NHTSA Complaint #11702312 — 2024 TOYOTA TUNDRA

I am the second owner of a 2024 Toyota Tundra that is branded as a manufacturer buyback/lemon. The first owner had the engine short block replaced at around 31,000 miles due to bearing failure. I later bought this truck at around 36,000 miles specifically because Toyota stated that the engine problem had been fixed with the short-block replacement. I relied on that representation and believed I was buying a vehicle whose defect had been properly remedied. Toyota has now issued safety recall 25V767 / 25TA14 (“engine may stall during driving”) for this same V35A engine, including service short blocks. I am concerned that the earlier short-block repair either did not fully fix the underlying defect or may have introduced additional problems. At around 41–42k miles, the truck developed starting issues and then completely failed to start, leaving me stranded in the middle of an intersection in town. The vehicle would not crank or start and had to be towed out of traffic, which I consider a serious safety risk. The dealer ultimately replaced a 50-amp fusible link, the 12V battery, and the starter. The total repair bill was about $2,100 before my third-party extended warranty paid a portion of it. Even with that coverage, this is an extremely expensive repair for a relatively new truck that has already had major engine work. Now I have engine history, electrical/starter problems, and I do not know what other issues may appear. I trusted Toyota’s assurance that the engine problem was fixed, and that is why I felt comfortable buying a branded lemon; this now feels like I was misled or cheated. I am also aware of ongoing engine and reliability complaints on newer 2024–2025 Tundras, which suggests there may be a broader design or quality issue. My concern is that my truck remains defective despite the prior engine short-block replacement and that other owners could experience similar no-start or stall situations in traffic.