3rd Generation Satisfaction

I apologize in advance for a lack of pictures............I'll post them in a future thread.

We bought our Tacoma on August 26th as a third vehicle - mainly to run our bikes and kayaks around. My wife and son both have cars and I have a four door full sized work truck.

In just under two weeks we've put 1000 miles on it - mainly because it's new and my wife wants to drive it everywhere .....and I took it hunting last weekend.

I don't hear any howling, my differential is not leaking (knock on wood). I've washed it twice with the foam cannon and the third brake light is not leaking. Neither one of us has noticed any tranny problems - we drive in ECT mode. Before someone bleats out "AHA!" take note, I also drive my Cummins in "tow/haul" mode with the exhaust brake on. I like my tranny to hold onto gears longer and modern trannys (as a rule) do not.

I've upgraded all six speakers, swapped out the stereo knobs as well as installed a Pro grille (the cheese grater one was just plain hideous). I've got some rock sliders on order and that will do it until the stock tires wear out.

Last weekend, I joined our Hunting Terrier club on a hunt on a remote ranch in the San Antonio Valley behind Mt. Hamilton. In the past I've had to use our old JKU - sold three years ago (what a piece of crap)- or gone in with a fellow member. The trails to some of the remote areas aren't necessarily hard, but they are narrow and rocky. My cummins is just way too big........

The good news is that the Tacoma fits just dandy on some narrow trails, and even with the stock rubber, did a good job of crawling over some tight dry creek beds with steep exits. The horrible nose on the front bumper will need to go and the stock skid plate on the OR is also next to be jettisoned in favor of something more sturdy (corkboard?) , but overall the truck had no problems...and my patterdale thinks it's peachy to boot.

I've driven a lot of trucks over the past 30 years, mainly because of my line of work. I've had trucks that are considered "classics" today. Trucks where members of forums have waxed nostalgic about them because of their reputations...not due to any direct experience.

Ah, the cummins 12v! Best engine ever! People wet their underpants a little when someone shows theirs off. If only Ram could make a truck like the 12v cummins! Well, I had a 12v cummins. I put 210K miles on that truck in 5 years. I suffered through the killer dowel pin issue, the weak tranny and the truck that seemed to melt off from around the motor. The 2016 Ram I currently drive is superior in every way except one - it has SCR/EGR on it. Still, if you go to the various cummins forums, the 12V is a magical unicorn that is above reproach. Look at the resale values. Oh and anyone telling you that the stock 12 valves got good mileage either has amnesia or is lying. My current bloated cummins gets much better mileage.

Anybody remember the 1999 to early 2003 7.3 powerstrokes? Legendary I tell you - just pop into a Ford forum and ask. However I had a 1999 F250 crew cab 4x4. The motor was fine but the 4R100 was a sh*tshow. I think it was made of dried out chicken bones. 198K miles on the truck and three tranny rebuilds. Still legendary mind you! Still commanding top dollar for cleaner models with a stack of miles. Fuel mileage? Ha ha ha ha ha - don't ask.

The 2006 to 2007.5 LBZ is considered the best DMax motor ever and paired with the Allison, one of the best motor/tranny combos in a diesel. The rest of the truck? Failed sensors, creaks, groans, suspension and steering gremlins and crappy paint and trim. The steering column was apparently made of bamboo. The headliner actually tried to kill me while I was cruising down the highway. Commanding exorbitant prices today....and yes, the mileage sucked.

...oh and my first truck was a 1979 Toyota 4x4 in 541 yellow. How do I still remember the color code? Guess.

Bought it with 22K miles on it. 20R motor. Fuel pump issues, front differential problems and several blown head gaskets (but no milkshakes!). If I was buying one today and checked the forums I would think that Jesus himself owned one. Even the Lord's own Toyota could rarely get better than 20 mpg on the highway....a level highway with a tail wind.

Which brings me to our 2017 Tacoma AC OR. Looking back at all the "classics" I've owned and judging by the reverence in which those trucks (despite all of their flaws and abysmal mileage) are held on the forums, I'm feeling downright optimistic! Rest assured, if I have problems, I will report them, because when all is said and done it's just a car. It's not like my soul, my self esteem and my position in society will be determined by whether it's a boom or a bust....

Right?

 

This is my first Tacoma. Drove a ford ranger for 11 years before it, so I feel thrilled everyday when I get in it. I like the smaller size every time I park it. since I never carry more than one passenger, i got the access cab so I could have a larger bed. Drives great!

