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Reliability report · 2021 Toyota Tundra · Updated July 2026 · ~$4,150/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

The last 5.7L V8 Tundra and the smallest complaint file in the range — the send-off year, worth buying for the engine everyone misses.

The 2021 is the final XK50 Tundra and the last year of the 5.7-liter V8 — the engine buyers now specifically seek out. Its 23-complaint file is the smallest in the entire range, and it carries only three recalls, all free: the headlight-circuit fire-risk fix and the power-steering-gear campaign (with its service-part companion).

The handful of real reports are a power-steering-gear failure (one owner quoted over $6,000 for the assembly — but it is covered free under recall 21V-920, so verify by VIN) and the generation's characteristics: sunroof shatter, a front-end shimmy, driver-seat play, and a combination-meter LCD that can blank (an owner asked to be folded into the 2022–2023 recall for that display). Add the cam-tower and salt-belt checks and a 2021 is close to the safest buy in the lineup for anyone who wants the V8.

Evidence: 23 NHTSA complaints · 3 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Calm

What that means: 23 federal complaints — the smallest file of the whole 2016–2023 range — and just three recalls, all free (headlight circuit and the power-steering gear). This is the farewell year for the legendary 5.7-liter V8 before the twin-turbo era. No mechanical failure pattern; the reports are a power-steering item covered by recall and a few characteristics.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

23

Federal complaints

3

Recalls

over $6,000

Assembly out of scope (owner dealer quote)

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

Power-steering gear can fail — recall 21V-920 (free)

moderate

Recall 21V-920 (Toyota 21TB10/21TA10) covers the 2007–2021 Tundra power-steering gear, which can be manufactured incorrectly, leak, and cause a sudden loss of assist; the companion 21E-103 (21TH01) covers the service parts. Both are free inspect/replace. One 2021 owner whose power steering failed around 38,000 miles was quoted over $6,000 for the assembly out of scope and noted 'they recalled a significant portion of the vehicles made in 2021' — which is exactly why you confirm the free repair shows completed by VIN.

Recall power-steering gear replacement

$0

Assembly out of scope (owner dealer quote)

over $6,000

Sources: NHTSA complaint + recall database, 2021 Tundra · NHTSA recalls and manufacturer communications (recall documents, Toyota internal codes)

Headlight circuit fire risk — recall 21V-688moderate

Recall 21V-688 (Toyota 21TB06/21TA06) covers 2018–2021 Tundra: the headlight electrical circuit may power the high and low beams at the same time and overheat the connector, which can start a fire. Dealers modify the engine wire harness and replace any damaged bulb, connector, or headlight assembly, free. Verify by VIN — several owners noted the recall part was on backorder for a time.

Sources: NHTSA complaint + recall database, 2021 Tundra · NHTSA recalls and manufacturer communications (recall documents, Toyota internal codes)

$0

Recall harness modification

Combination-meter LCD blank, seat play, and other characteristicsminor

The remaining 2021 reports are low-frequency characteristics, not failures. The combination-meter (instrument LCD) can go blank — an owner asked to be included in the 2022–2023 recall (23V-111) that covers exactly this display; check whether a fix was applied. Several owners describe the driver's seat rocking back and forth under braking or acceleration (dealers cite the seat track). Others note sunroof shatter, a front-end shimmy, windshield fragility, and TRD Pro accessory LED-light rattle. None are dealbreakers, but they shape the test drive.

Sources: NHTSA complaint + recall database, 2021 Tundra

Cam-tower oil leak and the rust-belt tax (5.7L V8)moderate

  • 5.7L V8 (3UR-FE)

The XK50 mechanical inspection applies to the final V8 year too. The cam-tower oil leak (a $1,200–$1,500 reseal, mechanic estimate) weeps onto the exhaust manifold — check for smoke and a burning-oil smell rather than a puddle. If the truck lived in a salt state, inspect the frame, front calipers, and rear wheel-bearing backing plates from underneath; a rotten frame is a walk-away. No factory transmission cooler this year, so add a thermostatic one if you tow heavily.

Sources: NHTSA complaint + recall database, 2021 Tundra · Independent mechanic/owner channel transcripts (Car Care Nut XK50 buying guide; 5.7L 3UR-FE breakdown)

$1,200–$1,500

Cam-tower reseal (mechanic estimate)

more than the truck is worth

Frame replacement

People are out crying about the outgoing V8 — 'we will miss the V8.'
6 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Toyota dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 21V-9202007–2021 Tundra / 2008–2022 Sequoia: power-steering gear may leak, causing sudden loss of assist. Free inspect/replace (Toyota 21TB10/21TA10).open
  2. 21E-103JTEKT power-steering-gear service parts, same defect as 21V-920. Free (Toyota 21TH01).open
  3. 21V-6882018–2021 Tundra: headlight circuit may power high and low beams simultaneously, overheating the connector (fire risk). Free harness fix (Toyota 21TB06/21TA06).open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2021 Tundra

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

15 MPG combined (13 city / 17 highway) for the RWD, 5.7L on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 43010 (Tundra 2WD).
Other builds EPA lists: 4WD, 5.7L 14 MPG.

$4,150/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Crash losses

Insurers lose about 16% less on this vehicle than on the average car. Lower collision losses tend to show up in what you pay for coverage.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI collision losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report R-23). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4WD.
Other series: Toyota Tundra double cab 4WD 84 · Toyota Tundra CrewMax 85 · Toyota Tundra double cab 83 · Toyota Tundra double cab LWB 4WD 87 · Toyota Tundra double cab LWB 48, where 100 = average.

84 vs 100

16% below average

Theft

Stolen about 70% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report WT-22). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4WD.
Other series: Toyota Tundra double cab 4WD 59 · Toyota Tundra CrewMax 78, where 100 = average.

30 vs 100

70% below average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Recall power-steering gear replacement$0
Assembly out of scope (owner dealer quote)over $6,000
Recall harness modification$0
Cam-tower reseal (mechanic estimate)$1,200–$1,500
Frame replacementmore than the truck is worth
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

Get the printable pre-purchase checklist and an alert if this year’s recall sheet changes.

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01Verify the power-steering-gear recall (21V-920 / 21E-103) shows completed by VIN — the assembly is a several-thousand-dollar job out of scope.
  2. 02Confirm the headlight-circuit fire-risk recall (21V-688) is done.
  3. 03On the test drive, watch for a blank combination-meter LCD and feel whether the driver's seat rocks under braking.
  4. 04Inspect the sunroof glass, drive at highway speed for a shimmy, and check the windshield.
  5. 05Check the front of the engine for a cam-tower oil leak (smoke / burning smell without a puddle).
  6. 06If it lived in a salt state, inspect the frame from underneath plus front calipers and rear wheel bearings; this is the last V8 — buy it for that engine.

Own one already?

The canary watches your VIN — new recalls and the mileage where known issues start.

Watch my VIN — free

vincanary.com/toyota/tundra/2021