It has BEGUN(long post about FTS to look at my truck)

Have you opened a case with corporate yet? If not, it may be a good idea. Let them know your experience is unacceptable.

 

Ditto, and i cruise that speed for about 80 miles a day. Mine doesn't have the vibration though... ANYMORE!

My truck DID have the vibration in multiple gears at around 2000 RPM's. It was a surging vibration in the wheel and in the pedal and only happened under light engine load. It was annoying as hell. It disappeared when i installed the LEER 100 XQ four months ago.

So i guess what i am saying to the folks WITH this vibration is, learn to love camper shells and drop $2k plus on a nice one and your vibration problems will be solved!!

 

That is not fixing the problem. That is just masking over it.

 

So you honestly thought my advice to everyone was to go drop $2k on a camper shell? I was merely joking at the irony of the whole situation and the fact that something totally unrelated to the drive-train made one of my many shared Taco issues disappear.

My apologies, next time i will post a disclaimer for those who read every word that gets written as the gospel.

 

Does anyone know who makes the rear axle assemblies in the 2016 TRD OR? Front axle assemblies also?

 

It's not just 2016s and not just off roads

 

I am a little under informed on this issue. What is the year/model span of the howling rear end issue?

 

If you want a field tech to come out, all you gotta do call corporate and open a case. Eventually, a field tech will come out, supposedly drive your truck, and then proceed to document that everything is normal and these are all "normal characteristics" of the truck.

Happened exactly with my drive-line/braking vibes. The jokes on us.

 

The entire current generation guys with first builds to mid 16 builds to 17s, sr5s off roads and sports. There's a thread about it.

 

I have a manual transmission which also has the 4.3 gears in the rear. I'm at ~2100 RPM in 6th gear at 65 mph. So my choice is either 2100 RPM in 6th gear or cruise at 2600-2700 RPM in 5th gear on my normal highway commute. Also with a manual transmission I am constantly going through that RPM range and often times end up cruising in it. It isn't feasible to keep switching gears every 2 seconds with traffic changing and driving through neighborhoods just to avoid that RPM range. I just get stuck between 2100-2400 RPM a lot.

I did test drive a new auto (2016, right before the 2017's came out) to see if it had the same issue. 4x4 OR built in baja. It was definitely there, but you're right the transmission didn't want to keep the RPM's around that range, it wanted to shift out before then. I only felt it briefly when it was passing through the range before shifting. So I can see how many people don't think it is there, especially if the auto doesn't have the engine at 2100 RPM until 75-80 mph.

I was just curious, me and multiple members have driven a variety of new tacomas which all had the issue. So if it truly isn't on a new vehicle I want to know so I can talk to Toyota and see what changed and if they specifically addressed that concern.

 

Seatbelt Mike needs to host a town hall meeting and invite everyone from gen 3 TW forums.

 

Conference call

 

OP I don't doubt you're having issues, but your letter makes you come off as a "difficult" customer. You'd probably get a better response by just listing the potentially major issues like the fucked up rear differentials or the leaf springs. Listing out problems that they've already solved (the LCA whislte, the tranny problems) just makes you seem like you're trying to milk them for an extended warranty. The tranny is going to shift a lot.. that's not going to get resolved as long as the 3.5 is under the hood.
It looks like you just stopped by TW and cataloged all the issues in your letter. And then you flat out ask about the warranty.

 

It's true that you shouldn't expect these motors to NOT shift constantly. This is even happening to full size trucks as they move toward 7,8 and 10 speed transmissions. I drove a new new Silverado with a 5.3 V8 and I was surprised by how much it shifted. The whole point of having more gears is to keep you in a certain power band range at all times to maximize efficiency. To do that is has to shift more.
The gen 3 3.5 isn't designed to ALWAYS cruise in 6th gear. It will do it when conditions are right (flat road, downhill etc), so no one should get upset if it is cruising in 5th at highway speeds. 5th gear is a really similar ratio to the 5th gear of the gen 2 5 speed auto.

 

Just so you know, I wrote the email as the service manager requested it to the t. He wanted all issues written out. I just added in the thank you's to seem less asshole-ish.

EDIT: Also, I never asked or implied for a warranty. "Compensation" implies compensation in any form factor. I'm sorry you misunderstood my post. And I also apologize that I didn't inform everyone about what the service manager requested from me. ;D

 

I really want to buy a 2017 Tacoma but you guys are scaring the hell out of me. My '98 is needing a clutch, valve cover seals, and leaf springs so I was thinking about pulling the trigger on a '17. I may just fix my '98 and wait another year and try the 2018?

 

I wouldn't say, DONT BUY THE TRUCK, but I do think it is fair to say, maybe....wait.....a.....generation....or....two.............

 

If that is all your 98 needs holy hell, keep that. Those are very minor issues for a now 18 year old truck.

The only argument I would give for upgrading is if you are concerned about safety issues and your greater chances of surviving or making it out of a big accident with minor injuries.

 

I don't think 2018 would be any better. Maybe a 2026?