A 1.24-Million-Mile Corolla Highlights the Tundra's Engine Troubles

Toyota's reputation for building long-lasting vehicles is well-earned, and a 1993 Corolla from New Zealand proves the point. 24 million miles on its original engine and transmission. Hebley bought the car at seven years old with about 50,000 miles on it, then drove roughly 3,100 miles each week.

He had it serviced every two weeks, and aside from nearly 20 timing belt changes and some wheel bearings, the car remained largely original.

The Corolla is a seventh-generation model, code-named E100, introduced for the 1993 model year. It was larger than its predecessor, had a longer wheelbase, and featured sleeker styling inspired by Toyota's Lexus sub-brand. 8-liter unit. By the end of its run in 1997, the Corolla had become the best-selling car nameplate in history, surpassing the Volkswagen Beetle.

In contrast, the current third-generation Tundra, launched for 2022, has faced three recalls due to engine failures. The problem stems from machining debris left inside the V35A-FTS engine, which clogs the #1 crankshaft main bearing and causes sudden, irreparable failure. Toyota has also acknowledged that the engine's design may disrupt the oil film on that bearing, worsening the issue.

The first recall began in spring 2024 for 2021 and 2022 trucks, including the Lexus LX 600, with free engine replacements offered. A second recall followed about a year later for 2024 models, and a third came in May, bringing the total affected vehicles to 270,000.

One partial workaround for buyers is choosing the hybrid Tundra, which uses the same gas engine but adds an electric motor for a combined 389 horsepower. The hybrid may reduce load on the problematic bearing, though that effect is uncertain. More importantly, even if the gas engine fails, the hybrid can limp home on electric power alone.

While this situation doesn't prove Toyota's reliability is gone, it shows that reaching a million-plus miles, as Hebley's Corolla did, is far harder with today's complex engines.