23 Tacoma TRD Sport code P11EC00

New guy here coming in to share my story.
Bought a new Tacoma 4x4 TRD long bed Sport off the lot Nov 22.
Fast forward a year and I have 36k miles on it.

Engine light came on while on a little road trip, but everything seemed fine. Turned off by the time we got home so I thought nothing of it.
A week later the light pops on again and the cruise control stops working, won't even turn on.
Call the dealer, set up an appointment and stopped at my buddies to pull the code incase the light turned off again. P11EC00. Light turned off the next day go figure.
Take to dealer and explain the issue. They say it's been popping codes and errors according to the system and take it in to diagnose. Couple hours later they say it needs a deeper look and send me home with a loaner. They call me that night and explain that there is a new issue happening with these engines and there hasn't been enough for a recall. It's all under warranty and will be replacing the heads and valves.

Here is what they communicated.

"It appears on this engine Toyota is experiencing an issue with loose valve guides in this motor. The fix is to replace the head as well as the valves. I am not sure they have seen this in enough vehicles yet for a recall but it is on their radar."

"I am going to be removing the engine and breaking it down to the block on bank 1 only. I will replacing the bank 1 cylinder head and the exhaust and intake valve of cylinder #1. The problem that occurs on this cylinder heads is the valve guides wear out prematurely and do not allow the valve to properly seat. This causes the malfunction indicator light to illuminate with a code P11EC00 Cylinder #1 Air-Fuel Ratio Imbalance (Port) due to "unmetered" air in the affected cylinder detected by the air/fuel ratio sensor."

Not sure how/what to think and generally just worried about this truck. It's my second Tacoma, my first one was a 2005 and had 230k miles on it when i got rid of it. We bought this one thinking we would have the same experience.

Anyone ever had a major warranty issue like this? Do I have any grounds to work the dealer into a new truck or some kind of trade? I haven't really experienced anything like this and frankly feel uneasy about the truck.

 

There are dozens of threads on this exact issue. It has been happening since 2019. I have replaced a dozen heads on Tacomas and Highlanders for this.

 

Yeah I wasn’t sure since all the topics I read on this were high teens trucks. Thank you for the info!

 

This is the first I've head of a 23 having this issue, the vast majority of the ones I've done were 19-20. But like anything made, there is a margin of error that manufactures allow. That's why they have warranties. It will be like it never happened when they are done. Don't sweat it, and keep on truck'n.

 

Had same problem same code p11ec00 at 16,000 miles and now 40,000 miles. On my second replacement bank 1 head cylinder and intake and exhaust valves. Problem wasn’t solved. I have a 2021 off-road. Have you had any more problems? And what exactly did they replace. Just wanted to compare. My truck is in the shop has we speak.

 

Had same issue same bank 1 replacement. Mine was a 2018. After 30 days in shop for work I received mine back with AC not working. Turn around and sat in waiting room an additional 2.5 hours for them to service and charge AC system.

After that started getting the “what if’s” and “then what’s “ and worked a trade on a 2022. So far so good at 42+K.

Mine also happened right under 40,000 on the 2018.

 

replaced a valve and im not sure the paperwork is buried since I have long forgotten about it LOL. They fixed it, assured me the truck is under warranty if anything happens and it's been running fine with no issues.

 

Hello, same mindset and I’m in the middle of this same situation in June 2025. Im in the middle of it with conflicting information and already trying to analyze what I do when this is all said and done. My first Truck and planned on keeping it long term… What did you end up deciding to do?

2023 Toyota Tacoma SR V6 @ 39k miles with a P11EC code.

Check engine comes on and off every 50 miles or so. Take it to local Toyota Dealership and they schedule me for an appointment. I also notice it does run rough at times at idol… visibly notice the RPM'S jumpin' around. In the meantime I take it to Autozone and pull code P11EC - “Cylinder 1 Air-Fuel Ratio Inbalance (Port).. recommends new cylinder head, head gasket, and valves. Research about a ‘rare’ burnt valve issue in ‘lower’ mileage tacoma’s… inform myself on that this is ‘rare’ but its still happening in 3rd gens. Go forward for Toyota Dealers appointment on 6.25.25.

