2023 Toyota Tundra Owner Says “College Kid Hit Me Going 45 MPH”, Now Hopes Frame Damage Leads to Total Loss After $15,000 in Mods

There’s a cruel irony to the way the machines we love most often meet their demise first. The vehicles we pamper, polish, and personalize with obsessive devotion are the very ones the universe seems most eager to test. They aren’t just modes of transportation but repositories of passion and mechanical self-expression. To lose one isn’t simply to suffer damage to metal and paint; it’s to watch a part of your effort and identity reduced to a claim number.

Such was the misfortune of David Allen, a Toyota Tundra owner whose story recently made the rounds in the 2023–2026 Toyota Tundra Owners Facebook group. 

“A college kid hit me going 45 mph. I was at a dead stop waiting for a school bus to let kids off.. Sucks! Just one month after getting my 3-in ready lift with Falcon shocks and new wheels and tires. His car completely went underneath me. I'm hoping it did frame damage so that they will total it. On the last picture of the dent below the left side of the window, nothing hit that there, so I'm thinking that the force of the impact it moved my frame. Has anyone ever had this happen if they totaled it to pay me for all the work that I just had done on it within a month ago? I've got close to about $15,000 in all the aftermarket stuff I put on.”

You could almost hear the heartbreak in his words. This wasn’t a young driver pushing limits or a thrill-seeker caught out by bad luck. Allen was stopped, waiting patiently as children stepped off a school bus, when the universe decided to make an example of Newton’s laws. A college student, perhaps distracted, hit him at full speed, burying their car under the back of Allen’s freshly modified truck. The collision likely twisted the frame and, with it, a month’s worth of fresh upgrades, $15,000 worth of lift kits, Falcon shocks, wheels, and tires that barely had time to gather dust.

Toyota Tundra Safety Recalls and More 

• The Tundra has faced significant safety recalls in recent years. For example, in May 2024, about 102,000 vehicles from model years 2022–2023 were recalled due to potential engine contamination (machining debris) that could lead to bearing failure and engine stall. 
• In mid-2025, Toyota recalled approximately 443,000 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid trucks (2022–2025 model years) because the reverse-lamp assemblies may allow moisture intrusion, which could cause the reverse lights to fail and increase crash risk when backing up. 
• There have also been recalls addressing incorrect labeling of load-carrying capacity and fuel system risks: for example, some 2022–2024 models had labels with wrong payload information, and others had fuel tubes that could chafe against brake lines, raising fire risk. 
• On the safety front, beyond recalls, the Tundra benefits from standard advanced safety systems and strong structural design, but potential buyers should still check whether any open recall applies to their specific VIN, since large recalls have affected recent year models. (Recall lookup is available on Toyota’s site.)

What followed in the comments wasn’t outrage but reflection. Larry George offered perspective: “Just think if you weren't there, he would have hit the school bus. You were a blessing.” And it’s true. In an instant, that Tundra became an unplanned shield between a young driver and a group of schoolchildren. Kelby Cooper echoed it with quiet grace: “Ma,n what a blessing you were between him and the school bus. Someone is looking out for all involved. Sorry about the truck, but it’s replaceable.” It’s the kind of stoic empathy you find among truck owners who understand that while steel can be replaced, people cannot.

Rusty Haurcok added, “Somebody bless this man a new truck,” a comment that struck a chord with anyone who’s ever invested in a build only to watch it disappear in the rearview mirror of fate. Because Allen didn’t just buy a Tundra, he built it. Each part was a decision, a statement of intent, and an investment in personal satisfaction. Enthusiasts understand this intimately: the aftermarket is as much therapy as it is engineering. When something like this happens, the loss feels personal.

Insurance adjusters, of course, rarely see things in such human terms. Modified vehicles often occupy a gray area of valuation, where the owner’s investment in upgrades doesn’t always translate into claim dollars. Unless every part and receipt has been meticulously documented, those thousands in lift kits and suspension tuning can vanish into the fine print of policy language. It’s an uphill battle fought quietly across garages and claims offices, often ending with a payout that undervalues both the machine and the effort behind it.

Toyota’s Tundra frame is no stranger to scrutiny. The current generation employs a boxed front section and reinforced rear C-channel, providing strength without sacrificing comfort. But a hit at 45 miles per hour, even from a smaller car, is enough to distort that rigid structure in subtle, insidious ways. The dent Allen describes, in a spot untouched by direct impact, suggests the kind of torque that can ripple through a chassis like a tuning fork. For all the Tundra’s toughness, it was designed to sacrifice itself in the name of occupant safety. By that measure, it performed perfectly.

Aaron Pitts offered a final note of perspective: “At least you won’t have to deal with engine troubles and have a chance to buy something else.” It’s an optimistic outlook, but one that doesn’t diminish the loss. Every enthusiast who’s ever lost a beloved build knows the ache of unfinished journeys and unrealized road trips. Yet, from this wreckage, there’s something almost poetic. Allen’s Tundra became more than a personal project; it became a barrier that protected lives. In that moment, his pride and joy served a higher purpose. It’s not the ending anyone would choose, but as the comments remind us, sometimes the machines we build end up saving more than just our sense of adventure; they save lives.

Image Sources: Toyota Media Center

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.