Entire Engine Replacement

I have a 2017 Automatic TRD Off-Road that required a full engine replacement. The Trac-Off and check engine lights came on and off and was told by the dealer, "oh that is just the gas cap sensor". Go in again for tire rotation 5K miles later and the light comes back on. Turns out that significant engine problems that required full engine replacement. This was around 55K miles and was still underwarranty. The dealer had the truck for over 45 days. With the engine replaced the factory warranty starts over on the engine but the extended warranty I purchased at close does not. First time car buyer and not aware that the extra warranty was from a third party and not Toyota so the dealer basically tells you to pound sand.

Got the truck back and a month later it struggles to start and takes 4 or 5 pushes on the start to finally start. The engine is turning over just not catching until it sputters to a halt. When it finally starts it has a knocking noise that can be heard all the way down the street. The knocking noise goes away at higher speeds.

I am a taking back to the dealership tomorrow morning, but all my confidence in this vehicle is shot and almost don't feel safe to drive or even own this vehicle. If the engine installed from the factory had issues and needed to be replaced, how can I feel confident with some random tech at a dealership to install the engine fully and correctly.

If you were in my shoes was would you do? In a little research under lemon law in Utah, the dealer has 4 shots to fix the vehicle or if they had the vehicle for over 30 consecutive days it can be considered a lemon (if still under factory warranty). I had to fight tooth and nail with my wife to spend ~40K on a truck , but given the track record of the previous gens lasting forever I was able to convince her to get it. I love the truck but am disappointed in my experience and have serious concerns about reliability. Get out now or wait?!?!?

Side note: Rental truck from dealer was Dodge Ram. I will never get a Ram but clearly showed the poor engine power of the Tacoma as it struggles up my daily commute from SLC to Park City. the Tacoma is always searching for gears and ends up whining at 4-5K RPM and giving a terrible gear "jumping" ride. Where all other vehicles i have ridden never have the same gear jump. (Honda CRV, Dodge Ram, Nissan Rogue, Ford Explorer, etc.)

 

Sounds like the dealer doesn't know what they are doing, maybe try a different dealer or trade your truck in for something else.

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles, they owe you another Tacoma!

 

I would sell it to Carvana...a 17’ with 55k is probably worth 28k to them and make it someone else’s problem.

 

Sorry to read this. I'm on other truck forums as well, I feel like all the auto manufacturers put out lemons including Toyota. I've come to the conclusion that the Tacoma is probably one of the most reliable but every once in while a post like yours comes around. I would fight for a lemon law replacement 1st, if no luck there trade it in. Spend some time on the Dodge, Ford and Chevy forums and you'll probably want to give Toyota a 2nd chance.

 

Just trade it in and get another vehicle. No more headaches

 

Me thinks your problem might be the dealer you are using.

 

Changing out the entire engine sounds like a bad case of shotgun troubleshooting to me.

 

Probably a bad CPS the first time around. Dealer clearly has no clue, tey another one.

 

So what dealer in UT was this...so I know to stay away

 

Ridgeline?

 

I'd bring it back to the dealer for warranty repair. You should have free rental car with extended warranty.
After repairs are made trade it in for a new Ford Ranger (more power with turbo out west).

 

U never specifically noted what exactly was wrong with the orig engine
Pistons
Rod bearings

for the replacement engine to go bad ??????

was it a ' ReManufactured ' engine or a rebuilt engine or a ' Crate ' engine
that took 45 days

' Knocking ' is Never good
they could have slipped in a Junk Yard engine

not sure about lemon law UR STATE = No COMMENT

start checking serial #'s on the engines

 

I would like to know how and who determined a complete engine replacement was needed.
Most likely it was just a simple sensor. I'm surprised warranty approved that, most of the time they need proof of a failure, such as a dead cylinder, to proceed with a job like that.

 

Any updates here. I have my Tacoma with 77k on it just been told it needs a new engine....feeling really disappointed. Any advice/what did you do?

 

wow, what went wrong ?

 

That’s why I have always been Leary about buying a used vehicle from them.

 

OP never returned, not even one time.

 

55K miles and a need for a full engine replacement? I'm not a mechanic or anything but something isn't adding up here.