Posted: 7/8/2026 9:44:27 PM EDT
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Looking at buying a 2016 Tundra crewmax 1794 trim, ~86k miles, $33,000. Not a car guy, but my Pilot is almost at 300k and needs to go. There are 2 entries on the dealer provided (small independent guy) carfax: Between 49k and 50k miles "Damage report" and "damage reported". No other details given. Is this normal, without having any details in the entry? I have only looked at 1-2 carfaxes, so not sure if this is normal? Would like details, he has none to offer (I think he bought car at auction). No obvious body damage, or anything obvious underneath. Any thoughts? At 60,590 miles, oil change noted, oil filter. And "oil pan replaced/ repaired". Is this a normal Tundra wear item? Never replaced an oil pan on a vehicle. Just curious. Before we make a final decision to buy, will have my regular mechanic take a look at it and give me his opinion, but curious if anyone here has any thoughts. |
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On the oil pan, the lower pan can be damaged by road debris, off-road hazards or stripped threads from Bubba’s impact gun. It is steel, and easy to change out. I might be concerned if inspection shows other evidence of damage or poor maintenance. The Platinum and 1794 trims have “leather” interior trim panels that tend to degrade over time into a sticky mess. Do a thorough inspection. |
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OP, I'd be concerned about anything a small indie dealer picked up at auction. Tundras tend to do well on used lots, so that one being at auction means some larger dealer said "This one looks like trouble, get rid of it!". They knew something you didn't. WRT to "damage", there is usually some detail on where it was. If hit hard enough to deploy airbags, most modern vehicles get totaled. Unless it has a salvage title, the repairs were probably not anything to be concerned about, UNLESS they were done poorly - see first paragraph. In the budget range I suspect you're in, I would go with something smaller but much newer unless you REALLY need a half ton truck. Another Pilot or Ridgeline (crappy resale for a decent vehicle), just check both for rear suspension rust, would be good choices. |
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My first thought is that the damage report and the oil pan are linked with only 10k between them. Ran something over? Damaged the pan which started leaking? Impossible to tell. But there should be a skid plate (thin metal) from the front bumper to the oil pan that should somewhat protect it. Is that still there? The oil pan is a handful of bolts and it’s changed. Easy. |
You should move to the right lane, where the rule of vehicle and traffic law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and the left lane is the land of wolves now.
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My only experience with CarFux. 2006 Tacoma, brand new. A week later, some landscape guy tapped my rear bumper at a light. I filed a claim against his insurance and collected $550. Eight year later, I go to sell pickup. Dealer stated, "accident report". I showed him the quarter size ding. Still, accident report. Diminished my value. No real details on the CarFux report. They should be banned or have more details on what they report. |
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| Interesting, I’m also used shopping. The dealers all show their car fax , and one showed where the minor body damage was. Also showed me it was probably a rental/lease…I’m gonna say 86k miles in 2 years and 2 oil changes is a no go. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Thanks for all the thoughts. Going to test drive Saturday, and get more info, see if it really cam from auction or I just assume it did. Will check for skid plate then too. If that goes well, will make arrangements for for my normal shop to check it out. I will have them check for the cam tower leaks which seems to be a place that might be an issue with the engine. AI helped me figure out how to find the dealership service info for this truck, which shows the owner was pretty meticulous with oil changes at the dealer up to 50k miles. He paid to have the bed power washed, and the engine steam cleaned once as well. It had the alternator changed once before 50k miles. The "damage" happened right after 50k, and of course after 50k nothing is documented at the dealer :( Do I need a 1/2 ton - nope. I tow a 5x10 trailer with a 4 wheeler as the heaviest load (maybe an hour) and just got a boat that must be no more than 3500 pounds loaded. Trips with that are 30 minutes at most (more likely 15 minutes on flat ground except the boat ramp). What I need is a vehicle around $30k or less, that will last for 200k miles and 5-10 years. A ridgeline might work, but not at that price from what I see. Similar for Pilot, but not a lot around in my preferred price with less than 100k miles. Lookedd a little at Highlanders too. Found a sweet Nissan Titan today, $26k with 70k miles. Wife points out the Tundra is more, but likely will last a lot longer, and they have better longevity history. (And its a Gen 2, so is good). Probably the real thing - I have not had a truck since kids were little, and just the Pilot and a Honda van - I want a truck. I need something - Pilot is in limp mode in driveway... |
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I’ll just add my 21 tundra has been excellent. I was liking that model when I was shopping (new), but dang. $$$. I got a mid range TRD. Attached File Had it parked on National forest for a couple weeks elk hunting, damn cattle broke off a mirror and scratched it up |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Good luck OP It strikes me that the price that they are asking is more than I paid for my truck brand new off the lot in 2014. Still, it’ll go 200k without even blinking. Mine has been flawless since day 1 
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You should move to the right lane, where the rule of vehicle and traffic law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and the left lane is the land of wolves now.
