Tundra AIP Issues

[John]

Hey, Eric. I’ve been looking around for a new vehicle and was thinking about a 2015 Tundra. I was told to be careful because there are a lot of issues with the air induction pumps and, sometimes, they are not covered by the warranty, especially if moisture is found. Please, let me know what you think? I looked around the Toyota forums and there are lots of very unhappy Tundra owners out there and owners are saying don’t bother getting one. I was also told that the replacement pumps are just as faulty and Toyota really has no good solution in place other than covering the pump.

Topic

[Gary]

Toyota quality has been slipping for a while and there are some cases where they have told owners to pound sand. Some issues they have had such as a moldy smell from the A/C and oil comsumption issues(in the 4 cyl AZ engines) that cropped up since the 2007 model year they still haven’t corrected despite many owners complaining about it as well as class action lawsuits. Toyota doesn’t usually fix problems unless they are held over a barrel. I have never owned a Toyota but I know plenty who do and they are not pleased with Toyota’s approach and customer service as of late. Look around online, you will see many more. Ironically, Toyota’s quality started to slip with their entry to NASCAR which they are now heavily involved with. My theory is they are throwing all their resources to Lexus and NASCAR and leaving the Toyota brand in a state of degradation.

[EricTheCarGuy]

No one can say what is wrong with a vehicle, or what can go wrong with a vehicle without seeing it for themselves at the very least. That said, if there is a known issue then you should be cautious. I can’t say for sure what will happen down the road however. Also, those vehicles come with hefty maintenance bills, the tires alone will set you back. If you’re not prepared for that kind of expense with a vehicle of that type, I suggest you look elsewhere.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/what-to-look-for-in-a-used-car-purchase

[Gary]

As Eric said, your biggest expense with a truck will be tires as well as fuel. If you have any truck questions, feel free to ask me because like my “about me says, I’m a truck fanatic. Most trucks now come with P rated tires rather than the LT tires unless you get a HD model. This alone helps cost but you also need to consider the size of the tire/rim. The bigger the tire/wheel the more costly typically. The Tundra has a 5.7L engine, be prepared to spend money on fuel. Also, the Tundra’s frame is a C-Channel like my old Chevy and other older trucks(and Ford Super Dutys). Most manufacturers for light duty trucks have moved to a fully boxed frame for greater ride quality and torsional stiffness as well as creating less gap between body panels. In GMs case all their trucks are now fully boxed since around 2011. With a C-Channel there is more flex to the frame and it will ride rougher. There is a reason C-Channel is used on heavy duty trucks and that reason is certainly not ride quality.

[Author]

Replies