Toyota’s reliability reputation has taken a hit in recent months as the company faces multiple recalls of its new twin-turbocharged V6 engine used in the Tundra pickup truck and several SUVs. Toyota officials blamed the failure on residual manufacturing debris in the oil passages.
But a recent teardown by independent mechanic and YouTube creator Eric Berg raises serious questions about whether the debris is actually to blame.
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Recall scope: More than 200,000 vehicles equipped with Toyota’s V35A twin-turbocharged V6 engine have been recalled.
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Toyota’s explanation: The company said residual manufacturing debris in the oil passages could damage sensitive components such as connecting rod bearings.
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Customer Impact: Owners can get a complete engine replacement under warranty, which is an expensive fix for Toyota but a frustrating ordeal for drivers who expect long-term reliability.
Eric Berg finally obtained one of the failed engines. Since Toyota requires dealers to return defective cores, it won’t be easy for him to get one. His detailed teardown revealed several disturbing signs:
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Early wear: With only 38,000 miles on the clock, the cam lobes were already showing signs of damage, and oil buildup with metal debris could be seen in the cylinder head.
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Damaged timing sprocket: The idler gear was incredibly hard and its bearings were packed with large pieces of debris.
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Main bearing failure: Two of the four main bearings “spin,” meaning their surfaces are rotationally misaligned, a classic sign of oil contamination.
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Rod bearings intact: Surprisingly, the connecting rod bearings – said to be the most susceptible to debris – showed no visible damage.
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contradiction: Berg believes that if debris was indeed the cause, both the connecting rods and main bearings should be affected because they share oil passages.
Berg’s central claim is that the official narrative of the fragments does not match the physical evidence. He noted that when components were inspected, there was no evidence of debris damage on the camshafts, covers or towers, areas that should show clear signs if contamination was the true culprit. Even more telling is the fact that when oil passages become clogged or contaminated, the connecting rod bearings that are usually the first to fail are in good condition.
Instead, the only component showing catastrophic wear was the main bearing, which had rotated out of position. This pattern of damage indicates something more fundamental than random debris. Berger’s blunt conclusion that “there’s something wrong with these engines” challenges Toyota’s narrative of fragmentation and raises questions about whether the company has actually found the root cause of the failures.
