Third Generation Tundra … Yes or No

I had a 2014 Limited and loved it. Then got a 2021 Limited as I wanted a newer truck (last of the V8’s). Almost went for a 3rdGen in 2022 until I saw the wastegate and lots of trim and electronic issues, but held off. Wondering if Toyota has really addressed all issues by now to be as stable as the 2ndGen. Keep the 2021 or move up to the new format?

 

Welcome from NY

I'd keep the 2021.

 

Thanks!

 

2021 gang forever.

 

I have a 2024 SR5 TRD OR. Although I never owned a 2nd gen, I have driven them and been around them a quite a bit. I suppose I have been unlucky, but I’ve had a lot of quality control/fit and finish issues with my 3rd gen, and I have had two mechanical issues in the few months I have owned my truck. Having said all of this, I would hold off until the 2026 refresh to see if Toyota cleans some of these issues up.

 

If what you have works and you're happy, keep it for seven years as you did your previous 2nd gen. Unless the 3rd gen offers something your 2nd doesn't, I see no need to switch.

 

Totally agree with this! Love my ‘24 but had no issues with my ‘16 - One minor TSB with BSM, but no serious issues.

 

Wait... For 25 or not better 26. They're still trying to figure out wind noise issues, and now there may even still be engine bearing failures in 2024s as one case was reported fee days ago

 

Anything with a build date after August 2023 is fine.

 

Keep the 2021!

 

This is a tough question! I had a 2018 Tundra and sold it and bought a Gladiator (yes I know it’s a long story lol) and I recently bought a 2024 Tundra. And my wife currently drives a 2019 Sequoia, so I get to almost compare apples to apples in real time!

Yes the new gen has some quality control issues, but man does it put a smile on my face every time I drive it or see it.

I would say to sum it up most every aspect of the 2nd gen was improved on the 3rd gen, maybe not huge improvements but definitely improvements.

I may still be in the honeymoon phase but the powertrain on the 3rd gen just makes the truck seem like a rocket and it just seems to do it with such ease (somewhat because you don’t have the V8 roar) but you get that sweet sweet turbo sound!

The increase in low rpm torque and the 10spd is very noticeably for me when I drive the tundra then drive my wife’s sequoia, and I always thought the sequoia felt quick.

I have towed the same travel trailer with the both Tundras and the Sequoia, it’s about an 8k 30’ trailer.
The 2nd gen Tundra towed it fine, but running down the interstate it was always a battle to keep it in 5th gear when I would come up to any incline. It loved to shift into 4th and get high in the rpm’s to make lots of power. With the 3rd gen it just doesn’t do that it obviously tows much more like a diesel where it uses the turbos and lower rpm’s to make lots of power for inclines. I think because of this and the 10 spd it just seems to tow better than the 2nd gen.
Fuel economy isn’t much different obviously 3rd gen get better mpg until you start towing and using a lot of boost lol

lots of rambling, but when I sold the Gladiator I was really torn between which gen tundra to buy. I loved the V8 sound and feel, didn’t really care about the “tech” the 3rd gen’s come with (I only use CarPlay, remote start sucks on both gens, and I had all the cameras on my gladiator and never really used them).
But me being the nerd I am I was really fascinated with the TTV6 and still am, plus I love the look and the improvements on the 3rd gen tundras. I’m very happy with my purchase but after having the 3rd gen for a month it’s tough to say if it’s worth the extra $10k to $15k (ballpark numbers) compared to a 2nd gen.

I know that’s a wall of text with no smoking gun answers but it is what it is lol good luck and you will
Enjoy which ever truck you decide to buy!

 

Do you really want to be kicking yourself? Keep the 2021!

 

Correct answer is always both.

 

I have a 2019 platinum with 52k on it now, and with the service deal offered by Toyota I take it to the dealer for regular service. The last 2 trips I made they let me drive a new Tundra while I waited for my service to get done, of course you walk away from that as "wow, nice smooth quiet ride with pretty cool tech upgrades." It makes me think, a new truck would be nice, for all the benefits of having a new vehicle and then I climb into my truck to drive away and I immediately notice the differences in the 2 generations. However, as I do drive it down the road I also realize it's almost as quiet, almost as smooth even with 52 k and being 5 years old, so I settle down into the seat very happy with my big ol' girl.

 

I feel like my 23 is more fun to drive than my 21 was. It’s certainly a lot quicker. That said, the Gen 2.5 is a platform that’s proven to be ultra dependable. While I do think the issues with the new ones are much less common than people believe they are, the jury is still out on the dependability. I’m at about 30k with zero issues, but you never know.

 

Despite having new gen bugs, I have a 2022 CM6.5 and don't regret it one bit. Previous Tundras, 2014 DC traded at 101k, 2019 CM traded at 37k when the 22's came out. Getting pretty much what I paid for the 19 CM helped justifying the 22. I regularly pull an enclosed trailer and the 22 does it SOOOO much better. I don't feel like I'm beating on the truck to cruise on the interstate pulling the trailer. Both the 14 & 19 had the 5.7.

 

You guys are giving me second thoughts. I’m giving my 2012 to my son, and was going to buy a 2023 SR5. I think I’m getting a pretty good deal on it. But maybe I should just look for something in 2017-19 with lower mileage. They aren’t that much cheaper than the 2023 though..

 

Why on EARTH would you trade in a perfectly good, three year old truck??

