Hook up a trailer, roll into the throttle, then watch the check engine light glow. That’s how Toyota 5.7 stories often start. The 3UR-FE V8 was built to shove 381 hp and 401 lb-ft through a half-ton frame without drama. Introduced for the 2007 Tundra push into Detroit territory, it powered trucks and SUVs through … Read more
Slams into second, then hesitates like it forgot what gear comes next. That’s how Expedition automatics start talking back. Since 2009, Ford cycled this SUV through two very different gearboxes, the 6R80 six-speed and the 10R80 ten-speed. The six-speed holds torque well and tows strong. Its weak spot hides in the molded lead frame, where … Read more
Flickers the coolant light. Ticks on cold start. Idle shakes at the next stoplight. That’s how Mazda CX-5 engine problems usually start. Mazda launched the CX-5 in 2012 with Skyactiv engines built around high compression and direct injection. Early 2.0L and 2.5L naturally aspirated engines earned a strong reliability record. Later changes added cylinder deactivation … Read more
Whines from the front cover. Oil level drops again. Cold start feels rough and uneven. That’s how Nissan’s 3.5 V6 begins to show its cracks. Since 2000, the VQ35 has powered everything from the 350Z and G35 to the Pathfinder, Maxima, and Murano. It won 14 Ward’s 10 Best Engine awards and built a reputation … Read more
Kicks into Drive, pauses, then slams the shift. That’s how many Impala transmissions start warning their owners. Between 2000 and 2020, Chevrolet used three very different transaxles in the Impala. Early models ran the hydraulic 4T65-E, known for harsh shifts once P1811 pressure mode triggers. Later cars switched to the six-speed 6T70 and 6T40, where … Read more
Overheats, cracks, then spits ceramic dust back into the engine. That’s how certain Kia catalytic converter recalls begin. Between 2012 and 2023, multiple Kia engines tangled emissions hardware with internal engine failure. The 1.6L Gamma GDI in 2012–2016 Souls ran hot enough to damage its close-coupled converter under SC176 / 19V120. Later 2.0L Nu MPI … Read more
Smoke rises from the engine bay after shutdown. The smell is hot plastic. That moment kicked off a long recall chain tied to BMW’s PCV heater. Three campaigns followed, 17V-683, 19V-273, and 22V-119. Investigators traced several engine-bay fires to a heated elbow in the crankcase vent system on N51 and N52 engines. Those straight-sixes powered … Read more
Coolant drops. Oil turns milky. Wrench light flashes mid-merge. That’s how some Ford 3.7 V6 stories begin. Under the hood sits Ford’s 3.7L Cyclone, built to replace the old 4.0 Cologne and 3.8 Essex with more power and less weight. Aluminum block, forged crank, 6-bolt mains, 10.5:1 compression. Ti-VCT swings intake cams up to 60 … Read more
Fires up smooth, then the temp needle twitches on a long hill. Sweet smell drifts from the grille. That’s how many Subaru 2.5 problems start. Since the mid 1990s, Subaru has run two main 2.5 families across Forester, Outback, Legacy, and Impreza. Early EJ25 engines crack head gaskets. Turbo EJ models crack ringlands or wipe … Read more
Fires up with a deep V8 rumble, then ticks at idle. Oil drops a quart between services. A P0430 lights up after a hard tow. That’s how Nissan’s 5.6 starts asking questions. Since 2004, Nissan has run two main versions of this engine, VK56DE and VK56VD. Early DE trucks fight catalytic reversion and timing chain … Read more