Toyota Tundra V35A Engine Problems: Recalls and Your Rights
The Toyota Tundra V35A engine has a confirmed defect: machining debris left from manufacturing can damage the #1 main bearing, and a failed bearing can stall the truck while you drive. Toyota has issued several recalls for it. If your Tundra keeps returning to the shop for the same engine problem, California’s lemon law may entitle you to a repurchase, a replacement truck, or a cash settlement. A civil penalty of up to two times your actual damages may also be available when a manufacturer willfully ignores its warranty obligations.
This guide explains what the defect is, which trucks are covered, the symptoms to watch for, and how the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act applies. It comes from a firm led by an attorney who spent 11 years defending manufacturers and dealerships.
TL;DR
- The V35A is the 3.4 liter twin turbo V6 in the Tundra. Toyota says manufacturing debris can contaminate the crankshaft main bearings and cause failure.
- Symptoms include engine knock, rough running, a no start, and an unexpected stall while driving.
- Recall 26V320 covers certain 2024 Tundras. Toyota has said the repair is free once a remedy is available.
- California owners may qualify for a refund or replacement if a serious defect survives a reasonable number of repair attempts.
- AB 1755 shortened the filing window, so do not wait to learn where you stand.
Table of Contents
- What is the Toyota Tundra V35A engine problem?
- Which Tundra model years are affected?
- What are the symptoms of a failing V35A main bearing?
- What does the recall repair cover?
- Can you use California’s lemon law for a Tundra V35A defect?
- What can you recover?
- How does AB 1755 affect your deadline?
- Is the V35A the only Tundra engine with issues?
- What should you do right now?
- Why a former defense attorney matters
- Get a free review of your Tundra
- FAQ
- Sources
What is the Toyota Tundra V35A engine problem?
The V35A problem is a manufacturing defect, not a design flaw in how the truck is driven. Toyota found that machining debris may remain inside certain engines after production. That debris can contaminate the crankshaft main bearings, which support the crankshaft as it spins.
When a main bearing wears or fails, the engine can lose power. Toyota’s own recall filing describes the outcome as an engine stall and a loss of drive power, according to Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V320.
Toyota also says it added controls during engine production. Its newsroom statement says the company kept monitoring and found that even refined processes could leave enough debris to damage a bearing, as described in Toyota’s May 2026 recall announcement. Microscopic contamination is hard to eliminate in high volume manufacturing, and that is exactly why the issue keeps resurfacing.
For owners, the practical meaning is simple. A part inside the engine can fail without warning, and the failure can happen at highway speed.
Which Tundra model years are affected?
Recall 26V320 covers certain 2024 Toyota Tundras with the V35A engine. The recall is the latest in a series that began with an earlier campaign in May 2024.
Toyota reported that as of May 20, 2026, dealers had repaired more than 77,000 of the roughly 102,000 vehicles covered by that May 2024 recall. Those repairs used engines with an improved #1 main bearing, per Toyota’s newsroom. Engines built after the engines in the newest recall were made with the improved bearing, designed to resist debris that might remain.
We track the earlier 2022 to 2024 reports separately in our guide to the most reported Tundra engine problems. Owners of other Toyota trucks may also want our overview of Tundra defect lemon law basics.
To see whether your exact truck is included, enter your VIN at Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall can cover only a specific production window, so two trucks of the same model year may have different results.
What are the symptoms of a failing V35A main bearing?
The main warning signs are engine knock, rough running, a failure to start, and a sudden stall while driving. Toyota lists all four in its recall filing, and NHTSA recall reports tie them to an increased crash risk, per Report 26V320.
Here is what each looks like from the driver’s seat.
Knocking. A metallic rhythmic sound from the lower engine that rises with RPM. Do not dismiss it as a cold start noise if it persists.
Rough idle or rough running. The truck shakes at a stop or hesitates under load.
Failure to start. The starter turns, or the truck does not crank, because internal damage has progressed.
Stalling in motion. This is the dangerous one. The engine shuts off and you may lose power assist and drive power while traffic keeps moving.
