Reliability problems .

Agreed

Not only with Tacoma's. On our LC LX forum lots of issues with 8 speed tranny

I have never seen so many lemon cases on LC and LX products

 

Probably being it is a 1st gen motor change. The assume a few bugs will be worked out versus previous gen that has a established drive train.

 

I could live with that.

 

I agree. I'm on a second differential now (that still howls loud enough to hear over the radio), I have the buzzing in the steering wheel (like a light electric toothbrush type buzzing) at ~2k RPM, I have the dash rattling when it is too cold or too hot outside, the rumble strip vibration when coming to a stop, and the wooden floorboard squeaking clutch pedal (intermittent though).

So sure, the truck has turned on and gotten me reliably anywhere I've wanted to go for the year I've owned it. But being a new vehicle off the lot with less than 20 miles and being the "legendary bullet proof" Tacoma I've heard so much about (came from a Ford), I'm a little unimpressed with what I got. The future of my truck seems more uncertain than certain to me with what I've seen so far.

 

Are you gonna sell it ?

 

I went back and forth with myself over it. Unfortunately, there really aren't any other newer options in the mid size market for me with a manual transmission (I'm not a huge fan of the Frontier). My only option would then be to get a reliable commuter car and an older truck for the trails, but I'd still lose about 5-6k on the trade in.

So I've decided to keep it for the time being, at least for a couple more years (Toyota gave me a complimentary 7 year/100k warranty for the issues which was nice and makes me feel a little better). But, if Ford drops a manual transmission 4x4 option on the new Ranger, I would heavily consider it.

 

I think the new ranger and new frontier hopefully will come with MT so people will have more choices

Good luck

 

This is my first Tacoma I bought back in November. The truck has 6275 miles on her currently and had zero issues. I went in for the 5000 mile maintencd the end of January and everything checked out good.

I haven't experienced any transmission issues such as jerking or gear hunting and when I am on the highway the truck is a little sluggish off the line but at 3000 rpm it gets up and go.

I came off leasing a 2014 Scion tC which was my first vehicle I ever had that I leased my sophomore year of college. I had no issues with that car after putting 48k miles on it but it had that proven 2.5L Camry engine in it.

I decided I wanted a truck at the conclusion of lease contract and I test drive a GMC Canyon. Although it had great road manners I didn't like the look of the interior and didn't seem like a very off road worthy truck. The GM twins have come a long way from the first gen models but I still preferred the Tacoma. I guess after leasing a Scion for 3 years I became a loyal Toyota customer.

If I am going to spend $35k+ on a vehicle I made well sure I am going to love that vehicle and keep it for a long time. I expect to keep mine until at least the 4th gen tacos come out by then this one is going to have at least 150k miles on it.

The folks on here who hate their 3rd gens I don't understand why they dropped $35-40k on a truck to trade it back in a 6 months to a year later knowing they were going to take a beating and lose a significant amount of money selling it back that soon. I don't take a purchase like this lightly.
I guess some folks got money to burn if they don't like a truck and go buy another truck they are going to be complaining about 6 months later. Those folks will never be 100% happy with what they buy.

 

Never!

 

A lot of us didn't drive off the lot with issues. I, and many others, have a handful of issues that weren't evident during a test drive.

So here, my brand new Toyota truck bought with less than 20 miles on the odometer, in one year, has been at the dealership more than the old Ford truck i put 150k miles on.

That's how people end up in the situation. They realize they paid 35-40k for a truck with issues and they decide it isn't worth the headache. Those that can afford the loss take it because it isn't worth spending 35k to be frustrated every time they drive the truck.

 

Exactly

 

Reliability ratings on new vehicles is almost laughable especially when you're able to utilize 3/36 warranty to get it fixed. You might not have anymore problems for 10 years after that. An engineering/parts problem is one thing (long term reliability) versus manufacturing process issues (worker suffering from hangover) is another.

Give me reliability ratings when a vehicle is 5 years old.....then, only at that point - can you make a pretty educated decision to buy a 'reliable' vehicle.

 

It's new to me since I never owned a Tacoma until now.
Look at the ford f-series models.
They are built on the same frame as the previous generation 10 years ago and still using those lousy eco boost turbo engines.
Yet they still sell like hot cakes moving 500,000 units a year.
Honestly I can't tell the difference between any of the three pickup trucks on the market.

A 2007 Chevy Silverado looks like the same frame as a 2017 Chevy Silverado. Just a different design language.

A 2007 Dodge Ram looks like the same frame as a 2017 Dodge Ram. Just a different design language.

A 2007 Ford F-150 looks like the same frame as a 2017 Ford F-150 just a different design language.

Nothing has really changed frame and suspension wise of all of these trucks and that's a good thing. The frame and body has been proven. If it isn't broke don't fix it. They just add updated features and a new design language.

These trucks now have blind spot monitoring, heated seats, parking sensors, navigation, satellite radio, and a sunroof as available options and they ride on the same frame as 10 years ago and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

While the big 3 trucks are built on a frame, saying that they are built on the SAME frame as 10 years ago is disingenuous at best.

I know that the F150 frame was extensively redesigned when they went to aluminum, going with far more high strength steel in the frame than before, ~80% or so (close to Heavy Duty truck levels).

I am certain that Ram and GM have done similar upgrades if for no other reason than to maintain parity with the Ford.

 

Well they look the same size and they all look the same.
I folios tell my coworkers 2012 f150 from a 2017 model.
All these trucks look the same with tweaked headlights and taillights.

 

Can you tell the difference between a 2005 Tacoma and a 2015 Tacoma ?

 

No I can't because it's under the same generation. The 2015 model came with a lot more features that the 2005 model didn't have though.

My coworker has a 12th generation 2012 f150 and the 13th generation 2017 f150 has nearly the same physical size and dimensions as the 12th generation replaced in almimumn, new headlights, and an updated eco boost turbo engine. It's an evolutionary design change just like the 2nd gen to the 3rd gen Tacoma.

Many have argued that the 3rd gen tacomas wasn't a "real design" change. That may be true. I just wanted to make a point other manufacturers in the pickup truck industry are doing the same thing.

Pickup designs move very slowly because they sell so well that auto manufacturers don't have to change much to keep buyers interested.

 

18k miles on my 2016 6MT off road with no breakdowns. Who knows how long my howling rear differential will last

 

The RAM pickup trucks are usually always cursed with reliability issues.

Let's not forget when the gm twins came out in 2015. The gm twins had over 7-8 recalls in its first year. Now that they have been out for 2.5 years nearly all the issues have been addressed for the gm twins.

Toyota takes any issues with their models seriously so I know they are on the ball fixing all the issues. It takes time. The 2016 3rd gen owners are the main ones complaining about issues. The 3rd gen owners with 2017 models haven't experienced as many of these issues.

My truck was manufactured in October 2016 at the San Antonio factory and it has been trouble free. No transmission shifting flares, rear locker still works perfectly.

I assume I have been lucky so for with my truck.

 

I see this claim often here but I see more old ram trucks on the road in AZ than I do Toyotas