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Originally Posted By MiamiblueRoan: Sounds expensive for a 10 year old truck. But new ones are probably double. Yup. Our top/middle of the road Platinum was $63k 3 years ago, looks like they’re closer to $70k now. The 1794 was $80-90k at the time, looks like they’ve come down a bit. A guy at work has an older Tundra, 2018 or so? He’s working on it all the time. The exact opposite of my experience with multiple Toyotas over the years. |
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I had a 2012 tundra that I traded in with 285k relatively trouble free miles. I did have to have two of the oil pan or transmission pan bolt holes helicoiled. The bolts had corroded and broke off. No issues with them after that. My truck also had the coolant valley plate leak. My mechanic suggested the GM stop leak tablets for 10k miles and then replace all the coolant with fresh coolant, no issues with the leak after that. I replaced the oem alternator around 240k miles. I agree with having your mechanic taking a look at the truck, there’s no replacement for visually inspecting a Vehicle |
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Originally Posted By Mach: I have a 2016 Tundra with 90,000 miles. Tried to get an alignment. not possible, everything is corroded and not movable. That’s crazy, how much salt does it see? Upstate NY winters with a ton of salt, and my truck lives on the beach all summer and mine isn’t anything like that despite being two years older. I do FF the truck every year, so I’m sure that helps but still……. |
You should move to the right lane, where the rule of vehicle and traffic law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and the left lane is the land of wolves now.
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Test drive of the Tundra was a shit show, but overall fine. Show up, guy shows up a little late (we had a time set up but I knew he might be late and had told him it would be fine). I had talked to him the week or so before, and he remembered me, so being 5 minutes late was no issue for me. Before wife and I hope in truck to test drive, he tells me to make sure to check the gas and see how much is in there. I put in the key - nothing. Battery is stone cold dead. He is shocked, date code on battery is 2/26, said he had put in new battery. Called the other "sales guy" because someone was supposed to drive it the prior day while my guy was at auction. His buddy says no one drove it the day before - dead battery seems to be for no reason. Jump truck, check gas - 12 miles until empty. He asks if we want to reschedule so he can get gas, or he will give us his credit card to get gas - we say no problem, go for drive, get gas. Truck drove great, undercarriage very clean, interior awesome shape, wife really likes it. But it just isn't the truck for us. Too big (as in too tall), bed is too short, gas mileage sucks, mileage is kind of high, cost is pretty high. I liked it a lot too, but just not for us. We had driven some other stuff earlier in the day at a "real" dealership, and have made a decision. Pics of new to me "truck" coming by Friday! I appreciate the advice and thoughts folks had for me! |
| Take the vin to Toyota and see what they have. carfax is not the end all of vehicle history or repairs. My friends shop that he owns does not report to them. He sees no reason. Repairs I make myself do not shop up either. |
RIP Jeff Reed. Tennessee Squire, Ga. Carry member, NRA,Non-puking 72 ounce drinker 2 of 6 Norcal call sign, Forgotten.
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I did do the Toyota VIN thing - you can sign up as the owner of the car and get service records and stuff - if they have been done through Toyota. This one was, up until it hit 50k miles - I assume when the free factory stuff ran out. I ended up going with a certified Honda Ridgeline - not the most exciting vehicle out there, and maybe not even a truck. But it will tow the boat, has a bed (and I have a 10 foot trailer if I really want to get lumber or something), I can throw a dead deer in it (I suppose a live one too if it cooperates). Same engine in the Pilot, and pretty familiar interior and controls. Way better mileage than the Tundra would have been. I am happy with it, and while it's not very sexy, I really am not either! Attached File |