127,000 More Toyota Trucks At Risk Of Total Engine Failure
Toyota’s issues with its new twin-turbo V6 aren’t over yet. The automaker has announced a new voluntary recall for roughly 127,000 vehicles in the United States—including the 2022–2024 Toyota Tundra, 2022–2024 Lexus LX, and 2024 Lexus GX—all equipped with the non-hybrid 3.5-liter V35A turbocharged V6.
Key Points
- Toyota is recalling the 2022–2024 Tundra, 2022–2024 Lexus LX, and 2024 Lexus GX models—equipped with the non-hybrid 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 due to potential engine failure caused by leftover metal debris from manufacturing.
- The issue mirrors a previous 2024 recall of over 100,000 vehicles for the same defect, where Toyota ultimately replaced affected engines after discovering improper cleaning during production allowed metal particles to block oil passages.
- Toyota is developing a fix and may again resort to full engine replacements; the company plans to notify owners by January 2026 and has voluntarily initiated the recall before NHTSA involvement.
According to Toyota, residual metal shavings may remain inside the crankshaft’s oil passages. For those uninitiated, making sure the engine block is clean of machining debris before assembly is part of the day 1 criteria of engine-building 101.
Those forgotten fragments can restrict oil flow, leading to rough idling, knocking, stalling, or, at worst, sudden and total catastrophic engine seizure while driving. The new callback traces a federal recall issued last year, when Toyota was forced to replace more than 100,000 Tundra and Lexus LX engines for identical reasons.
This new campaign suggests that either Toyota’s machining and cleaning processes at the engine plant have yet to fully eliminate the issue, or the poor process was in place for longer than originally thought. Regardless, the automaker has not confirmed whether every affected vehicle will need a new engine, but it has acknowledged that a full engine replacement is on the table if repairs prove impractical.
If this were my truck, I wouldn't settle for anything less than a new engine—barring a full disassembly, there's no way anyone can guarantee the health of an engine with metal shrapnel floating around in it.
Unlike last year’s recall, this one has not been initiated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—Toyota has chosen to act voluntarily. Given that the brand lives and eats on its reputation for reliability, Toyota needs to play this delicately, especially considering the central role this new V6 plays across its truck and SUV portfolio.
The 3.5-liter twin-turbo engine was introduced in 2021 as Toyota scrapped its large-displacement V8s. It powers key models like the Tundra, Land Cruiser, Lexus LX, and GX, often paired with hybrid systems in higher trims. The new recall affects only the non-hybrid variants—same as the recall last year—strange considering both engines are produced side-by-side on the same production line in Alabama.
Word has it that Toyota's incoming 4.0-liter V8 will fit in the engine bay of the current crop of trucks and larger SUVs, although there are no imminent plans to add the engine to the repertoire at this time. However, this latest recall could be enough motivation to nudge the product planners into choosing the V8 again.
The new V8 will make its production debut in the upcoming Lexus Sport Coupe, and is expected to power the Toyota GR GT, set to premiere on December 4.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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The ones that have failed, that have been dissected, well, their excuse doesn't fly.
Main bearings that nearly seize, showing extreme wear on the edges, with the centers nearly untouched. The metal from that, ends up being pushed throughout the engine, damaging rod bearings, cam bearing surfaces and more.
The front main bearings can walk out of their locations and get all caught up in the timing drive.
Bearings that wear on edges only aren't indicative of loss of oil flow from debris, but from piss poor machine work, or worse, block movement when it gets hot, putting pressure where it shouldn't be.