Toyota Tundra owners are expressing considerable frustration as persistent problems plague the pickup truck, specifically concerning its engines. Damien, a 2022 Tundra owner, experienced a complete engine failure, leading to a drastic depreciation of his vehicle’s value and leaving him with a truck that’s essentially worthless. His experience is not isolated, highlighting a broader issue affecting the reliability of Toyota Tundra Engines.
As reported previously, the scale of the Toyota Tundra engine problem is substantial. The automaker is compelled to replace over 100,000 engines in 2022 and 2023 Tundra pickups and Lexus LX SUVs. The affected engine is the V35A twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 power plant. This massive recall signifies more than a minor inconvenience; it represents a significant disruption and safety concern for Tundra owners. Toyota’s long-standing reputation for vehicle reliability is now under serious scrutiny due to these widespread Toyota Tundra engine issues.
Damien Broomes, a concerned Toyota customer, shared his distressing experience with his 2022 Tundra. His account, along with other Tundra owner testimonials, reveals the depth of frustration stemming from the truck’s engine reliability issues.
Imagine driving on a busy Friday afternoon at 55 mph with your young daughter in the car. You chose a Toyota Tundra for its safety and dependability for your family. Suddenly, the engine falters, power diminishes, and the truck comes to a standstill amidst traffic. An emergency stop becomes necessary, navigating the flow of vehicles rushing past – a precarious situation for any driver, especially with a child on board.
This terrifying scenario is precisely what Damien experienced. The engine failure not only posed a safety risk but also created a stressful situation for his young family. The breakdown left him stranded, needing to arrange for his daughter to be picked up and for his truck to be towed.
“This is very concerning,” Damien recounted. “I own a 2022 Toyota Tundra. On Friday, I suddenly lost engine power while driving on a main street at a pretty good speed.”
“My four-year-old daughter was sitting in the back seat. I immediately called the dealer, who strangely enough had called me just the week prior.”
His immediate concern was the safety of his children and himself. Hoping for a resolution, Damien considered trading in his truck for a new one, seeking a dependable vehicle once again.
However, the dealership’s trade-in offer added insult to injury.
“The dealership’s offer was a mere $35,000 for my truck, which I had purchased two years ago for $60,000,” he expressed with dismay.
Adding to his frustration, the Toyota dealer proposed selling him a used truck for the original price he paid for his two-year-old, now engine-failed Tundra.
“Then they offered me a pre-owned truck also at $60,000,” Damien stated, highlighting the unreasonable situation he faced.
Faced with an undrivable truck and limited options, Damien considered his choices: selling the truck back at a significant loss, trading it in, or waiting potentially months for a new engine replacement.
“My question is this. Why would I be stuck with the price tag if the dealership sold me a lemon? This was no fault of mine; it was Toyota’s mistake,” Damien questioned, emphasizing the unfairness of the situation. “I have been to the dealership countless times with this truck for various recalls and programming updates; I even had to replace the brake pad and disc in less than two years.”
“As someone who drove the Tundra for 10 years, Toyota should do right by their customers and not ask them to foot the bill. That is certainly not customer service.”
The extensive Toyota Tundra recall involves replacing defective engines, a complex procedure estimated to take 13 to 21 hours per vehicle. With 100,000 engines needing replacement, Tundra owners face potentially long waits for repairs. This situation leaves Tundra owners in a difficult position, bearing the burden of decreased resale value and vehicle unavailability.
Engine failures significantly impact the resale value of Toyota Tundra engines and the trucks themselves, even before the recall repairs are carried out. This financial hit adds to the frustration and inconvenience experienced by Tundra owners.
Other Toyota Tundra owners have echoed Damien’s concerns, sharing similar engine-related issues:
Chris R., owner of a 2023 Tundra TRD Pro Hybrid, reported two engine failures within a short period:
“Owned a 23 Tundra TRD Pro Hybrid. The first motor failed at 19,500 miles. The dealer had the vehicle for 2.5 months and replaced the short block. I got the truck back 3 weeks, and 500 miles later, 2nd motor failed. I got rid of it last weekend. I would not accept anything short of a completely brand-new crate motor. You’ve been warned.”
Mike H., a 2022 Tundra SR5 Crewmax owner, described an incident of sudden power loss and engine warning lights:
“I have a 2022 Tundra SR5 Crewmax that experienced an engine issue back in early July. I usually drive in ‘sport mode,’ and as I went to pull out into traffic, and as you’ll know, the throttle responds quickly, the rpm went to 5-6,000rpm, and instantly, my check engine light came on, and I lost power.”
“Fortunately for me, no one was driving towards me, so I managed to steer my truck to the left onto a side road. I shut the truck off, waited for about 5 minutes, and then fired it back up. A warning came across the infotainment screen telling me to contact the dealer.”
“Ever since that incident, I’ve noticed what I refer to as hiccups or a slight knock. I hope Toyota will send me the recall papers soon. I have been driving it to and from work because I have no other option.”
Mike H. also expressed hope for Toyota to address the quality control issues:
“I also hope Toyota does what is right: Get your reputation back on track—crack down on quality control. Learn your lesson, and don’t repeat it.”
Walter Sysun, a 2022 Toyota Tundra Platinum owner, detailed the extensive downtime he has experienced due to recalls:
“Great article! I own a 2022 Toyota Tundra Platinum, which is part of the engine recall.”
“Between the engine and fuel line recalls, I’ve been without using my truck for almost 8 months! Based on your article, It could be approaching a year without my truck.”
“Toyota won’t do a buyback, and they indicated that this recall doesn’t fall under the Massachusetts Lemon Law. I do have a loaner, but not to the level of my truck. Toyota will not provide an exact date for the engine replacement!”
“It’s unacceptable to pay for a truck that I can’t use and basically be kept in the dark by Toyota.”
Conclusion:
Toyota Tundra owners are facing significant challenges with their Toyota Tundra engines. They are burdened with trucks requiring engine replacements and lengthy waiting times. The value of their vehicles has depreciated considerably. This situation severely tests the loyalty of Toyota truck owners and raises questions about Toyota’s famed reliability. Some observers suggest Toyota’s reputation is declining sharply, further evidenced by emerging issues in other models like the Toyota Tacoma transmissions.
Is Toyota’s reputation truly at risk? The experiences of Tundra owners and the scale of the engine recall suggest a serious challenge to the brand’s long-standing image of reliability.
Have you experienced engine issues with your 2022 or 2023 Toyota Tundra? Share your story in the comments below.
