A Toyota mechanic has some harsh words for the truck he bought with his own money. Would he still buy from the brand? That depends on which Toyota is up for sale.
In a YouTube video, Ahmed, known as The Car Care Nut, takes on doubts about Toyota quality in 2026. He runs TCCN Automotive in Homer Glen, Illinois. Before that, he spent more than 15 years at a Toyota dealership.
For him, the reason to pay more for a Toyota has always been simple. Buyers expect fewer big repair bills as the miles add up. Lose that payoff, he argues, and the higher price gets much harder to defend.
His strongest praise goes to the brand’s hybrids, based on what comes through his shop. But first, he turns to his Tundra. Engine trouble has shaken trust in the truck he chose to buy.
A Tough Sell
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“I love it, but it’s a disaster,” Ahmed says of his Tundra. To him, the newer truck drives far better than the old one. Then he gets to the faults that followed its launch.
Engine failures are his chief concern. He points to owners who need a truck to earn a living. A warranty may cover the fix, but work can stop while the truck sits in the shop.
Those engine fears have a basis in Toyota’s own recalls. In May 2026, Toyota recalled about 44,000 U.S. non-hybrid 2024 Tundras. Debris may have been left inside their engines when they were built. It can cause damage, rough running, or a loss of power while driving.
Toyota said added steps to clear debris had not fully solved the problem in those engines. Later engines used a revised main bearing. That part was designed to better withstand debris that might remain.
Nor has the recall history been limited to the pickup. A November 2025 recall covered some Lexus GX and LX SUVs as well as Tundras.
Still In Favor
Ahmed has a different view of Toyota’s hybrid cars based on his shop work. He describes ones from the past five years arriving with more than 200,000 miles. Their needs, he says, often come down to fluids, filters, and sometimes brakes.
Those visits shape his support for the Corolla Hybrid and Camry Hybrid. He also points to the Sienna and Crown Signia. In his view, the truck’s troubles have drowned out what those cars offer.
Even then, he draws a line between older and newer cars. He recalls plenty of faults with the third-generation Prius. And the newest hybrid system needs more time before he can judge how well it holds up.
Buying one raises another issue in his account: the wait. He describes shoppers being asked to leave a deposit and wait months. That can be a hard choice for a family whose only car has just died.
As for his own pickup, Ahmed hopes to keep it for years without trouble. Despite his harsh words, he closes with his Tundra’s record at the time of the video: “so far so good.”