Interesting video on the Toyota V35A-FTS, the issues, some possible changes, and how Toyota is dealing with the issues.

[PWMDMD]

An interesting discussion on what's happened so far, one guy claims there are part changes coming, the debris issue took way too long to resolve, and a discussion on Toyota's decision to replace engines with a short vs long block. There's also a discussion on poor shifting/hesitation in the 10-speed auto.

I'm wondering what everyone thinks?

 

[RBT]

If true ( it’s the internet after all), very troubling.

If I owned one of these impacted vehicles, dealer service only, to the letter of service manual. Not because it is mechanically necessary, but because it seems Toyota is not being reputable and is looking to shift blame to the owners.

Fwiw, friend owned a CJDR dealer. Pentastar failure is less than 1 percent. Hemi is similar. Some of this Toyota glow stems from a time when they were building the same engine for 10 plus years. Give any reputable manufacturer that long a run and they will iron out the issues for both customer retention and to reduce warranty claims. Toyota will do the same, perhaps more quickly but you cannot go so many years and not innovate without losing some of the engineering and manufacturing skills that allows you to do so flawlessly when the time comes for you to do so.

 

[D60]

This is a place where maybe AI could give us the Clif Notes on a two hour video....

 

[PWMDMD]

This is a place where maybe AI could give us the Clif Notes on a two hour video....

They talk about a lot of topics, the Toyota V6 part is relatively short and it's chaptered down on the slider. The long and the short of it is debris in the motor continued until Nov of 2024, LONG after it was identified. They are going to come out with a bunch of new part numbers for 2026 that are supposed to fix the/some of the issues which means it's not entire due to debris, Toyota is not telling the public the entire extent of the issue because all vehicles with that engine are experiencing failures and because its at least partly a design flaw issue even the replacement motors will fail.

They also talk about the 2.4 spinning bearings too. The design flaw in the 10-speed that makes it hesitate and shift hard, and some other topics too.

 

[sw99]

I watched that yesterday also. I'm waiting on a LX700h so I'm hoping it's a 26' MY. The failure rates are low compared to others but it still makes me cringe.

 

[D60]

I fast forwarded A LOT, watching maybe 25 min all told.

One thing I really enjoyed was around 1:05:00 the one guy says -- paraphrasing -- engineers are no longer able to make autonomous decisions. Rather, they're told exactly what is needed by management and legal, and parts that are TOO reliable are prohibited.

I really want to believe this as we all see soooo many dumb things and it would be nice to think it was not engineers saying, "This is a great idea!"

 

[Elkins45]

I’m being slowly led to the conclusion they aren’t the quality focused company they once were. As a long-time Toyota owner this makes me sad.

 

[PWMDMD]

I had the opportunity to talk with a Toyota Master Tech at a Labor Day party yesterday and he said stay away from anything with the V35A-FTS and that the Tundra/Sequoia and Tacoma occupy nearly 100% of his time now. I didn't press about the Tacoma because I didn't want to turn this into having to talk shop at a party, but I asked what issues is he commonly seeing with the Tundra, and he said obviously the engine recall and they've had a few actual seized motors, lots of interior plastic bits breaking or general complaints about fit and finish and rattles, quite a few head units dying, steering and alignment issues, complaints about the 10-speed and they've replaced a few completely lately, water leaks from around the moonroof/pillars, and some paint quality issues. He may have rattled off a few more things but I was quite a few beers into the day. He did say it used to be rare to have the last generation Tundra in the shop for anything other than routine maintenance and they have several Tundras in per week, if not day, for non-maintenance issues.

 

[nthach]

The funny part is Toyota has built this engine since 2018 for the Lexus LS500/LC500h and Land Cruiser 300 Series(Lexus LX600/700h). The T24A-FTS has been built for a while, again for the Lexus RX500h/NX350 and Highlander/Crown Hybrid Max. But only the trucks are having issues.

No forced induction here, the 25 Camry my parents had has been trouble-free except for 43K of hard Uber miles and one warranty trip to the dealer for a flaky hybrid ECU with false battery HVIL codes. Neighbors have no issues with their 24 RAV4 Hybrid.

