2023 Toyota Tundra transmission problems

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-Our Toyota Tundra Hybrid suffered total catastrophic engine failure due to metal shavings found throughout the engine and oil system. This is the same issue that prompted NHTSA ID Number: 25V767000 recall of Toyota's V35A engines. The tundra is available for inspection. -Statement regarding safety put at risk by my husband: I felt a vibration from the engine compartment (seeming to come from the front right side) and then I suddenly lost complete power. I was traveling in the number one lane (the fast lane). I immediately put my hazards on and had to navigate to the number two lane and then over to the narrow shoulder under no power whatsoever. I had to navigate around multiple semi-trucks. This was a very dangerous situation and I barely got it over to the shoulder. If my teenage daughters were driving this car they likely wouldn't have been able to safely navigate it across two lanes with no power in the setting of multiple semi-trucks on a two-lane divided highway. Again, a very dangerous situation. I shut down the engine and waited five minutes and restarted it. Shifting into gear the warning indicator said 'hybrid system disconnected'. -The total catastrophic engine failure has been confirmed by the Toyota Dealership. Th4ey Confirmed multiple shavings of metal in the entire oil system and the engine has seized. He said that the engine needed to be replaced. -The tundra has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance (yet) or others besides the Toyota dealership. -There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptom of the pending catastrophic total engine failure.

NHTSA complaint #11757587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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My wife and I purchased a brand new Tundra LTD in May 2023. An important note to keep in mind is that my wife and I not only purchased the new Tundra but also a new travel trailer so we could enjoy our nation's national parks during our retirement years. I will relate that to my complaint shortly. It wasn't long after our purchase that we became aware of the issue of machining debris possibly contaminating the engine block which can result in sudden engine failure. Right now, because Toyota has not resolved our issue and communication has generally been close to non-existent. We no longer feel we can safely take our truck and trailer to the remote national parks of the American southwest where distances are huge and help few and far between. We have visited the SW twice and want to do more while we are still young enough to do so but are worried about what a sudden breakdown would do. I called up Toyota and asked them to repurchase the Tundra so I could buy a new onw without the issue. I explained that I paid for the Truck in good faith but that they have not kept up the end of the bargain, the truck Toyota sold us is potentially unsafe and we'd like it fixed or repurchases which would allow us to buy a new truck. They closed out my official inquiry without comment or communication of any kind. Apparenty, they are just fine with consumers being sold a truck that may suddenly die on them. Anyway you folks can get Toyota to fairly take care of its customers?

NHTSA complaint #11757302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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As many have spoken about already, I have the hesitation or lag from stop or rolling at very slow speeds. I kind of learned to live with it but feel it's getting worse. My wife had to drive the truck, and she said it was very scary and did not feel safe. I know it is not the engine as I had it replaced and problem is still very much there! There have been so many issues with this truck. Brakes have never stopped squeaking; one dealership guy told me it is the cheap pads Toyota put on them.

NHTSA complaint #11756896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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was waiting for the traffic light to turn green. Vehicle in drive with foot on brake. the traffic light turned green, I took my foot off the brakes and pushed on the accelerator. Nothin happened. I saw another vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed behind me so I continued to mash on the accelerator. right before being hit by the car behind me my vehicle lurched forward a few feet then stopped again. I looked at the dash display and saw a "Hybrid System Malfunction" warning. Because of the traffic situation/location it was not safe to just sit in the road so I continued to pump on the accelerator. each pumped moved the vehicle forward a couple of feet. I did not turn of the engine because I was unsure what would happen so I continued to do that for about a mile or so until I could get to a safe place to pull over. during this time, I almost got rear-ended and side-swiped several times. Once stopped I attempted to start the vehicle several times and got the "Hybrid System Malfunction" display and the vehicle would not start. I waited for about an hour with the vehicle off and restarted the engine. I stayed off the freeway and took backroads to the closest dealer service center where it is currently located. When I dropped it off the service rep said he hasn't seen anything like this. Prior to this incident I had no issues with the truck and it was last serviced by the dealership on March 4, 2026.

