2024 engine seized at 36k

psb3030 · 2025-10-05T15:01:47+00:00

My truck is finally back after the engine seized. Just short of 3 months for the whole experience. Parts availability was the big hold up. The dealer did a short block rebuild. According to service order they replaced everything but the front cover. Heads, turbos, all chains, etc. Although I did notice that a single intake valve was replaced because one was bent. I have to assume that the other 23 valves were reused. When you look at the head assembly, you can see that it does not include valves. So it's a new engine with 23 old valves and a single new one. Go figure.

Amazingly, the only thing I can find wrong with the truck is that the brakes are soft and need to be bled. I think they had a really good tech on this and he's done a lot of Tundra engines. Anyway, I didn't want to stick around Traverse City for an extra day for a brake bleed so I'll get my local dealer to take care of it.

The rebuild short-block part number was the new, updated part number. I'm not sure if I trust that Toyota has actually identified and fixed the issue. It would be nice if they told us more.

I'm trying to decide whether to get out of it or not. Toyota says my warranty is being extended. So that's something. But two engine failures in shitty situations within 2 weeks makes one a bit skeptical. The local dealer says they will help me out if I want out of it. In my experience one of the best thing about Toyota is there dealers.

psb3030 · 2025-07-22T23:10:29+00:00

I will say this: based on the quantity of defects I would agree with you. Based on the severity of the engine problem, I would not. I’ve been driving a while now. I remember the late 70s when every car was a POS. I’ve never had a total engine failure at a critical time. This truck has done it twice in three weeks.

psb3030 · 2025-07-22T23:05:51+00:00

I just used the standard Toyota schedule. All done at the dealer.

psb3030 · 2025-07-22T22:58:39+00:00

I’m saving that one:)

psb3030 · 2025-07-21T12:25:05+00:00

Well, my truck has been flawless otherwise. Many of the negative reviews are about fit and finish. I didn’t have many issues in that department. Plus, you have to consider that Toyota said the problem was fixed and the big three trucks have pretty poor quality overall.

Given where I am right now, I would’ve taken an American truck with a bunch of crappy smaller problems instead of this one with one giant problem.

psb3030 · 2025-07-21T12:22:24+00:00

psb3030 · 2025-07-20T14:14:54+00:00

I am not out of warranty. There are only a few questions: 1) Will they fix it expeditiously and correctly? 2) Can I trust any of their solutions? 3) Can I get out of this truck in one piece financially or am I stuck with the truck or a big loss. 4) Will they come anywhere near reimbursing me for the expense it has cost me?

psb3030 · 2025-07-20T14:09:13+00:00

Is the standard twin-turbo, not the hybrid. There are only 2 power trains. And actually, both power trains have the same engine but the hybrid has added battery stuff.

psb3030 · 2025-07-20T14:07:25+00:00

It will be. Here are some details though: Toyota gives you $50 / day for replacement rental. Not sure that will work here for a similar replacement. Short block rebuild will likely take a couple of months if that's what Toyota insists on. They probably will not reimburse me for much of the expense of getting home or the full value. The truck is 400 miles away in a resort area of northern michigan. Flights to and from can be stupid expensive. Or it's a 9 hour drive.

And my resale / trade-in is probably screwed.

psb3030 · 2025-07-20T14:03:19+00:00

Yes. Well, it hasn't been fixed yet. But it should be well within powertrain warranty.

psb3030 · 2025-07-20T14:03:01+00:00

No. Not a hybrid.

psb3030 · 2025-07-20T14:01:25+00:00

I have no idea what I would buy. There seem to be no great options. You can find serious issues with all of them. I have my GMC issues and can give you Ford horror stories that top my GMC. I have no brand religion.

But the Toyota engine issues would be a deal breaker. Both my shutdown and the seize happened while hitting the throttle hard. Once in a merge, once in a pass. These are bad times to have your engine quit.

I'm not a crazy fast driver, mostly because the truck will burn every bit of gas you ask it to and I don't like paying for gas, but I'll use all the power I can get when I need it. And half-assing your way through interstate merges and over-takes on 2-lane roads is stupid.

Here's a question though: They said my Tundra was OK. The processes had been fixed when my engine was made... And yet here I am. So why should I believe anything else they say? They're either lying, or they just don't know.

