The U.S. federal regulatory agency announced on Tuesday (June 4) that Toyota is recalling approximately 102,000 vehicles due to the possibility of debris in the engines that could lead to stalling and loss of driving force.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall will include about 3,500 2022 or 2023 model year Lexus LX 600 SUVs and 98,600 Toyota Tundra pickups from the same period.
This recall affects vehicles equipped with the V35A engine, a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V-6 engine that provides different power outputs in the Tundra and LX series. The agency warned that the V35A engines in these vehicles may not have had machining debris cleared during certain factory assembly processes.
The NHTSA stated, “If the aforementioned machining debris adheres to the bearings and the engine continues to operate under high load, the bearings may fail.” “This could lead to engine knock, rough engine operation, engine stalling, and/or inability to start the engine,” they added.
This recall only applies to pure gasoline-powered models and does not affect hybrid systems. NHTSA mentioned that if a hybrid car experiences engine failure, the vehicle will still have “some power for a limited distance,” and the driver will receive audio and visual warnings.
The agency further noted that remedial measures are currently being developed.
According to the timetable released by the agency, this recall originated from engine failure reports in March 2022. The timetable did not mention whether the engine issues resulted in any casualties.
The Washington Post reported that Michael Brooks, the executive director of the non-profit Center for Auto Safety, stated that affected vehicle owners are expected to receive notifications by July 29, which is the longest timeframe required between announcing a product recall and informing the owners.
Toyota stated that they are currently working on a solution and will notify affected vehicle owners by the end of July. All owners will be eligible for free repairs within the warranty period.
Brooks mentioned that the Toyota recall “seems to require a longer remedy.”
However, he added that the recall notifications should help drivers become aware of potential issues with their vehicles.
“Drivers are also informed that there may be some signs before a safety issue arises – engine knock and rough driving, these signs will remind them that they need to stop driving the vehicle, otherwise the vehicle may stall/lose power, which is the real danger,” Brooks said.
Lexus and Toyota mentioned that owners can apply for a loaner car at a rate of $55 per day. If owners have any questions, they can call the NHTSA safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.