2023 Toyota GR86: engine failure

Filed Aug 21, 2026 · Engine · GA

Vehicle experienced catastrophic engine failure while driving at 45mph. Inspection results from Toyota said the issue was a rod failure due to a spun bearing no cause ever determined by Toyota. Engine failure like this while in operation could lead to serious injury or death under the right circumstances. No engine lights to indicate prior problem and vehicle was serviced less than a month before incident occurred. Vehicle was under warranty but Toyota refused to honor the warranty. Oil starvation is the number one cause of spun bearing leading to engine failure Toyota didn't even consider this as a potential cause because of the implication. There are countless stories from GR86 and BRZ owners that have experienced the same engine failure. The RTV sealant Toyota is using to seal the oil pans is being over applied at production and leaking into the pan getting sucked into the oil pickup and causing the oil starvation that is destroying the engines. There needs to be a recall on all GR86 models that had RTV used to seal the pans and have them fitted with a proper gasket to eliminate this issue.

Filed Aug 14, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · FL

While driving on the highway at approximately 80–90 mph, the vehicle experienced an unexpected RPM increase as I came off the accelerator, an engine-misfire warning, sudden loss of power, and engine shutdown. I immediately pulled over. Smoke came from the engine compartment, engine oil had been expelled throughout the engine bay, and oil was leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle became completely inoperable, creating a serious safety risk at highway speed. An independent Toyota Master Technician later documented catastrophic internal failure involving Cylinder No. 2. The piston and connecting-rod assembly were destroyed, the connecting rod contacted the engine block, a hole was present through the short block, extensive metal debris was found in the oil pan, piston material was crushed into the oil pan, an internal valvetrain component was also found there, and the engine was seized, limiting any teardown. The technician also observed material consistent with factory-applied FIPG/RTV sealant in the oil-pickup area and separate sealant-like material protruding into a head-gasket passage where it should not have been present. He stated that the location was consistent with excess sealant being applied during assembly and squeezed inward, supporting the possibility of a manufacturing-related defect. He stated that proper evaluation should have included measuring the amount of sealant and any obstruction, inspecting the oil pump, filter, bearings, oil-pan debris, and evaluating for restricted oil flow. Those measurements and results were not provided by the dealership or Toyota. Instead, I had to call law enforcement to receive a minimal repair order and my car at no cost from the dealership 8 months later. I am reporting this because excess factory sealant intruding into an oil-related or head-gasket passage could potentially restrict lubrication and create a serious safety concern if similar conditions exist in other vehicles, which have also been documented.

Filed Aug 11, 2026 · Engine · FL

Engine blew around May, what caused this issue would be unknown even though the dealership said it was excessive RTV on the oil pan, there was no RTV on the oil pan (i have a picture). I was driving on the highway and slowing down to take my exit, it happened around 25mph, car got stuck on 3rd gear if im not mistaken (its an automatic transmission by the way). Ended up with 3 holes in the engine block, a missing valve, oil all over the engine bay which caused the car to release white smoke through exhaust and hood.

Filed Jul 15, 2026 · Engine · AZ

I was driving on US Hwy 89 in Arizona when the engine lost power at 60mph and was unable to restart after pulling over to the shoulder of the highway. There were no warning lights or indicators whatsoever. When the vehicle came to a stop, the entire dashboard lit up and the engine cut out while the vehicle was still on. Mechanic diagnostic found a thrown bearing and total engine failure due to low oil. Refused warranty on account of taking the vehicle to an oil change outside the dealership.

Filed Jun 15, 2026 · Engine · 35,053 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota GR86. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, the engine blew up, causing the vehicle to stall, and there was a significant amount of smoke coming from underneath the hood. The message "Engine Misfire" was displayed. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that engine oil had leaked out and spread underneath the hood, and the oil was leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it remained for 8 months, and the contact was informed that there was sludge in the oil due to lack of maintenance. The dealer sent diagnostic pictures to an unauthorized party, who forwarded the pictures to the contact. However, the contact stated that the engine oil color was amber, and there was no sludge. The contacted stated that the diagnostic pictures also displayed fragments of a piston and a lifter in the oil pan. The contact contacted the Police, who arrived at the dealer with the contact and forced the dealer to release the vehicle with the service reports. The contact stated that the dealer had previously refused to disclose the diagnostic information. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was returned to the owner the same month the warranty had expired. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied the warranty coverage. The failure mileage was 35,053.

Filed Jun 12, 2025 · Engine · 33,000 miles · FL

The contact owned a 2023 Toyota GR86 Sport vehicle. The contact stated that while driving 139 MPH for a couple of minutes, the vehicle stalled. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was covered under warranty; however, the dealer informed the contact that the repair could not be covered under warranty because the engine failure occurred due to customer abuse. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with a maximum speed of 140 MPH. The contact was charged a repair fee, and the vehicle was traded for another vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.