 

I switched over from a 2016 F150 to this, and while this is my first tundra I do miss my old truck. So much so that I almost bought a 1996 F150 while owning a 2022 Tundra because I miss that old truck feel.
I think you will be fine giving it to your son because he will love it just as much as you did and take care of it. I mean I am assuming because when I was in High School my dad gave me his 04 Silverado and I babied that thing. It was a black truck and I waxed it every 3 months, and washed it every week. It was clean. That is a side rant though.

I had my honeymoon phase with my 2022 and had some issues with some sensors, which I didn't even think of, but I was rear ended 30 days into owning this truck, and that messed my sensor up. That is on another thread though. Just know that if you get a newer one and get in an accident, better have good coverage and a low deductible because a ripped off rear panel and tail light was 12k$. Blew my mind how much car repair is these days. I used to work at a dealership and my mom got into 10 accidents, so I would always handle her cars body repairs and I have seen her car in worse shape get fixed for 1/5 the price.

The newer gens feel nice and quiet and the transmission is great, but get the best warranty off the lot because the key fobs are 600$ I believe is what they told me. Any electronic in the truck is not readily available so expect to take weeks and some mula to get fixed. But if you never need repairs, then you never have to worry about it.

 

I kind of agree with this. I like my 2022, but if I had a good 2021 I probably wouldn't even consider it. The feeling of the twin turbos and electric acceleration wear off after the honeymoon phase. I also have a company vehicle so mine sits in a garage 6 days a week. I have 17k miles on an almost 2 years old truck.

Also I noticed that Tundras are getting ridiculously priced. I looked at a similar model 2024 TRD 4x4 and it didn't even have 360 camera, like they took the tech package off a limited, and it sold for 9k$ more than mine. I think Toyota needs to fix there tech and come back to earth with the prices. I got my truck for a good deal at 62k$ before my trade and down payment, but I don't think I would have bought my truck at 71k$. Do not sell that 2021 unless you HAVE to.

 

in just roughly 1.5 yrs since we bought our 23 platinum 5.5ft non hv the price has jumped around 4k for the same build and options.

our original

feb-2023 msrp : 67,782
discount price : 62,758 (what we actually paid for the tundra)

that was before trade in.

new current tundra with same options : 71,334

 

Biggest mistake I ever did was to trade in my 2018 TRD sport for a 24 TRD Off Road. I have had nothing but troubles with the 24. I wish I could go back to December 5th 2023 and just pass by the dealership and go home. Now with more than $75K wasted, I have a 2024 and regret it. And, I bought it to tow a 5K trailer. As soon as I put the toung of the trailer on the hitch, it nearly hits the bump stops. Piss poor design!

And, I had better technology in my 18 Tundra. I had to find my garage remotes because the new Toyotas don't automatically get the Home Link. The back up cam looks better but that's all you get unless you dump large cash on those options. And Don;t get me started on build quality issues.

Ok, Fleicias' tell me how much you love your overpriced junk and defend the mediocrity of Toyota in 2024...

 

Just sell it and move on, easy, not worth being pissed over a machine

 

My 23 Tundra has been flawless mechanically and also I do not have the wind noise that everyone is talking about. I love the truck and it feels like a better truck quality wise than the other options out there. Do what you want but Toyota makes some awesome vehicles.

 

I mean I had a few issues with mine, but Toyota did fix them for free. Also one of mine was an issue I believe to have been caused by a rear ender some did to me 1 month into buying my truck. I love the feel of the transmission and how quiet the truck is. I like my truck, but I can't say I love it. Out of all the Manufacturer's new offerings, I think Toyota has the best 1/4 ton option, even for the price. Ford, GM , and Dodge (I don't consider Nissan's practical trucks) all have their own problems, and I see them constantly having more stuff to bitch about than mine. I miss my old Ford but I think it is purely sentimental. It had 87k miles and was starting to have transmission issues, the gas cap would open from bumps, the gas hole or whatever they would call it would occasionally leak gas when filling with it, the steering was constantly rough and leaning to left, even after alignment.

I think for me I just notice and nit pick the shit out of trucks, and the Tundra is better than their competitor's quality wise by a fair margin.

 

OP Did you buy an extended warranty for your 21? Will you for a 2024?

No for me on my 18 even if I got it new. For the new generation, I absolutely would. That thinking it will break down and be very expensive and a long wait to fix, is why I'm staying in the 18. Plus even with discounts all new vehicles are highly priced.

 

Yeah, I do not get the bashing for the newest generation. The technology they are putting into these trucks is what makes them, IMO. The hybrid is obviously made for towing which I do not do but I have had the recall fixes preformed and never had an issue that seems to affect the 22-23 model years. Maybe they were making adjustments as they proceed but I have an early 23 build and the extended warranty for 10 years or 150k miles whichever occurs first. I do not think I will probably ever use it. Most people complaining on here about their trucks are the minority of owners. As the good ones don't speak about issues they do not have.

 

Don’t believe everything you read. I have a 22 1794 Hybrid and other than the gas filler tube I have zero of the issues that some ( usually the same people over and over ) say plague the truck.

Mine got wrecked today I would buy another tomorrow!

 

Folks, I have owned Toyotas since my 1979 Land Cruiser. I love them. That is why I got the 24 by trading in my 18 Tundra. What I didn't appreciate is the manufacturing quality issue that cost me just north of $13,000.00 to fix. This was because the tech at the dealership claimed the failure was bad gas. So, Toyota went with that and billed me for the repair. I am in the middle of a lawsuit. So, you can imagine how I feel about build quality issues that crop up.

Just a sour taste because of this one issue...