Second Toyota Tundra Engine Failure Recall Issued Due to Thousands of Failures: Two Fixes Confirmed

testerdahl

testerdahl

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Last month, a second Toyota Tundra engine failure recall was launched and we know now thousands of failing vehicles pushed the automaker to expand the first recall. Toyota Tundra engine failure? If you aren’t aware, the 3.4-liter V6 engine used in 2022 and 2024 Toyota Tundra, certain Lexus LX 600 and GX 550 vehicles has been under recall for engine failure. There are two recalls actually for the V35A engines with Toyota stating bearings are failing leading to catastrophic failure due to excessive debris in the engine block. This leftover debris from the factory aka swarf has become more of […] (read full article...)
 
Tim, I watched the YouTube for this one and you're cracking me up lol. You fight so hard to not blame the manufacturer.

The article states "Two relevant production periods at the Alabama plant were identified between the production period covered by recall 24V-381 and the implementation of a design change to increase the robustness of the #1 main bearing"

If the engineered main bearing type and size or strength were not correct for the job leading to failures, partially possibly due to debris in the engine,... isn't that by definition a design flaw?

They're not saying the bearing manufacturer made a mistake and the bearing wasn't made to spec. They're saying they had to go back to the drawing board and design a new main bearing.

I'm just a moron with a keyboard but I'm sticking to what I said a couple of years ago on this topic. It's possible and likely manufacturing debris was causing some of these issues. It's also likely the meain bearings, and oil delivery, were flawed in some way. Too many teardown videos showing engines with failed main bearings and little or normal debris present. It seems like that is what Toyota is now saying too. They saw the most obvious issue, debris, and stopped there. Then, the engines kept failing and they had to look again.
 
Fightnfire said:
Tim, I watched the YouTube for this one and you're cracking me up lol. You fight so hard to not blame the manufacturer.

The article states "Two relevant production periods at the Alabama plant were identified between the production period covered by recall 24V-381 and the implementation of a design change to increase the robustness of the #1 main bearing"

If the engineered main bearing type and size or strength were not correct for the job leading to failures, partially possibly due to debris in the engine,... isn't that by definition a design flaw?

They're not saying the bearing manufacturer made a mistake and the bearing wasn't made to spec. They're saying they had to go back to the drawing board and design a new main bearing.

I'm just a moron with a keyboard but I'm sticking to what I said a couple of years ago on this topic. It's possible and likely manufacturing debris was causing some of these issues. It's also likely the meain bearings, and oil delivery, were flawed in some way. Too many teardown videos showing engines with failed main bearings and little or normal debris present. It seems like that is what Toyota is now saying too. They saw the most obvious issue, debris, and stopped there. Then, the engines kept failing and they had to look again.
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I think it depends. If Toyota designed the main bearing with no debris in mind, and then reality sets in where they realized that they can't remove the debris 100%, well you have to account for that.

The real question is, why are they having so many issues clearing the block?

@testerdahl Could you confirm that the larger debris popping up was not because of the original fix made?
 
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Hilux said:
Toyotas new tag line, Buy a Toyota get a free headache.
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If I was not on the internet, I would not know any of these engine issues are happening and that's what people forget.

My truck is performing really well and is not giving me any issues in the 8 months and 22 000km (14 000mi) have had it. The truck is 3 years old and the odometer is reading 74 000km (45 000mi) and so far so good. I'm hoping to keep it until it has 200-250 000km (120-150 000 miles) and then I'll look to change since the salt will have done it's job in ruining it...
 
TheDo114 said:
@testerdahl Could you confirm that the larger debris popping up was not because of the original fix made?
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Unfortunately, it is Fort Knox right now with Toyota PR on further recall questions. What we can read though seems to make me believe the larger debris is now showing up which I find extremely odd.

