Toyota Updates Its Huge Fuel Pump Recall - Here's The Fix For Your Vehicle

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The massive fuel pump recall Toyota has underway now has a fix. Here's what to expect if you own a Lexus LS 500, LC 500, RC 350, RC 300, GS 350, IS 300, ES 350, LX 570, GX 460, RX 350, NX 300, RX 350L or a Toyota 4Runner, Camry, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, and Tundra, Avalon, or Corolla.

Toyota follows the topics at Torque News and one recently caught their eye. Our report on the massive fuel pump recall affecting nearly all Toyota and Lexus models. In our report, we repeated the information that we had found on a Toyota media page, which is now changed. Toyota does have a fix for the fuel pump recall.

UPDATED! How 2 Avoidable Defects Destroyed the Toyota RAV4's Reliability Rating

UPDATED! See the New Update To This Recall Including Some Solutions.

Read The Original Story Here: Toyota's Latest Massive Fuel Pump Recall Would Not Have Happened Were Its Cars Electric

Toyota Fuel Pump Recall
The recall affects nearly 2 million Toyota and Lexus brand vehicles, nearly as many as the company sells in America in a year. The models included in this huge recall are as follows:
2013-2015 Model Year Lexus LS 460;
2013-2014 Model Year Lexus GS 350;
2014 Model Year Toyota FJ Cruiser, Lexus IS-F;
2014-2015 Model Year Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser; Lexus GX 460, IS 350, LX 570;
2015 Model Year Lexus NX 200t, RC 350;
2017 Model Year Lexus IS 200t, RC 200t;
2017-2019 Model Year Toyota Sienna; Lexus RX 350;
2018 Model Year Lexus GS 300;
2018-2019 Model Year Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra; Lexus ES 350, GS 350, IS 300, IS 350, LC 500, LC 500h, LS 500, LS 500h, RC 300, RC 350, RX 350L.

Check Your Vehicle For the Recall Here
If you want to check your specific vehicle to see if it is included in the recall, simply input your vehicle identification number (VIN) here. Toyota will reach out to you by snail mail to alert you if they can find you. That is all automakers are required to do by law. Toyota says that some owners won't be notified until as late as May. Why wait? This is a problem Toyota says can, "...result in a vehicle stall, and the vehicle may be unable to be restarted. If a vehicle stall occurs while driving at higher speeds, this could increase the risk of a crash."

Toyota Ful Pump Recall Update and Fix
The new update is that Toyota has a fix for the problem. It's not going to be easy for Toyota or customers. This isn't just a software update or simple adjustment like many recalls. Rather, Toyota says, "For all involved vehicles, Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the involved fuel pump with an improved one..." That sounds simple, but the fuel pump in your Toyota or Lexus lives inside your gas tank. To get at it, the mechanic may be in for a half-day's work. We checked out YourMechanic.com and found that a fuel pump replacement can take as long as four hours. So, you are not going to be waiting for this job to be completed.

Related Story: Will This Defect Impact Your Toyota's Resale Value? Experts Weigh In

Will Toyota Provide You With A Loaner Vehicle?
Toyota's update on the fuel pump recall did not mention if owners would be provided a loaner vehicle while theirs in service. We suggest phoning your Toyota or Lexus dealer to ask if a loaner will be made available.

Will This Recall Cost The Owner Money?
Other than your lost time bringing the vehicle in for the recall and then returning to pick the vehicle up again, there will be no cost to owners for this recall.

Have you had your Toyota or Lexus in for this recall? If so, tell us in the comments below how long the total job took. Your experience may help a fellow owner plan ahead.

John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John's focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of a team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of battery thermal control designer. For 20 years he applied his engineering and sales talents in the high tech world and published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin.

Submitted by RickH (not verified) on March 10, 2020 - 3:28PM

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Been researching buying a 2018/2019 Highlander from Hertz/Avis car sales. Have noticed that almost all of the Highlanders have disappeared from their online listings.

Was thinking that this 'ghosting' of Highlanders on their sites might be related to the fuel pump recall - maybe they are taking the Highlanders off-line until they are fixed?

Whatcha think?

Rental companies like Hertz/Avis/Enterprise are not allowed to sell/rent vehicles with safety recalls. FTC law. However, car dealerships are not required to follow the same law due to loopholes and will not sit used cars until repaired. So they tend to sell/dump the units as fast as they can, to get the asset off their books. You can spot these as the price is almost too good to be true or below market value. They protect themselves by showing you the CarFax (or similar) and have you sign the document to presumably release them of liability. Do your research on any vehicle your are purchasing.

