Sufficient Power In the 2025 Gas Motor?

[ModernDay4Runner]

Here’s the deal with the hybrid…. 10 year warranty. If it breaks at anytime, you’re not stuck. It’s meant to supplement the engine, give you additional HP. So, if you’re at year 12, and it gives out, you have a gas powered vehicle if you choose to not fix it. Look into it if you’re on the fence. If I had known more about it at the time, I might have gone with the hybrid. However, with what I’m recently learning about the performance tuning, I’m glad I didn’t! It’s not that I feel it’s currently underpowered, I just want it to be bada$$! This is my first 4Runner, and my first gas powered with a turbo (owned a Dodge Ram with a Cummins diesel before). Don’t let anyone make you believe the performance tune voids your warranty either. If the OTT is professionally done, it won’t void your warranty.

Saw this on the interweb so....it must be 100% true and accurate

AI Overview


In general, installing an aftermarket sport tune on your 2025 Toyota 4Runner is
very likely to void your engine and powertrain warranty if the dealership can prove the tune was the cause of a failure. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects consumers from having their entire warranty canceled just for using aftermarket parts, but it does not protect you if the modification directly causes the damage.

What a dealership must prove
Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the burden of proof is on Toyota or the dealership, but an engine control unit (ECU) tune makes their case much stronger.

• The tune caused the failure: To deny a claim, the dealer must show that the aftermarket tune directly caused the engine or transmission problem you are claiming under warranty. If you have an engine issue, the link is much easier to prove than if you have a suspension or air conditioning problem.
• Evidence of the tune: When facing a serious engine or powertrain warranty claim, dealerships will scan your vehicle's ECU. They can check the flash counter, which records how many times the ECU has been reprogrammed. This can indicate that an aftermarket tune was installed, even if you flash it back to the stock software.

Risks of an aftermarket tune

• Engine and powertrain coverage: By modifying the engine control software, you are risking the most expensive components of your vehicle. The powertrain warranty (60 months/60,000 miles) is what protects you from catastrophic engine or transmission failures. An aftermarket tune is a direct modification to that system.
• "Undetectable" tunes: Some tuners may claim their software is "undetectable." However, with modern diagnostic tools, a manufacturer can almost always find a record of the non-factory software, especially during a high-cost warranty claim.
• Catastrophic failure: In the event of a total engine failure, you could be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars in repair costs. If you are not prepared to pay for a new engine out of pocket, an aftermarket tune is a significant risk.

Safe alternatives
If preserving your warranty is a priority, consider these options instead:

• Stick with genuine parts and software: The safest option is to avoid performance tunes and modifications that could affect the powertrain.
• Choose warranty-friendly upgrades: Cosmetic upgrades, audio systems, and even some suspension or bolt-on parts are less likely to cause a warranty issue, as long as they are not related to the component that fails.
• Use a Toyota-approved tuner: In some cases, a manufacturer may offer or approve a tune. One dealer even mentioned being told to get an OTT tune by a tech, though this is anecdotal. However, the official Toyota parts warranty outlines that unauthorized modifications can void coverage for the impacted system.

The decision to install an aftermarket sport tune is a trade-off between performance gains and financial risk. While it won't void your entire vehicle's warranty, it creates a high risk of voiding your engine and powertrain coverage.

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