NHTSA complaint #11747819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Gas pedal hesitation at a rolling stop. There is a delay in acceleration during occasional rolling stops at locations such as yield signs and unmarked intersections on the roadway. When this happens the driver may depress the accelerator more than should be necessary causing tire spin and traction control integration. The traction control drastically reduces speed and limits acceleration which is a detriment to any oncoming traffic and everone else on the road. Many owners acknowledge this issue on social media. No warning lights. Toyota has a service bullitin out for this as of May 2026, but has limited vin numbers they will update for free. My truck has been an issue since purchased new in March 2023. It can be an intermittent issue and the dealer can't seam to duplicate it on inspection. Since they couldn't duplicate it the first time i complained about it, they want to charge for diagnosis. Toyota will not update the transmission module because my vin number isn't included and they can't duplicate it. This is a safety issue and all vin numbers should get the software update in my opinion. TSB0032-26 is toyotas service bulitin. Toyota told me they would only do it if it was a safety recall.

NHTSA complaint #11742286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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When slowing down to make a turn and then accelerating again the vehicle is not in correct gear to take off, it revs the engine but doesn’t move like it should. When this happens if you put shifter in manual mode and downshift it acts as it should. There is a TSB that fixes this problem but i think it needs to be a recall due to turning left in traffic and not being able to accelerate can cause wreck TSB-0032-26,

NHTSA complaint #11739259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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While driving the vehicle on a public roadway at approximately 70mph, the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic powertrain failure without timely warning. The check engine light illuminated, the physical engine oil pressure gauge dropped to absolute zero, and the dashboard immediately flashed a critical "Hybrid System Malfunction" warning. > This mechanical and electrical failure triggered an instantaneous, total loss of motor power while traveling live lane with traffic behind me. The vehicle immediately stalled and became a completely inoperable, unresponsive rolling hazard. The vehicle failed to restart and left me stranded on a narrow shoulder which was very hazardous as traffic coming at high speeds could have easily rear ended me. The vehicle required a flatbed tow to an authorized Toyota dealership, and after submitting a case with corporate hoping for a trade assist(as my wife no longer feels safe in this chassis), I have been told it will take up to 45 days to process this request. I made a significant investment in this vehicle in January of 2023 and have since methodically kept up with maintenance, with hopes this vehicle would last me 10+ years. I find it highly inexcusable for Toyota to not consider speedily helping a loyal customer in this situation and making it right in a timely manner. I am now being offered a vehicle the same as mine of the current year and with me having to put over 22K in equity to close the gap. I should not be left on the hook for something that put my safety at risk and now has left me without the ability to travel as my family has lost their main method of transportation. Manufacturing defects should not come at the customers expense.

NHTSA complaint #11738802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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When the vehicle comes to a complete stop or is slowing into a stop, there is a delay of power often followed by too much power causing the vehicle to launch forward. It happens most of the time and could be potentially very dangerous. There are times when the vehicle is needed to go now, not a second or two from now, and that delay has caused a few near miss. The issue has been on going since I got the vehicle new, but didn’t know I could report it here.

NHTSA complaint #11738330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Nov 06,2025 Manufacturer Recall Number25TB14 NHTSA Recall Number25V767 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available vehicle is stalling sometimes, not shifting right and losing power more importantly from time to time

NHTSA complaint #11734353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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While driving on a two-lane highway at approximately 80–85 mph and attempting to pass another vehicle, the engine suddenly shut off without warning. The vehicle lost all propulsion, and steering assist was significantly reduced, creating a dangerous situation and nearly resulting in a head-on collision with oncoming traffic. Warning lights including check engine and low power steering illuminated immediately after the stall. The vehicle would not restart for several minutes and was temporarily disabled in the roadway. The vehicle was later inspected by a dealership, which confirmed through diagnostic data that multiple engine stall events occurred at highway speeds. The inspection also identified system-wide electrical voltage drops and multiple communication faults between control modules. The dealership attributed the issue to a loose battery terminal; however, the diagnostic report indicates prior voltage irregularities and multiple affected systems, suggesting a broader failure condition. This incident is consistent with an active safety recall affecting this vehicle, which states that the engine may stall during driving. The failure has not been reproduced since the initial incident, but the vehicle has documented evidence of multiple stall events and remains a safety concern. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Due to the sudden loss of power at highway speed and the inability to safely control or accelerate the vehicle, this issue poses a serious risk to the driver and others on the road.

