2023 Toyota Tundra Powertrain & Transmission Problems

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Hesitation from vehicle when pressing gas coming from a rolling stop. Late response from vehicle which may increase risk of crash or injury when vehicle does not move.

When slowing down and then accelerating OR coming to a stop on an incline and then gassing it, the truck will stall for 1-2 seconds and then launch off. This has almost caused a wreck multiple times as I get stuck in the roadway for 1-2 seconds before being able to cross the lane and complete my turn. The dealership has said they've heard of the issue but could not duplicate it. No dashboard lights came on during the power failure.

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

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)(6)

When trying to accelerate from coming to a stop I almost always have throttle hesitation and or lag. This had cause me to almost get into a few crashes when trying to turn left due to the truck not responding for a few seconds.

intermitantly, there is a severe power lag when accelerating from stop. When stopped (stop sign or light), and I hit the accelerator, there is no immediate power, then the vehicle will "rocket" from the stop position. This is creating a very dangerous situation, as the lag sometimes puts me in position of pulling out in front of oncoming traffic, or spins the tires and I lose control. This situation happens about 30% of the time from stop. I have not taken it in for service yet, but from researching, this is a known problem throughout the Tundra community. There are no warnings prior to this happening.

I experience delayed throttle response and throttle lag daily. Acceleration is unpredictable. The vehicle barely moves in some cases when pressing the gas pedal. Other times, the tires will chirp. The vehicle will sometimes hesitate so long to accelerate, that I've almost been T-boned and I've held up traffic. It seems like the truck thinks I'm going to run into something, even when there's nothing in front of me. The delay is sometimes 3-5 seconds before it will allow any acceleration. This seems like a huge safety issue, not being able to get out of the way of oncoming traffic and having such an unpredictable, and often delayed throttle response.

On several occasions I have a dead pedal situation on acceleration from a brief stop. When you press the accelerator, the truck does not accelerate immediately. Instead there is a second or two pause before truck responds to accelerator input. When crossing traffic, this hesitation has caused several situations in which i have almost been t-boned.

Throttle Lag/Hesitation when starting from a standstill. Same also occurs when slowly going up a hill, letting off throttle and then back on throttle - engine no response and causes vehicle to roll backwards before engine/transmission catch on again. No service center has looked at this issue yet.

My 2023 Toyota Tundra has an intermittent issue where the throttle lags or hesitates when accelerating from a complete stop. The problem occurs unpredictably and causes the truck to fail to respond when pressing the gas pedal. The issue appears to be related to the engine or throttle response system, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This malfunction puts my safety and the safety of others at risk because the hesitation can occur while turning left across traffic or merging into traffic, leaving the truck momentarily stalled in the path of oncoming vehicles. The problem has not yet been officially reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center, but it has happened multiple times under normal driving conditions. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives at this time. There were no warning lights, messages, or other indicators before or during the hesitation; it happens without any prior notice.

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.

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.

Over the course of ownership I have had frequent instances of loss of power and/or lack of acceleration resulting in almost stalling out while trying to take off. This causes dangerous situations when trying to pull out into traffic because you never know when the vehicle might hesitate and crest unsafe distances between you and other moving vehicles.