Another 2017 with P11EE code

Threw the code a few miles from home and checked it once home. Several options listed as reason, but overall statement was if within warranty get it in! It is and is in for repair.

They ordered a new head as I'm told. I'm fairly sure they went no deeper until the part is actually in their hands, so if it goes deeper we'll now at that point.

Question is: What the hell happened?

2017 V6 SR5 We towed the first year, yet well within it's limits. All typical maintenance has been done as we are retired and looked at this one as the for-ever truck. Mostly a pavement stomper with some National Forest roads mixed in. No mods, stock truck.

My research is showing this happens on 2017-2019 Tacomas within the 40-80K miles range. Nothing I have read yet talks of possible reasons or preventive actions.

My hope here is to hear from you all as to what has been learned. Is there a consensus of the issue?

 

I should also ask to those that have had the repair done.. Are you keeping your truck? I'm again concerned about an underlying issue that can return..

 

With used values so high, I would consider trading if you can move up 5 years for a reasonable amount. Starts warranty over, starts rust over, new tires, etc, etc... If it were me and I could move up 5 years for $10k OTD I'd do it so that I didn't have to think about the motor everyday...

 

That's not a great testimony for Tacoma.. or Toyota.. If I do change, probably not another Taco.. I'd rather know why it happened.

 

YES - totally agree and second this approach

 

I have not seen anyone figure out why it happens. I have seen one reported 2020 and the rest all 16-19. I think it’s a head manufacturing issue but I’m not sure. I have not seen 2021s with the issue yet but we will see if they start popping up. I switched to Toyota because it seemed like better reliability than the Nissan I came from but literally there are just as many things here as there are there. Not sure how long I’ll keep mine, but I’m definitely not going to call it a “forever truck”, I don’t see it making it more than 10 or so years without some sort of major electrical or engine issue. We’ll see I guess.

Hope you can get it fixed under warranty or relatively affordably. Toyota needs to figure out WTF the problem is or issue a recall. Obviously it’s a known issue, they should be covering any that pop up because it’s clearly a repeatable flaw.

 

OP, sorry about your issues and hope you get it fixed.
To the rest of you reading this...
Even if there were a thousand Tacoma engine failures that would only equal 0.067%. This is six hundredths of one percent!
And, we know a disproportionate amount of people are going to show up and post here.
I doubt very seriously that this is a problem. But to the small group that has had this issue, it is a big deal I know.

 

It's not a matter of percent of issue.. It's why? If this is preventative it sure would be good to know, aye? I don't believe we know the total amount of these engines that have gone down like this being it's much more than just a Tacoma engine..

Again, the purpose here is to see if anyone has found the root issue. That would be important to all of us.

 

Another is also researching this and I will add to my Tacoma knows as manufactured in Mexico (according to the VIN). Curious how this equates to others that have gone through this.

 

It obviously is a problem. Among the entire population of Tacomas, sure, it’s a small problem percentage wise but it is still a repeat problem that has happened across 5 model years at random. Something is causing it and that something needs to be fixed, rather than the misfortunate it happens to just having to suck it up because they’re outside the warranty (if they are).

 

It's statistics. Nothing is perfect ever. This is why warranty and extended warranty is offered, because no matter how much humans try to be perfect, we still mess up.

 

No, but an issue that continues to repeat itself SHOULD be addressed. It is a manufacturing flaw, and can be addressed if they care to. And no matter how small now, we will see more and more pop up as the years go by I’m sure. No way to know for sure but I would guess they will pop up at a higher rate in the future than they do now.

 

Last post on this topic ..
Our company, for example, builds millions of pistons each year. We know that a certain amount will not pass qc, even though the exact same process was used to build the failed ones as the good ones.
In addition, there are some that passed inspection that could fail, depending on application duty cycle.
My point, no matter how good a company is at qc and manufacture, shit can happen.
I know what you are thinking... Maybe only white trucks with 4wd built on Thursday afternoons between 3:15pm and 3:20 pm in odd number of months have a problem.
It does not work that way.
The hardest problem to catch is when, components pass some of the most stringent qc inspection in the world (Toyota) and the vehicle runs 100K miles before having a failure.

 

@Olddawg did you have the fuel pump recall? I’ve seen a few folks who think it’s related to the recalled fuel pumps breaking down and that wreaking havoc on a valve. Not sure how credible that is, I have a 2021 with no FP recall.

I do have my doubts on that theory. Every code I’ve seen on this has been P11EC (cyl 1) and a few P11EEs (cyl 3). If the fuel pump stuff was the problem, I would assume we would see a pretty even spread of issues. Unless 1 and 3 are the easiest/closest cylinders for the port fuel system’s flowing debris to reach.

for record:

P11EC - cyl 1
P11ED - cyl 2
P11EE - cyl 3
P11EF - cyl 4
P11F0 - cyl 5
P11F1 - cyl 6

Basically all of these represent air to fuel imbalance, usually due to a faulty valve/seal leaking. Just need to figure out why this is happening to trucks and how to prevent it.

 

Buddy, look, I am not saying it's an overwhelming issue. Again, not the reason for the thread. It is to see how many have and hope to find a common link. That's how investigation into an issue works. If we find the link is the Mexico plant, is that not good info?

Please, no more pollution of the thread. Lessons on quality ratio are for another thread that you can start.

 

First thank you for coming and posting! The thread was going a bit sideways..

I'll keep this in mind as this continues. We did have a recall and may have been the FP, but I'd have to look that up to be sure.. Most what I have read so far is also Cyl 1&3.. curious..

 

I don’t know that the fuel pump recall really has any correlation or not, but it would be good info to collect. I know the recall lasted through 20’s, and those are the only years I’ve seen with issues. Interesting to consider at least.

 

It would be of greater interest if we learned it was also #3 first digit in the VIN.. Mexico.

 

Laughable.
I guess it’s easy as hell to say there’s no problem when you aren’t the one paying. Not gonna go down this rabbit hole again.

 

So far we 'know' the issue happens between 40-80K miles on Tacomas (or other known engines) between years 2017- 2019. I have hearsay evidence from a few folk now that it may have occurred in 2020 as well (not confirmed by me).

So far:
Known between 2017-2019
Known that mine was built in Mexico

Unknown to be confirmed:
Others of the same issue in what area
Blown cylinder walls
Camshaft issue
Weak oil recovery
Possibly into 2020

Feeling so far... Looking like weak/faulty oil pump. Curious if the oii pump was replaced during repair? Would be interesting if it was. If mine is done I'll let you know.