3.4L TTV6 Engine Failures (V35A-FTS) - Expanded Recall for LX and GX 550

[CIF]

Regarding the idea that if Toyota knew what the problem was with this engine, they would have fixed it by now...I have a thought. What if the root problem with this engine is that it is a fundamentally unreliable design? What if the only proper fix is an entirely new V6 engine design? This would explain the continued problems despite Toyota making updates to the engine parts. Updating parts on a fundamentally unreliable engine design won't fix the fundamental design problem.

 

[Ali Manai]

Why isn't the LS involved in this recall?

 

[CRSKTN]

Was hoping switching to LX will solve my worries, but now it maybe switching to different brand.

Honestly at this point other carmakers have become so reliable that it isn't worth all the sacrifice to go for such a sub-standard offering unless you are blindly risk averse and taken by marketing and the old reputation of the brand.

 

[Gecko]

Regarding the idea that if Toyota knew what the problem was with this engine, they would have fixed it by now...I have a thought. What if the root problem with this engine is that it is a fundamentally unreliable design? What if the only proper fix is an entirely new V6 engine design? This would explain the continued problems despite Toyota making updates to the engine parts. Updating parts on a fundamentally unreliable engine design won't fix the fundamental design problem.

I think this is exactly it - I believe there is a design flaw with the V35A-FTS as-is.

 

[NomadDan]

Now would be a good time for Nissan to revive the Titan. Every full-size truck on the market has issues, including the Tundra. Nissan seems to be on the upswing with their products lately. The Infiniti QX80 is a great alternative to the LX, and the 3.5L TT V6 engine may work well in a new Titan.

 

[ssun30]

Why isn't the LS involved in this recall?

The "Type 17" engine used by the LS is very different from the "Type 21" engine used by the trucks. They share about 40% of the parts. They might as well call the latter V35B.

The LS engine also has much lower wear and tear since it doesn't need to tow. }

 

[CIF]

I think this is exactly it - I believe there is a design flaw with the V35A-FTS as-is.

I just realized something. We know from rumors and insider leaked information from years ago that the development of the 5LS was very divisive and apparently argumentative inside Toyota. That included deciding on what engine it should have. I wonder if this internal divisiveness inside Toyota during the 5LS development led to a fundamentally flawed design in the V35. Was the engine development rushed? Was the divisiveness so strong that the engine design was 'sabotaged' in some way? I am just guessing, but it really starts to make you wonder.

Why isn't the LS involved in this recall?

If I had to guess, it would look really bad for the reputation of Lexus and Toyota Motor Corporation to recall the LS for an engine problem. It already looks bad for the LX and LC300 though, but the problem is big enough on the LX that they couldn't ignore it. Even though the LS is using a different type V35 than the trucks, I have heard failures have been occurring on the V35 in the 5LS but to a smaller degree.

 

[NomadDan]

How different are the internals on the type 17 and 21 V35 engines? I thought the only difference was with the intake and single vs dual intercooler setup, along with some differences in coolant plumbing/pumps.

 

[Gecko]

Good video... more smoke and mirrors from Toyota...

 

[Gecko]

The one above is more factual/evidence based, but this one is saying what we're all thinking...

 

[CIF]

Great to see more people talking about this and exposing this. The more exposure there is, the more difficult it will be for Toyota to just excuse this away.

 

[Ian Schmidt]

Between this and Stellantis announcing that they shipped a bunch of Jeeps with sand in the engine I'm starting to wonder if anyone knows how to manufacture engines now.

 

[Gecko]

Between this and Stellantis announcing that they shipped a bunch of Jeeps with sand in the engine I'm starting to wonder if anyone knows how to manufacture engines now.

+ GM's 6.2L V8 off the top of my head. It's been a tough few years for OEMs trying to keep up with CAFE standards, power demands, reliability, etc. I don't envy any of them, but Toyota has to handle this better than they have.

Lucky for you, the LS 500 seems different enough that it's not impacted... which in some ways... is quite puzzling.

 

[ssun30]

Between this and Stellantis announcing that they shipped a bunch of Jeeps with sand in the engine I'm starting to wonder if anyone knows how to manufacture engines now.

Emission standards and the endless power arms race forced manufacturers to build engines with much higher specific output and tighter tolerances. Go back 15 years and "minor manufacturing defects" won't destroy engines because they are inherently less stressed and have more engineering margins. The iForce Max 3.5 engines have not been recalled since in daily driving they have much lower load, and peak torque demands are usually met with hybrid boost.

A typical light duty truck engine went from ~40kW/L in late 90s to 50kW/L in late 00s to 80kW/L in 2010s and now they are pushing 90+kW/L. Mainstream passenger car engines are now well above 100kW/L which just a few years ago are sports car engine territory. The latest Stellantis Hurricane 4 has same specific output as BMW S58.

 

[Gecko]

The iForce Max 3.5 engines have not been recalled since in daily driving they have much lower load, and peak torque demands are usually met with hybrid boost.

From what I understand, they haven't been recalled because they have battery power and can move off the roadway in the event of an engine failure... but plenty of the iFORCE Max powertrains are failing.

 

[GoHuskers]

From what I understand, they haven't been recalled because they have battery power and can move off the roadway in the event of an engine failure... but plenty of the iFORCE Max powertrains are failing.

This is just another shameful excuse form Toyota. We have seen a handful of Tundra with iForceMax engine blew up. I believe a new class action will be brought up because of this exclusion since they share the same ICE as the non-hybrid.

 

[spwolf]

Emission standards and the endless power arms race forced manufacturers to build engines with much higher specific output and tighter tolerances. Go back 15 years and "minor manufacturing defects" won't destroy engines because they are inherently less stressed and have more engineering margins. The iForce Max 3.5 engines have not been recalled since in daily driving they have much lower load, and peak torque demands are usually met with hybrid boost.

A typical light duty truck engine went from ~40kW/L in late 90s to 50kW/L in late 00s to 80kW/L in 2010s and now they are pushing 90+kW/L. Mainstream passenger car engines are now well above 100kW/L which just a few years ago are sports car engine territory. The latest Stellantis Hurricane 4 has same specific output as BMW S58.

I think everyone fails to realize Toyota didnt start manufacturing cars with V35A.
For instance, MZ issues were at far greater scale. ZZ had issues. AD had crazy issues.

Most of these happened later in life, but ADs were failing similar to V35 and it was due to design issues, very, very hard to solve and it took them years of different designs to mostly fix them.

Toyota isnt perfect.

 

[Gecko]

^ I get what you're saying but strange logic.

This engine is in vehicles that are $60-150k USD so for all intents and purposes, this is Toyota's flagship engine for their flagship vehicles. As a company with 80+ years of manufacturing expertise in the year 2025, we have to demand better.

"Oh Toyota has had problems before," doesn't make any sense. Of course Toyota has problems, but catastrophic engine failure is, well... catastrophic, and it happens to be most common on BOF products which for many are what built the company's reputation for reliability and durability.

 

[spwolf]

^ I get what you're saying but strange logic.

This engine is in vehicles that are $60-150k USD so for all intents and purposes, this is Toyota's flagship engine for their flagship vehicles. As a company with 80+ years of manufacturing expertise in the year 2025, we have to demand better.

"Oh Toyota has had problems before," doesn't make any sense. Of course Toyota has problems, but catastrophic engine failure is, well... catastrophic, and it happens to be most common on BOF products which for many are what built the company's reputation for reliability and durability.

i am not saying it is not bad, just that it is not unusual.

And it is certainly not showing failing quality vs before.

 

[Gecko]

And it is certainly not showing failing quality vs before.

Can you explain this more?