Toyota’s reputation for durability is facing fresh scrutiny as more Tundra pickups suffer potential engine failures tied to factory debris.
Toyota is once again expanding its recall of the full-size Toyota Tundra over ongoing problems with the truck’s twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The latest campaign affects roughly 44,000 gasoline-powered 2024 models, pushing the total number of impacted vehicles beyond 250,000 units.
The issue is particularly damaging for a brand long associated with reliability. According to Toyota, metal debris may have been left inside certain engines during manufacturing. Those particles can damage the No. 1 main bearing, potentially leading to complete engine failure.
Toyota had already agreed to replace engines in more than 102,000 vehicles before broadening the recall to include additional Tundra models along with the Lexus GX and Lexus LX. The automaker has now added another batch of Tundra pickups to the growing list.
What makes the situation more concerning is that the newly recalled engines were reportedly built after Toyota introduced additional cleaning procedures aimed at removing manufacturing debris. The company admitted that even with those extra measures, enough particles could still remain inside the engine to cause serious damage. That points to a deeper production quality-control problem rather than an isolated defect.
Toyota says later versions of the engine received an upgraded No. 1 main bearing designed to better withstand any remaining debris. Hybrid Tundra models are not included in the recall. However, Toyota has not yet finalized the repair solution for some of the newly affected trucks, despite stating that more than 77,000 vehicles have already been repaired.
For owners, the biggest concern goes beyond the risk of a breakdown. Full-size pickups are often purchased as both workhorses and family vehicles, expected to tow, haul, and handle years of heavy use without drama. When the engine itself becomes the weak point in a Toyota truck, the brand’s long-standing image of bulletproof dependability suddenly carries a lot less weight.