 60,000 and 96,917 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 60,000; a quarter make it past 96,917. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2011/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.