Engine Failure at 40K, Multiple Repair Attemps

Whatup Tacoma Team, could use a little advice here.

2018 OR with 40K broke down mid-December. The diagnosis was something like 'cylinder 1 intake valve separated from head...." The dealership first tried to replace the head, gasket, etc. Didn't work. Then replaced the block and a whole list of other stuff (p.s. I am not a mechanic, forgive me). The dealership had my truck for about 7-8 weeks in total. I got it back this week and it broke down again in about 3 miles. Same symptoms.

Any advice here? Trade it in? Lemon? I still have confidence in the Tacomas, just not this truck anymore.

 

I'd be lemon lawing that truck, who knows maybe your last breakdown is an easy fix. I don't have much to add, but this has been a rare problem with the top end going to shit, but deniers are going to deny.

I'd love to understand what is happening, but it seems that people who've had the top end blow up and one and done posters never to be seen again, nor are any pictures shared

 

don't think you can lemon a 3 year old truck with 40k. Seems as tho shop forgot something/left something loose whatever. trade it off for another . if it was fixed under warranty and will be fixed again under warranty. dealer should give you full trade in on it.

 

Wonder why they just didn't do the entire engine. Lemon law that bitch if possible. You'll take a loss on a trade

 

Bring it back and get it diagnosed correctly.

Lemon laws are very different in every state. Did you buy it new?

 

Lemon laws vary by state but are usually only the first year.
OP sorry to hear this is happening. Letting them do their thing or trading it in are basically your options.

 

Looks like 18 months or 18K in kali.

 

Push for a new engine .file a complaint to Toyota about the issue . Lemon laws are difficult to win lengthy and expensive .

 

Yeah bought it new

 

Sorry OP

 

I'd open a case with Corp but be reasonable with what you want to see happen. Id' shoot for the longest extended warranty Toyota offers (for free) and a new long block. While I'd be mad at the situation overall this IMO would be a fair outcome.

 

Sounds like a questionable service department. Major engine surgery should only be done by someone who does it for a living, every day. Same theory behind never getting on a plane with a pilot who doesn't do it for a living.

 

The first failure shouldn't have happened, but it does sometimes. The rest of it is all on the shop.

 

Second failure was almost certainly due to bad workmanship on the first repair.
As for root-cause of the first failure, do they indicate what the problem was? Did they find the actual cause, or did they just throw parts at the problem?

I would like to hear what the service writer explained to you as being the cause of the first failure (in plain English, not just a list of the failed/replaced parts).

 

if its all under warranty ide just let them fix it again tony. Push for a new crate engine maybe.

 

One of the worst things about Toyota is that they don't sell complete engines for replacement.

 

Did you do 5k or 10k oil change intervals???

I kid! I kid! Sorry to hear this OP! I wish you the best. Please, keep us posted. Too often, people post their problems, but never post the outcome leaving us all hanging.

 

What dealership in So.Cal. have you been using?

 

I wonder what they do when one kicks a rod through the block.

normally a broken or dropped valve destroys an engine.

 

Definitely on the shop on the second go round.
Maybe call Toyota and ask for support from another dealer, that you have little faith in the first.