NHTSA complaint #11732124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The vehicle experiences hesitation when starting to move from a stop. So if i come to a stop and pull out into traffic it sometimes hesitates before applying the throttle that has been input via the pedal. This could cause serious injury because its almost impossible to determine when its safe to pull out into traffic because you do not know how long it will take for throttle to kick in.

NHTSA complaint #11726409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The vehicle ofter hesitates for 1-2 seconds when accelerating from a stop or a slow roll. This has almost caused an accident on several occasions when trying to get out into traffic.

NHTSA complaint #11722500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Vehicle shutting down while driving (3 incidents) Diagnostic codes P0A3F21, P1CAD49, P0A3F1F, and P1C5D19 Multiple failed repair attempts Toyota's refusal to address safety defect

NHTSA complaint #11717829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Recurring throttle lag. At a stoplight or stop sign at a full and complete stop I press down the accelerator and nothing happens for about a second and a half. When it finally does respond, it jumps as if it was struggling to get into gear.

NHTSA complaint #11714706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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My car got stuck in 4WD with 4L light blinking. I wasn't able to get out of the gear and the sensor had to be recalibrated just to fix this issue.

NHTSA complaint #11713648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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On my 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Hybrid at 72,241 miles, the vehicle started making a knocking noise. Engine turned off and wont start at all. Had the truck hauled to toyota dealership for service. After them having it a week, they called to let me know that the engine is completely locked up. Metal Shavings in the oil and motor wont turn over at all, even with a rachet on the crank bolt. Luckily I bought a extended warranty when i purchased the truck used as toyota is claiming only the non hybrid engines are under the toyota recall for the engines. After reading and researching they have the same engine just one doesnt have the hybrid assist on it. Toyota told me that the extended warranty company was coming today to check it out and would let me know where to go from here. They said its a very very uncommon issue on the hybrids but after researching that, that was a lie.

NHTSA complaint #11713354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Engine started knocking, complete loss of power and had to pull over immediately to avoid any further issues such as an accident

NHTSA complaint #11713515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I am submitting this complaint to report a serious vehicle safety incident involving a sudden and complete loss of power while driving at highway speed. Vehicle Information: Make: Toyota Model: Tundra Model Year: 2023 VIN: [XXX] Incident Description: While driving at highway speed, my vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of power. The vehicle immediately lost propulsion, creating a dangerous situation for myself and my family. This event occurred without warning and required immediate action to safely exit traffic. Following the incident, the vehicle was taken to an authorized Toyota service facility. After inspection, the vehicle required a full engine replacement. The repair was completed, and the vehicle was returned to me. However, despite the repair, the incident has caused a lasting loss of confidence in the vehicle’s safety for highway operation. My family and I now avoid highway driving due to fear that a similar loss-of-power event could recur. Important Clarifications: • No collision or personal injury occurred, but the situation posed a significant safety risk. • The loss of power occurred at highway speed, not during low-speed or idle conditions. • The vehicle required a complete engine replacement following the incident. • The repair itself does not address the safety concern related to sudden power loss at speed. Current Safety Concern: Although the vehicle is currently operable, I do not feel it is safe to use on highways due to the nature of the original failure. The sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed presents a serious safety risk to occupants and other road users. I am submitting this report so that NHTSA is aware of this incident and can evaluate whether similar incidents may be occurring with this vehicle or powertrain configuration. Thank you for your attention to this safety matter. Submitted by: [XXX] Vehicle Owner / Lessee Date of Incident: 11/30/2025 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B

NHTSA complaint #11712768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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1-2 second period of no throttle response from a rolling stop, then a sudden lurch of acceleration many times onto a now busy intersection.

NHTSA complaint #11711667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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This has happened to me at least 6-7 times since owning as Jan 2024. Occasionally when stopped at stopped sign or red light, upon releasing brake and pressing gas pedal the engine will stall or stutter causing the vehicle to either hesitate to go and then launch or hesitate and not do anything. This is an issue as it has happened to me when trying to cross a divided highway and it stalling as I'm partially out in the middle of the road.

