Toyota Established Its Reputation on Dependability. The Tundra Poses a Risk to That Image.

Toyota Established Its Reputation on Dependability. The Tundra Poses a Risk to That Image.

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      The largest automaker in the world has built its reputation on steadfast reliability. However, its full-size pickup truck is beginning to undermine that legacy.

      Toyota is facing issues with its Tundra, in particular, a problem with the twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 engine that powers the Tundra, as well as the Sequoia SUV, Lexus LX, and Lexus GX. The reliable V8 that was previously used has now been replaced by this turbocharged V6, which has been subject to numerous recalls and engine replacements, affecting over 270,000 trucks in total.

      This isn't just a preventive measure; the metal debris left in the engine during assembly is causing sudden and catastrophic failures. Previous attempts to rectify this issue have not been successful, and Toyota has been forced to replace engines at no cost to the owners.

      In the latest episode of The Drivecast, we delve into Toyota's reliability crisis—how the company got to this point, what’s really happening behind the headlines, and what the future might hold.

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      Full Transcript

      Caleb: All right, Joel, did I see that you actually had a Tundra and a Lexus GX, both equipped with the engine we're discussing—the troublesome twin-turbo V6?

      Joel: That's correct! But it’s just a coincidence, I swear! I didn’t plan for this; they just happened to arrive in the fleet together. The Toyota Tundra I had was the new TRD Pro in Wavemaker Blue, and I intended to do a story about colors, using it as a great background for photos. It is quite ironic that I just spent a week with both vehicles equipped with these engines just before discussing them. So yes, it’s fresh on my mind.

      Kyle: And neither of them blew up, right? I would have heard about that.

      Joel: You would have heard if they had. Neither of them blew up. I even towed boats with the Tundra, and it held up without any issues, so no explosions. The Tundra had the TRD performance package and the cat-back exhaust. My wife had some thoughts; mainly, “This is annoying. When does this truck leave?”

      Kyle: That’s a great point to consider. The shift to a V6 means the Toyota can still perform truck tasks, but it’s more complex than the V8 and has a distinct sound, particularly with that exhaust. Interestingly, while Toyota decided to move to a V6 in the Tundra, GM, Ram, and Ford continue to offer V8s. Ram just exited the V8 market with the Hurricane engine coming in. The decision by Toyota several years ago to stop using V8s hasn’t aged well, you could say. So, Joel, how did we arrive at a situation where the V6 Tundra is, by many measures, less reliable than its predecessor?

      Joel: For those who aren't deep into Toyota or Tundra knowledge, here’s a quick overview. We are on the third generation of the Tundra, which is a bit wild considering we’re around 30 years into this. The second generation featured the reliable 5.7-liter V8 that this turbo-six replaced, and it had a lifespan of 14 years—a long time in the automotive world. The new Tundra significantly raised the stakes for its generation, with a fully boxed frame, a tougher transmission, and the new turbo-six engine instead of a V8. It’s a larger and more competitive truck, yet it retains many characteristics that distinguish it among its peers, like a lower bed side for easier access and a rust-proof composite bed. There are certainly downsides to that as well. It features a bigger cab to compete better and has expanded its range of trims with various off-road models. Importantly, it still has the fully sliding rear cab window—a very handy feature not found in many other trucks. We’ve reached this point after three generations of Tundras, where the first two boasted V8s known for bulletproof reliability. They would often start to rust before they failed mechanically, which isn't true for the current Tundra model.

      Kyle: Indeed, Toyota has

Toyota Established Its Reputation on Dependability. The Tundra Poses a Risk to That Image.

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Toyota Established Its Reputation on Dependability. The Tundra Poses a Risk to That Image.

The largest automaker in the world has issued a recall for approximately 270,000 engines and is still unable to fully clarify the reasons for their ongoing failures — and this is only the start of the issue.