The 2018 Toyota Tundra lasts around 350,000 miles with some minor brake sensor and dash rattling issues reported. At $31,102 to $50,539, it’s expensive, but worth it for one of the most reliable trucks with low long-term ownership costs.
Is the 2018 Toyota Tundra a Good Used Truck?
- Overall Rating 9/10 – The 2018 Toyota Tundra is one of the best full size trucks since it’s extremely dependable, giving it a high overall rating. Owner reviews praise the passenger room, luxurious interior, as well as the advanced safety technology.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – Interior materials are good for a full size truck, the seats hold up well over time, there are also three bed lengths available.
- Reliability 10/10 – There are no serious problems found on the 2018 Toyota Tundra. Models from 2009–2021 are all excellent choices offering reliable engines.
- Performance 8/10 – Performance is good from both of the available V8 engines, although the towing capacity is a bit lower at only 10,200 pounds.
- Safety 8/10 – The 2018 Tundra is safe, earning 4 out of 5 stars in government crash tests. There’s a standard rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, as well as lane departure warning. There’s optional blind spot monitoring.
- Gas Mileage 6/10 – Fuel economy is poor at up to 16 MPG, giving 608 miles from the 38 gallon tank. Gas costs are $22 more expensive than average at $285 per month.
- Value 8/10 – The 2018 Toyota Tundra is more expensive than other trucks, although low ownership costs make it a great long-term value.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Toyota Tundra?
- Consumer Reports says the 2018 Toyota Tundra is a strong full size truck compared to American competitors, with very high owner satisfaction scores.
- Edmunds rates the Tundra at 4.1/5, praising the standard safety features, but doesn’t like the poor fuel economy.
- Kelley Blue Book users give the Tundra a 4.5/5, enjoying the outstanding reliability ratings, but owners don’t like the lower towing capacity.
What Common Problems Does the 2018 Toyota Tundra Have?
Common problems found on the 2018 Toyota Tundra include the brake system warning light, rattling noises from the dash, as well as bubbling paint. Overall, these problems are fairly minor compared to other full size trucks, leading to lower repair costs as it ages as well.
A brake system warning light is the most widespread complaint from 2018 Toyota Tundra owners at around 10,000 miles. The light will turn on when the pads start to wear down. If you use your truck to tow or haul lots of weight then the brakes will wear down faster. Replacing the pads costs around $450, while a new set of rotors is around $600.
Rattling noises from the dash also show up on some 2018 Tundra models in the first 5,000 miles. Usually, noises in the dash are a sign of a loose component which lets parts rattle. Most shops will be able to diagnose and fix rattling issues for under $100, depending on local labor rates.
Bubbling paint is another complaint from Tundra owners at around 50,000 miles. Paint which is not properly cared for and left out in direct sunlight will start to fail and bubble as it ages. The only way to fix bubbling paint is to re-spray the affected areas. Repainting trucks costs around $1,000 per panel.
There are nine recalls on the 2018 Toyota Tundra, which is more than other full size trucks. The most serious recall is for the fuel pump which may fail. Toyota will replace the fuel pump on affected models for free. Many of the other recalls are for various airbags and weight capacity labels, which are not a mechanical concern.
How Long Will the 2018 Toyota Tundra Last?
A well-maintained 2018 Toyota Tundra can last over 350,000 miles, which is more than the very popular Ford F-150. Regular annual maintenance costs are lower than other full size trucks, according to data provided by Repair Pal at $518 per year.
As a used 2018 Toyota Tundra reaches 100,000 miles, and depending on the vehicle history, owners should be prepared to replace the throttle body for $700, the windshield wiper motor costing $350, as well as the stabilizer bar links which cost $200.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is very good in the 2018 Toyota Tundra since it comes standard with a 6.1-inch touchscreen. There’s a 7-inch touchscreen available on the SR5 and higher models. Unfortunately, the 2018 Tundra does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Safety technology is excellent since the 2018 Tundra comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense. Standard advanced safety features include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, as well as automatic high beam headlights. Optional upgrades include front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, along with rear cross traffic alert.
Is the 2018 Toyota Tundra a Good Value?
