Things I Learned After a Week Behind the Wheel of the 2026 Toyota Tundra

A couple of weeks ago, Tim sent me to my local Toyota dealership to inspect the build quality of the 2026 Toyota Tundra. I found one issue on that truck that raised an eyebrow. Fast forward, and I’ve now spent a full week living with a 2026 Toyota Tundra Limited Nightshade 4×4 with the i-Force Max […] (read full article...)

So much about the Tundra to like, size, feels like a tank vs. cheap sheet metal, etc. However, some things show the quality problems that Toyota has going on with the Tundra. One of the main issues I have with it is the very rough downshifting on the way to a stop sign. Very rough, like instead of coasting to a stop sign, you better be hard on the brake because it keeps wanting to plow forward as it downshifts and really thumps at one point every time. This is a 1794 edition, non-hybrid. The RPM's are not up, it's definitely a tranny problem.

The other kind of crazy thing about it is this strange jerking forward and without any warning, when starting out. You'll press the same amount of pedal (and I'm not a race driver, I go very easy on the pedal) and you'll get this huge jerking motion and the engine takes off like a sprint horse. There is no rhyme or reason for it, it just happens. I'm going to post these on the car problem site, because it's serious. Both could cause major issues.

Just got the car back too, from the Toyo dealer as something chewed through a wiring harness. $2K and while I could have put in for insurance, the net amount of $1500 from the insurance company would not help later when they charge you more in premiums for having filed a claim that wasn't your fault. The soy coating has been told is bunk by industry "experts", that isn't the as much the issue. The issue is that the coating that surrounds the wiring isn't complete. It doesn't fully cover wires at some areas and in this very specific case, they only chewed where exposed wires go into the connectors. When I did low voltage electric (alarm systems and security cameras) I would heat shrink tube anything that was exposed, including at the connector. This is what is wrong, the exposed part of the wiring is letting the odor out and they went right to it. Considering now we have many many connectors and wires than we did back in the earlier days of cars, more protection should be added to protect that wiring. I would not put computer cables outside in the weather, without a physical protection around them, including the connectors. Why are cars any different? Why not protect those connectors and wire, other than trying to save money?

Having had two Tacomas (2025 Off Road and 2026 hybrid limited) there were issues that were just silly. Specifically silly thing on the 26 limited hybrid is when I'd leave truck running to get the mail or to do whatever, the driver seat back would recline all the way back to the lower part of the rear seat. Like clockwork. Why? No idea but have a feeling it is like it was supposed to be memory seats or something, wrong controller or something? Traded it before had a chance to get it serviced. Was looking for more legroom and space and only the Tundra fit the bill.

As we all know, Toyota quality in 1985, when my dad bought his corolla and it went nearly 400,000 miles without anything more than basic maintenance, is gone. And now, here we are. My 2020 RAV4 hybrid with 35,000 miles needed a gas engine rebuild due to stuck injectors that did a cylinder was on two different cylinders. Toyota contributed the parts and I paid labor, but it's going to be at least $6K. Final bill not done yet. My fault for not driving it enough? Sounds plausible, but honestly cars sit on dealer lots for a year and never get started, and don't have this issue. Or why shortly after purchasing that 2020 RAV4 hybrid new, had to have the steering rack replaced for random wandering right, left, or not at all. Japanese engineers were consulted who said it had to be replaced.

Reply Like

Well, I could not take it anymore. After a month I ditched the Tundra. I traded it in a new Tacoma Limited Hybrid which I had prior to the Tundra. It was getting worse, not better. Constant unexpected acceleration with light pedal (I'm a conservative driver), clanging around the tranny and driveshaft. Enough is enough, and they had refreshed or did something with it when the wiring harness got replaced. No good. Felt like it was getting worse as I drove it more. I was fortunate enough to be able to do it, and put some money back in the bank, I know Toyota will probably come out with some service program in five years to address it long after people got rid of theirs. I wanted to buy American made, this was a disappointment on the same level as what I had with multiple Fords over the years and swore I'd never buy another Ford between paint, tranny, engine issues. I only bought a truck because I need the legroom I can't get in the SUV market. The RAV4 BTW, was a hair over $7K to fix the engine, with Toyo chipping in for the parts.

Reply Like

I had a 24, AT4, and it was very nice and my first foray into the truck world. I got so tired of people who were acting badly around me, whether intended bad or just fooling around, but it was tan and got too much attention. It had the legroom and though it's good sans some smaller issues but I wondered if I should just get the Denali, which I did. And don't laugh, but in Heritage Blue. I'm a 60YO heterosexual male, former LE, etc. and not someone you'd expect to drive that. But I had a theory, well I liked the color, but as a Denali in blue it attracted less attention from others who had to prove their truck was better than mine.

Now it was nice, I really liked the truck BUT it was loaded with problems. Starting with a bad battery. GMC in my area could not tell me when they'd be able to get to it, they were bogged down with things and would have to troubleshoot it. So I bought a die hard battery, put it in, and after I saw what I saw under the hood with things not hooked up properly or fit together right or at all, I traded it in the next day.

GMC's thing is they won't give you a loaner if they don't have any, which they didn't, and GMC won't reimburse you for a non-GMC rental, and after contacting the 3 big rental companies near me, no go. All the GM's had been rented by those who wanted reimbursement.