If you see any of these, stop driving when it is safe and call a Toyota dealer. Do not keep using the truck on the assumption that the noise will go away.
How Toyota tests for a bad bearing
Toyota changed how its technicians check for the problem. Technicians strike the crankshaft pulley with a plastic mallet while an accelerometer records vibration, and software analyzes the data to estimate wear on the #1 main bearing, as AutoEvolution reported in August 2026.
The reported goal is to identify which engines need replacement while limiting cost. That matters to you as an owner. A “pass” on the test is the dealer’s opinion at one point in time. It does not prevent you from documenting later symptoms and returning the truck.
What does the recall repair cover?
The recall repair is free of charge to the owner. For recall 26V320, the filing states that the remedy is still under development, and that repairs will be free once it is available, according to the Part 573 report. Check Toyota’s recall site for the current status, because the remedy may have been released since this article was written.
Owners can reach Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, both listed in NHTSA’s owner notification letter.
A damaged bearing can cut power at highway speed and raise crash risk. That is why the defect is handled as a safety recall and not as an ordinary warranty repair, as this recall summary explains.
A recall is not the end of your rights. It is evidence. A recall notice shows that the manufacturer knows of the defect, and your repair records show what happened to your truck.
Can you use California’s lemon law for a Tundra V35A defect?
Yes, if the defect is covered by Toyota’s warranty and Toyota cannot fix it after a reasonable number of attempts. California’s lemon law is part of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. In plain terms, when a manufacturer or its dealer cannot repair a serious warranty defect after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or refund its purchase price, as the California Department of Consumer Affairs explains.
An engine that can stall on the freeway is a safety defect. That makes the reasonable number of attempts easier to meet.
The presumption: repairs and days in the shop
The statute sets a presumption that your truck is a lemon. Within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first, the presumption applies when any of these is true under Civil Code section 1793.22:
- The same safety related defect was repaired at least two times.
- The same defect was repaired at least four times.
- Warranty repairs kept the vehicle out of service for more than 30 days.
The statute also deals with direct notice to the manufacturer. That notice is required for the first two situations only if the warranty or owner’s manual clearly disclosed the requirement.
The presumption is a tool, not a gate. California’s civil jury instructions focus on whether the manufacturer had a reasonable number of repair opportunities overall, so a claim can succeed without hitting every number, per CACI No. 3203. Our guide to the California repair attempt standard walks through how this works.
Arbitration and used trucks
If a manufacturer offers a state certified arbitration program, you must request arbitration to claim the benefit of the presumption. The program must also have given you timely written notice. The Department of Consumer Affairs sets this out.
The lemon law generally applies to vehicles with a valid manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty. A used truck bought without that coverage may not qualify for these statutory protections. A used Tundra that is still under the original factory warranty is a different matter, and we review those cases individually.
What can you recover?
A successful claim can result in one of three outcomes: a repurchase or refund, a replacement truck, or a cash settlement. When a manufacturer willfully ignored its warranty duties, a civil penalty of up to two times your actual damages may also be available.
No lawyer can promise an outcome, and we do not. Each case turns on its repair records, its warranty, and its facts.
The cost to you is zero. Every case runs on contingency, win or lose, because statutory attorney fees are paid by the manufacturer or dealer if the case is won or settled.
How does AB 1755 affect your deadline?
AB 1755 added a filing deadline to lemon law claims. Under the new statute of limitations, a lawsuit must be filed within one year after the express warranty expires. It cannot be filed more than six years after the original delivery date, unless tolling applies, according to Bowman and Brooke’s summary of AB 1755.
The law also created pre suit notice and early document exchange procedures for manufacturers that opt in. The details change how a claim is built, and Toyota’s election status matters.
The safe move is to talk to an attorney well before any date approaches. Our AB 1755 deadline guide covers the timeline, and our article on warranty refusals under AB 1755 covers what happens when a dealer refuses to fix the truck.
Is the V35A the only Tundra engine with issues?
