MajorCommonEngine

Toyota Wish: 2ZR-FAE Valvematic Actuator Motor Failure

2ZR-FAE Valvematic Actuator Motor Failure is a common engine fault on the Toyota Wish on the 2009–2017 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $900 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 32 documented faults on the Toyota Wish.

Vehicle: Toyota Wish
Engine: 2ZR-FAE
Years: 2009–2017
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Toyota Wish as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Toyota Wish faults32 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The 2ZR-FAE engine uses Toyota's Valvematic system, which continuously varies intake valve lift via an electric actuator motor driving a worm-gear mechanism on the intake camshaft. The actuator motor brushes wear prematurely and the worm gear can strip under thermal cycling stress, causing the ECU to lose control authority over valve lift and log fault codes P3400 or P3401 (Valvematic system malfunction). Without correct valve lift control, the engine runs on a fixed fallback lift setting, significantly degrading fuel economy and throttle response and in severe cases causing rough idle or stalling.

What you would notice

Check engine light illuminated with codes P3400 or P3401
Noticeably reduced throttle response and fuel economy in fallback mode
Rough idle or hunting idle, particularly when cold

How to check it

Where to look. Top of engine, intake camshaft side, actuator mounted at the rear of the cylinder head

Scan for P3400/P3401 codes; with ignition on and engine cold, listen for actuator self-test click; inspect actuator wiring harness connector for corrosion or chafing; remove actuator and check worm gear teeth for stripping under magnification.

What it costs to put right

$900 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the check engine light ever been on, and have codes P3400 or P3401 been logged?”
“Has the Valvematic actuator or any camshaft components been replaced?”

Now check the Toyota Wish you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Toyota Wish buyer questions

Is 2zr-fae valvematic actuator motor failure serious on a Toyota Wish?

We rate it major and common on the Toyota Wish. The 2ZR-FAE engine uses Toyota's Valvematic system, which continuously varies intake valve lift via an electric actuator motor driving a worm-gear mechanism on the intake camshaft. The actuator motor brushes wear prematurely and the worm gear can strip under thermal cycling stress, causing the ECU to lose control authority over valve lift and log fault codes P3400 or P3401 (Valvematic system malfunction). Without correct valve lift control, the engine runs on a fixed fallback lift setting, significantly degrading fuel economy and throttle response and in severe cases causing rough idle or stalling.

How much does it cost to fix on a Toyota Wish?

$900 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Toyota Wish years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2009–2017 Toyota Wish. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.