2006 V6 Automatic Transmission failure

Last week I got the bad news that my 2006 Tacoma V6 Access cab auto will need a new transmission. It has 80k miles on it and I've had it since Jan 07 as the only owner. Most of the miles are freeway miles, I do pull a 2500 pound travel trailer.

What happened is I first notices a slight vibration from start that would go away as you accelerated above about 15mph. Then a slight squeal started along with the vibration. I took it to a dealer who put it on a rack and could not re-create the problem in the shop but did during a test drive. They kept the truck over night to check the fluid which was a bit low. They topped off the fluid but the truck still had the same problem. They told me it was very unusual for a transmission to go out with 80k. This was during the holidays so the other bad news was it would take them at least 7 days to replace the transmission.

I called Toyota who issued me a code number and said to talk to the relations rep at the dealer. He told me that since the truck was out of warranty (I'm kicking myself for not buying the 100k 7 year warranty from Troy when I bought the truck, he was selling them for about $800. Then again I bought a Toyota for its reliability not for buying extended warranties. Regardless they told me the southeastern division for Toyota would split the cost labor and trans with me. So I would only have to pay 50%. The dealer I took it to was in Ocala Florida Frank Deluca. I was told a Toyota rebuilt and labor would run $4000 so I'd be out $2000. Due to the holidays, delay and that the truck still ran I decided to drive home 2500 miles. Truck made it fine, just kept the rpm's lower and drove at 55mph. Took me about 4 days to get back to CA, the last day the vibrations seemed to be more constant and during a wider range or speeds.

I called 3 dealers today and got 3 different prices for rebuilt, Toyota parts and labor with warranty. $2600, $3500 and $4800. I double checked they quoted for the same model, year etc.

So my questions now are is this normal? Are there others how have had automatic transmission failures (vibrations, squealing etc.) and how did Toyota handle the problem? Did they repair it for a percentage, free of charge?

I've also considered going to an independent shop to have the transmission replaced. My problem is I travel and if a local shop does the work and I'm 2000 miles away and it fails its a huge problem. If a dealer does the work then I can take it to any Toyota dealer to work it out.

Any suggestions, help, advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

Wow, it's rare that you hear of a 2nd gen trans failing. I can't help you much, so I hope you get it worked out.

Bump.

 

x2.thats the milage i have on mine.

 

AAMCO's pretty much nationwide, aren't they? Not sure what kind of warranty they put on their work but they're probably a good alternative to a dealer for your problem.

 

I checked the internet for AAMCO and found plenty of complaints. I had thought about using them myself due to them being nationwide and offering some liberal warranties 36k 36 month and a lifetime. Reading the consumer affairs website I found endless complaints about them. Price-wise I think they'd be about the same cost as the least expensive Toyota dealer. Then I have to consider a company that deals specifically with my brand and one that deals with all brands. In the end I can get a crappy repair from AAMCO or Toyota as it does happen. Thanks for the suggestion I appreciate it.

 

Does it have the towing package?

 

No prob.

I don't know much in particulat about AAMCO, they're just on my mind at the moment 'cause I'm taking my RX8 in on Friday for a free code read (got a hunch what the CEL might be about, and that computer throws a lot of false codes which the dealer charges $100 just to read) since I don't have an OBD2 reader and the closest shop happens to be next door to somewhere I've been meaning to check out for a while anyway.

Also, I used to listen to 97.1 here in L.A. at work (up till the format change), so I've heard probably 10k+ AAMCO ads in the last 7 years.

I learned the hard way about trusting Pep Boys with a repair (had the same repair done 5 times in 4 months) back in college.

Only other nationwide shop I can think of is Sears, but I haven't gone to them since getting a compression check/diagnostic on the '74 Maverick I had back in High School (probably 1990).

Good luck with your truck, hope mine doesn't end up the same way in a few years (got a 2010 V6 with the 5A tranny and tow pkg).

 

Yes mine has the factory tow package. I've posted this thread on 2 other Tacoma sites to see if others have experienced something similar.

I would also suggest that if you do take your truck to a dealer you call several of them. I found this out with my 2001 Honda CIVIC that dealer prices vary and sometimes alot.

I'd also recommend going to Troy and buying the 7 year 100k mile extended Toyota warranty which I think runs about $880. I found Troy via Toyota Nation where this is a thread. I had contacted him back in 2007, got the application and almost bought it till I read some threads from guys claiming it was not needed due to the gleaming reputation of Toyota. I was just one of the unlucky ones who got a bad tranny at this point.

Something else to consider when dealing with Toyota and the dealer is to get it serviced regularly (at a dealer) at least each 30k as they take that into consideration when your out of warranty. I guess regardless of what you do or don't do you're going to pay. I could have paid $880 back then but will now have to shell out about $1400 by the time this is all done. Pay me now or pay me later but you're gonna pay.

