2020 Toyota Tundra
The 2020 Toyota Tundra is sold in the U.S. as a gas large pickup truck with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tundra 2WD, is EPA-rated at 15 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 47 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tundra 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.7L 8-cyl | 13 | 18 | 15 | $4,450 |
| Tundra 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 5.7L 8-cyl | 13 | 17 | 14 | $4,800 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41832, 41859.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tundra 2WD, Tundra 4WD | 5 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Pickup |
| GVWR class | Class 2F: 7,001 - 8,000 lb (3,175 - 3,629 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Displacement | 5.7 L |
| Engine configuration | V-Shaped |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 381 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Seating
| Seat rows | 2 |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Transmission speeds | 6 |
Driver assistance
Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Limited Grade, Platinum Grade, SR5 Grade). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 226.0–244.9 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 79.9 in |
| Height | 76.0–76.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 145.7–164.6 in |
| Track, front | 68.1 in |
| Track, rear | 68.1 in |
| Curb weight | 5,291–5,633 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 58/42 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: Crew Max S/Box 4WD, Double Cab L/Box 2WD, Double Cab L/Box 4WD, Double Cab M/Box 4WD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2020 Toyota Tundra is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (4)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseElectrical System
21TB06 / 21TA06Fuel System, Gasoline
20TA02, 20LA01Electrical System
20TB12/20TA12These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
Whether any of this applies to one specific Tundra
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Toyota publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Toyota Tundra, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2020 Toyota Tundra
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this Tundra →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported
5.0 per 10,000 built · Toyota reported 94,727 Tundra built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 13 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 6
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
Can not fuel truck normally. Gas stops pumping after 2secs and have confirmed the issues with multiple gas stations
was struck in front right corner of truck and air bags did not deploy or the automatic braking system did not respond causing me to be thrown in to rearview mirror and breaking the windshiled and causing body harm to my head and spine
Air conditioning compressor partially seizes if air conditioning is turned on while driving and when air conditioning knob is on at time engine is started. Makes very loud noise. When driving, and it occurs, truck will slow suddenly as if the brakes were applied until compressor engages.
Breaks and rotors and caliber broke 2 times and the car is brand new, it cost me over 2400. Bought the truck with 0miles- have all paper work
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V688000 (Exterior Lighting, Electric System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available.
I bought a 2020 Tundra in mid year of 2020. By December 2020 I started to notice a strong vibration in the steering and from the front end between the low speeds of 20-30 mph and between 60-70 mph. The hotter the vehicle gets the more vibration occurs. Now my alignment seems off and curves to the left when trying to drive straight.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Toyota itself: 37 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 46 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 39 per 100,000 built. Every Tundra model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 17 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 1,000 and 8,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PU/CC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 22% |
| PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 20% |
| PU/EC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 22% |
| PU/EC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 20% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Structure, Engine, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.
- T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-01-30 · Electrical System
- OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- T-SB-0001-26 Service bulletin2026-01-28 · Electrical System
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
- T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-01-07 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interi
- T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 Service campaign2025-06-13 · Electrical System
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
- T-TT-0780-25 Service bulletin2025-04-02 · Electrical System
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the system and are only to be used when requested by FTS and/or FPE.
- T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 Service bulletin2025-02-11 · Electrical System
- Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software. The SST is used with applicable vehicles to deliver the update, however, the process for generating license keys differs from previous generations.
- T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint
- T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| B15DB B15DB on Toyota → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 5 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Toyota Tundra failed the emissions check on 1.0% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).
failed emissions
1,861 initial inspections of 1,826 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2020 Tundra | Every 2020 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 1.0% | 2.2% | 1,856 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.2% | 1.6% | 1,861 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.11% | 0.19% | 1,861 |
| Miles driven a year | 11,666 | 9,980 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 73,491 | 62,630 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
Compare the 2020 Tundra with
Any vehicle, your weights →| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup · Large Pickup truck · grade F | Tundra +19.6 |
Tundra by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2020 Tundra
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2020 Toyota Tundra have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2020 Toyota Tundra. The most serious on file is 21V920000, covering Steering. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2020 Toyota Tundra?
NHTSA gave the 2020 Toyota Tundra 4 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 3-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (76/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Toyota Tundra?
Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Toyota Tundra, the best EPA combined figure is 15 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2020 Toyota Tundra?
Transport Canada measured it at 226.0–244.9 in long, 79.9 in wide (body, without mirrors), 76.0–76.4 in tall, on a 145.7–164.6 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 5,291–5,633 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2020 Toyota Tundra?
Owners have filed 47 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Toyota Tundra, most often about unspecified, fuel/propulsion system, engine. Of those, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2020 Toyota Tundra?
The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Toyota Tundra is 5 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Toyota Tundra?
The manufacturer has filed 159 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Toyota Tundra, most often covering equipment, electrical system, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-01-30. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2020 Toyota Tundra do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Toyota Tundra failed the emissions check on 1.0% of first inspections — lower than the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
Is the 2020 Toyota Tundra better than the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup?
The Toyota Tundra wins clearly, 86.8 to 67.2, on safety, performance. The Jeep Gladiator Pickup is ahead on fuel & range. We publish a full side-by-side of the 2020 Toyota Tundra against the 2020 Jeep Gladiator Pickup — specifications by family, equipment feature by feature, safety record and ownership costs. You can re-weight what matters to you and the verdict recalculates.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 2 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 2 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 4 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 47 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 4 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 159 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | none | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | No defect investigation has been opened. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 11 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.