Yes, the 2018 Toyota Tundra is a great value since it’s one of the longest lasting half-ton trucks on the market. The blue book fair purchase price ranges from $31,102 to $50,539, making it more expensive than a Ram 1500 or Chevy Silverado 1500. When new, the price range was $31,320 to $50,330. In current market conditions there’s no real depreciation on full size trucks, although in normal conditions expect to lose about 6% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Toyota Tundra?
There are five models of the 2018 Toyota Tundra available, from the base SR all the way up to the luxurious 1794 Edition. The Tundra also is offered with two cabin configurations, three bed lengths, as well as rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
SR is the entry-level model with:
- 18-Inch Steel Wheels
- Front Bench Seat
- Power Windows
- Cloth Seating
- Heated Mirrors
- Windshield Wiper De-Icer
- Rearview Camera
- Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- 1-Inch Touchscreen
- Six-Speaker Sound System
SR5 is a step up, adding:
- Fog Lights
- Front Bucket Seats
- 7-Inch Touchscreen
- Satellite Radio
- Navigation
Limited is next in the lineup with:
- 20-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Automatic Headlights
- Leather Upholstery
- Automatic Dual-Zone Climate Control
- Power Driver Seat
- Sliding Rear Window
Platinum adds features such as:
- LED Daytime Running Lights
- Power-Folding Mirrors
- Sunroof
- Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
- 12-Speaker JBL Sound System
1794 is the flagship model which has:
- Exclusive Exterior Trim
- Upgraded Suspension
- Premium Leather Seating
- Wood Interior Trim
What Engines Come In the Toyota Tundra?
- The base engine is a reasonably strong 4.6L V8 which makes 310 horsepower and 327 lb.-ft. of torque at up to 16 MPG. It comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission. It can tow up to 6,800 pounds with this engine.
- An available upgrade is the more powerful 5.7L V8, which produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb.-ft. of torque while getting up to 15 MPG. This also has a six-speed automatic transmission. The towing capacity is improved, at up to 10,200 pounds. Performance is good, taking 6.5 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.
What Colors Does the Toyota Tundra Come In?
How Comfortable Is the Toyota Tundra?
The 2018 Toyota Tundra is a very comfortable full size truck with seating for up to six passengers depending on the configuration. Seating is very nice throughout the cabin, offering a good amount of cushioning as well as durable long-lasting cloth or leather options.
Passenger room is great in the back seats of the Crew Cab model, but it’s a bit more cramped in the rear seats in the extended double cab model.
How Much Storage Space Does the Toyota Tundra Have?
There are three bed lengths available on the 2018 Toyota Tundra including a 5-foot-6-inch short bed, 6-foot-6-inch standard bed, as well as the full 8-foot long bed.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The second generation of the Toyota Tundra came out in 2007 and was replaced by the third generation in 2022.
2015: New TRD Pro model introduced for off-road performance, V6 engine discontinued. =
2016: Upgraded stereo system and standard trailer brake controller.
2017: No major changes.
2018: 2-door model discontinued, Toyota Safety Sense added as an optional upgrade.
2019: Upgraded suspension on TRD Pro model, BBS wheel options added.
2020: Apple CarPlay & Android Auto added, and the 4.6L V8 engine discontinued.
2021: Trail & Nightshade models added with new exterior accents.
How Does the Toyota Tundra Compare to the Competition?
The 2018 Toyota Tundra is one of the best full size trucks on the market since it has outstanding long-term reliability ratings and lower ownership costs than most of the competition.
The Ford F-150 is another full size truck which starts at about $6,000 less. Standard safety technology is better in the Toyota Tundra, while the Ford F-150 is more capable off-road. We recommend the Toyota Tundra since it is more affordable to own long-term, although both are great trucks worth taking a look at.
The Toyota Tacoma is a smaller truck offered by Toyota which costs around $3,500 less. Off-road performance is better in the Toyota Tacoma, while the Toyota Tundra has a higher towing capacity. We recommend the Toyota Tacoma since it’s easier to live with as a daily-driver, although the Tundra is better if you need to haul more gear.