Update [6.25.25] Dealer pulled code P11EC00 and P160500 and has new injectors ordered and good thing is its under factory warranty… Billing for parts is $9k. Looks like they are acquiring all injectors. I inquired about a compression test because to my understanding this will get a good assessment on the health of the valves / cylinders. They told me it's not necessary… indicating that the sole issue resides with a bad injector. They also informed me its safe to drive.. I’m a bit concerned.. is it safe to drive considering these more specific codes that an injector is bad? They scheduled me for the work to be done on July 16th which is 3 weeks out? Safe to drive and put miles on?

I’m a bit stuck because I’m getting conflicting information. Not calling out the dealership for doing anything wrong… I just want to not have this stretch out and be a whole summer of fun. Get it fixed 100% first go and then go from there…

 

9k for a bad injector? Man, I'm in the wrong business

 

I have a strong feeling the dealership parts cannon is going to fail to do the job. Replacing all injectors is a moronic approach, if it was an injector then it would be the direct injector on cylinder #1, not all injectors. Besides, this code has yet to EVER be solved by anything besides replacement valves and cylinder head. Injector is extremely unlikely to be the problem.

I’d let them do whatever they want to do under warranty until it’s fixed. If that takes too long, go somewhere else. I’d bet money the injector doesn’t fix the problem at all.

I’d wager it’s probably fine to drive. If it’s a bad valve then it will just continue to burn the valve and seat on the already bad one. Not that big a deal when they will eventually have to replace it.

 

Right? are there 24? quick search says 12

6@485.40
6@225.58
6@475.88
6@475.88

$9976.44… so actually $10K

 

That’s nuts…there are only 12 injectors.

 

Correct, I’m getting a bit weirded out now

Should I snoop parts numbers just for curiosities sake?

 

Is there a joke somewhere or are you bad a math?

 

I agree with your conclusion after all the research I’ve done… [it concerned me a little the way they shut me down when I shared interest in a compression test… something i’d pay for just for peace of mind]

I really don’t want to have to be dealing with this all summer… Considering calling and maybe talking to another Toyota Dealership? The hard part is if they come to a burnt valve conclusion in cylinder #1 I’m already entangled with the dealership I’m working with now. Any suggestions on how to move forward? … I might just be locked in for an exciting summer

 

I wouldn’t pay a penny for anything if it was me. I’d let them do the injectors since they insist. It will almost guaranteed be a waste of time/money/resources but whatever. If and when the problem comes back, I’d go to a different dealer.

Are you at least in a loaner? That makes a big difference in dealing with the process.

It sucks this dealer won’t just diagnose the problem properly and replace the valves and head like they likely should. They can’t possibly diagnose this properly without a leakdown/compression test. But I wouldn’t pay your money to make that diagnosis happen.

 

Confused? 6 units of each? $2,910 + $1,353 + $2,855 + $2,855 = ~$9,973.00

 

You could just call off the work at this dealer and go to a different one. You’re not going to hurt anything driving it over to the other dealer.

 

I haven’t paid a dime. They told me it's under factory warranty.

No loaner, they gave me back the truck and said its OK to drive... drive it 3 weeks until the scheduled injector repair on July 16th… They told me that it may be a day or two repair turnaround.

I agree about the compression test, they said that the codes were specific… assuming its leading them to believe its an injector as the sole issue… I guess thats meaning that a compression test wasn’t needed?

Regardless I’m going to push hard, insist, do what I need to do to get a compression test done on July 16th. [b/c now even after the injector repair i’m just going to be waiting on that check engine light to come back on]

Should I do some kind of reporting directly with Toyota to document?

 

I’ll reach out to another dealer tomorrow, what a time to be alive. Thank you for all the helpful advice, seriously - I’ll stay updated on here.