 

[RBT]

Given that it is Toyota, they will get it right eventually but I guess caution is warranted until there have been a few model years of production.

 

[D60]

Given that it is Toyota, they will get it right eventually but I guess caution is warranted until there have been a few model years of production.

I dunno, this is really bad because now '22, '23 and '24 appear unresolved. Also '25 it would seem but the one guy in the vid says he'll likely try a '26

This would be bad enough for a domestic manufacturer but for Toyota is -- and should be -- a huge black eye.

I realize every manufacturer gets lucky and unlucky but even most domestic manufacturers have things sorted in two model years. Obvious exceptions are "long term" failures like lifters/cams that fail after a couple years but still well before they should.

 

[dfarr67]

I remember the Honda arrogance in the 2000's and since I purchased an Accord in 2015- believe me there are issues that they didn't address to my satisfaction. Toyota is working hard to tear down their decades long reputation- even in 2015 I wanted to buy Toyota but they had so many recalls at that time frame. looks like things haven't changed.

 

[D60]

I remember the Honda arrogance in the 2000's and since I purchased an Accord in 2015- believe me there are issues that they didn't address to my satisfaction. Toyota is working hard to tear down their decades long reputation- even in 2015 I wanted to buy Toyota but they had so many recalls at that time frame. looks like things haven't changed.

If truthful the one guy in the vid has arguably been abused by Toyota and still wants to buy their stuff.

They need to stop snatching defeat from the jaws of victory -- people want to remain loyal to them.

 

[dfarr67]

If truthful the one guy in the vid has arguably been abused by Toyota and still wants to buy their stuff.

They need to stop snatching defeat from the jaws of victory -- people want to remain loyal to them.

In my eyes Toyota is slipping badly- seems there was a decision to be the biggest maker in the world at some point, as the famous Toyota quality was the price. Saying that all makers have slipped so there is that but today the price for repairs is crazy. coming from a guy who still rocks a 1990 4runner 4x4 22RET.

 

[sw99]

Well my LX arrived yesterday so hopefully I don't have any problems. Planning on dumping the factory fill at 500 miles. The rest of the oil changes will be done at 5k by the dealer while it's under warranty. Not going to chance it.

 

[02SE]

As a former Toyota Master Tech, and long time Toyota fan, I am disgusted by the trend of the ever increasing cheapening of their vehicles. I don't mean in price, but in materials, and build quality.

Earlier this year I looked hard at the new 6th gen 4Runner, as I've owned them and have been a fan for decades, and thought I might replace our low-mile 5th gen. I couldn't get over the egregious cost-cutting I saw everywhere. Flimsy sheetmetal, with hoods that flutter in the breeze, and don't get too aggressive waxing your 6th gen 4Runner by hand, as you could dent it by gently leaning on it (it happened to a guy on a 4Runner forum). Wheel flares that are designed so minimally, they don't fit tight to the body leaving unsightly gaps. Airdams that are so poorly attached, they can blow off driving down the highway. HARD plastics in the interior which were soft touch materials in the 5th gen. You only get actual metal skidplates on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter. The TRD Off Road models get plastic 'skidplates', and the SR5 gets none at all. Space saver spare tires on a supposedly capable 4wd vehicle. Despite being physically larger than the 5th gen, it is smaller in the interior. Sitting in the drivers seat, I felt like I was looking out the gun port of a small bunker.

I keep getting higher and higher offers from Carmax for my 5th gen...

 

[dfarr67]

As a former Toyota Master Tech, and long time Toyota fan, I am disgusted by the trend of the ever increasing cheapening of their vehicles. I don't mean in price, but in materials, and build quality.

Earlier this year I looked hard at the new 6th gen 4Runner, as I've owned them and have been a fan for decades, and thought I might replace our low-mile 5th gen. I couldn't get over the egregious cost-cutting I saw everywhere. Flimsy sheetmetal, with hoods that flutter in the breeze, and don't get too aggressive waxing your 6th gen 4Runner by hand, as you could dent it by gently leaning on it (it happened to a guy on a 4Runner forum). Wheel flares that are designed so minimally, they don't fit tight to the body leaving unsightly gaps. Airdams that are so poorly attached, they can blow off driving down the highway. HARD plastics in the interior which were soft touch materials in the 5th gen. You only get actual metal skidplates on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter. The TRD Off Road models get plastic 'skidplates', and the SR5 gets none at all. Space saver spare tires on a supposedly capable 4wd vehicle. Despite being physically larger than the 5th gen, it is smaller in the interior. Sitting in the drivers seat, I felt like I was looking out the gun port of a small bunker.

