We polled Toyota owners on their current odometer readings. You will not believe the high mileage that Toyota Tundra and Tacoma owners, along with other Toyota model owners, have on their vehicles.
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When you think of the Toyota brand, you might first think of its reputation for quality and dependability and reliability over the course of 10 to 15 years. Statistically speaking, a Toyota is as close to a mechanical sure thing as any other automotive brand on the market.
In fact, Road & Track recently looked at the Top 15 vehicles in the automotive industry that original owners keep for 15 years or longer. You may or not be surprised to learn that Toyota occupied 10 of those 15 coveted slots.
Six of the top 7 slots went to Toyota, including the Toyota Highlander taking the top spot. Think about owning the same vehicle for 15 years or more, and what an amazing accomplishment that is for most drivers. That is incredible. Landing solidly in the Top 5 was Toyota Tundra. Many of us know how passionate and fiercely loyal Tundra owners are to their trucks and to their brand.
According to the study, 14.1% of original Tundra owners keep their trucks for 15 years or longer. This got me to thinking about actual real-life people and the trucks they drive and become part of their families.
Toyota Tundra trucks with high miles
I observed a discussion on high mileage vehicles with members of a large online Toyota Tundra forum. I was surprised, but I guess not all that surprised, to hear of the longevity and reliability that Tundra trucks, as well as other Toyota models, have over the long haul. Just look at some of the responses from proud Toyota Tundra owners.
- “2001 Tundra with 433k. Still an awesome truck.”
- “2008 Tundra is at 309,765 miles. And still a long way to go. Mine runs like new.”
- “My 2000 Tundra....280,000 miles.”
- “01 Tundra with 382k original miles”
- “My 03 Tundra 256,547, it’s my 1st Tundra I love it, runs like a champ.”
- “2013 Tundra 296,000 miles”
- “06 Tundra 228,000 miles”
- “2008 Tundra 4x4 247,000 miles”
- “2012 Tundra TRD 262k never a problem”
And then there was this exchange between two Tundra forum members. Person 1: “2012 Crew Cab Platinum with 136k and running great.” Person 2: “That's low mileage for a Tundra.” Person 3: “Is just breaking in. Some people I know with Chevy, Ford and Dodge are panicking about their trucks at 150k. I’m not worried. Lol. Great trucks, I only own Toyotas. Love them!
Also, let’s not forget about our friend Victor Sheppard in Louisiana, who had over 1 Million Miles on his 2007 Tundra when Toyota offered to buy it back to study it.
Toyota Tacoma can run up the miles too
- “2007 Tacoma. She’s up to 470,000 now.”
- “1998 Tacoma with 350k”
- “My husband just traded his 2006 Tacoma with 366,000 miles.”
- “2008 Tundra 5.7L 250k miles and 1999 Tacoma 450k miles.”
Perhaps the most famous Toyota Tacoma of all belongs to Mike Neal from North Carolina. Mike has logged over 1.2 million miles with his 2008 Tacoma Access Cab. Over 1.2 million miles! If you think the mileage itself is impressive, you should see the “billboard” he keeps on the back of his Tacoma at all times. This is the best free advertising for Toyota overall durability the company could ever ask for.
Watch The Man Behind the 1.2 Million Mile Tacoma and Click Here To Subscribe to TorqueNews Youtube Channel for Daily Auto Analysis.
All Toyota models can have high mileage
What was most interesting to me were the owners of multiple Toyota vehicles and how they are still going strong with hundreds of thousands of miles of windshield time.
- “2007 Prius with 312,000! Original battery!”
- “08 4Runner with 210k and 250k on the 94 Land Cruiser.”
- “Road trip this week … 200K on 2006 Sequoia running perfectly!”
- “My co-worker has an 02 Camry with 358k miles.”
- “97 4Runner with 318k miles.”
- “2011 Sienna van with 221k.”
- “2000 Toyota Camry with 289,015.”
- “02 Camry with 305k.”
- “2006 Corolla with 237,000.”
- “2000 Toyota Sienna van with 386,000 miles original motor and original transmission.
- “02 Camry LE 420,000 original motor & transmission.”
- “My best was a 95 Camry 568k sold it still running.”
- “315k on 05 Tundra, 190k with 12 Camry and only one non-maintenance repair between them!”
- “2013 CrewMax Tundra with 108k, 2001 Avalon with 280k and 1999 4Runner with 320k.”
These personal accounts only add to the mythology that is Toyota quality, reliability and dependability. This is reason #1 people consider and buy the Toyota brand.
