Buzzy Vibration at certain RPM's..read before buying!

I empathize with those with the issue. I really do. But some folks are so OCD that it makes it difficult to weed out those with genuine problems and those who are just super picky about everything.

I guess what i'm really trying to say is I don't think this issue as as widespread and affects as many trucks as many is led to believe.

 

Yeah I guess you just have to drive one with the issue to really experience it. Everything is fine until you are on the gas and hit 2100 to 2400 RPM. Outside of that range or taking your foot off the gas you just feel road noise and an ever so slight vibration from the engine. Hit 2100-2400 while applying throttle and moving though and it is unmistakeable. This vibration hasn't been normal in any car or truck I have ever driven in and I don't expect this to be one of the new intended "features."

 

Top 3 complaints (of 18 complaints filed):
1. transmission
2. brakes
3. windshield cracks
(only one complaint was about the mysterious vibrations)

It does make me wonder why more people don't complain about this issue online, on established websites that offer owner reviews and complaints to consumers- where it matters. I happened across TacomaWorld while researching the new Tacoma, and I'm glad I did because I won't buy a 2016 3rd Gen. (I'll wait for the 2017's and see what happens). But, MOST people wouldn't be bothered with this site until after becoming a proud new owner.

 

That's funny only one complaint about vibrations. I complained and also filled out an official survey expressing the issue. I think they are sweeping this under the rug.

 

I agree. I can imagine some corporate games where somebody's bonus and/or position maybe dependent on issues not bubbling up. Particularly this is an US subsidiary of a Japanese company. I worked in one and a distrust between the US branch and the Japanese HQ was deep. I think is endemic in these companies given cultural differences.

 

Explains why the dealer I took mine to to have the it looked at pulled around a brand new Tacoma off their lot and had me drive it. IT HAD THE SAME ISSUE!!!! It was the only Tacoma they had in stock! Stick the OCD idea up your ass! I bought a truck that stickered for $40,993... Forgive me if I'm a little picky!

 

Good question. I will have to let you know on her name.

 

You must be a kid. Good luck with your truck. I love mine !

 

I am a '50 yr old' kid......

 

Has anybody else looked at their driveline operating angles?

Reference: http://www2.dana.com/pdf/J3311-1-HVTSS.PDF

Also, a poster above somewhere said he is dealing with out of spec angles.

I only have a crappy angle measure ($10 special from Home Depot), but I may go get a digital one. I checked both drive shafts (rear) and they were at 6.5-7 degrees down, while the transmission and differential may have only been at 1-1.5 degrees down (but it was hard for me to get measurements on those so I need a better instrument). Seems there is a chance it could violate the 3 degree recommendation from Dana Spicer.

Looked around for grounded out exhaust but couldn't find anything, everything looks solid including the heat blankets, other brackets, etc.

 

Hey stan23, this posting is for people that are experiencing this issue I'm glad your truck does not have it so please move on to other things. Have a little sympathy for people.

 

If 100,000 homes are built a year by one contractor and 100 of those houses have a leaking roof does this mean that those people are picky or that their problems are not legitimate...

 

I put him on ignore. That helps. Then you only see when people quote him. I didn't see the need for the ignore function until we got a few people polluting the thread a little while back.

 

Well, I officially think we are SOL unless we push REAL hard or solve it on our own. The more I research this, the more I find this happening on multiple toyota models for years in the past. SAME scenario. It is like reading this thread but with a different model inserted (tundra, 4runner, etc.).

See this from 2007 for example, 4runner, taken from the Edmunds forum (I'm on phone and can't extract link properly):

"Well, some of you are missing the point on my problem. The vibration is not a wheel issue, as in out of balance, etc. The vibration is better described as a resonant vibration that is sensitive to the engine RPM both under load and while coasting. The vibration can be felt ONLY in the steering wheel. The "Independent Arbitrator" who rode in the vehicle would not touch the steering wheel to feel the vibration during our Lemon Law hearing. If one were to describe the problem as a buzzing in the steering wheel, then it might make more sense. I encourage anyone who has a 4 Runner to check this out because I drove two other vehicles, a 4 x 2 with a V6 engine and a 4 x 4 with the V8 like mine. The 'buzzing' is so bad that on a long trip, my hands go numb from holding to the buzzing wheel. There is no noise noticeable and the buzzing cannot be felt anywhere but the steering wheel.
I hope we can encourage Toyota to recall these vehicles since they know of the problem as a 'characteristic of that model'."

 

I've seen those complaints about other Toyota models here and there. However, what I notice is that they usually crop up here and there on older models. Then they dwindle and disappear. I've driven 4Runners and Tundras recently and didn't find the problem. That leads me to believe they probably engineer the problem out on future models. Whether they sweep back and fix those on the street probably depends on the complaint volume for that year. Of course, it does make you wonder why they can't heed past engineering lessons and ensure it never surfaces again.

Last week I took my truck in for it's 6 month service. I had them look at the erratic transmission shifting, the tranny fluid levels, and mentioned the buzzing again. This time the dealer acknowledged they've been dealing with both very frequently as more hit the street. They checked my tranny fluid, found it to be 1.5 quarts low, topped it off, and reset the ECU. They checked with Toyota corporate again on the buzzing and they're still claiming it's "normal." But the service manager said this reminds him of a similar problem the Camry had with the torque converter locking up several years ago. Toyota issued a Limited Service Campaign for that, and he wouldn't be surprised if Toyota eventually did the same for this given the complaint volume. So he again advised patience and empathized. I sensed some embarrassment this time with having to pass along corporate's "normal" label to me.

But, hey, if you ask a few here who know nothing about me, their clinical judgment is that I am in the minority of clinical OCD cases lurking here. So don't mind me or what the dealer said.

 

Well, not everyone!!

 

Sorry, I didn't understand if he said they have been dealing with the buzzing frequently now or just the transmission issues?

If he has been seeing more and more of the buzzing issue, then that is great and I consider that a great step forward. Outside of this thread so far, I've felt pretty alone on the buzzing issue for the 2016 Tacoma's. I know it is selfish, but I hope tons of them end up doing it, so we can all get a fix!

 

The service manager said they have seen many complaints for both the transmission problems and the buzzing vibration. With respect to the transmission, many have reported it on these forums, including low tranny fluid levels. Several months ago many drivers reported it was like pulling teeth to get the dealers to check the levels. I was expecting the same. Not so. They didn't even hesitate to acknowledge, check the levels, find they were indeed low, and correct it. They said their experience is that this would clear up the erratic shifting. That's some progress, though not on the buzzing vibration. But for him to say they've been hearing about that a lot too was interesting. I think they would have done something for the vibration had they a repair procedure in their hands from corporate. Unfortunately, they just don't right now.

 

Just a thought here. Has anyone had their driveshaft checked for balance? My 2002 4Runner had a bad vibration only at certain speeds and it turned out to be an out of balance driveshaft. Ended up replacing It after several failed attempts a driveshaft shop made at balancing it.

 

It's a huge first step to hear from them that there is volume though, hopefully at other dealerships as well. I'm about due for my 6 month as well and will see what they say.

Be well,
B.