2007 Toyota Tundra’s camshaft failures

[dascrow]

Toyota is out looking for more 2007 Toyota Tundra’s with camshaft failures. According to the company’s spokesman, twenty 5.7 liter V8 engine Toyota Tundras have had snapped camshafts. The manufacturer of the camshaft, who is unknown, has traced the problem and has corrected it. Nonetheless, Toyota’s camshafts are designed to avoid collateral damage if they snap.
The problem was found in “an early batch,” and that “Toyota is confident in the production from that point on,” Toyota spokesman, Mike Michels told Automotive News. Toyota is trying to figure out how many more have been affected.

Kind of looks bad when you’re on top and are trying to take over the 4×4 market that is already dominated by domestic auto makers. The 5.7 liter V8 engine of the 2007 Toyota Tundra was rushed just in time for the launch.

[Impelled]

Any more info? Like production site, dates or any other info to help identify the trucks at risk?

[dascrow]

Out of a run of 30,000 5.7-liter V8 engines, Toyota has had reports of 20 camshafts snapping -- a minuscule number in light of the total (0.06 percent, as a matter of fact). Toyota says the outside supplier of the camshafts has discovered the problem, which was "a metallurgical defect in the casting," and the company is trying to figure out how many of the remaining 30,000 engines could also be affected, though because of the company's production method, the final number is not expected to be large. The camshafts have been designed to prevent collateral damage in case they break, but Toyota will replace a customer's entire engine if the camshaft failure should occur by sending a new 5.7L via airfreight to the nearest daeler. Apparently some Toyota execs believe that the new number one global automaker has been growing too fast to maintain proper quality control. Yet with the Tundra being a new truck with a new engine in a new market for Toyota, there are going to be teething problems, as we've seen. What remains to be seen is if, or for how long, these problems will continue.

Aw Snap! No, really - 20 Tundra camshafts have snapped - Autoblog

[tms usa]

Originally Posted by Impelled

Any more info? Like production site, dates or any other info to help identify the trucks at risk?

The engines are made at our facility in Alabama. We're continuing to investigate this issue so that we may isolate any units that could still be affected, if possible. However, you should know that the camshaft problem was discovered very early in the Tundra production system and corrected immediately. We're aware of 20 vehicles that have experienced the camshaft failure and have or are in the process of replacing the engines in these units.

Although the number of affected Tundras is very small, we very much regret that even one of our trucks was manufactured with a camshaft processing flaw and certainly any inconvenience caused to our customers.

The Toyota engineering, development and manufacturing processes applied to this new truck are among the most rigorous ever for our company. Nonetheless, when unforeseen problems do pop up, the very same processes also identify them as quickly as possible so that we can implement countermeasures pronto and minimize the impact.

We're committed to building the finest automobiles and trucks on the road today and fulfilling the expectations of our customers that come with that. Hopefully this response gives you dome degree of assurance that we stand by our high quality and customer service pledges and will work tirelessly to ensure that we fulfill those for our new Tundra owners.

BTW, our Toyota Customer Experience specialists are available to answer other questions about the Tundra or any of our products for that matter. They may be reached by calling 800-331-4331.

[Impelled]

I am aware of Toyota reliability and their efforts to correct problems....the response by TMS USA also shows integrity. Can't say the same about GM! Got a brand new 1989 Trans Am GTA that came complete from the factory with a cracked block (350 V8) Took them 3 months to get it back to me. They did give me a replacement T1000 (Pontiac's version of the Chevette) while I made big payments on the Trans Am. When I finally drove it off...the engine bay caught on fire from loose plastic wire shrouding that fell onto the hot manifold exhaust. That was my last GM...ever! I could tell you about the IROC-Z I had before that one...but I won't bore you now, I'll save that story for later. (Rant over)

[lemon.lib]

the other guy on the forum snapped the cam shaft...his batch was 2/07 and was built in the indiana plant......

best of luck...mine was from that month too...bummer


Lemon

[Impelled]

Same here on the production site. There was a guy that was thrashing his truck doing burnouts and stuff, and it was making funny noises....it wasn't his engine that grenaded-was it?

[lemon.lib]

well if your going to do those crazy stuff...burn outs etc...you deserve to have something fail...hahhaha....am still sweeting now....i have a indiana 2/07 tundra too i wonder if this is going to blow up anytime....


lemon

[The Kelzer]

Where does one locate the engine build/date information???

My first Toyota....switched from a 98 Chevy K1500 Z-71. I hope I did the right thing.....

TK

[georgeandrae]

Originally Posted by The Kelzer

Where does one locate the engine build/date information???

My first Toyota....switched from a 98 Chevy K1500 Z-71. I hope I did the right thing.....

TK

Yes i would like to know how i find out the build location and date. this is also my first toyota...traded a 04 yukon denali for this truck

[mainliner]

Originally Posted by georgeandrae

Yes i would like to know how i find out the build location and date. this is also my first toyota...traded a 04 yukon denali for this truck

Open up your drivers door and it will have that information and should be right next to the rest of the information about the truck there.

[Toyotav8t]

What mileage did the cam fail. Where it failed. What is the signs you had a failure?
The engine has over-protection.

[redline]

has toyota issued any updates on the issue?

[dascrow]

haven't heard anything since the news broke. I don't think it affected that many trucks, so not to much to worry about.

[stricksteve]

I called the TMS USA number listed here and if I wasn't fairly convinced I wanted a Tundra the response would have caused me to go elsewhere. I spoke to a lady and I had 5 questions I needed information on(none technical, all on options). She could answer one partially. She then transfered me to another person who wrote the questions down because she could not answer them either and said she would call me back. That was 2 days ago. Sample question: Are the "running boards" and steputually exclusive, does one replace the other?