Also Watch How JBL Will Affect 2020 Toyota 4Runner and Tacoma Entertainment and Click To Subscribe to Torque News Youtube for Daily Automotive News.
I think one of the forum members, Michael, summed things up nicely in a way I had not previously considered. “I don’t think you can consider a Toyota high mileage until you hit a half million.” Well played, sir. Well played.
Thanks for reading my story everyone. Please bookmark Torque News Toyota News/Reviews here for my latest news in the world of everything Toyota. See you in the next story in which I will discuss Why You Need Traction Control in Your 2019 Toyota Tacoma and When to Turn It Off.
Jeff Teague is a Toyota news reporter at Torque News. You can reach Jeff on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter @toyotajeff1 and tweet him tips for new stories. Jeff also shares Toyota news videos on his Youtube Channel at ToyotaJeff1.
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Thanks very much! I love high
Thanks very much! I love high mileage vehicles and see them all the time with the Toyota brand
2008 Tacoma Crew Cab, 4.0 V6,
2008 Tacoma Crew Cab, 4.0 V6, 6 Spd, 329,800+ miles. Engine never touched. Besides regular off road use and constant towing the clutch helped teach my 3 kids and several of there friends to drive stick but never gave up until ALL clutch material was gone and I started slipping on the rivets holding the plates...and it still lasted another 4 months. Replaced clutch and pressure plate at 259,995 miles but flywheel barely marked by rivets and polished out with 0000 steel wool.
Beginning to think I may want to be buried in it...after someone drives me and my casket to the cemetary in the bed of it
What this doesn't say is how
What this doesn't say is how much money has been spent on maintenance over the years. Any car will make it to those mileages if the owner keeps dumping money into it. I see a lot of vehicles and no one puts more money into their high mileage vehicles than Toyota owners. Most of the time it doesn't even make financial sense. Ask the gentleman with 1.2 million miles how much money he's put into that truck since he rolled over 300k miles and I'll guarantee he could have bought a new one for roughly the same price. The only thing that saves him is that the Toyota trucks haven't changed much since 2008 so it makes a bit more sense.
What makes sense is only
What makes sense is only dumping money in to a Toyota because at least you know it's going to keep lasting. Your short article makes no sense because obviously dumping money into domestic vehicles doesn't make sense because they're just not designed to last long, at all.
What this doesn't say is how
What this doesn't say is how much money has been spent on maintenance over the years. Any car will make it to those mileages if the owner keeps dumping money into it. I see a lot of vehicles and no one puts more money into their high mileage vehicles than Toyota owners. Most of the time it doesn't even make financial sense. Ask the gentleman with 1.2 million miles how much money he's put into that truck since he rolled over 300k miles and I'll guarantee he could have bought a new one for roughly the same price. The only thing that saves him is that the Toyota trucks haven't changed much since 2008 so it makes a bit more sense.
Owners keeping their vehicle a long time has no bearing on reliability. It does speak to the fact that Toyota customers are happy with their purchase. However, the Toyota brand has developed a cultish type following over the years and it has nothing to do with real numbers in terms of longevity.
My 2000 Chevy Silverado has
My 2000 Chevy Silverado has seen 19 New England winters and looks and runs great.
Just sayin'.
I have owned 8 Toyota
I have owned 8 Toyota vehicles, still own 3. My latest one 2011 Tundra TRD has had several problems and it only has 80,000 miles on it. 1) sensor on Brake module failed, it was going to cost $1,600 because you have to replace the whole module. My old school mechanic got a salvage brake module , $350 for that repair. 2) One of the under the hood bars for the Wipers broke, assembly would cost $1,200, my mechanic welded for $25. 3) Now I am mad, my 4 wheel drive won't work, took it to the mechanic: Mechanically the 4WD is fine, truck isn't sending signal to transfer case. Mechanic has a less than year old ZEUS diagnostic computer and he can't diagnose problem because Toyota won't share the codes for that area of the truck. I hope this isn't a trend.
My 1997 Tacoma over 511,000
My 1997 Tacoma over 511,000 miles still runs great, compression a little bit down.
Original engine, timing chain and trans, steering components, no work done. Replaced several peripherals, some twice. Oil change every 6000. Wish I could get another.
Follow up on Tundra with
Follow up on Tundra with problems. 4 wheel drive not working: Toyota didn't find diagnostic fault either. I called the main Toyota Customer Service number and they paid the dealership 4 days labor to find the problem. Toyota Mechanic tested all of the related wiring and found a frayed alarm wire (lets the computer know if the front differential is locked or not). I was only charged $425 to fix the problem, Toyota comes through again.