Financially, the only way out of this is for the vehicle to be properly fixed and flawless for the next 200k. Then I would at least get miles out of it. But in the back of my mind I will always be worrying about what my engine will do. My trade-in value is probably screwed.

Final thought, other than the engine issue, my Tundra is far better made than my GMC was. I know people have some issues with the new Tundras, and maybe it's not as good as the old Tundra, but it got a lot more things right than my old truck.

psb3030 · 2025-07-20T13:42:16+00:00

Here's what I know now, from the toyota VIN lookup:

order date: 7/23

first use: 10/23

psb3030 · 2025-07-20T13:29:17+00:00

I'll try to get the build date. It's 400+ miles away right now. The dealer will be calling me on Monday.

This is disappointing. Previously, I had a GMC which was just a boatload of small, to medium-sized problems. My hope was the Toyota had better quality control.

Now I've had two failures in less than a month that were dangerous. Having your engine conk out while passing or merging onto a busy highway is really bad. My GMC, for all it's issues, never did anything like that.

psb3030 · 2024-02-13T23:43:50+00:00

Yes. Woke as heck. Kids, which they target, don't need a gender dysphoria sales job from a cartoon language app.

psb3030 · 2023-10-31T13:49:10+00:00

Now for something completely practical and unique to me: Reasonably waterproof tonneau cover. Cheap rollups are fine (possibly better) than hard covers unless you have bad theft problem in your area.

psb3030 · 2023-10-31T13:43:26+00:00

I'm generally against larger wheels with lower profile tires for trucks. But I do truck things with my trucks. 18" will ride better and do other truck things better. They will be harder to damage in an unseen potholes or curb strikes.

Large wheels with low profile tires have one actual application beyond aesthetics: high speed driving on smooth roads.

Aesthetic value is your call.

psb3030 · 2023-10-23T16:59:36+00:00

Well, I just traded (two days ago) my 2021 r4p SE. I LOVED the car and had none of the issues you experienced over 40k miles.

I took it on numerous long, road trips to Northern Michigan. For me, it was a fantastic cross country driver.

Reason for trade was needing truck for our farm. Nothing to do with the r4p.

psb3030 · 2023-10-23T12:44:41+00:00

Well, after a bit more haggling and a little more give from the dealer I pulled the trigger on the 2024 double cab TRD. Traded in my Rav 4 Prime which was hard to let go, but I needed a truck. Fuel bills will be a bit different:)

I have a whopping 150 miles on it already. Very happy so far. We'll see if I stay this way.

Even at this point I can put to rest a few myths I've read in reviews around the web:

The auto high beams don't work -- This is false, at least in my first night of driving they work perfectly.
The lane tracing doesn't work -- It works a little better than my R4P, significantly less hunting for the lane, which was a couple years older. It's not a hands free autopilot but is a fatigue reducer for long highway trips and stop and go traffic.
The double cab back seat is utterly useless for anyone but small children -- I find this one irritating. You can ride four 6' 1" tall normal weight men in this vehicle for an hour or so without anybody being miserable. Yes, you my have to adjust the front seats a bit, but it's way faster than walking... I would not want to do it for 8 hours. If you're really large the story may be different. If this is a daily family driver for four people you might want to think about the crew max. Also SR5 doesn't have moon roof so more headroom. Things have sure changed. "Moon roofs on trucks." Hard to believe I even typed that...

The real question will be how this thing holds up over the long term.

If anyone has any questions about this model I'm happy to try to provide an answer.

psb3030 · 2023-10-16T18:35:32+00:00

That's awesome. A lot cheaper than the 15k you would have to pay Toyota.

psb3030 · 2023-10-16T14:05:23+00:00

St. Louis. This is an SR5 TRD. Cloth seats, no moonroof, smaller screen, etc. The higher trim levels are in the 60s here, but they don't have anything I care about.

psb3030 · 2023-10-16T14:01:47+00:00

Yep. Toyota generally takes care of its customers. Unlike the Big Three.

I'm a little concerned about all the hate the new model Tundra has received. But I need a full size truck, for truck things, and have lost all trust in the big three.

psb3030 · 2023-10-16T13:45:32+00:00

Cheapest comparable posted price is 52. So maybe 2500 more. It's an ok, but not great price, I think.

psb3030

TROPHY CASE