But in the end, what I realized is that being able to get service, and on a door to door basis from my local Toyota dealer, well that had to be the #1 thing. Had been a WTC first responder and a whole host of medical issues, so I can't sit in waiting rooms, masked or not, and the germs in loaners could be okay, or not. It's Russian roulette for me to do stuff like that. So I rely on door to door service.

I was worried about Nissan, because they have floated going out of business, but my luck with that dealership when they also serviced Subaru a few years back, was not good.

You might want to change my user name to Charlie Brown....just bad luck, medical issues, and wanting to be comfortable In a reliable vehicle that works....hoping for luck this time around. And looking for the perfect truck as my son has said, which doesn't really exist, call it the eccentricities of a newly retired disabled guy I guess with time on his hands to obsess but also since I don't travel, can't do anything indoors like shop or have lunch with friends, driving around is really my only activity and when I have energy to do it, it's what I like to do, taking in all the gifts God has given us.

Oh, the A/C is an important issue, I have leukemia and you are always hot.....the hybrid A/C can't be beat, the GMC's were 2nd, the tundra A/C about 6th or 7th place I guess....really gotta be driving to cool off vs. being able to idle and have good cold air. Maybe the Tundra was a one off bad one, but I wasn't going to take a chance on keeping it just to be miserable for what time I have left.

Hoping for a miracle, in that it all just works and everything is fine.......

Reply 1 like

I had a 24, AT4, and it was very nice and my first foray into the truck world. I got so tired of people who were acting badly around me, whether intended bad or just fooling around, but it was tan and got too much attention. It had the legroom and though it's good sans some smaller issues but I wondered if I should just get the Denali, which I did. And don't laugh, but in Heritage Blue. I'm a 60YO heterosexual male, former LE, etc. and not someone you'd expect to drive that. But I had a theory, well I liked the color, but as a Denali in blue it attracted less attention from others who had to prove their truck was better than mine.

Now it was nice, I really liked the truck BUT it was loaded with problems. Starting with a bad battery. GMC in my area could not tell me when they'd be able to get to it, they were bogged down with things and would have to troubleshoot it. So I bought a die hard battery, put it in, and after I saw what I saw under the hood with things not hooked up properly or fit together right or at all, I traded it in the next day.

GMC's thing is they won't give you a loaner if they don't have any, which they didn't, and GMC won't reimburse you for a non-GMC rental, and after contacting the 3 big rental companies near me, no go. All the GM's had been rented by those who wanted reimbursement.

But in the end, what I realized is that being able to get service, and on a door to door basis from my local Toyota dealer, well that had to be the #1 thing. Had been a WTC first responder and a whole host of medical issues, so I can't sit in waiting rooms, masked or not, and the germs in loaners could be okay, or not. It's Russian roulette for me to do stuff like that. So I rely on door to door service.

I was worried about Nissan, because they have floated going out of business, but my luck with that dealership when they also serviced Subaru a few years back, was not good.

You might want to change my user name to Charlie Brown....just bad luck, medical issues, and wanting to be comfortable In a reliable vehicle that works....hoping for luck this time around. And looking for the perfect truck as my son has said, which doesn't really exist, call it the eccentricities of a newly retired disabled guy I guess with time on his hands to obsess but also since I don't travel, can't do anything indoors like shop or have lunch with friends, driving around is really my only activity and when I have energy to do it, it's what I like to do, taking in all the gifts God has given us.

Oh, the A/C is an important issue, I have leukemia and you are always hot.....the hybrid A/C can't be beat, the GMC's were 2nd, the tundra A/C about 6th or 7th place I guess....really gotta be driving to cool off vs. being able to idle and have good cold air. Maybe the Tundra was a one off bad one, but I wasn't going to take a chance on keeping it just to be miserable for what time I have left.

Hoping for a miracle, in that it all just works and everything is fine.......

Forgot the pics! I do miss the GMC's in the way they were a very nice presentation.

Reply 1 like

I loved both blue ones, they were different, but both cool, and different from everything else. Interesting the one consistent thing with the two exact models of Tacomas (hybrid limited) is the back of the drivers seat folds down when you leave the truck on and walk out of phone range (I think or key fob range). Folds all the way back to touch the bottom cushion of the back seat. Only the drivers seat. Makes me think they put in the controller for the Land Cruiser that has memory seats or something. Will get that worked on at its first service visit. But between the two, there are differences in the handoff from electric to gas, and some other things like braking on the first one I had was inconsistent, but the white one is consistent. programming or parts, there are differences from one to another with exact same truck model.

You know, I think the tan one evoked feelings of insecurity with some, they had to zoom past me and cut me off, just to get in front of me. Rolling coal. Crazy stuff. I just wanted to cruise along in comfort, normal speed, let anyone get in front of me instead of having them behind me, no off roading, just an older guy doing his thing. The blue didn't attract as much attention, did get more compliments when getting gas than I expected. And the Tundra was respected I guess and nobody was messing around....again more compliments getting gas. The white one, which is a nice pearlescent white, that gets no comments so far and that suits me just fine. Just want to get along and do my thing.

I take my little dog out to look at farm animals, if I have the energy to get out and do a longer ride. She never tires of it, nor do i.

The roads are small and the obstacles like tractors or farm equipment comes at you and you need to get off the road...the Tundra was bigger and not as easy to get off the road.

Reply 1 like