Need a little advice - long post

Warning Long Post: Been a while since I posted, mainly because I've been relatively happy with the truck after getting past some major repairs, but I'm at that threshold again and wondering if anyone can give me some insight/advice here. I have a 2022 Platinum 4x4 with airbag rear suspension. 41K miles.

First some history:

1. Bought the truck in Oct 2023 with 22K miles on it and although it wasn't verbal disclosed to me, I discovered while perusing the CarFax after purchase that the engine had already been replaced at 18K miles after failure. I wasn't happy, but figured...hey, its already been done! I won't have to deal with it later.
*6 months ago, I received a recall notice. The motor they used on the first failure was also faulty and Toyota wants to replace it. I'm in line for the recall.
2. After about 6 months, I had a complete failure of the rear air suspension that is well documented on Tundras.com. Toyota never admitted fault on this issue, but my insurance pursued it with Toyota and settled with some undisclosed amount (allegedly). Truck was in the shop for 3 months during this fiasco. I had to pay $400 towing and $1000 deductible.
3. After getting the truck back, within 2 weeks, the alternator caught on fire and truck had to be towed to Toyota for replacement. Out of commission another 7 days this time. I had to pay $200 towing.
4. I've driven the truck for about 14 months without any issues and then last Friday, I started out on a long trip to Fort Worth only to have loss of power about 10 miles from my home. After several tries, I was able to get the truck restarted and get it home to retrieve another vehicle.
5. Upon return from Fort Worth, I take the truck to Toyota. After their inspection, Toyota advisor says it's in the process of engine failure, they want to keep it and that it may be several months before I can get a new engine (3-6 months is his best guess). They put me in a long term rental Tundra (for free) and I'm just waiting.

Question/Advice?:

1. At what point can I enact Texas Lemon Law? Although the first failure wasn't under my ownership, this is 2 failures and both were under warranty. That along with the other issues I've had build up quite a bit of disruption during my ownership.
2. The rental Tundra they put me in is a new '25 Limited that I actually like better than my Platinum and I'd like to figure out a swap or something, but not sure exactly how that works. Does the dealership generally own the rental or is that Toyota corporate (its from the rental counter inside the dealership)?
3. Do I have any recourse here? Seems like they (and me) keep dumping money into this thing and at some point it's gotta be considered a dog.
4. Oh, and to complicate it more...the dealership changed ownership between the time I bought the truck and this most recent engine failure.

This truck seems cursed and I'm just looking for some way out of it.
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

They said 3-6 months to replace the engine? Yours is not a hybrid, right?

That seems very long since they already shipping long block crate engines to dealerships, and I would imagine yours can be prioritized since it's actually failed.

 

Correct...non hybrid.

Advisor just told me to "get comfortable" in the rental as it may be a while. I pressed him for time and he said he felt safe telling me 3-6 months. He said he was going to try to prioritize it, but had not guarantees. So...I'm trying to figure out next steps as I have very little confidence in the truck after all I've been through.

Coincidentally...the rental they put me in is the exact truck I was searching for when I purchased the faulty truck. I was pressed for time and couldn't wait around for one to be produced, so I went with 2nd choice, but I really prefer this rental.

 

Call Toyota engagement, tell them what happened and if they can help you get a long block faster.

Not sure if you can do anything else regarding the lemon law, others will chime in

 

Your chosen dealership is clearly inept.

 

Inept at what?

 

Taking care of it's customers. 3-6 months is lunacy. This process doesn't take that long. What dealer is this?

 

His VIN may not be in the current window of motors being replaced…the dealership can not do anything about that, it’s not their fault

 

I just scanned this page about Texas Lemon laws. In order to qualify, it appears all the problems have to occur within the first year of ownership.

The fact that this truck was pre-owned, might complicate things.

I'd call a lemon law attorney in your area to get advice.

 

Have you got an estimated trade in value in on it once fixed to compare to lemon law value?

Lemon law is not magic. It prorates what you get back based on mileage. Most states it's 100k. 41k miles you lose 41%. Plus you got to go thru BS that is the lemon law process.

Dealers will take most anything as trade to get a sale on a new one. If you add up trade in plus any valorem tax savings off trade in again state dependent it likely is a similiar number to the lemon law without BS, lawyer sometimes required and when will this nightmare be over uncertainty

I have only had one true lemon in my life. A Ford which was my first and last one. My main regret not was not dumping it early and avoiding several years of phone calls, taking leave to meet field engineers, renting cars while it was as in the shop and enduring the non stop FU arguing with Ford and dealer.

Life's too short. Move on the quickest way you can with a trade in deal you can live with. Drop it off and don't even look back. Walk away and be happy

 

You were unlucky in the sense that the truck was one of the few to actually detonate the engine due to debris. And that was compounded by being very early in the recall, and getting another engine with debris. But I don't see any reason to believe this is going to repeat yet again.

 

really

 

If I was in your situation I'd use the free rental for the next 3-6 months putting miles on the rental, then after I got my fixed truck back I'd trade it on the one I want.

 

this ^

and stay away from first year models.

 

go for the 25 limited.. its the truck you want anyway..?

 

This is what they’re telling me.
I’m not in that window and he’s gonna do his best to get it prioritized.

 

that’s kinda what I’m thinking. Put miles on the rentals and once it’s a “used rental” offer to buy it. It has a sticker that says “this truck is also for sale “.

 

I don’t disagree, but this is my 11th Toyota over the last 35 years of driving and I’ve never had a problem. I used a long history of quality to give me confidence in buying the model-year. My mistake.

 

my first tundra had more problems than others, it was one of the first tundras out there early 2000 model in late 99.

it happens, even to Toyota, and this truck is complex given all the safety and other features.

mines been solid, thankfully , I really enjoy it

now that I think about it , so did the first TACO ever that I had 95.5, first year model and it had more issues than the others I had...

 

There is no need to wait ..you can speak with management directly and given your case of headaches, dealer should be inspired to give you a great deal on a new truck. If not, then play along and dump truck to a different dealer once fixed and knab a 2026 by that time.