 

Doesn't the taco have a 10/100k power train warranty? Your tranny should be covered under that.

 

If you're out of warrantee.....I'd shop around for other options. Look around for used transmissions online, junkyards, or even craigslist & ebay. Then....you could install it yourself (with some research and help) or have a local garage do it. Also, look into rebuilt transmissions and look around to see if anyone can rebuild your current one.

Just something to think about. Shop around and compare prices to what Toyota is offering you.

 

Final Outcome of my "vibration during acceleration" which happens in all gears at all speeds. It should be noted that this also happens in reverse. My first thought was "drive train" but after the dealer in Ocala Florida Frank Deluca billed me $46 to check it out. Then another $20 in transmission fluid they told me it was INSIDE the transmission. I had watched then from a
distance put the truck up on a rack and try and run the motor to create the problem and watch it from underneath. After about 3-4 techs had a look at it and conversed with each other they told the service rep. Who then gave me the bad news. $4000 for a re-built transmission. They could also save me $500 if they got a tranny from a local junk yard if I opted for that.

I opted to wait, drive the truck home, pulling my 2500 pound trailer 2700 miles home to the Bakersfield area. During the drive the vibration continued, the truck never skipped a beat, lost speed or even dropped in MPG. It did appear that the vibrations would get worse with time.

After the holidays about 30 days later I called my local mechanic who also owns a newer Tundra. He recommended taking the truck to:

Kern Transmission
2907 Brundage Lane
Bakersfield, CA 93304-2429
(661) 636-0157
Talk to Ken

I arrived at KT and met with Ken and his wife Tess. They have a fairly big shop and do nothing but transmissions. Ken's been in the tranny business for many years and works on race cars in the area. Ken did not push his services and wanted to take it for a drive. So off we went, he did some slow and high speed driving, trying to figure out when the vibrations came into play. Tried it in all gears and reverse. He ruled out torgue converter
and felt it must be drive train. He then asked if I had some time for him to take the drive shaft on and inspect it. 20 minutes he said, so up on a rack the truck goes. He unbolts the shaft from the rear and then then the front. Once he had it off, he said "here's the problem". The front U joint was broken, still intact but you could clearly see it was broken.

Ken got on the phone and called around for the U joint, both Toyota dealers in the area did not have it in stock. So he called several parts places and found one. Ken drove out himself and got the part, returned and installed it and put the drive shaft back in the truck. Test drive and problem is GONE. Runs great, smooth and no more vibration.

Grand total for this repair $29 for the part (U-Joint) and $95 labor TOTAL $124 I'm sure I was at the shop for almost 3 hours from start to finish. Ken and Tess are great people. Anyone near the Bakersfield CA area that need an honest opinion or even transmission work need to look these folks up. Ken is certified to tear apart transmissions, repair them and put them back together. He's go years of experience.

My next stop would have been another Toyota dealer had Ken not found the broken U joint. It amazes me that you take your truck to the dealer who should know the vehicle the best and they can't see something as simple as a U JOINT?

 

Glad to hear you got it fixed right...and did not get hacked for a couple thousand in the process...

 

SWEET!!!! great find (a good mechanic)..bakersfield isnt that far from me...

 

Glad to hear it wasn't a bad transmission! You had my attention for sure.

 

Right on!

Glad you made out way better then expected, you need to pass that mechanics name on at every given opportunity, all people ever hear about is the horror stories and how they got ripped off.

Maybe send them a nice card of thanks for the honest help the shop provided, at least they could post it on the wall of happy customers

 

thats fantastic,great to hear.

 

Man, that blows. I have a 2006 Tacoma DC (auto) with 108,000 miles on it. I regularly tow a 2500 lbs horse trailer with a 1500 lbs horse in it and I have not had any issues. Surely, it has to be a manufacturing issue.

 

wow that sucks

 

I know. I was making a statement but thanks.

 

Anyone with any vibration problems and near Southern California might want to contact Kern Transmission for a second opinion. Ken is really into his work and enjoys finding the problem. I could tell he's not the scammer type.

One big key to knowing its a U Joint in my opinion is that it vibrates forward and reverse and in all gears. I think if you have a vibration in all gears this would also lead to it being the U joint.

Just don't take the word of the first shop, even a reputable dealer. Frank Deluca Toyota had all sorts of plaques on the wall, awards etc. The waiting room was packed full of people. All signs you would think mean a straight shooter. OK they did not remove the drive line and would have IF I went along with replacing the transmission, BUT would they have then stopped a $4000 job and said its a $200 job? I'm told the $20 U-joint runs you $60 at the dealership.

I hope this nightmare for me results in others who find a simple solution for vibration or transmission failure issues.