2 Simple Resetting Methods of Maintenance Light on Tundra

The maintenance light is a warning light that reminds you to service the truck regularly.

Whenever you see the “MAINTENANCE REQUIRED” light on the instrument cluster, it is time for routine maintenance on your truck.

The maintenance light reminds you of regular checks on your truck.

A maintenance light does not mean a problem with your truck; it is time to check your truck’s engine oil, oil filter, and other engine-related equipment and fluids.

So you should always pay attention to the maintenance light when it comes on.

Today I will teach you how to reset the maintenance light on your Toyota Tundra and other details about it.

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Why Does My Tundra Say Maintenance Required?

Behind the Toyota Tundra ‘Maintenance Required Light,’ the first and foremost reason is a delay in changing the engine oil.

If you drive for over 3 months without changing the oil, the maintenance light will come on.

Other possible reasons are:

The air filter is too dirty, or you have not changed the filter for more than one year.
You need to service the truck’s braking system. In this case, Toyota recommends a period of one year to service the braking system.
You did not rotate the tires. But you should rotate every tire on your truck once every 6 months.
You have not checked the other fluids in the truck, such as coolant, transmission, braking, power steering, etc.

Difference Between Maintenance Required and Check Engine Light

Do the maintenance light and the check engine light mean the same thing?

Where is the difference?

I have made a chart to clarify the difference between maintenance required and check engine lights.

Maintenance Required Light	Check Engine Light
Yellow	Red
Reminds you that it is time for routine maintenance	Indicates a problem with your engine or emissions system
Typically, it comes on after 5,000 miles	Can come on at any time
Comes on for Oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, etc.	Comes on for Loose gas caps, engine misfires, emissions problems, etc.
Take your truck to a qualified mechanic for routine maintenance.	Take your truck to a qualified mechanic to diagnose and repair the problem.

How to Reset Maintenance Light on Toyota Tundra

There are two methods to reset the maintenance light on a Toyota Tundra; one is for Tundra models produced before 2018, and the other is for Tundra models produced in 2018 and later model years.

Method 1:

To reset the maintenance light on your Toyota Tundra, follow this 5-step method.

First, turn on the ignition or turn on the start button. But keep the engine off.
Locate the Trip button on the odometer and switch to ‘TRIP A.’
Turn the key off, staying on ‘TRIP A.’
Holding the trip odometer button, turn the key to position 2.
Now you will see ‘Resetting Maintenance Data’ or ‘0000’ on the display. That is, the maintenance light is now reset.

Method 2:

But for the 2018 and later Tundra models, you have to follow a different procedure to reset the light.

If your Tundra is a 2019 or newer model, follow this 3-step method:

Select ‘Vehicle Settings’ on the display.
Select ‘Maintenance Reset.’
Finally, select ‘Yes,’ and the maintenance light on your new Tundra models will be reset.

Note: Keep your truck in park while resetting, and ensure to use the parking brake.

Cost of Tundra Maintenance Required Reset

The cost of resetting the maintenance light will depend on your truck’s model and location.

But the cost is not too high; you can reset the light from 20 to 50 dollars.

However, if you ignore the light and your truck sustains major damage, your engine repair costs will increase significantly.

So, I advise resetting the light as soon as possible when it comes on. Then, your truck will be more efficient, and you will save on costs.

How Many Miles Can You Drive After Maintenance Light Comes on Toyota?

You should immediately respond if the maintenance light comes on while driving.

The smartest thing to do is to reset the light right away.

However, if you cannot reset the light, you can safely drive another 1,000 miles with the light.

Then the engine oil will start to decrease, and the chances of engine failure will increase.

Also, if you are driving on dusty roads at the time, you’ll need to reset your lights even faster.

So try to avoid dusty roads when the maintenance light comes on.

And try to follow the manual as much as possible to reset the lights.

Is It Safe to Drive with Maintenance Light On?

Although you can drive 1,000 miles with the maintenance light on, reset the light as soon as possible.

Otherwise, severe damage to the truck’s engine can occur.

The maintenance light is on, so it’s time to check the truck’s engine oil and all other fluids and engine components.

If you ignore the maintenance light and do not service the truck as needed, the engine can ultimately be completely destroyed.

If you do not reset the maintenance light, the other problems that can occur are:

Your truck’s gas mileage will decrease.
The engine will overheat.
You will hear knocking or clicking from the engine.
You will see thick smoke coming out of the exhaust system.
The engine cylinder will misfire.

So, having the maintenance light on does not mean anything is safe.

If you see the light, take immediate action to maintain the engine.

Toyota Tundra Maintenance Schedule

To properly maintain your Toyota Tundra, you should have it serviced every 5,000 miles.

Here, I have made a chart about the timing of minor maintenance:

Maintenance Task	Interval
Oil change	Every 5,000 miles or 6 months
Rotating tire	Every 5,000 miles or 6 months
Air filter inspection/replacement	Every 12,000 miles or 12 months
Cabin air filter inspection/replacement	Every 12,000 miles or 12 months
Braking flush	Every 2 years or 30,000 miles
Coolant flush	Every 5 years or 60,000 miles
Belts and hoses inspection	Every 5 years or 60,000 miles

Conclusion

You have already learned the details about the Toyota Tundra maintenance light.

So, if you see the ‘MAINTENANCE REQUIRED’ signal on your dashboard, don’t panic and take appropriate action.

As always, we’re happy to help you, so email us with any Toyota questions you may have.