Toyota May Not Replace Every Recalled Tundra V6 After All

Since 2024

The Toyota Tundra V6 recall situation probably won't get better after this news bit. The Japanese automaker has recently announced that it will be handing out free inspections and diagnostics for Toyota and Lexus cars with the engine, instead of replacing every single one of the 270,000 vehicles that were affected.

Up to this point, more than 70,000 affected vehicles have received replacement engines due to machining debris that can cause premature wear and failure of main bearing #1. Based on a teardown of a seized Tundra engine, the machining debris causes the engine to shred itself over time. Toyota has traced this issue, but some believe there's more to it.

The V35A-FTS engine, a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter, has the potential to self-destruct due to machining debris left inside the engine at the factory. Following this very un-Toyota mishap, the brand is moving to update its recall order, yet another one since 2024.

NHTSA's Statement

An update to the recall was sent out on June 15, 2026, by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and it reads:

All known owners of the subject vehicles will be notified to return their vehicles to a Toyota and Lexus dealer. Using an inspection software, dealers will evaluate the #1 main bearing and collect available vehicle drive data to confirm the condition of that bearing. If the inspection software cannot confirm that the bearing will be free from abnormal wear due to this issue, dealers will replace the engine. The remedy will be provided free of charge.

Toyota and Lexus vehicles with the affected engines will have to go back to dealerships for inspection, and the issue has been reported in several vehicles, with symptoms including knocking, rough idle, or complete engine failure. Toyota has issued three recalls for the motor to date, with the first in May 2024, the second in November 2025, and the latest in May 2026.

Fourth Time's The Charm?

The Drive reached out to a Toyota rep, who said that not all affected Toyota and Lexus vehicles with the V35A-FTS engines will need a replacement. Essentially, the units included in the May 2024 recall will still receive the engine replacements if they haven't already. The report also states that Toyota has already replaced more than 70,000 engines.

Owners who've already had their engine replaced under the recall will not need to undergo another recall. Toyota stated that a design change was made to the V35A-FTS in July 2024.

Furthermore, the brand stated that it will conduct an inspection of the recalled vehicles, using resonant frequencies to identify potential issues and abnormal wear on the #1 main bearing in the engine.

"In addition, available vehicle drive data is collected to determine if there has been enough load that has been put on the engine so that there is confidence in the assessment of the condition of the #1 main bearing. If there is insufficient vehicle drive data, the engine will be replaced," Toyota told the publication.

Owners Aren't Happy

So how would you feel if you went to one of the most reliable brands in the market today, only to buy a car that isn't actually reliable? Well, I guess that's what the owners are feeling right now, feeling shortchanged with Toyota, even if a failure is theoretical or implied.

This issue has been going on for two years now, and while some owners aren't too happy about the most recent decision, others who haven't had any issues are kind of tired of the noise.

Still, Toyota's doing something about it rather than remaining quiet, but it might come off as pumping the brakes on a massive financial setback, according to owners from the Toyota Tundra enthusiast community. In a nutshell, the owners our source identified want Toyota "to do what is right," and instead of just inspecting the engines, they want Toyota to admit there is an inherent design flaw in the V35A-FTS.

On that front, Toyota hasn't publicly admitted to a design flaw in its engine. The brand continues to make the motor at its factories, which have been in production since the 2022 model year of the Tundra.

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 6:57 AM.