I was going back and forth on the Tundras.com forum and did confirm this is an engine plant issue. The casting plant sends the casts to the engine plants and then those plants do further machining. The debris is coming from the further machining. Something about the cleaning process after the machining. I'm pretty shocked for a company that's been making its own engines for what dozens of years hasn't got that part of the process mastered?
 
testerdahl said:
Unfortunately, it is Fort Knox right now with Toyota PR on further recall questions. What we can read though seems to make me believe the larger debris is now showing up which I find extremely odd.

I was going back and forth on the Tundras.com forum and did confirm this is an engine plant issue. The casting plant sends the casts to the engine plants and then those plants do further machining. The debris is coming from the further machining. Something about the cleaning process after the machining. I'm pretty shocked for a company that's been making its own engines for what dozens of years hasn't got that part of the process mastered?
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Thank you for getting as much information out there as possible. I read it that larger debris came before the fix was applied for the second round of engines but it’s heading in the right direction as of fall.

I saw the back and forth on the Tundra forum and you probably realized, but it’s a complete shit show over there right now.
 
I’m now 2x as happy/confident that avoiding the new generation Tundra was the right choice when replaced my tornado totaled 2014 Limited Crewmax with a 2021 Limited Crewmax in the summer of 2024. The worst issue I have had is a rear axel seal that was replaced under warranty.
 
The frustrating part is so many people saw the recall, assumed it was just a simple debris cleaning issue, and bought those 2023, 2024 etc.

But nothing had been fixed... I would be so pissed if I had bought after the recall.
 
I’m fairly certain this issues goes beyond Toyota Tundra trucks. My 2025 Corolla Cross Hybrid, which was also built in Alabama, had a strikingly similar issue. I purchased the vehicle in late April and the car started having an issue in late May.

I was initially told that the problem was caused by bad fuel and that I would have to pay $8k+ for a fix. After a lot of complaining, frustration and multiple months of my car sitting at the Toyota service shop, they finally realized that it had nothing to do with bad fuel. Rather, it was a loose bolt that caused metal shavings in the engine.

I’ve had my car back for about 2 months now and it seems to be working fine after they serviced it. However, there’s always a nagging feeling that there could be more that they didn’t catch and/or the metal shavings in the engine could’ve led to other issues that went unnoticed.

Toyota recently reached out to offer to purchase my car back. What a headache!
 

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TheDo114 said:
If I was not on the internet, I would not know any of these engine issues are happening and that's what people forget.

My truck is performing really well and is not giving me any issues in the 8 months and 22 000km (14 000mi) have had it. The truck is 3 years old and the odometer is reading 74 000km (45 000mi) and so far so good. I'm hoping to keep it until it has 200-250 000km (120-150 000 miles) and then I'll look to change since the salt will have done it's job in ruining it...
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I have to disagree. I think Toyota's reputation has been damaged, possibly for a long time. They had a V8 engine that seemed to have zero problems but inexplicably decided to replace that engine with one that is a POS.
 
I woundn’t say inexplicable, it was a forced move by the US govt. All manufacturers went this direction, and many cheated emissions in one way or another. It should be apparent that it’s incredibly difficult to design and manufacture a fuel efficient gasoline engine that makes V8 power and is reliable. It’s one of those “trade-off” triangle diagrams and nobody got it close to being right. I’d say Ford’s 3.5 is the closest, but it’s just LOL not efficient. I know, I had one. As soon as there’s boost, there’s no ECO. If I’m patient, maybe I’ll score an unwanted F150 lightning for 20k and call it a day.
 
I guess. That small increase in fuel efficiency seems insignificant next to an engine that locks up. Maybe one day car manufacturers will realize costumers want reliability over fuel efficiency.
 