I’m an more that upset. Planning a road tri for 2 1/2 months to visit family. They better supply me with a car. I’m afraid to drive on interstate with it. I’ve had Toyota’s all my life and lived them. Had an issue with a 2013 that never got resolved. Will really think if I ever want to buy Toyota’s again

Submitted by Katina Byrd (not verified) on March 11, 2020 - 8:29PM

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After my IS 300 was towed into Lexus of Orange Park in North Florida to have the fuel pump system replaced, I received a loaner and the repair took 3 days because they drove it after the repair had been done. No charge. This was done in Jan 2020.

My toyota tacoma has been a problem since day one and without going into details i have called DeLuca Toyota three
times and keep getting the run around. They keep telling me they dont have the fuel pump resolved
but that is contrary to what i have heard. This truck has stalled on me twice and the steering wheel has locked up a few times having to wait about 10 minutes until i could start it plus there is no keyhole for the passenger door and Deluca never gave me a keyless entry clip so there is no way to get into the passenger side if there was a problem with the driver door. I had to buy an aftermarket keyless entry as Deluca wanted to charge me $350.! Very frustrating!

Submitted by Moody (not verified) on April 23, 2020 - 10:53AM

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If your repair was completed (1-2020) BEFORE the fuel pump fix was developed.... Did the repair shop swap the fuel pump out with stock parts or did they "redesign" a new fuel pump for you?

Submitted by Ricardo Fernandez (not verified) on April 23, 2020 - 9:51PM

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Still waiting to take my 2019 tacoma sr5 for the fuel pump recall. Cant believe that it is taking so long for these toyota technicians to find the replacement part.

Same here I believe they used the replacements on new cars and those of us who already own a Toyota can just wait. This is the attitude infecting all manufacturers today.

Bought my new 2019 Sienna 2 years ago and has had bad issues supposedly with the pump. I had been to the shop 5 times complaining and leaving it with them 2-3 days with them finally saying there is no issue. Then it broke down and they had to fix it by replacing the fuel pump. 2 months later the recall came out and so they replaced it again. Still runs horrible. I'm consulting with an attorney now who has a few cases of the same issue "after" the recall part was installed. Bad news, but the issue is beyond the fuel pump. Worse yet is how it affects the engine. Mine has run for 36,000 miles missing, sputtering, and stalling. Not good on the engine. Toyota could care a less. I opened a case with Toyota, they investigated and closed the case saying its just how their vehicles run! Sharing because I feel for anyone having this issue and we all need answers!

Less than a week ago (7/1/21) Toyota completed the fuel pump recall on my 2019 Tundra (44K mikes). Never had a problem prior. Now I get a suble stutter ever 15/20 seconds at idle.

Submitted by willee Lewis (not verified) on April 26, 2020 - 11:02AM

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I think you are dead wrong, This the low pressure pump which is in the engine compartment. It is a second pump returning unspent fuel to the tank.

Then if this us the problem that you suspect, have you reported it to DOT? So why is Toyota repacking the fuel pump? Is this a band aide or do they not know what they are talking about or are they buying time?
Thanks
Steve

So I had my FUEL PUMP recall on my 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD. After the replacement my fuel economy went down by 4 miles per gallon.
I used to get 18-20 miles per gallon and now get 14-16 mpg.
Is anyone else having this problem.

I had something similar to me happen. I replaced my fuel pump and the gas mileage significantly dropped off. I thought it may have been winter gas, but I don't think that's the case. Did you end up finding out anything?

It’s happening to me now. I just had the recall pump swap at my 55,000 mile checkup. I’m seeing the same drop in fuel economy. I had just put on an aftermarket intake and exhaust and I was getting 18-21mpg and now it’s down around 16

Same mileage problem here. My 2018 Highlander consistently got 24.5 to 26 MPG before the fuel-pump recall in September 2020. Now I am lucky to 20.5 to 21 MPG. Of course the dealership service writer disavowed any knowledge of this issue.

Same problem here
My gas mileage is off 8 to 10 miles per gallon
Toyota dealer will not do anything about it
They said they have no way of checking this issue out
They blamed it on bad gas
I told them every gas center doesn’t have bad gas
Not from Kentucky all the way to Tennessee
NO !

