New Tundra Engines Blowing Up

[Samson16]

all auto manufacturers have issues just pick what brand you like and hope for the best

Nope. Toyota fanboys are the worst, and their POS Tundra hybrid was a straight up PowerBoost ripoff to start with. Wonderfully it fails to meet the PB standards for performance, efficiency, and utility, and now it’s unreliable too!
Look down on my domestic vehicle choice eh? Is that your main bearing I hear?

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[wessermgm]

all auto manufacturers have issues just pick what brand you like and hope for the best

Truth.

 

[Natetroknot]

I’ve driven 7 different Toyotas probably close to a collective million miles and only once do I recall needing a dealer repair, a 4.0 Taco leaking from the water pump weep hole while under warranty.

It’s a shame they’re having these issues now. Small displacement turbos are not their strong suit - at least not now - and I was so suspicious of the new Tundra platform I didn’t even test drive one when I wanted a full size.

 

[HammaMan]

I’ve driven 7 different Toyotas probably close to a collective million miles and only once do I recall needing a dealer repair, a 4.0 Taco leaking from the water pump weep hole while under warranty.

It’s a shame they’re having these issues now. Small displacement turbos are not their strong suit - at least not now - and I was so suspicious of the new Tundra platform I didn’t even test drive one when I wanted a full size.

I've owned several toyotas, never had any issues with them. Technology is changing forcing their hand. They've long taken a measured approach with their vehicles, but the 1/2 ton segment having to compete with others has put them outside of their traditional approach. New motors bring new issues. Furthemore their hybrid approach/application here is just bad, or sad really. They've pretty much written the book on hybrids and just screwed the pooch in their offering. Not sure why the tundra is such a mess this go around. Perhaps they've given a bit too much leeway on the US designed and built approach the tundra has been given?

I have a feeling the ram approach is going to also have some teething issues as well. They'll end up with better products in the long run, but buyer beware for the next couple model years.

 

[Mt.F150..]

Third party supplier screw up


I bet.
Or let's rid of excess inventory. Maybe

I am surprised at the number of 23s are on lots here of all brands..
Crazy times

Not really surprised by all of the 23 still sitting on dealer lots high interest rates and high prices

 

[Natetroknot]

I've owned several toyotas, never had any issues with them. Technology is changing forcing their hand. They've long taken a measured approach with their vehicles, but the 1/2 ton segment having to compete with others has put them outside of their traditional approach. New motors bring new issues. Furthemore their hybrid approach/application here is just bad, or sad really. They've pretty much written the book on hybrids and just screwed the pooch in their offering. Not sure why the tundra is such a mess this go around. Perhaps they've given a bit too much leeway on the US designed and built approach the tundra has been given?

I have a feeling the ram approach is going to also have some teething issues as well. They'll end up with better products in the long run, but buyer beware for the next couple model years.

Yeah I'm pretty out of the loop with their Tundra Hybrid, aside from the numbers, which are pretty unimpressive. My wife drives a Prius and that sucker is solid as a rock at 130k (which, what would you expect with me doing the maintenance, lol). A truck needs to be able to get out of its own way, however.

I'm a few decades into a manufacturing career in various different roles and Toyota is the gold standard for process control. They have been simple - boring even - but they have stuck with what they know, keep assembly lines making reliable machines with little to no re-tooling for years on end. That's all out the window now, evidently, at least in the truck and SUV lineup for them, thanks to the gub'ment and the 1/2 ton segment competition, as you said. I would bet a buffalo nickel this is not a "debris" problem. I couldn't speculate what the actual issue is but it will be something to keep an eye on. I wonder if the Tacoma will have some issues as well.

Honestly, I skipped looking at the Tundra because of the transmission, not the engine. I figured the motor would be Toyota solid no matter what. But I've never owned a non CVT Toyota automatic that knew what gear it should be in, even with only 5 or 6 of them. I figured a 10 speed from them would be more annoying than my ex wife.

 

[Samson16]

Yeah I'm pretty out of the loop with their Tundra Hybrid, aside from the numbers, which are pretty unimpressive. My wife drives a Prius and that sucker is solid as a rock at 130k (which, what would you expect with me doing the maintenance, lol). A truck needs to be able to get out of its own way, however.

I'm a few decades into a manufacturing career in various different roles and Toyota is the gold standard for process control. They have been simple - boring even - but they have stuck with what they know, keep assembly lines making reliable machines with little to no re-tooling for years on end. That's all out the window now, evidently, at least in the truck and SUV lineup for them, thanks to the gub'ment and the 1/2 ton segment competition, as you said. I would bet a buffalo nickel this is not a "debris" problem. I couldn't speculate what the actual issue is but it will be something to keep an eye on. I wonder if the Tacoma will have some issues as well.

Honestly, I skipped looking at the Tundra because of the transmission, not the engine. I figured the motor would be Toyota solid no matter what. But I've never owned a non CVT Toyota automatic that knew what gear it should be in, even with only 5 or 6 of them. I figured a 10 speed from them would be more annoying than my ex wife.

Great post!