I have a 2023 Tundra TRD Pro that had an engine seize in September 2025. It has been in the shop since early September. A new engine was put in and then had to wait for a month to get a battery charger for the hybrid battery. Since the engine had not been rum for 4 months the hybrid battery died. Once they got the battery charger for the hybrid battery the charge took place. The dealer then went to start the truck but had no oil pressure. It was determined that the oil pump was bad. After a new oil pump was installed they went to start the engine and the main bearing failed in the new engine. So they now must replace the replaced engine after 0 miles and 1 failed start. Since Toyota didn't replace any of the associated parts like the oil cooler there is a potential that metal shavings are still in the system. I have been without my $84,000 truck for 5 months so far and they are predicting another 3-4 months for the new engine and parts. I have had 10 Toyotas since my first 1981 Toyota 4x4 truck because Toyota stood for dependability. Toyota says it doesn't fall under the "lemon law" because I have more than 24,000 miles on the truck. I ask how much more of a "lemon law" could this be when the leave machined metal in the engine. I have all of the maintenance records on the truck and was always completed at the Toyota dealer, no after market parts, everything original. However, they did give me a Ford F150 to drive for the last 5 months.....
 
Chris said:
I have a 2023 Tundra TRD Pro that had an engine seize in September 2025. It has been in the shop since early September. A new engine was put in and then had to wait for a month to get a battery charger for the hybrid battery. Since the engine had not been rum for 4 months the hybrid battery died. Once they got the battery charger for the hybrid battery the charge took place. The dealer then went to start the truck but had no oil pressure. It was determined that the oil pump was bad. After a new oil pump was installed they went to start the engine and the main bearing failed in the new engine. So they now must replace the replaced engine after 0 miles and 1 failed start. Since Toyota didn't replace any of the associated parts like the oil cooler there is a potential that metal shavings are still in the system. I have been without my $84,000 truck for 5 months so far and they are predicting another 3-4 months for the new engine and parts. I have had 10 Toyotas since my first 1981 Toyota 4x4 truck because Toyota stood for dependability. Toyota says it doesn't fall under the "lemon law" because I have more than 24,000 miles on the truck. I ask how much more of a "lemon law" could this be when the leave machined metal in the engine. I have all of the maintenance records on the truck and was always completed at the Toyota dealer, no after market parts, everything original. However, they did give me a Ford F150 to drive for the last 5 months.....
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That sucks, sorry to hear it. I'm speechless that consumer reports continues to think that recalls doesn't really equate to reliability.

Sham.
 
Chris said:
I have a 2023 Tundra TRD Pro that had an engine seize in September 2025. It has been in the shop since early September. A new engine was put in and then had to wait for a month to get a battery charger for the hybrid battery. Since the engine had not been rum for 4 months the hybrid battery died. Once they got the battery charger for the hybrid battery the charge took place. The dealer then went to start the truck but had no oil pressure. It was determined that the oil pump was bad. After a new oil pump was installed they went to start the engine and the main bearing failed in the new engine. So they now must replace the replaced engine after 0 miles and 1 failed start. Since Toyota didn't replace any of the associated parts like the oil cooler there is a potential that metal shavings are still in the system. I have been without my $84,000 truck for 5 months so far and they are predicting another 3-4 months for the new engine and parts. I have had 10 Toyotas since my first 1981 Toyota 4x4 truck because Toyota stood for dependability. Toyota says it doesn't fall under the "lemon law" because I have more than 24,000 miles on the truck. I ask how much more of a "lemon law" could this be when the leave machined metal in the engine. I have all of the maintenance records on the truck and was always completed at the Toyota dealer, no after market parts, everything original. However, they did give me a Ford F150 to drive for the last 5 months.....
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Wow that sucks! I still can’t believe that Toyota uses a short bloc for hybrid engines vs a long block. This is a prime example of the problems it can cause.

Are you getting an attorney involved? I would lemon law it like you said.
 
I am going to non binding arbitration against Toyota with the National Center for Dispute resolution. Since Toyota said the Lemon Law is null and void due to the fact I have more than 24,000 miles the next best option is non binding arbitration. I will keep everyone informed of the results. If I get a lawyer involved I am sure Toyota will burry the argument in years of discovery.
 
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