2025 Toyota Tundra Lemon Law Case Study
A Brand-New Toyota Tundra That Needed a New Engine Before Its First Oil Change
Our client leased a brand-new 2025 Toyota Tundra from Toyota of North Dakota on April 22, 2025, with just 4 miles on the odometer. Within weeks, the check engine light illuminated along with a parking brake malfunction warning — signaling something seriously wrong with the powertrain.
Over the next several months, the vehicle spent 135 cumulative days in the shop — more than four and a half months — for a persistent cylinder 6 misfire that ultimately required Toyota to recommend a complete short block replacement. The engine's core components — including injectors, gaskets, spark plugs, valves, and the oil filter — all needed replacement at just 1,900 miles.
What Went Wrong
- Multiple warning lights within weeks of delivery: The parking brake malfunction light and check engine light activated less than a month after leasing — at just 1,900 miles on a brand-new truck
- Cylinder 6 misfire (DTC P030600): Diagnosis revealed a short circuit and persistent misfire in cylinder 6, initially attributed to a faulty spark plug
- Initial repair failed: Despite replacing the spark plug, the misfire returned immediately — along with check engine, traction control, and additional warning lights
- Engine short block replacement required: Toyota determined the misfire was caused by bearing failure in the output carrier assembly that damaged the planetary set, requiring replacement of the short block plus injectors, gaskets, valves, and multiple internal components
135 Days in the Shop for a Truck With 1,900 Miles
Visit 1 — May 20–22, 2025 (3 days in shop)
- Parking brake malfunction light and check engine light were on
- Diagnosis revealed a short circuit and DTC P030600 — misfire on cylinder 6
- Coil packs were swapped for testing; faulty spark plug identified
- Spark plug replaced (part #90919-01295) and multi-point inspection completed
- Test drive appeared normal — vehicle returned to customer
Visit 2 — June 2 – October 12, 2025 (132 days in shop)
- Vehicle returned with check engine, traction control, and additional warning lights
- Continued misfire on cylinder 6 confirmed — the spark plug replacement did not resolve the root cause
- Toyota recommended replacing the short block — the lower half of the engine
- Parts listed for replacement: injectors, gaskets, spark plugs, valves, and oil filter
- Vehicle remained at the dealership for over four months awaiting parts and repair
Why This Toyota Tundra Qualified as a Lemon in North Dakota
When a brand-new truck requires an engine short block replacement at 1,900 miles and spends 135 days in the shop, the lemon law case is exceptionally strong. This case clearly exceeded North Dakota's statutory thresholds.
- North Dakota's 15-day threshold exceeded by 9x: Under North Dakota Century Code § 51-07-10.1, a vehicle qualifies as a lemon if it has been out of service for 15 or more cumulative business days. This Tundra was out of service for 135 days — nine times the statutory minimum
- Substantial impairment of use: A truck that spends more time in the shop than on the road clearly has its use substantially impaired. The owner was without their vehicle for over four and a half months
- Catastrophic defect at minimal mileage: Needing a short block replacement — essentially a new engine core — at just 1,900 miles indicates a fundamental manufacturing defect, not normal wear
- Recurring same defect: The cylinder 6 misfire persisted across both repair visits. The initial spark plug replacement was merely a symptom fix — the underlying engine defect required far more extensive repair
- Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: In addition to North Dakota's state lemon law, the federal warranty act provided a strong complementary legal path given the manufacturer's inability to repair the defect in a reasonable time
How Easy Lemon Fought for Our Client's Rights
Free Case Evaluation
We reviewed the complete repair history, the lease agreement, and the diagnostic records showing the persistent cylinder 6 misfire and the manufacturer's recommendation for a short block replacement.
Documentation & Case Building
Our team compiled both repair orders documenting the progression from a "simple" spark plug replacement to a full short block engine replacement. We calculated the 135 cumulative days out of service — far exceeding North Dakota's 15-day threshold.
Demand to Toyota Motor North America
We filed a formal demand against Toyota citing both North Dakota's lemon law (§ 51-07-10.1) and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act — documenting the catastrophic engine defect, the failed initial repair, and 135 days without the vehicle.
Resolution Achieved
Easy Lemon successfully resolved this case on behalf of our client. The specific terms are confidential, but the outcome reflected the severity of the engine defect and the extraordinary time the vehicle spent in the shop.
Case Successfully Resolved
Key Case Facts
- Vehicle: 2025 Toyota Tundra
- Leased: April 22, 2025, from Toyota of North Dakota
- Status at lease: Brand new (4 miles on odometer)
- Current mileage: 1,900 miles
- Primary defect: Persistent cylinder 6 misfire requiring short block engine replacement
- Days out of service: 135 cumulative days
- Repair visits: 2
- Manufacturer: Toyota Motor North America
Results may vary. Prior outcomes do not guarantee a similar result. Each case is unique and depends on its specific facts and applicable law. Attorney advertising. Easy Lemon® by RockPoint Law P.C.
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Attorney on Record
Steven Nassi, Esq.
Managing Partner — Easy Lemon by RockPoint Law P.C.
Licensed attorney specializing exclusively in lemon law across all 50 states. Steven leads the Easy Lemon legal team and has overseen thousands of successful lemon law claims against major manufacturers including Toyota, General Motors, Ford, Stellantis, and more.
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