 

[JExpedition07]

They are too porky. Even the 437 HP/583 lb ft hybrid runs a slower 1/4 mile than my 5.0L N/A V8 F-150. My cousin is also averaging around 17.6 MPG with the hybrid tundra compared to my 19.5 MPG on the 5.0. If it’s slower and gets worse fuel economy than a modernized V8 just build a new V8 lol. All that money spent for a worse performing powertrain…..I digress. Anyway, the rest of the truck is nice. It’s got a luxury feeling interior and imo handles pretty well. The chassis also looks solid on it.

 

[FirstTimeFord]

Somehow, this makes me feel a little better about my axle bolt ?

 

[NMMIKE]

There was a prlim recall around end of May . The final recall with Toyota's fix is due out by end of July. I traded my 22 Tundra beginning of June for a 24 F150 XLT, 302a, FX4, black appearance . Like is so far, first camping trip this weekend.

 

[JRonchetto]

I don't know what the answer is, but I'm sure Toyota will do the right thing. They always do.

 

[powerboatr]

for us, we have been a ford family since our blazer crapped apart during the hey days of early 80s when every domestic manufacturer was garbage in and out

plus i have to many ford special tools to change now

as for other brands; i have driven long journeys in almost all of them, big small, gas diesel etc
being a navy guy going all over the world with rental fleets, you get the best and worst out there.
they all had issues and one or two left us stranded a few times with stuff in the trunk. there is something to be said in Italy, explaining to the caribineri why you have m60 parts in a case waiting on a rescue vehicle

for me seeing the quality shift positive was an eye opener. noting says quality like dash knobs falling off as you speed down the highway. (dodge)
or seat heat stuck on, ON when its 100 outside (chevy)

engines are NOT just thrown together, yes new designs have some learning curves, but those for most part are resolved before full production, I SAY MOST PART

building engines is a serious business of efficiency, tracking, computers checking the people and people checking the computers
if engines leave a plant messed up...you can bet the odds favor a human slacking off their job

i have been inside the alabama plant and its a marvel. makes the german plant near birminham look like a pre school
the international diesel engine plant in huntsville is also a marvel at how its done and checked and rechecked

so is the cummins engine plant, but i still got an 8.3 ISC with a hole in the block that squirted oil.
how did that leave the dyno room and not be seen??? PEOPLE thats how

i had a datsun 310 for a while as young adult, it was always ready to go.


buyers look at LOOKS first, except people needing a TRUCK for a task.
heck look at the ram promaster...its ugly as a rhino rear, but its a TASK vehicle.

eye candy sells cars, look at jag...complete crap for long time..but dam an E TYPE is sexy

i looked at the yota a few years back the 1790 something trim. supposed to be a king ranch killer...it was horrible inside. felt squished
but the obstacle course they allowed us to drive on, it proved its butter really well.
so did my king ranch expedition .

we are in a great time to own or buy new vehicles, the safety suites, creature comforts, etc.
we as the buyer can make a winner or a looser.

i wonder if these recalls or issues actually move the needle on prospective buyers, or is it all about pricing, rates and looks?

ram is trying to give away the 1/2 tons and jeep cant get rid of excess inventory. gladiators are nice to look at, but as practical daily driver...nope and lets face it. most of the off road vehicles sold only see rain puddles on concrete streets.

 

[PowerBoostSoCal]

The Toyota hybrid is completely different from the Ford PowerBoost - first they use Nickel Metal Hydride batteries (think OLD school DeWalt drill battery packs, which are super safe, but completely inferior to lithium Ion or Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries). The Tundra packs are really heavy, probably two to three times heavier then the PowerBoost - and their placement is under the back seat (so you get all of this energy just under where your kids sit on a long trip!). You loose the storage space under the seat, you are penalized by the heavier weight of the batteries and the truck PLUS it does not perform any better than the standard truck in performance or mileage ... it is a lose/lose situation. Ford in my view, did a superior job of developing the PowerBoost, placing lithium batteries in a safe area between the frame rails, left the usable space in the truck for storage, etc. Downside (for any of these systems) - double, maybe triple, the number of hoses and wires for cooling and support, crammed engine bay full of orange taped high energy stuff, a transmission with an electric motor in front of it, etc. Upside - the performance is better, mileage is better and the ability to really utilize the power system is superior to ANYTHING out there ... for all the griping about Ford and all, they really do lead in tech and give us some great trucks!!

 

[Kurt V]

I had a 2005 Tundra with the old 4.7 V8. I put 245,000 miles on it before I traded it in on my 2023 PB. It was kind of a gas hog but the engine was bullet proof. Ran the same as the day I bought it and no oil leaks or oil burn.

 

[fmdog44]

I would not wish this on anyone. I just heard about this, hopefully this is not redundant news in this forum:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a60992514/toyota-tundra-lexus-lx-engine-recall/

Apparently there was "debris" left in the engine on assembly and it's eating the main bearings, among other issues.

I was 100% ready to order a new gen Tundra in late 2021, because of them being the safe choice of "quality." It might take them years to recover from this.

That is almost impossible to believe. All machined parts are washed at some point. No parts for assembly are moved directly from machining to assembly. This hints of sabotage rather than neglect. Decades ago, I worked for European Gas Turbines and one day some field workers in California tossed from rebars in to two turbines after maintenance. When they fired up the turbines all hell broke loose destroying the blades on the main spindle. All of our contracts everywhere were cancelled and given to Solar Turbines. Everyone was instantly unemployed.

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