SAN ANTONIO, May 30 (UPI) -- Some new Toyota Tundra pickup trucks have a defect that has caused at least 20 engines to fail, the Japanese automaker says.
Toyota Motor Corp. said a camshaft flaw in some 5.7-liter V-8 Tundra engines caused the engine component to crack and fail.
The flaw was due to a manufacturing defect by a subcontractor, Toyota said. Toyota would not identify the subcontractor but said it has fixed the defect.
All affected engines are being replaced at no charge.
Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong told USA Today he did not know how many engines were made and installed before the flaw was detected. But he said the problem was found early and Toyota did not issue a recall.
Tundra is one of the automaker's most important launches in years as it seeks to break Detroit's lock on the full-size pickup market.
"I'm sure there are people agonizing over this in Toyota," said Jeffrey Liker, a University of Michigan professor and author of "Toyota Talent." "Toyota prides itself on zero defects."