I keep getting higher and higher offers from Carmax for my 5th gen...

I was trying to think of a way to phrase what we are seeing.......I think in years past, Toyota treated their vehicles more seriously...a little pride in the end product compared to the 'others'...?

 

[JHZR2]

As a former Toyota Master Tech, and long time Toyota fan, I am disgusted by the trend of the ever increasing cheapening of their vehicles. I don't mean in price, but in materials, and build quality.

Earlier this year I looked hard at the new 6th gen 4Runner, as I've owned them and have been a fan for decades, and thought I might replace our low-mile 5th gen. I couldn't get over the egregious cost-cutting I saw everywhere. Flimsy sheetmetal, with hoods that flutter in the breeze, and don't get too aggressive waxing your 6th gen 4Runner by hand, as you could dent it by gently leaning on it (it happened to a guy on a 4Runner forum). Wheel flares that are designed so minimally, they don't fit tight to the body leaving unsightly gaps. Airdams that are so poorly attached, they can blow off driving down the highway. HARD plastics in the interior which were soft touch materials in the 5th gen. You only get actual metal skidplates on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter. The TRD Off Road models get plastic 'skidplates', and the SR5 gets none at all. Space saver spare tires on a supposedly capable 4wd vehicle. Despite being physically larger than the 5th gen, it is smaller in the interior. Sitting in the drivers seat, I felt like I was looking out the gun port of a small bunker.

I keep getting higher and higher offers from Carmax for my 5th gen...

I remember my father saying about the same type of things about his 91 Corolla… how the metal was thin, it could dent easily, etc., compared to other vehicles my parents owned.

Toyota has been on this bad spiral of gaudy styling with excess facets, fake vents, weird angles, etc for the last few generations of all their vehicles. All manufacturers have issues at some point with drivetrain and vehicle components, but Toyota doesn’t really push the envelope, making it a bit more disappointing. The pinnacle was mid 90s for them.

 

[02SE]

I remember my father saying about the same type of things about his 91 Corolla… how the metal was thin, it could dent easily, etc., compared to other vehicles my parents owned.

Toyota has been on this bad spiral of gaudy styling with excess facets, fake vents, weird angles, etc for the last few generations of all their vehicles. All manufacturers have issues at some point with drivetrain and vehicle components, but Toyota doesn’t really push the envelope, making it a bit more disappointing. The pinnacle was mid 90s for them.

I agree that the mid 90's were the height of quality materials in Toyota's. Late 80's to early 90's is when I was working on them, and I have friends from that time who still work on them, and say the same thing. I owned a '93 SR5 Extra Cab V6 4wd Pickup, '95 FZJ80 Landcruiser, and a '97 4Runner which I owned for 22 years.

The cost-cutting is just glaringly obvious between the 5th and 6th gen 4runner, which is a disappointment to me. I had hoped that they'd at least hold the line in material quality on their Japan built SUV's.

 

[Nessism1]

I read a book on LEAN, and like all people in that business, the author was enamored with Toyota. A good many chapters discussed when they designed and industrialized for the first Prius. I've spent my career working in quality and manufacturing engineering, and several things discussed in the book stayed with me. Specifically, it was discussed how all the Toyota engineers and techs, working to bring the car to market worked crazy long hours. Many in Japan moved out of their homes and into company dormitory spaces, closer to their work area. The top Toyota managers made promises about project delivery schedule, and the expectation flowed down to these people. Huge pressure.

Put people under such pressure, and it's no surprise that mistakes can be made. Verification testing may not be given enough time for meaningful results. I've seen this countless times working in the aerospace industry; products are rushed into qualification testing, but there is not enough focus on durability testing.

Sorry if this post doesn't align exactly with what's mentioned in that video. And speaking of that, no way I'm watching a 2 hour video about anything, no less Toyota.