Toyota has long earned a reputation as a manufacturer of some of the most reliable cars in the world. However, even the Japanese brand had some not-so-successful engines. Some suffered from excessive oil consumption, others from overheating or serious design flaws. The American portal SlashGear has named five Toyota engines that deserve particularly close attention on the used market. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
2AZ-FE: Oil Consumption Woes
One of Toyota's most famous problematic engines was produced since 2000 and installed in Camry, RAV4, Highlander, and other models. The main issue with early versions was a flawed piston ring design. As a result, the engine began to consume oil actively and could also suffer from coolant leaks and overheating. The situation was aggravated by an aluminum cylinder block that was practically unsuitable for major repairs.
In 2007, Toyota eliminated most of the shortcomings, so later examples are considered significantly more reliable.
1ZZ-FE: Corolla and Celica's Problem
This engine is well known to owners of early 2000s Corolla, Avensis, Celica, Matrix, and RAV4. Like the 2AZ-FE, the engine was prone to increased oil consumption due to problematic piston rings. Additionally, owners often complained of strong vibrations, accelerated wear of engine mounts, and the risk of cylinder damage during prolonged operation without monitoring oil levels.
V35A-FTS: Modern Twin-Turbo Engine
The modern twin-turbo engine appeared in 2017 and is installed in Land Cruiser 300, Lexus LX 600, Tundra, and Sequoia. Despite its high power, the engine has been part of a major service campaign. Toyota discovered that metal particles could enter the engine during production, potentially disrupting crankshaft lubrication and leading to serious failure.
Most vehicles are already undergoing recall measures, but when purchasing, it is worth ensuring that all necessary work has been completed.
7M-GTE: Supra A70's Weak Spot
The legendary Supra A70 also did not escape problems. The turbocharged inline-six engine from the late 1980s was notorious for a weak head gasket. Its failure caused oil to mix with coolant, often resulting in costly engine repairs.
1MZ-FE: Overheating in Camry and Lexus ES 300
This engine was installed in Camry, Windom, and Lexus ES 300 in the first half of the 1990s. Its main drawbacks are a weak cooling system and a flawed head gasket design. Overheating led to cylinder head damage, and wear of connecting rod bearings and other internal parts often shortened engine life.
Should You Avoid These Engines?
No. Most of the listed units have long been studied by specialists, and many design flaws have been eliminated by the manufacturer in later versions. Nevertheless, when buying a used car, these engines require particularly thorough diagnostics and verification of service history.
Earlier, Kursiv Avto talked about turbo engines that should be carefully checked before purchase.