Toyota Repair: 2010 Toyota

Question
QUESTION: I have a 2010 tundra with 102,000 miles I purchased new.  It is a double cab, 5.7 V8, 8' box, and 4x4.  I have had my local dealer service the truck as recommended.  I have had oil changes about every 5000-7000 miles.  I had both differentials oil changed, transfer case oil changed at 89000 miles. The truck still rides and drives like the day I got it new until the other day...when a value broke and fell on to the piston seizing the engine.  I had had a service engine light on because I was due for a oil change and also a light (I think it was orange).  I was driving down the road making a corner at about 20mph and the truck just died cold-and the weather was cold-about -5 below zero. The dealer took the engine apart enough to see the broken value and when we started talking about repairing it I was floored at the cost I was quoted.  The value on the truck is about 16K-18K and I was quoted a cost of a new long block at 18K plus about $2500 for the labor.  This is my first Toyota but the reason I bought it was I was looking for better quality even if the up front cost were higher.  To me this sounds like a TV you buy at Walmart-if something goes wrong with it do you throw it out because the parts and repairs are more than the truck is worth?!  The dealer recommended a used long block from a salvage yard at a cost of 5k-7k plus the labor.  The used engine comes with a 12 month warranty but all labor/etc is my expense if there is a problem. The dealer has contacted the local Toyota rep to see if Toyota will help me with some of the cost but we haven't heard anything back at this point.  What would you do, am I out of line to expect help with this even if the warranty is expired?  I have driven thousands of miles with chevys and fords with warning lights on but never had something like this happen. If they don't help me this will be my last Toyota!

ANSWER: hello, at this point you will need to see if Toyota is willing to absorb some of the cost, this is a very unusual circumstance, there is no way you should have an engine failure at this mileage and the year model, if you have records of maintenance there is a good chance that Toyota will assist. The powertrain warranty is 5 years/60,000 miles, the plus side is that you are still within the time period, the negative is that it is over the mileage limit, I completely agree with you and you are not being unreasonable to expect some assistance from the factory, I think you have a very good case.

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QUESTION: Thanks for getting back to me! What percentage would you expect Toyota to offer me?  Do you have any idea what might have caused the problem at this mileage? Thanks Again

Answer
I can't really answer either question, you'll have to wait to hear from Toyota. They may offer to replace the engine and you pay for the labor only, this happens sometimes depending on circumstances, leep in mind that there is data in the computer stored at the time the failure occured and the check engine light was triggered, this will include engine Rpm and road speed, throttle opening etc. as long as there were no unusual circumstances at the time of failure of the valve then it would seem that the valve was defective from the factory.