I Have Zero Confidence In My 2024 Toyota Tundra. It Suddenly Shut Down Going 80 MPH, I Finally Got It Started, But Now, the Dealer Will Think I’m Crazy

What should a 2024 Toyota Tundra owner do now who has lost confidence in his truck with only 19,000 miles on it?

Jerry Garcia, a member of the Toyota Tundra Owner's Facebook page, is facing a dilemma. He recently purchased a 2024 Toyota Tundra, a truck he was excited about and had high hopes for. However, his new truck is having problems, and now he's lost all confidence in its reliability.

He's also worried that the Toyota dealer won't be able to replicate the problem, and they'll think he's crazy when he takes it to the service department. He's probably right. 

Here is what happened to Jerry. 

Imagine driving your trusted one-year-old Tundra pickup on the interstate; you are in the fast lane going 80 mph, and you are passing a slower vehicle. You are in a hurry and late for a meeting, so you push the pedal down.

When you hit the gas, the truck doesn't respond as usual. Now, the only thing you feel is the engine shutting down, and you're slowing down rapidly from 80 mph to 60 mph almost immediately.

Now, you have to make an evasive maneuver to get out of the fast lane, move over two more lanes, and get to the side of the road. Now, you have semi trucks flying by you, and you are barely off the shoulder of the busy highway.

You try multiple times to restart your truck, but there's nothing. The car is dead. The dash is lit up with warnings, "Steering Power Low," "Engine has shut off," and "Please pull over safely."

The first thing you do is call Toyota Roadside Assistance. After searching through the glove box and finding the owner's manual, you see the number.

After going through the whole story of what happened, they call a tow truck for you, but it will be an hour before they can get to you. 

Now, you're afraid a semi-truck is going to ram you from behind because you're so close to the road.   

So, you try to restart your truck. After more attempts, the pickup finally starts, and it keeps running. Great, now you can get off the highway and get to a safe spot.

The truck is running fine, so you drive it home, and everything seems normal now. 

However, now, you've lost all confidence in the truck's reliability and that it won't happen again. 

Now, you call the Toyota dealer and make an appointment to take it in for a check-up, but you're afraid the dealer won't find anything wrong and will tell you it's fine and there's no problem. They will look at you like you're crazy. 

Here is what Jerry said, 

"Ok, I have a 2024 Toyota Tundra Limited 4x4 TRD Off-Road with 19,000 miles. So, I was driving down the interstate just now. Suddenly, the truck lost power, and the engine shut off. It said, "Steering Power Low," "Engine has shut off," and "Please pull over safely" on the dash."

"I was doing 80 miles per hour to get out of the fast lane to keep from being tailgated when this happened. I coasted to a stop and shut the truck down on the shoulder." 

"I tried to start it about 3 times, and it would crank over and run, but then shut off after about 5 seconds, and repeat the same thing on the dash. I called Toyota roadside assistance through the app." 

"They said it was gonna be 60 minutes to get a truck there. I sat there for about 10 minutes and felt like a semi was gonna plow me to my death. So I tried starting it one more time to try and move it further off the road, and it did not shut off." 

"I drove it back home, and it acted normally. Has anyone else had this happen? I feel like it's gonna run perfectly, and the dealer is gonna look at me like I'm crazy tomorrow. I love this truck, but now, I have zero confidence in it."

What Should Jerry Do Now?

He should NOT Drive the Truck Extensively Before Getting it Checked: 

• Even though it's acting normal now, a sudden complete loss of power on the interstate is a serious safety concern. Driving it regularly could put him and others at risk if the issue reoccurs. He should limit driving to only what's necessary (e.g., to the dealership).

Contact the Toyota Dealership IMMEDIATELY: This is the most crucial step.

• Explain Everything Clearly: Jerry needs to provide all the details he provided in his statement, including the exact messages on the dash, the speed he was going, the fact it shut off completely, and that it eventually restarted.
• Emphasize the Safety Concern: He should explicitly state that he's concerned about a repeat occurrence and the potential danger it poses, especially since it happened at highway speeds.
• Request a Thorough Diagnostic: He should insist on a comprehensive diagnostic scan for error codes, even if no warning lights are currently on. Modern vehicles store "pending" or "historic" codes even after an issue resolves itself. These codes are vital for pinpointing intermittent problems.
• Reference any Known Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) or Recalls: While the dealer will check, it's not a bad idea for Jerry to do a quick online search for "2024 Toyota Tundra engine shut off" or "steering power low" combined with "TSB" or "recall." Sometimes, manufacturers issue specific guidance for known issues.

Insist on Documentation from the Dealership:

• Get a copy of the work order detailing the complaint and any diagnostic steps taken.
• Get a printout of any error codes found, even if they claim they couldn't replicate the issue.
• If they can't find anything, ask them to document that they performed a comprehensive scan and found no active or historic codes related to the described incident. This documentation is essential if the issue recurs.
• Consider a Recording Device (Dash Cam with ODB-II Connection): For intermittent issues like this, some dash cams or aftermarket devices can connect to the ODB-II port and record vehicle data (like RPM, speed, and error codes) when an event occurs. This could provide invaluable data if it happens again.
• Monitor Online Forums/Groups: Continue to monitor Toyota Tundra owner forums or Facebook groups. While individual experiences aren't official diagnoses, they can sometimes highlight common issues that others have faced and how they were resolved.
• Understand Toyota's Warranty: As a 2024 model with 19k miles, the truck is well within its factory warranty. Jerry should not incur any costs for diagnosis or repair if it's a manufacturing defect.

Conclusion:

What happened to Jerry isn't just an inconvenience; it's a significant safety hazard.

Losing power at 75-80 mph on an interstate is extremely dangerous and could lead to a serious accident.

The "Steering Power Low" warning message suggests a potential issue beyond just the engine, possibly related to the electrical system that powers the electronic power steering.

Intermittent problems are often the hardest to diagnose, but are no less severe. The fact that it resolved itself once doesn't mean it won't happen again.

Jerry is right to be concerned about his confidence in his 2024 Toyota Tundra pickup. A vehicle should not spontaneously shut down while driving at highway speeds. He needs to advocate strongly for a thorough investigation by the dealership.

What Would You Do?

Have you experienced problems with your Toyota Tundra truck? What did you do to get it resolved? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Toyota Tundra story: My Toyota Tundra Suddenly Lost Power and I Need a New Engine, I’ve Been to the Dealer Countless Times, Now They Say My $60,000 Truck Is Only Worth $35K

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Jerry Garcia