NHTSA complaint #11711342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Throttle Lag: when stopped at a stop light/stop sign, there is significant delay from when the gas is depressed and the vehicle moves. This sometimes causes the vehicle to jolt forward and has almost caused accidents.

NHTSA complaint #11711347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Since purchasing this truck in 2023, the engine or transmission has exhibited a severe throttle lag/hesitation when cold—a 2–4 second delay in acceleration from a stop after pressing the gas pedal, followed by a sudden lurch, which creates a safety hazard when merging into traffic. No warning lights, error messages, or other fault indicators appear. The dealer has been unable to reproduce the issue because the truck is warm by the time it's inspected, and no inspection has been performed outside the dealership.

NHTSA complaint #11711577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the instrument cluster went black, and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled but almost immediately restarted. The contact was able to keep driving, but the vehicle failed to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for service, and the vehicle was diagnosed and it was determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V767000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact was informed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was made aware of the recall from the dealer and had not received a recall letter. Additionally, the contact stated that whenever the vehicle was shifted into reverse(R), the vehicle hesitated before jolting into gear. The vehicle had not been diagnosed for the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and offered to provide the contact with a loaner vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

NHTSA complaint #11708798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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2023 Toyota Tundra experienced repeated engine stalling and vehicle lock-up while driving on public roads, including in an intersection. During one incident, the driver was thrown forward into the steering wheel. A Toyota dealer attempted repair by replacing the neutral/park safety switch, but the repair failed and the dangerous condition persisted immediately after. The vehicle has been removed from use due to safety concerns. The issue is consistent with known engine stalling concerns affecting certain 2022–2024 Toyota Tundra vehicles. The vehicle is unsafe to operate.

NHTSA complaint #11707708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Throttle lagging, truck won’t accelerate at low speeds and is very jerky

NHTSA complaint #11707601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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whenever driving my vehicle, there is noticible delay/lag when attempting to accelerate. This occurs primarily from when first starting from a compelte stop, but it also noticible in other scenarios. When stopped at a stop sign or traffic light, for example, first accelerating produces a lag and delay in movement of the vehicle. The dealership has "reflashed" the transmission which seemed to rmeedy this but only for a very short time. The same issue returned quite soon after. This lag does not produce any warning or error lights or messages. Many other users on vehicle-specific forums + internate groups have all reported sumilar behavior with no permanent solution to date.

NHTSA complaint #11706585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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While driving under normal conditions, my 2023 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Hybrid experienced a sudden and severe loss of propulsion. The vehicle abruptly entered fail-safe (limp) mode and would not accelerate beyond approximately 5–10 mph. This occurred without warning and created an immediate safety hazard in traffic. Multiple warning messages illuminated simultaneously, including: Hybrid System Malfunction, Check Engine, Smart Stop System Malfunction, and Advanced Ultrasonic Detection Malfunction. The hybrid system effectively shut down and the vehicle could not maintain normal road speed. I brought the vehicle to a Toyota dealership. The dealership performed only ECM and hybrid ECU software updates and cleared codes. No mechanical inspection, oil pressure analysis, particulate inspection, turbo system evaluation, hybrid motor synchronization testing, or engineering-level diagnostics were performed. Toyota Corporate subsequently stated that the software update was the “final” resolution and declined further diagnostics. I was advised to return to the dealership if the issue reoccurs. This failure mode matches the documented loss-of-propulsion behavior described in Toyota’s V35A engine machining-defect recall (sudden power loss, limp mode, cascading system failures). Hybrid models are currently excluded despite using the same engine platform and exhibiting identical symptoms. Sudden loss of propulsion at road speed presents a serious crash risk. This appears to be a safety-related defect that is not being adequately investigated or remedied for hybrid models.

NHTSA complaint #11704843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal while at complete stop at a red traffic light or while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the transmission software was reset; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously taken to another local dealer, where an unknown engine recall was performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #11704652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Throttle lags/hesitates at times when accelerating from a stop.

NHTSA complaint #11704743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.