2021 Toyota Tundra Headlight Recall (21V688)

Recall 21V688 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Toyota Tundra in recall 21V688?

The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Tundra vehicles. The headlight electrical circuits may power the high and low beams simultaneously, which could overheat the electrical connector.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Tundra with recall 21V688?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An overheated electrical connector can increase the risk of a fire.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An overheated electrical connector can increase the risk of a fire.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the headlights.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V688?

Recall 21V688 covers 158,489 vehicles: 2021 Toyota Tundra.

NHTSA lists 158,489 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Tundra headlight recall?

Yes. Dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and replace any damaged bulb, bulb connector, and/or headlight assembly as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and replace any damaged bulb, bulb connector, and/or headlight assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB06 and 21TA06.

Manufacturer recall number: 21TB06 / 21TA06.

When was recall 21V688 announced?

Toyota Motor Corporation reported recall 21V688 to NHTSA on September 2, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 25, 2022.

This recall was filed 61 months ago. If your Tundra was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Tundra is part of recall 21V688?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V688 is open on your Tundra, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Tundra vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Tundra owners do about recall 21V688?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V688000 applies to your Tundra.
2. Call a Toyota dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the headlights happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Tundra owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the lighting and visibility.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the lighting and visibility have been filed since recall 21V688 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 24 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 of them involve the lighting and visibility. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Toyota Tundra: 24 complaints in total, 2 about the lighting and visibility

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

Wayne drove the truck to work. It was an icy day in Texas so he drove slower than usual. He went to pick up a part (for work) from another shop, he arrived at the shop, turned off the truck and went inside to retrieve the part for work.

2021 Toyota Tundra owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11450576, filed February 5, 2022

LED lights are loose and rattle and flash all over the place. While driving over 40+mph or going over any bumps on the road . This only affects TRD PRO tundra’s with factory Ridgid lights .

2021 Toyota Tundra owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11471047, filed June 26, 2022

Can recall 21V688 make my Tundra a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Owners often ask whether this headlights recall means their Tundra qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

A headlight, wiper or visibility defect on the 2021 Toyota Tundra can make night or rain driving unsafe, and repeat repairs for the same problem count toward a lemon law claim.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V688