Toyota’s current Tundra has been hit by three recalls involving its 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6. More than 270,000 vehicles are now included across the recall campaigns, with the latest expansion reaching additional 2024 Tundras and other Toyota and Lexus models.
There are two ways around the affected engine if you’re shopping for a Tundra: the Toyota Tundra Hybrid or a used 2021 truck with the previous generation’s 5.7-liter V8.
The Toyota Tundra Hybrid still uses the 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6, but its i-FORCE MAX system adds an electric motor and produces 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. Toyota has not included the hybrid Tundra in the current engine recalls.
The older 2021 Tundra takes a completely different route. It uses Toyota’s 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8, an engine that was discontinued when the current-generation truck arrived for 2022.
Three Tundra Engine Recalls Since 2024
The current Tundra recall problem centers on machining debris left inside the V35A-FTS 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 during production.
That debris can reach the No. 1 crankshaft main bearing. If the bearing becomes damaged, the engine can develop severe internal problems and eventually fail under sustained load.
The first recall, NHTSA campaign 24V381000, was announced in May 2024. It covered certain 2022 and 2023 Tundras, along with Lexus LX 600 models using the same engine.
Toyota’s remedy involved replacing affected engines rather than attempting to repair the damaged components.
The recall did not end there.
A second campaign, NHTSA 25V767000, expanded the affected population to include 2024 Tundras. Additional Lexus LX 600 vehicles were also included, along with the Lexus GX.
The timing raised questions because some of the affected Tundras had been built after Toyota had introduced production changes intended to improve the removal of machining debris.
The third campaign, NHTSA 26V320, was announced in May 2026. The three recalls together now cover more than 270,000 vehicles.
Toyota’s remedy for vehicles covered by the later campaigns is also different. Instead of automatically replacing every engine, dealers inspect the engine and check the condition of the main bearing. An engine replacement can be approved when damage is found.
Why the Toyota Tundra Hybrid Is Outside the Recall
The Toyota Tundra Hybrid uses the same 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 as the non-hybrid truck, so the engine itself isn’t a different design.
The difference is the i-FORCE MAX hybrid system.
An electric motor assists the gasoline engine and contributes to the truck’s total output of 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque. That assistance can reduce the amount of work required from the V6 under some driving conditions.
That could also reduce the load placed on the No. 1 crankshaft main bearing.
However, this is an important distinction: Toyota has not said that reduced engine load is the reason the Toyota Tundra Hybrid is excluded from the recalls. The possibility comes from how the hybrid system shares propulsion duties between the electric motor and gasoline engine.
The hybrid system also gives the Tundra another advantage if the gasoline engine stops working.
Toyota told the NHTSA that i-FORCE MAX models can retain limited motive power for some distance after a gasoline-engine failure. That could allow the truck to move to a safer location rather than immediately coming to a stop.
Toyota has not confirmed that this capability played a role in excluding hybrid models from the recall.
437 HP and 583 LB-FT From the i-FORCE MAX
The Toyota Tundra Hybrid is not simply a fuel-saving version of the truck.
Its i-FORCE MAX powertrain produces 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful than the standard V6 Tundra. A 10-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels or all four wheels, depending on configuration.
The hybrid system also doesn’t need an external charger. It is a conventional hybrid, so the battery is charged through the vehicle’s own system rather than a plug.
That setup is useful in stop-and-go traffic, where the electric motor can provide assistance during repeated acceleration. It also gives the truck immediate electric torque at low speeds, which can be useful when towing or carrying a load.
Hybrid Pickup Advantages Go Beyond the Recall
The Toyota Tundra Hybrid has another reason to stand out: the i-FORCE MAX system adds electric assistance without requiring the owner to plug the truck into a charger.
That matters most in city and suburban driving, where repeated stops and starts give the hybrid system more opportunities to assist the gasoline engine. Fuel consumption can be lower than with a conventional powertrain, although the advantage depends heavily on how and where the truck is driven.
Highway driving generally gives a hybrid less opportunity to use its electric motor, while slow traffic and frequent acceleration make the system more useful.
The electric motor also adds torque at low speeds. That’s useful in a pickup because the truck can need a lot of pulling force when moving a trailer, carrying equipment or getting a heavy load underway.
No Charging Cable Needed
The Toyota Tundra Hybrid is a conventional hybrid rather than a plug-in hybrid.
There is no charging routine to add to the owner’s schedule. The truck manages its battery through the hybrid system and regenerative braking, so it can deliver electric assistance without depending on public charging stations or a home charger.
That makes the i-FORCE MAX setup relatively simple to live with compared with a plug-in truck.
The hybrid system also doesn’t turn the Tundra into a slow economy model. With 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, the i-FORCE MAX has enough output to suit the truck’s towing and hauling role.
The 2021 Tundra Uses a Completely Different Engine
The other way to avoid the current V6 recall is to go back to the previous-generation Tundra.
The 2021 Toyota Tundra uses the naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V8 known as the 3UR-FE. It produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque and works with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Power goes to the rear wheels or all four wheels, depending on the truck’s configuration.