No, but the V35A is the one with a documented manufacturing contamination defect and multiple recalls. The older 5.7 liter V8 has a different history and a different reputation, and our research for this article centers on the V35A recall record. If your concern is another Toyota model, such as the Tacoma, see our guide to common Tacoma lemon law issues.
Reliability is not a yes or no question for the whole line. A truck outside the recall window may run without trouble. A truck inside it may fail. What matters for a claim is your truck’s record.
What should you do right now?
Start with documentation. Keep every repair order, even when the dealer wrote “could not duplicate.” Those entries count as repair opportunities.
- Run your VIN at Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls and save a screenshot.
- Describe each symptom in writing at every dealer visit, and ask for a copy of the repair order.
- Track the total days the truck sits at the dealer.
- Do not accept a vague “no problem found” without asking the dealer to note your complaint.
- Contact an attorney before you sign a release or accept a goodwill offer.
If you modified the truck, ask before assuming it hurts your claim. Our article on lifted truck lemon law in California covers that question.
Why a former defense attorney matters
We spent 11 years on the other side of these cases, representing manufacturers and dealerships. We know how a manufacturer prepares its defense of an engine claim, because we used to prepare it.
On a V35A claim, the manufacturer will point to the recall and say the remedy is the fix. We see it differently. A recall repair that comes after repeated failures, a stall, or weeks in the shop is part of the repair history, not a replacement for your rights under Song-Beverly.
We also know how the large advertising driven lemon law mills run their files. You deserve to speak with your attorney, not a case manager. We handle your claim personally, and we start by looking at the repair orders the dealer gave you.
If your Tundra stalled, knocked, or spent 30 days or more in the shop, a review costs you nothing.
Jeff Le Pere
Get a free review of your Tundra
Our practice covers auto lemon law for cars, trucks, and SUVs across California, including Toyota claims. We represent owners on contingency, and the manufacturer pays our fees if the case is won or settled.
Send us your repair orders and recall notice for a free case review through our auto lemon law page. You can also see our Toyota lemon law attorney page for model specific information. If a dealer sold you the truck by misrepresenting its condition or certification, our dealer fraud practice handles that too. If a different firm declined your case, or you never reached an attorney there, read our lemon law mill checklist and contact us through our main site.
This article is educational and is not legal advice. Statutes change, so confirm current law with an attorney.
FAQ
What is the Toyota Tundra V35A engine?
The V35A is the 3.4 liter twin turbo V6 used in the Tundra. Toyota has recalled certain trucks with this engine because debris from manufacturing can damage the main bearings. The recalls are tracked by NHTSA campaign number, including 26V320 for certain 2024 trucks.
How do I know if my Tundra is part of the recall?
Enter your VIN or license plate at Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls. You can also call Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota says owners with symptoms should contact a dealer, and repairs are free once the remedy is available.
Is the Tundra V35A a lemon under California law?
It depends on your truck’s repair history. California presumes a lemon when a safety defect is repaired twice or the same defect four times, or when the truck is out of service more than 30 days, within 18 months or 18,000 miles. A claim can also succeed on the overall reasonableness of the repair attempts.
Does a recall repair end my lemon law rights?
No. A recall repair counts in your repair history. If the problem returns or the truck spends significant time in the shop, you may still have a claim. Keep every repair order and speak with an attorney before signing anything.
How much does it cost to hire a lemon law attorney?
Nothing out of pocket. We work on contingency, and our fees are paid by the manufacturer or dealer if the case is won or settled. Win or lose, you do not pay us.
Sources
- Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V320, NHTSA
- Toyota Recalls Certain 2024 Toyota Tundra Vehicles, Toyota Newsroom
- NHTSA owner notification, recall 26V320
- Toyota Service Technicians Now Use Hammers, AutoEvolution
- Toyota’s Third Tundra Engine Recall in Two Years, Ordealist
- California’s Lemon Law Q&A, Department of Consumer Affairs
- California Civil Code section 1793.22
- CACI No. 3203, Reasonable Number of Repair Opportunities
- California Lemon Law Update: Key Changes Under AB 1755