Mine was changed on Nov 10th and I'm having the same problem, can't get it past 18mpg even using cruise control or on the interstate. I took it to the dealership and they're saying everything checks out. I showed them these comments as well as the Top 6 reasons for a decrease in MPG's, #5 being a faulty fuel pump. They are filing a report with the corporate office. I would suggest anyone having this issue to take it to the dealership and have a report filed.

2018 toyota Tacoma 4 cylinder, 30,000 miles same problem here. After fuel pump replaced under recall my milage dropped at least 4 miles per gallon. I was not having any fuel issues before replacement. Kinda wish now I had avoided this recall.

Yes, I down 7 MPG and about 100 MPG to a tank. Had mine replaced in late May. Have hesitation upon acceleration as well. Seems as if there is a disconnect from throttle to engine or engine takes a large gasp of air before responding. RPMs jump ridiculously high. Car was perfect before replacement. 2018 Camry, bought new. Just hit 50000 yesterday.

WRONG! The low pressure fuel pump is not directly related to the fuel injectors (which would have the reported failure symptoms) should it fail. My 2020 Sienna has died completely and continues to stumble while pulling away from a full stop. It seems to happen more frequently when the engine is not completely warmed up.

Submitted by Joseph Culver (not verified) on April 28, 2020 - 11:29AM

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My dealer service scheduler says the pump is in the fuel tank and they have not received any of the new pumps yet. They say they will call me when they have the parts. I'll keep checking with them.

Submitted by Susan Rogers (not verified) on May 5, 2020 - 3:50PM

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I called Toyota Corporate to find out when my fuel pump will be replaced on my 2019 Toyota Tacoma Limited. Corporate really had no information regarding the recall. They asked where I bought it and I told them Bud Clary Toyota in Union Gap, WA. Corporate said they would contact them. The next day Scott - Toyota Service Director at Bud Clary called. He said he just got a email from Toyota Corporate and the fuel pump for my Toyota Tacoma Limited would not be in until September 2020 or later. If I didn't feel safe driving my Tacoma, Bud Clary would see that I get a rental from Enterprise. Enterprise Car Rental is closed due to the pandemic so until it opens, I will have to take a chance on my Tacoma. I am so disappointed and really feel Toyota dropped the ball. They cut corners and put in a second rate fuel pump to save money. In the meantime, we are all stuck. I heard there is a 'Class Action Lawsuit' in place concerning all the recalled fuel pumps. I believe my Tacoma has dropped in value with this pending issue.

Just wanted to post a warning.
My 2019 Highlander shut down completely on the road yesterday. I had to have it towed to the Toyota dealership closest to me at the time.
A little back story, the first time I took my car in (about 1 year ago) for regular recommended maintenance, I had experienced a kind of jerking/hesitation upon acceleration. Of course the dealer service department could not get the problem to happen with them. Said they put noted the problem in case there were further issues. Now fast forward to this year. I moved in mid December. I did not receive a recall notice, maybe due to the dealer not having my current address, but the MVD does...weird but whatever. I drove back to Tucson from Phoenix about a week and a half ago. No issues until I was on city streets. I pulled into a business because my “followers” got stuck at a red light. I pulled out a bit before them to lead the way. Again, the jerking/hesitation. I was ready for regular maintenance again, so took my vehicle in a few days later. Told them about the issues I had. They told me about the recall. Said they did not have the part yet. Also said if they did replace the fuel pump now, they’d just have to bring me back when they get the new part and replace it again. Told me to keep track of details it the problem occurred again. Then sent me (and my children who were with me) on my way. So 4 days later, 105 degrees outside, turn on my vehicle to leave an appointment, same jerking/hesitation. But this time it does not resolve itself. Luckily I was alone and just barely made it into a parking lot before my engine shut down. It was towed to a Toyota dealership I don’t normally go to. I was told that they will be replacing the fuel pump now and when the new part comes in, they will have me bring it back to replace it again.
Now, why was that not done at the other Toyota dealership??!! I know they get paid from Toyota for all warranty and recall work. So it quite puzzling that they would pass up at least 2 4 hour jobs. Not to mention me and my family’s safety was at risk. I never post anything (have never signed up for any social media account even) nor do I normally complain to business. But I felt this time it was important and warranted.
Stay safe out there and good luck!