I’m Leaning Towards Buying a 2016 Toyota Tundra with 96K Miles Over a Newer 2022 Tundra with 45K Miles, Because the Older Truck Has More Life Left In It

Is newer always better? 

A current Toyota Tundra owner, Dan Thompson, who is familiar with the Toyota brand and a seasoned Tundra owner, is ready to purchase another Tundra pickup and has a question.  

Should he buy a 2016 Toyota Tundra with 96,000 miles or a newer 2022 Tundra with 45,000 miles? He's seriously leaning towards the older truck even though it has double the miles, because he thinks it has more life left in it. What would you do?

Here's what Dan, a seasoned Toyota Tundra owner, says on the Toyota Tundra Owners Facebook post.

"I have a feeling I know which way this group will go, but I'm gonna ask anyway. This Saturday I'm finally going to buy my next Tundra. I've narrowed it down to two choices. A 2016 Tundra with 96,000 miles or a 2022 Tundra with 45,000 miles. The only thing the 2022 has on the 2016 truck is it's a Crewmax with a 6.5 foot bed (and half the mileage)." 

"I drive 10,000 miles a year tops. My work is two miles from my house, and I'll use it for the occasional family trip. I need the truck mainly for buying lumber."

He's leaning towards the older Tundra because he's concerned that the 2022 truck may not be as reliable as the 2016 Tundra. 

What a difference in only seven years.

When discussing reliability, it's remarkable that Tundra owners even have to ask this question. Dan asks, "Which truck do you think has more life left in it?"

That's how far Toyota's reliability has dropped in just seven years.

What are Other Tundra Owners saying in response to the question?

Tyler Delagardelle says, "I work for Toyota. My best advice would be to stick with one of the best engines ever made and buy the 2016 Tundra. The 2022 model would have had the engine replaced under the recall, and it's likely already been done. Regardless, it's not something I'd roll the dice on."

Derek Krucelyak says, "DO NOT TOUCH THE CURRENT GEN OR V6, used, ever. Buy a well-baked last gen, add a warranty if you can, and don't blink."

Carrie Martin Hall - "My 2017 TRD Pro has 242,000 miles, and it has been flawless, requiring only tires, brake pads, and oil changes since I bought it new. We are hooking it up to our travel trailer on Wednesday and taking off from North Carolina on a 21-day trip to South Dakota, Wyoming, Yellowstone, and other destinations. It still runs like it's new, so 96,000 miles on that 2016 sounds attractive to me."

Gabriel Hernandez - "Get the 2016, the 2022 would be an option if it were under 36,000 miles, so that you could get that extended warranty. There's a reason why 2022s are extremely cheap."

Brad A Davis - "2021 and older Tundra trucks are much more reliable trucks. Many of them are 250,000 plus miles on them and they're still on the road."

Chris Horn - "Definitely the 2016. These new ones are a crapshoot in terms of engine performance. I have a 2024 model, and it's not on the recall list. My engine blew in March. I'm still missing work to get it fixed. Still, I had three of the 5.7 Tundras, and when I traded them, the lowest mileage was 137,000 miles, with no issues, except for a dome light cover that fell off, which they fixed. Still, the 2024 Tundra and the way it is being handled after the rebuild have me considering leaving Toyota as a customer, and that says a lot, as my last 20 vehicles have been Toyota or Lexus." 

You Get The Idea

The majority of current Toyota Tundra owners would pick the older 2016 Tundra with more miles over the newer 2022 Tundra with half the miles. 

Toyota's quality and reliability have declined significantly over the past decade. A 100,000 Tundra engine recall will make any Tundra owner gun-shy.

I wrote a report last year detailing the Tundra truck recall and Toyota's reliability issues. It's not only the Tundra, but also the Tacoma, which has its reliability issues, particularly with the transmission. 

Kalli White works at a Toyota dealer and knows firsthand how it's affecting current 2022 and 2023 Tundra owners. 

He says, "I will let you know the 2022 Tundras had a massive Engine Recall!! I work at a Toyota Dealership here in Show Low, Arizona, and ever since I learned about that recall, I want to let everybody know that you may have to wait months to get a new engine. If you haven't gotten one already!"

Dan asked and got the answer he suspected he would get from most current Tundra owners. He will likely choose the older Tundra over the newer model now.

For Dan, a seasoned Tundra owner, "newer" doesn't automatically equate to "better" when it comes to a vehicle renowned for its longevity. He is seeking proven resilience, not just a lower number on the dash. 

So, now it's your turn to sound off.

Which Toyota Tundra truck would you buy? The 2016 Tundra with 96,000 miles or the 2022 Tundra with 45,000 miles? Your opinion matters. Which truck do you think has more life left in it? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Toyota Tundra story: I Have Zero Confidence In My 2024 Toyota Tundra. It Suddenly Shut Down Going 80 MPH, I Finally Got It Started, But Now, the Dealer Will Think I’m Crazy

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Dan Thompson