2023 TOYOTA Tundra

My Toyota Tundra (2023) has a recall notice due to possible debris in the engine that is over a year and a half old. This still has not been repaired by the manufacturer. I can hear sounds like knocking coming from the engine and I am concerned that the vehicle could stall or stop while driving on the highway with my children and cause a severe crash. How do I get the vehicle engine replaced expeditiously? The Recall is 24V381.

The vehicle is affected by a manufacturer safety recall related to the engine. According to the recall, machining debris may not have been properly removed during engine production. This can lead to engine knocking, rough running, failure to start, loss of power, or the engine stalling while driving. The manufacturer has stated that the fix will require replacement of the engine assembly, but the remedy is not yet available. Because of this, the vehicle continues to be driven with a known engine defect and no repair timeline. The main safety concern is the risk of sudden loss of power or engine stall while driving, which could be dangerous, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealer, who confirmed that the recall applies but could not perform a repair, provide a timeline, or confirm that the vehicle is safe to drive while waiting for the remedy. No crash or injury has occurred so far. There have been no warning lights or specific failure events yet, but the concern is based on the acknowledged manufacturing defect and the possibility that the issue could occur without warning. The vehicle is still being driven because there is no available repair, no clear safety guidance from the manufacturer, and no alternative transportation or loaner vehicle provided. The concern remains that the vehicle could unexpectedly lose power or stall, putting the driver and others at risk.

While driving under normal conditions, my 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Hybrid experienced a sudden and severe loss of propulsion. The vehicle abruptly entered fail-safe (limp) mode and would not accelerate beyond approximately 5–10 mph. This occurred without warning and created an immediate safety hazard in traffic. Multiple warning messages illuminated simultaneously, including: Hybrid System Malfunction, Check Engine, Smart Stop System Malfunction, and Advanced Ultrasonic Detection Malfunction. The hybrid system effectively shut down and the vehicle could not maintain normal road speed. I brought the vehicle to a Toyota dealership. The dealership performed only ECM and hybrid ECU software updates and cleared codes. No mechanical inspection, oil pressure analysis, particulate inspection, turbo system evaluation, hybrid motor synchronization testing, or engineering-level diagnostics were performed. Toyota Corporate subsequently stated that the software update was the “final” resolution and declined further diagnostics. I was advised to return to the dealership if the issue reoccurs. This failure mode matches the documented loss-of-propulsion behavior described in Toyota’s V35A engine machining-defect recall (sudden power loss, limp mode, cascading system failures). Hybrid models are currently excluded despite using the same engine platform and exhibiting identical symptoms. Sudden loss of propulsion at road speed presents a serious crash risk. This appears to be a safety-related defect that is not being adequately investigated or remedied for hybrid models.