Three problems related to automatic transmission column shift have been reported for the 2001 Toyota Tundra. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2001 Toyota Tundra based on all problems reported for the 2001 Tundra.
Automatic transmission shift lever failure. Lever failed at the base when shifting from park to reverse. This is a piece of cast aluminum being used in a high use safety role. This seems to be very dangerous design and should be recalled in my opinion. I see at least one other complaint filed on the same matter. My dealer is still diagnosing the issue.
On 3/15/07 the automatic transmission shifter lever in my 2001 Toyota Tundra sr5 broke off as I shifted it from park to drive. The complete failure of my Tundra's automatic transmission shifter lever appears to be the result of either a defective component or an assembly error since failures of this type are unheard of. Notwithstanding the 101,904 miles on my Tundra, component failures of this type should never happen during normal usage regardless of vehicle mileage. This is no different than expecting that the steering wheel should never break off. Had this incident happened had I been downshifting on a steep incline, the results could have been deadly. I have since paid to have the automatic transmission shifter lever and shifter pivot for my Tundra replaced by a Toyota dealer.
The automatic transmission lever snapped something in the steering column when I shifted from park to drive. This failure seems to be somewhat common problem as I have found many cases of this on the web. One of the many instances I found says this: the casting design has a stress riser in it ( a tapped hole) in the worst place possible as far as stress is concerned!. This is an expensive fix! estimates coming in at > $700. . I think Toyota needs to do a recall !!.