To date, Toyota has recalled more than 270,000 cars equipped with its V35A-TS engine. The engine powers Toyota models like the Tundra and Lexus LX SUVs. It's one of the brand's biggest recalls in recent memory, and a bit of a black mark for a brand famed for its bulletproof engines. New recall protocols found in a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration document show that even though some of these engines are prone to failure, Toyota won't just replace them outright. Instead, it tests them first. That makes some owners uneasy."The Tundra owners' community is disappointed, to say the least, to learn of the remedy for the most recent V35A engine recall," said Ryan Gregg, a Tundra enthusiast and owner advocate, to The Drive. "We implore Toyota to reconsider their latest decision and ask that they keep the customer, not the bottom line, at the forefront of all future decision-making."A Toyota Tundra SR5 2024 pickup truck photographed in Park Ridge, Illinois, USA on August 16, 2024. (Photo by photosvit on Getty Images)Photo by photosvit on Getty ImagesThe new protocol states that owners will be notified to take their vehicles to the relevant Toyota or Lexus dealer. Then, "using an inspection software, dealers will evaluate the #1 main bearing and collect available vehicle drive data to confirm the condition of that bearing." These bearings were spinning in some recalled cars, damaging the engines so severely they had to be replaced. If the software "cannot confirm that the bearing will be free from abnormal wear due to this issue, dealers will replace the engine. The remedy will be provided free of charge," reads the new bulletin.AdvertisementAdvertisementA Toyota spokesperson also elaborated on the new recall procedure to The Drive: "Fundamentally, this inspection uses the resonant frequency of the front of the crankshaft to assess the condition of the #1 main bearing. Toyota's development of this inspection included testing numerous engines to identify the resonant frequency differences between a #1 main bearing with and without abnormal wear. In addition, available vehicle drive data is collected to determine if there has been enough load that has been put on the engine so that there is confidence in the assessment of the condition of the #1 main bearing. If there is insufficient vehicle drive data, the engine will be replaced.""From my perspective, this is their way of slowing the financial bleeding and also not admitting that there is an inherent design flaw/issue. It's a way to buy them time," said Gregg. Toyota has updated the first main bearing in new engines, though debris that can cause bearings to spin may still be present; Toyota says the new engine design is less susceptible to damage as a result of the changes.This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.