Toyota Will Not Substitute Every Recalled Tundra V6, and Some Owners Are Frustrated

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      Toyota is facing a significant challenge with repairs to its twin-turbo V6 engines. So far, over 270,000 vehicles equipped with the V35A-FTS engine have been recalled, and the only effective solution available has been complete engine replacements. This applies to some Toyota Tundra pickups and Lexus LX SUVs, but now the company will require many vehicles to undergo a dealer assessment using new inspection software to check for actual engine defects.

      The new procedure is outlined in an update from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration dated June 15. It states:

      “All current owners of the affected vehicles will be informed to take their vehicles to a Toyota and Lexus dealer. Using inspection software, dealers will check the condition of the #1 main bearing and gather available vehicle drive data to confirm its status. If the software is unable to verify that the bearing is free from abnormal wear due to this issue, dealers will replace the engine at no cost.”

      To summarize, certain V6 engines in Toyota trucks have experienced failures linked to problems with the main bearing. Manufacturing debris, known as swarf, can stick to the main bearing, leading to knocking, rough idling, or complete engine failure. This issue has prompted three large recalls, the first in May 2024, the second in November 2025, and the most recent in May 2026.

      I inquired with Toyota about which vehicles this new protocol covers. A Toyota representative clarified that older trucks—the ones involved in the May 2024 recall—will still be eligible for engine replacements if they haven't received one yet. (To date, Toyota has replaced over 70,000 twin-turbo V6 engines.) When I asked whether owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles that have already had their V35A-FTS engines replaced would have to undergo the inspection, the spokesperson said, “No. A design improvement to the #1 main bearing was introduced in July 2024, which has been implemented in vehicles that received the recall remedy.”

      I also questioned how this inspection software operates, given that it collects data from vehicle usage rather than through engine disassembly. The spokesperson explained, “This inspection primarily utilizes the resonant frequency of the crankshaft's front end to evaluate the condition of the #1 main bearing. Toyota developed this inspection method by testing numerous engines to identify resonant frequency variations between a #1 main bearing with abnormal wear and one without.

      “Furthermore, collected vehicle drive data is analyzed to confirm if the engine has been subjected to a significant load, ensuring the assessment of the #1 main bearing's condition is reliable. If the drive data is inadequate, the engine will be replaced.”

      Nonetheless, this has not appeased some owners, who feel the concerns are more profound. Ryan Gregg, a Tundra aficionado and advocate for owners, is one such driver voicing his thoughts.

      “The community of Tundra owners is understandably disappointed upon learning about the proposed solution for the latest V35A engine recall,” Gregg stated. “It reminds me of Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote, ‘The time is always right to do what is right.’ We urge Toyota to rethink their recent decision and prioritize the customer over profits in all future choices.”

      Gregg further commented, “From my viewpoint, this seems like a tactic to stem financial losses while avoiding the acknowledgment of a fundamental design flaw. It appears to be a strategy to gain time.”

      Others in the 2022+ Toyota Tundra Owners group on Facebook share similar frustration. Group members have witnessed this situation develop over the past two years and, whether they attribute it to a potential design flaw or poor quality control, the consensus remains the same: they are displeased with the ongoing uncertainty. (In the meantime, owners who have not faced any issues with their Tundras are weary of the discussion.)

      Toyota continues to manufacture new Tundras daily using the V35A-FTS engine. The automaker has made several enhancements to the main bearing and claims that while manufacturing debris may still be found in newer engines, they are supposedly less prone to damage from it. If these revised engines fail, Toyota's challenges could escalate further. This entire scenario poses a risk to Toyota's reputation for reliability.

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