2018 Tacoma 60k miles. blown cylinder and cracked head

Thousands and thousands of posts and 23 engine issues postings

 

Toyota fanboi since the early 80s. Still have my FZJ80.

Over the last 18 months we battled issues pertaining to the inability of our 2019 Tacoma being able to go up a steep hill without smoking. Added a catch can which slowed down the issue but on a trip to Moab this summer the engine finally shit itself. While repairing the engine under warranty the dealer found a leak in the timing belt cover. Cool.

Within months we experienced the same issue in our 2018 4runner…which was out of warranty. Not cool.

I’m not going to bash Toyota, but fuck, a person can only take so much shit in the first 4 years of ownership. I’m turning my official fanboi decoder ring and badge in until they get their act back together.

 

This is just gross casual empiricism on my part, but I have been watching these threads (well, the ones that came to my attention). It seems like, correcting for censoring (newer trucks have, all other things being equal, fewer miles) this is more common in Gen 3s as model year increases. Am I wrong about that?

 

Did the timing cover leak kill the Tacoma engine or something bigger?
Also where is the leak on the 4Runner? Is it easily spotted? I have a 2017 and want to keep an eye out for it.

 

Something bigger.

The leak on the 4runner was on the front passenger side of the engine block
…..from the gasket under the timing chain cover inspection plate. It was noticeable.

 

My turn...
My 2019 4Dr Off-Road, 4x4 is in the Toyota shop for a bad cylinder. The head is at the machine shop now, they are replacing springs and valves... I don't know much more yet. It has 49K miles so it is still covered with the powertrain warranty. There is absolutely NO REASON this should have happened. I take care of it and baby it. I occasionally pull a small trash trailer and throw some plywood in the bed. I asked (out of exasperation) if I could have had too much weight in it, or towed too much (however unlikely) and the tech told me there are codes that show for towing or hauling too much, and the computer was not registering those codes.

So, it's a big mystery. Fortunately I was only a couple miles from the dealer when the light came on, so I stopped by. I was shocked when they told me I couldn't drive it home.

Any input? I haven't read all 17 pages of this thread, but I will. Is this a common problem?

 

Mine's pulled a boat every weekend for years. I've got twice your mileage and it runs like a swiss watch, best truck I've owned. Definitely something defective and not from use, and not common at all, relative to the massive number of 3rd gens out there. They'll get you fixed up.

 

Good afternoon, I have a 2019 Tacoma crew cab, I was basically told the same thing, I need a new cylinder head, valves, springs etc. the dealership wants $12,500. I wonder if there will be a class action lawsuit and or recall. Thanks!

 

No, and no..

 

What ended up happening with your truck?

 

Is it less than 5 years old and in warranty???

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2gr-fks-engine-problem-failure.774579/

 

Yes, it is a 2019, with 76k miles, no modifications, no towing, no off roaming, regular oil changes, filters…

 

It is widely reported here and elsewhere the Tacoma engines are installed in Mexico, but they are built in the United States.

 

Alabama I think.

 

What else have you learned today?

 

This got to be AI shit. From Obama to 34s...

 

I dont agree with the statement about e rated tires. Left in April 2023 and have put 79k plus miles on my truck since then.

Running e rated Yoko G003 in 255/85/16 for the last 2 sets at 56 lbs each and Yoko Geolandar G015 e rated in 265/75/16 at 57 lbs for the first set. Still getting 18 to 19 mpg on long road stretches. Cheyenne to Sheridan at 80 to 85 mph I got 17.1 In the mountains of Peru I got over 15. And that’s up to about 18k ft. Same in the mountains of Chile.


If your friend is only getting 12 there is more to the story than heavier tires.

 

Or better living thru chemistry …

 

So I also killed a 3.5 in my 2019 tacoma. Rod knock at 120k and burning oil like crazy. Regular services done. I've owned 5 tacomas previously 1st and 2nd generations. All of which I've put way more miles on them. My 3rd gen 4runner has 308k and my first gen tacoma has 275k. I believe more and more problems are popping up with these 3.5 motors. I've heard they made a large batch of these engines where one of the cylinders were machined out of spec. If that's truly the case Hopefully there will be some sort of settlement or class action lawsuit in the future.