Competition from China isn’t Toyota’s only problem. The V35A-FTS is a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 that produces 416 horsepower and up to 479 lb-ft of torque. You’ll find it in a broad range of the company’s vehicles including the Toyota Tundra, the Lexus LX, and the Lexus GX. But if you have one under the hood of your truck or SUV, you may have a lot to worry about.
The engine is at the center of one of Toyota’s most embarrassing recalls, and reports suggest that some of the vehicles with recalled engines fitted are still out on the road today. Due to a manufacturing fault, the V35A-FTS can be contaminated with metal filings. Metal filings are pretty abrasive, and not really something you want making their way around your engine. They can block oil passages, accelerate bearing wear, damage the cylinders, and cause various other issues.
When engines are manufactured, material does have to be removed from the engine block to create the various channels and passages an engine needs to work properly. The blocks are usually thoroughly rinsed out afterwards in order to remove any debris, but Toyota failed at this task and potentially hundreds of thousands of contaminated engines made it into vehicles.
Close to 270,000 of the engines have been recalled so far, but a recall notice doesn’t mean any work has been done. The recall has happened across three waves, with “Wave 1” vehicles receiving a full engine replacement. Toyota has yet to confirm what’s being done with Wave 2, and Wave 3. The Wave 3 recall, which expanded the list of affected vehicles through to 2025 and added a further 43,566 engines to the list, was issued in May 2026.
The Japanese automaker says around 77,000 engines have been replaced so far, which means over 70% of affected vehicles are likely out on the road. To make matters worse, Toyota “repaired” many of the vehicles affected in the original recall with defective parts, so those vehicles will need to go back to the dealership for yet another fix.
All of this is a major issue if you own one of these, are thinking of selling one, or want to buy a truck or SUV with a V35A-FTS under the hood.
Here’s what to look out for if you think your Toyota is affected
If you think your vehicle may be affected by the recall, the obvious thing to do is check its VIN number against the NHTSA’s records. This can be done on the NHTSA website, or by calling Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
A “do not drive” notice hasn’t been put out for the vehicle, but if yours has been recalled you should keep a close eye on it. Look out for metal filings in the oil, oil pan, or oil filter during oil changes. If your oil looks glittery, that’s pretty bad news whether your vehicle is on a recall list or not. If your truck is running rough, your engine is knocking, seems down on power, or the vehicle is stalling on occasion, you need to get it to a dealership as soon as possible. You likely already have significant engine damage.
Remember to keep a detailed record of all vehicle issues (photos and videos help) along with each interaction you have with Toyota and its dealerships. This may be very useful as a class action lawsuit has been filed against Toyota. Owners in California or other states with lemon laws may be able to claim reimbursement for repairs they’ve already paid for, and could even demand a replacement vehicle in some circumstances.
If you’re buying a used Tundra, Lexus LX, or Lexus GX, especially one built between 2022 and 2025, you should ask for paperwork showing the engine has been replaced. If you hand over money without checking this, you’ll still be eligible for a free repair or replacement from Toyota. But you’ll be taking on the hassle that comes with it as well.
Similarly, if your truck has been recalled, and you’re trying to sell it, you may have an easier time if you get the engine replaced before you list the vehicle.
This was an embarrassing recall for Toyota, and did a lot of damage to a brand that had built a reputation for reliability. To make matters worse, the whole affair seems to have been handled poorly by the Japanese automaker.
