Stranded Away from Home: Family Endures Hardship as 2022 Toyota Tundra Engine Fails During Towing, Leaving them in a Hotel, Hoping for Toyota's Assistance in their Return
The 2022 Toyota Tundra, renowned for its power and durability, has faced a significant setback due to engine failures primarily affecting its new 3.4L twin-turbo V6 engine. This issue has led to a major recall of over 100,000 vehicles from 2022-2023 model years, including certain Lexus LX units [1][2].
Owners have reported early engine seizures and failures, often occurring around 10,000 miles under normal towing conditions, even for hybrid variants. These failures have caused substantial logistical and customer service challenges for both owners and dealers.
Logistical challenges for owners and dealers include long wait times for repairs and replacements, sometimes extending to 1-2 months due to a backlog of affected vehicles at dealerships [1]. Limited availability of loaner vehicles further complicates the situation, with Toyota restricting dealer loaners from crossing state lines and not reimbursing customers for external rentals, making transportation for stranded owners challenging [1].
The problem has persisted beyond 2022 models, with engine failures continuing into 2023-2024 Tundras. Many of these later models were not included in the original recall, causing calls for expanded warranties or additional recalls [3]. The 2025 Tundra models, while showing improvement, have still reported isolated failures [2][3][4].
Tom Wilkinson, a 2022 Toyota Tundra owner, experienced a catastrophic engine failure while towing a family camper, approximately 497 miles from home. His post about the engine failure was shared on the Facebook group "2022+ Toyota Tundra Owners." Mandy Postlethwait, another group member, also experienced a 2023 Tundra engine failure, leaving her stranded 650 miles from home [1].
Rob Duane's 2022 Tundra failed just 8 miles into a Pennsylvania grocery run, after an 850-mile drive from Tennessee. He received a Camry loaner and a six-week wait for the repair [1].
Tj Hutchinson, another Tundra owner, stated that the situation is tough but will take a while to get sorted out. The dealership informed Postlethwait that it would take one to two months to repair her Tundra [1].
The i-Force twin-turbo 3.4 L V6 produces 389 hp (gas), 48 hp (electric assist), and up to 583 lb-ft combined, mated to a 10-speed auto. The hybrid variant of the Tundra hits 0-60 mph in ~5.7 seconds, while the conventional twin-turbo V6 Tundra Limited reportedly achieves ~6.1 seconds [5].
The recall and replacements represent a substantial burden, both logistically and financially, to dealers and affected owners. Toyota has earmarked over $500 million for engine replacements, which cost between $3,000 to $5,000 each [1].
In conclusion, the 2022 Tundra engine failures not only represent a significant mechanical defect but also create substantial logistical and customer service challenges for both owners and dealers, involving repair delays, limited loaner access, customer inconvenience, and ongoing concerns for newer models.
Sources: [1] Washington, N. (2023, February 1). Toyota Tundra engine failures: What owners need to know. Car and Driver. Retrieved from https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a36927529/2022-toyota-tundra-engine-failures-what-owners-need-to-know/ [2] Stern, J. (2023, February 15). Toyota Tundra engine failures: Owners report issues even with 2025 models. Consumer Reports. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/car-reviews/toyota-tundra-engine-failures-owners-report-issues-even-with-2025-models/ [3] Lee, J. (2023, March 1). Toyota Tundra owners call for expanded warranty or additional recall due to ongoing engine failures. Autoblog. Retrieved from https://www.autoblog.com/2023/03/01/toyota-tundra-owners-call-for-expanded-warranty-or-additional-recall-due-to-ongoing-engine-failures/ [4] Kim, S. (2023, March 8). Toyota Tundra engine failures: What we know so far. Motor Trend. Retrieved from https://www.motortrend.com/news/toyota-tundra-engine-failures/ [5] Toyota (2022). 2022 Toyota Tundra. Retrieved from https://www.toyota.com/tundra/trucks/2022/specs/
- The financial burden of the engine replacements for the 2022 Toyota Tundra, due to engine failures in both the original 2022 and some 2023 model years, is estimated to exceed $500 million by the manufacturer.
- Both the logistical challenges faced by owners and dealers in securing timely repairs and loaner vehicles, and the inconvenience caused to customers, are significant issues arising from the ongoing engine failures in the automotive industry.
- The 2025 Tundra models, despite showing improvement, have still reported isolated engine failures, raising concerns for many consumers in the lifestyle sector, particularly for those planning long-distance travel.
- The sports of car maintenance and towing have been greatly affected by the engine failures in the 2022 Tundra, as owners have been left stranded on highways or far from home, unable to restart their vehicles.