The 2021 model was the final year of the previous-generation Tundra. The current truck arrived for 2022 with the new twin-turbo V6 powertrain.
That makes the 2021 truck a completely different proposition from the current Tundra. There is no twin-turbo V6 under the hood and no i-FORCE MAX hybrid system. Instead, buyers get Toyota’s long-running 5.7-liter V8.
What the 2021 V8 Tundra Offers
The second-generation Tundra had been on sale since the 2007 model year, so the 2021 truck was hardly new when it left the factory.
Its age is also part of its appeal.
The 5.7-liter V8 had been used throughout the generation and had a long track record in the Tundra. The 2021 model also has a much smaller recall history than the current-generation truck.
According to the supplied data, the 2021 Tundra has three recalls and 23 complaints listed. The recalls involve potential loss of power steering and headlight overheating, with the largest campaign affecting roughly 22,000 vehicles.
Those issues are considerably smaller in scope than the current V6 engine campaigns.
The 2021 Tundra also recorded a fatality rate of 0.94 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, according to the figures cited in the source material. That was lower than the rates reported for the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.
Used 2021 Tundra Prices
The used-market price is another reason the 2021 V8 Tundra remains relevant.
The least expensive 2021 examples can be found around $18,000, although spending roughly $25,000 to $35,000 opens up a wider selection of trucks with more reasonable mileage and specifications.
Low-mileage trucks in desirable trims command more.
That means the 2021 Tundra isn’t necessarily the cheapest way into an older full-size pickup. It is the option to consider when the buyer specifically wants the previous-generation V8 and wants to avoid the current twin-turbo V6 altogether.
Which Tundra Avoids the V6 Recall?
The choice is fairly simple.
The Toyota Tundra Hybrid is the current-generation option. It retains the 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 but adds electric assistance, produces 437 hp and 583 lb-ft, and is not included in the current V6 engine recalls described in this article.
The 2021 Tundra takes a different approach. Its 5.7-liter V8 has no connection to the current V35A-FTS twin-turbo V6 recall campaigns.
A new-truck buyer looking at the current Tundra therefore has the hybrid as the obvious choice if avoiding the recalled non-hybrid configuration is the priority.
A buyer willing to purchase used has another route: the final 5.7-liter V8 Tundra from 2021.
Neither choice guarantees that a truck will never develop a mechanical problem. The distinction is that both avoid the specific twin-turbo V6 recall issue affecting the current non-hybrid Tundra models covered by the campaigns.
What Tundra Buyers Should Check Before Buying
The Toyota Tundra Hybrid avoids the current V6 recall campaigns, but buyers should still check the truck’s recall status before completing a purchase.
A used Tundra should be checked by VIN through the appropriate recall database, and buyers should confirm that any outstanding recall work has been completed. A recall-free search at one point in time also does not guarantee that the truck will never be subject to a future campaign.
The same applies to a 2021 V8 truck. Its engine is unrelated to the V35A-FTS recall, but the vehicle can still have other recalls or mechanical issues that need attention.
The 2021 V8 Is the Other Clear Alternative
The 2021 Toyota Tundra has one major advantage in this discussion: its 5.7-liter V8 predates the current twin-turbo V6.
The 3UR-FE produces 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque, which is less than the 437 hp and 583 lb-ft available from the Toyota Tundra Hybrid. It also uses an older six-speed automatic rather than the current truck’s 10-speed transmission.
But the V8 avoids the specific engine problem that has put the current Tundra under scrutiny.
That makes the 2021 model worth considering on the used market, particularly when a buyer’s priority is avoiding the current V6 altogether.
The Two Choices Have Different Trade-Offs
The Toyota Tundra Hybrid is the newer option with more power, electric assistance and a 10-speed automatic. It also retains the current-generation Tundra’s newer cabin, chassis and equipment.
The 2021 V8 Tundra is older, uses a naturally aspirated engine and has less power. Its biggest advantage here is simpler: the 5.7-liter V8 is not the V35A-FTS twin-turbo V6 at the center of the current recall campaigns.
The choice therefore comes down to what the buyer wants from the truck.
A new Tundra buyer who wants to stay with the current generation can choose the Toyota Tundra Hybrid. A buyer who is comfortable shopping used can look at the final 5.7-liter V8 models.
Neither option should be treated as completely problem-free. The relevant difference is that both avoid the specific twin-turbo V6 recall issue discussed in this article.
The Tundra Recall Does Not Affect Every Version
The recent recall headlines make the entire Tundra lineup look problematic, but the affected engine is the key detail.
The V35A-FTS 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 is at the center of the three recall campaigns discussed here. The Toyota Tundra Hybrid also uses that engine, but the hybrid version has not been included in those campaigns.
The previous-generation 2021 Tundra goes further away from the problem because it uses the 5.7-liter V8 instead.
That leaves two distinct choices: a current Toyota Tundra Hybrid with 437 hp and 583 lb-ft, or a 2021 Tundra with the 381-hp 5.7-liter V8.
The recall history is serious enough that engine choice should be one of the first things a Tundra buyer checks. But it doesn’t mean every Tundra is affected by the same problem.
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