Toyota’s V6 Recall Keeps Growing
The saga with Toyota’s non-hybrid 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 continues. In the latest round, the Japanese marque has confirmed that another 44,000 model-year 2024 Toyota Tundra trucks in the US have been added to the recall list.
That brings the total number of vehicles recalled for the V35A-FTS engine family to nearly 270,000 since 2024. This engine isn’t just powering the Tundra – it’s also used in several Toyota and Lexus trucks and SUVs, like the Lexus LX and GX.
According to Toyota, the culprit is machining debris left inside the engine during production. That debris can damage the #1 main bearing, which might lead to knocking, rough running, hard starts, or even total engine failure. In some cases, drivers could suddenly lose power while on the move.
However, this latest recall pops out because these engines were supposed to be safe from the issue, built with extra cleaning steps after the earlier recalls. However, Toyota admits that, even with those added measures, debris can still slip through and damage the bearings. Hybrid versions, for now, remain unaffected.
Lubrication-Related Issues Could Also Contribute
While Toyota continues to blame debris contamination, independent engine teardowns are starting to raise more questions about the V6’s long-term reliability.
In a failed 2023 Tundra V6 engine – one with only 38,000 miles on the clock – the lower end looked far from ideal. Metal flakes were found in the oil pan, while several main bearings showed severe wear and heat damage. Some rod bearings also appeared heavily worn for the mileage. The damage seemed concentrated around the bearings rather than spread randomly throughout the engine.
Looking at these findings, it’s easy to wonder if oil pressure inconsistencies, bearing tolerances, or other lubrication issues might also be at play. Toyota hasn’t pointed to any alternative causes, but says newer engines now use an improved #1 main bearing that should handle contamination better.
What Happened Since 2024
Toyota first recalled about 102,000 Tundra and Lexus LX models in May 2024, later announcing that many would receive full engine replacements. By November 2025, another 127,000 vehicles joined the list, including more Tundras, Lexus LXs, and the Lexus GX.
Toyota says over 77,000 repairs from the original recall have already been completed. Even so, reports of failures outside that initial group kept popping up, which eventually led to this latest expansion.
As for the newest recall, Toyota says fixes are still being worked out. Owners will be contacted in phases as soon as repairs are ready.
I Do Cars/YouTube
