J.D. Power is one of several critics that write up an in-depth review of popular cars, trucks, and SUVs. For Toyota, durable trucks are expected––so it’s no surprise that the 2020 Toyota Tundra earned the highest ranking in its class for dependability. But what’s up with this glaring issue? Is this problem really a thing?

According to J.D. Power, “the glare from sunlight shining on the center console chrome trim is utterly blinding.” But after the review of the 2021 Toyota Tundra performed by fellow MotorBiscuit writer Joe Santos, we can’t say we experienced the same problem with the Toyota Tundra.

The Toyota Tundra is pure and simple

After so many years with the same generation, Toyota should have virtually perfected the 2021 Toyota Tundra. In some ways it has. This truck is a picture of dependability. The 2020 Toyota Tundra won the J.D. Power dependability award for its class. For 2021 the new Tundra saw few changes.

The new Tundra got a couple of new trim packages. One is the 2021 Toyota Tundra Trail package and the 2021 Toyota Tundra Nightshade trim. It’s a simple truck that remains essentially unchanged since 2020.

A glaring problem

Consumer Reports notes the new Toyota Tundra interior’s “brushed metallic-look accents.” Apparently, however, those accents can be a problem for this full-size pickup truck. For example, J.D. Power reports that if the sunlight hits the chrome on the dash just right the glare is “utterly blinding.”

“The glare from sunlight shining on the center console chrome trim is utterly blinding.”

J.D. Power

But what’s utterly blinding for some is no issue for others. My colleague Joe Santos recently spent a week with the 2021 Tundra and when I conferred with him in reference to this Toyota Tundra problem he said he never experienced any problems with it. But for some, it might be a deal-breaker. While some drivers may rarely notice this, others could prove sensitive to this issue and find it potentially frustrating.

The 2021 Toyota Tundra problem that could be a deal-breaker

“While the Toyota Tundra’s dashboard is filled with enough silver and black trim pieces to keep your eyes occupied on a daily basis, I personally never found any of the chrome trim –– like the trim found around the vents –– bothersome in any way.”

Joe Santos

While for some folks, like Joe, this glare on the chrome dash pieces in the Toyota Tundra may not matter at all. But for others, this could be an absolute dealbreaker. So, if you test drive a new Toyota Tundra make sure you take note of whether you notice this issue. While this truck certainly has its draw because of its high reliability and historic longevity, the 2020 and 2021 Toyota Tundra models are not perfect.