Toyota Tundra 2022-2024 Twin-Turbo Years to Check Against the Engine Recall
Over 200,000 Tundras and Lexus LX600s sit in driveways and dealership lots right now carrying an unresolved engine failure risk. If you're evaluating a 2022, 2023, or 2024 Toyota Tundra with the non-hybrid 3.5L V6, the single most important step before handing over money is checking whether that specific VIN has completed the engine recall replacement. This is not a minor service bulletin. This is a complete engine replacement program triggered by manufacturing debris left inside the engine block—debris that destroys main bearings and causes sudden engine failure, sometimes at highway speed.
The Two Recalls That Changed Everything: 24V-381 and 25V-767
In May 2024, Toyota issued NHTSA recall 24V-381 covering approximately 102,000 Tundra and Lexus LX600 vehicles from 2022 and 2023 model years equipped with the V35A twin-turbo V6 engine. The cause was straightforward but catastrophic: machining debris left inside the engine block during manufacturing. This debris circulates through the oiling system, destroys the main bearings, and causes engine failure—sometimes suddenly, without warning.
Toyota initially thought the problem was contained to early production runs. It wasn't. In late 2025, the company expanded the recall under 25V-767, adding over 113,000 additional vehicles, including some 2024 models with engines built as late as February 2024. The remedy for both recalls is identical: a complete long block replacement—a factory-sealed engine assembly that removes all risk of debris contamination.
Total affected vehicles across both recall actions: over 200,000 Tundras.
The scope matters because it signals how pervasive the manufacturing problem was. This wasn't a handful of bad engines. This was a systemic issue in the machining and assembly process that affected early production across multiple model years.
What Happens to a Twin-Turbo Engine With Debris in the Block
The V35A twin-turbo V6 is a fundamentally sound engine design. It produces 437 horsepower, delivers strong torque across the RPM band, and when built correctly, should deliver reliable performance for 200,000+ miles. The problem emerges when machining debris—small metal particles from the boring and honing process—remains inside the block after casting.
During normal operation, oil circulation moves these particles through the engine. They lodge in bearing surfaces, score the journals, and accelerate wear dramatically. Within thousands of miles, the main bearings begin to fail. The engine develops knock, loses oil pressure, and can seize completely. Owners have reported the failure happening at 20,000 miles on some trucks, while others made it past 60,000 miles before catastrophic bearing failure.
The worst-case scenario: bearing failure at highway speed, loss of engine power, and a disabled truck far from home. Best case: the owner catches warning signs—engine knock, low oil pressure warning light, or metal shavings in the oil—and gets the truck to a dealer before complete failure.
Checking Your VIN: The Non-Negotiable First Step
Before you test drive any 2022-2024 non-hybrid Tundra, verify recall completion status. Toyota dealers can check both 24V-381 and 25V-767 against your VIN at no cost. You can also check the NHTSA SaferCars.gov database directly using the VIN. Here's what you're looking for:
- Recall status: Open or Closed? If the recall is open (not yet completed), the truck has an unresolved engine failure risk.
- Repair date: If the recall is closed, confirm the repair was completed after the recall was issued. A truck that had the repair done months ago is safer than one repaired last week (more time for validation).
- Engine serial number: Confirm the replacement engine's serial number is documented. This proves a new long block was installed, not a repair attempt.
If the recall repair has not been completed, walk away. No discount justifies the risk of a $15,000-20,000 engine replacement that should be covered under recall. If the repair is complete and documented, the risk is resolved. The new engine is clean, and the truck carries the same reliability profile as any other 2022-2024 Tundra.
Hybrid Models Were Excluded—Here's Why
The 2022-2024 Tundra Hybrid with the i-Force Max engine was excluded from both recalls. Toyota's reasoning: the hybrid system includes an electric motor that keeps the truck moving if the gas engine fails. If bearing failure occurs, the electric motor can propel the truck to a dealer safely. Non-hybrid trucks have no such backup. When the gas engine fails, the truck stops. This distinction matters significantly if you're caught between a hybrid and non-hybrid option at similar mileage and price.
The Broader Context: How 2022-2024 Twin-Turbo Stacks Against the 5.7L V8 Legacy
The 2022 redesign marked Toyota's shift away from the legendary 5.7L iForce V8 that powered Tundras from 2007 through 2021. That V8 accumulated a reliability record that pushed trucks past 300,000 miles in documented fleet use. One documented fleet example reached one million miles.
The new twin-turbo was supposed to be more efficient, more powerful, and more modern. On paper, it delivered. In execution, the manufacturing process failed. This is why the 2022-2024 non-hybrid twin-turbo years carry the stigma they do in the used market. The engine design is sound. The execution was broken.
What This Means for Used Truck Pricing and Negotiation
A 2022-2024 non-hybrid Tundra with completed recall repair should trade at a modest discount to comparable 2021 models (the last year of the 5.7L V8). The discount reflects buyer skepticism, not ongoing risk. Once the recall is complete, that skepticism is irrational—the truck carries a newer engine with factory warranty on the replacement.
A 2022-2024 non-hybrid Tundra with an open recall should trade at a significant discount—$3,000-8,000 below market, depending on mileage and condition. This discount compensates for the buyer's assumption of recall completion cost and risk. If you're negotiating, use the open recall as leverage. The seller will eventually need to complete it or disclose the open recall to the next buyer.
Post-February 2024 Builds: The Clean Cutoff
Toyota made a critical production change in February 2024. Engines built after that date reflect revised machining protocols and tighter quality control. These engines were excluded from the 25V-767 expansion recall. If you're looking at a 2024 Tundra, confirm the engine build date. A 2024 with an engine built in March 2024 or later carries significantly lower risk than a 2024 built in January 2024.
The 2025 Tundra: Full Confidence Restored
The 2025 model year Tundra represents the first full production year after the manufacturing issue was resolved. These trucks carry the 3.5L V35A twin-turbo V6 with clean engines, refined software, and the full feature set of the 3rd generation. Reliability scoring on 2025 models is tracking at 73 out of 100—solid for a redesigned generation, and comparable to the 2nd-gen's proven track record. If you want the newest generation without recall exposure, 2025 is the safe entry point.
The Bottom Line for 2022-2024 Buyers
The 2022-2024 non-hybrid twin-turbo Tundra is not inherently unsafe. It is conditionally safe. The condition is verified recall completion on that specific VIN. If the recall is complete, buy with confidence. If the recall is open, negotiate hard or walk. The difference between a completed recall and an open one is the difference between a reliable truck and a ticking time bomb. Check the VIN before you test drive. Confirm the repair before you sign. Everything else flows from that single decision.