Dealer visit checklist
2022 Toyota Tundra checklist
Print it or keep it on your phone. Tick each item as you go so nothing gets missed.
This is a year to avoid
- • 2.1x more owner complaints than nearby model years
- • 7.5x more owner complaints than other 2022 trucks
Inspect the car
- Check every panel gap and look for mismatched paint (signs of past accident repair)
- Look at the tires: even wear, matching brands, at least 4/32" tread
- Check under the car and engine bay for oil, coolant or other leaks
- Start the engine cold; listen for knocks, ticks or squeals and watch for smoke
- Test every window, lock, seat, light, the A/C, heat and infotainment
- Test drive on city streets and highway: straight braking, smooth shifts, no pulling
- Ask for the service records and a vehicle history report
- Have an independent mechanic do a pre-purchase inspection (about $100–$200)
Known 2022 Toyota Tundra problems to check
- Early 2022 models reported intermittent issues with the new twin-turbo 3.5L V35A engine's fuel dilution, where oil becomes contaminated with gasoline during short trips — worth monitoring oil quality closely
- The infotainment system (standard 8-inch or available 14-inch) received complaints about sluggish response times and occasional software freezes; a software update helps but doesn't fully resolve it
- Transmission hesitation or rough downshifts at low speeds was reported by a subset of owners, particularly in the first 10,000 miles of break-in
- Rear leaf spring suspension can produce a noticeably stiff, bouncy ride when the truck bed is unloaded — a common full-size truck trade-off but more pronounced on the 2022
- Some owners reported squeaks and rattles from the cabin interior trim, especially around the dashboard and door panels, within the first year of ownership
Ask: have these recalls been fixed?
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Tundra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system.
- POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:PARKING ASSIST:SOFTWARE: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system.
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus NX250, NX350, and Toyota Tundra vehicles.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles.
- STRUCTURE:BODY: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles that may be equipped with a Toyota genuine accessory tonneau cover.
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid vehicles.
- EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Toyota Tundra vehicles.
Negotiate the price
- Know the typical price: about $37,500 for this model year
- Negotiate the out-the-door price, not the monthly payment
- Get the full price with every fee listed in writing before you sign
- Bring your own loan pre-approval so the dealer has a rate to beat
- Say no to add-ons you didn't ask for (paint protection, VIN etching, nitrogen tires)
- Negotiate your trade-in separately, after the car's price is agreed
- Be ready to walk away; another listing is usually a click away