The Toyota Tundra can be a great full-size pickup truck, and the Tundra has an advantage in the fact that Toyota vehicles tend to be very reliable. And as many car shoppers know, buying used is a great way to save money on a car, so here’s a look at three used Toyota Tundra model years that are not only reliable, but also bargains as they cost less than $15,000.

(Note: Regardless of a used car’s reliability score, always obtain a vehicle history report and have a trusted mechanic perform an inspection to uncover potential problems before purchasing. Also, prices may vary depending on trim level, mileage, overall condition, and location.)

1. 2010 Toyota Tundra

J.D. Power gave a great review to the 2010 model year of the Tundra, as it was a solid full-size pickup truck overall. The car critic gave the Tundra an overall score of 83 out of 100, and this score was due to the truck’s great reliability rating and resale rating. The site gave the truck a resale rating of 88 and a reliability rating of 83. Its driving experience only received a 76 though, which is an average score.

Used car shoppers can expect to pay around $11,000 to $19,000 for a used 2010 Tundra. Furthermore, this model year of the truck didn’t have too many issues, according to Car Complaints. Its most common issue wasn’t even that common, and it had to do with the engine shutting down while the truck was on the road.

2. 2012 Toyota Tundra

The 2012 version of the Tundra isn’t that different from the 2010 version, so its no surprise that its ratings were similar. The car critic gave it an 82 overall, and once again, this was due to its solid resale and reliability ratings. It got an 87 for its resale value and an 83 for its reliability rating. The truck’s driving experience was still average though as it got a 75 there.

Right now, a used 2012 Tundra can go for about $12,000 to $22,000. It does have a few notable issues, however. For example, its air induction pump could stop working, and the engine can get a knocking sound. In fact, Car Complaints named the 2012 Tundra as the worst model year of the truck.

That being said, owners only reported 33 issues with the truck, which is far fewer complaints than many models have.

3. 2013 Toyota Tundra

Toyota fixed a lot of the truck’s problems with the 2013 model year, which likely explains why it has a great overall rating of 85. That rating was due to its very high reliability score of 88, and its great resale score of 87. Once again though, its driving experience was only average at just 77. Used truck shoppers are paying between $13,800 to $26,000 for this 10-year-old truck.

In terms of issues, the 2013 Tundra had far fewer complaints than the 2012 model year did. The most common complaint was a minor one, as it just had to do with oil leaks. This was an annoying issue, but it was a relatively easy one to repair. 

Used car shoppers should avoid these Toyota Tundra model years

The 2010, 2012, and 2013 Tundra model years are solid years to look for, but it may also be helpful to know about the Tundra model years to avoid. The model year with the most amount of complaints overall was the 2007 version with 72 complaints. Similarly, the 2005 Tundra wasn’t far behind as owners made 57 complaints about the Toyota truck.