The Toyota Dealer Forgot To Install My 2024 Tundra’s Oil Cap After An Oil Change, Now, I’m 750 Miles From Home, and My Engine Seized Up

Here is Raymond's incredible Toyota Tundra story. 

"On Friday the 13th, my 2024 Toyota Tundra Platinum shut down on the highway. I had it towed to the Toyota dealer, and they told me it's likely engine failure." 

It sounds like another Toyota Tundra engine failure story; however, Raymond Guzman's 2024 Tundra owner's story is not just about Toyota quality but also about an inept Toyota dealer who made a grave mistake. It's a mistake that could have been easily avoided, but a Toyota technician was sloppy and overlooked a simple detail.  Now, it's costing Raymond weeks, if not months, of anguish.  

Raymond shares what happened to him on the Toyota Tundra Owner's Facebook page. He lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and drove to Texas with his wife and kids on a home shopping trip. 

"What would you do in my situation?" Raymond asks. 

"I drove my truck for a solid 1,500 miles since my oil change last weekend for a trip to Dallas, Texas, to look at new houses because we may be moving. After smelling a burning rubber smell this morning, I found my engine oil fill cap was never installed." 

"I called the dealership, and they said they would change the oil again and replace the filter as well as clean the engine bay of oil. My concern is that I drove through dust storms and rain during my trip." 

First, imagine a dust storm in central Texas.

Picture Raymond with his wife and kids driving through a dust storm in central Texas. It's blowing dirt everywhere inside the engine compartment, and some of it ends up in his oil filler tube. The dirt is getting into his engine's crankcase, and severe damage will inevitably occur to the engine. 

How much damage is the question. 

Raymond asks, "Is this a huge deal, and if so, what expectations should I have to give myself the assurance it's gonna be ok?"

The story unravels 

"Well, my 2024 Tundra Platinum had what's likely to be an engine failure on Friday the 13th. Getting off the highway, the truck just shut off and began to smell heavily like an electrical short. I'm curious about everyone's turnaround time from failure to driving it off the lot again?" 

"I'm super saddened by this, as well as concerned that I have to drive it back home almost 800 miles right away. Is there another "break-in" period, and is it advisable to drive that long (10 hours) to get it home?"

A new post and update from Raymond

Raymond has his Tundra towed to a local Texas Toyota dealer near where his truck broke down on the highway, but he has another problem. How does he get his family back home now, being 750 miles away and feeling utterly helpless?

An Update

He continues, "So here's an update on my 2024 Platinum that died on Friday the 13th. I took a rental (at my expense) that same day and drove home over 750 miles. I called the dealership on Monday (16th) and was told the engine was seized up and will wait on Toyota's recommendation for replacement." 

"The Toyota dealer explains that the actual failure (motor seizure) is unknown until they tear it apart to determine how it happened. I called Toyota Customer Care next and explained the situation. I'm 750 miles away from my truck and have no vehicle to get around town. I was told they would get a hold of me in 24 hours, as it had to get escalated to a supervisor, and that they would have them call me."

Raymond and his family drive back to Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Tuesday (17th) 

"I get a phone call from the dealership 750 miles away, and they tell me they have a short block and parts on order for my Tundra, and they should arrive by the 30th with roughly two days to install and replace my engine." 

Raymond never received a call back from Toyota customer care. 

"Today, I called customer care, and they told me, because there is no active recall on the 2024s, that I may be responsible for my rental as well as getting back to my vehicle 750 miles away."

 "UNBELIEVABLE! I'm told that this may or may not be the case, but I need to wait for a supervisor to call me. I explained I was told I would get that call yesterday. I was then told I should get a call by the 30th! I have a business to attend to!"

What About the First Toyota Dealer? 

It's essential to note that the first Toyota dealer in Las Cruces, New Mexico, who left the oil filler cap off Raymond's Tundra, has yet to be confronted about the engine seizing, as the truck is currently 750 miles away. Raymond is busy dealing with getting his truck fixed now that he's back home. 

Raymond has another dilemma. Unless the Toyota dealer in Texas documents the reason for the seized engine and confirms that the oil cap was left off after the oil change, he may not receive compensation for the rental car's round-trip ride back and forth from Dallas, Texas, to Las Cruces, New Mexico.  

Toyota will cover the seized engine because it's still under the truck's new vehicle warranty. However, he won't receive a new engine; instead, he will get a new short block, which means Toyota will reuse his cylinder heads and other external parts. 

Raymond Will Be Waiting for Quite a While to Get His Truck Fixed.  

Toyota dealers are currently overwhelmed, replacing nearly 100,000 engines in 2022 and 2023 Tundra trucks under warranty. Now, Raymond arrives with a seized engine in his 2024 Platinum, which is not part of the Tundra engine recall. 

He will be pushed to the back of the line, as many Tundra owners are waiting for new engines to be installed. 

Raymond won't be getting the attention he deserves from the Texas Toyota dealer. Why would they? They didn't change his oil and forgot to replace the oil filler cap. It's the other Toyota dealer's problem, and Raymond is 750 miles away.

Keep in mind that during the weeks that his truck is in Dallas, Texas, waiting to get fixed, he still needs a rental car, and it will be expensive. 

Raymond is Stuck Without His Truck and Isn't Getting Help From Toyota

"How am I supposed to go about this?" he says. "Is this normal? I have no idea how to move forward, and I cannot believe the horrible support I'm receiving from Toyota." 

What Should Raymond Do?

First, he needs to have the Toyota dealer in Texas document that the oil cap was left off and that the dirt entering the filler cap and the engine was the reason for the Tundra's engine seizing. 

Now that he's home, Raymond should visit the Toyota dealer who changed his oil, speak with the service manager, and present the documented paperwork he received from the dealer who performed the inspection. 

He should have the Las Cruces, New Mexico, Toyota dealer cover his travel expenses and rental car costs while he waits for the 2024 Tundra to be fixed. If the dealer refuses to pay for the rental car, Raymond will have to hire an attorney. The unfortunate situation could drag out for months. 

Conclusion:

All this was the result of a negligent act: simply not putting the oil filler cap back on Raymond's 2024 Toyota Tundra truck after the oil change. Now Raymond has possibly months of problems ahead of him. 

What Would You Do if You Were in Raynond's Situation? 

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 and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Raymond Guzman