 

Just bought a 2017 TRD Off Road double cab and had no idea the 3rd gen was having any problems. I've always wanted a taco and had the money for one after trading my old vehicle in. Wish I could have asked the dealership if the truck was under any recalls. Just checked with the NTHSA https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls#vin and put my vin in and phew mine is not on the list. I love love love this truck. Taking it to Moab this weekend for some biking and offroading!

 

Welcome to TW

Looks like you got a good one!

 

Really like the truck so far! Much better improvement over 2015 ram I traded to get this thing. You guys complain about this tranny, imagine driving 35mph in half ton truck in 7th gear and 4 cylinders shut off... what a nightmare.. love the tacoma, no issues after 6k miles..

 

Same hear, after 5000 miles it's gets alot better. I don't know if it's the tranny learning process or the less friction after breaking in all the engine components but I was satisfied before and more than satisfied now after 5000 miles. Big improvement over my 14 trd sport

 

That was a tsb they had. Now fixed in 17 models. Everything has glitches to work out when new. They shouldn't but they do.

 

There was pretty much Zero "Break In" on my Truck but maybe that's because it has a Manual Trans.

 

I bought a 2013 ford escape after having put over 180000 miles on a 2004 model. It left me stranded after the first 100 miles. Traded it for a 2014 mustang after having a very reliable 2004 mustang. The 2014 had issues with computer and tranny after the first 100 miles. Went to toyota, no problems with the 14 sport or my 17 off-road. I guess you when some.......you loose some.

 

What do you mean. Zero break in. All new engines need to be properly broken in. If people overlook that then maybe that's where some of there issues come from. You cat hop in a brand new vehicles and drive it like you stole it. That's why when I buy new. I don't like to buy anything with alot of test drive miles on it. Never know how people drove them on the test drives.

 

Of course I followed the proper Break In procedure listed in the owners manual plus I did an oil change a little after 1000 Miles. My reference was about people talking about all these fantastic magical changes happening after a few thousand miles, mine had 1 mile on it when I left the Dealership and now has a little over 5000, it feels exactly the same now as day 1 and the MPG have also stayed exactly the same.

 

The delayed engagement might have been for the 2016's but I have a 2017, bought with 7 miles on it, 2/3 when I took it for a test drive, it literally came off the truck the day before...it has the clunk when stopping and the hard downshift, when the engine is warming up; if I stop when the engine temp gauge reads the first tic mark i get the lurch forward, the clunk is random, yet predictable in certain scenarios...the clunk is annoying but bearable, but the hard downshift causes the truck to sometimes lurch forward as if I have changed pressure on the break pedal...Toyota acknowledge it but says, "within normal operations"

 

I gotcha. Well maybe it'll be a little more miles for you. I've had 9 different brand new vehicles and I've always noticed improved shifting, mpg, power gain and steering feel improvements on all but at different miles on each.

 

I know what your talking about. The clunk is the truck shifting to 1st gear at an almost stop. And the lurching forward happens when almost stopped or lightly holding the break when the a/c kicks on. The dramatic downshift is the same as the 2nd gen, it's suppose to assist in engine braking and keeps you in a lower gear coming out of a turn

 

I have had roughly bought the same number of new vehicles as you but they have all been Manual Trans Vehicles, no real differences noticed in any of them. Once your Tires and Brakes go through a few Heat Cycles they obviously feel a little better but that does not give any kind of magical change to the vehicle.

 

Maybe the difference. All mine have been auto trans.

 

I turned in my 2014 Jetta TDI, got my cash, and bought a 2017 TACO 4x4 Sport.

Does it hurt when I have to get gas like every 5 days - sure.

Does it hurt when I don't drive a VW anymore? FUCK NO.

 

I figured it was the former, but I haven't used my A/C much and it happens when the A/C is off too...tech who checked it even told me he had the a/c on as cold as it could go, and without the A/C on...but i will pay more attention to speed next time, thanks for the input!...never had an auto trans do this on me, after 40+ cars...also they said my ATF level was good...might have a local independent 4wheeling shop check it when I get back from work trip..

Love the truck, and want to love it...just want Toyota to do better as I expect better from them

 

I purchased my 2017 TRD in November of last year. Currently, have about 15k miles and love it, no issues. Truck has made a two week trek into British Columbia Canada, for a fishing trip in the wilderness were Bigfoot was sighted. Toyota just serviced my truck and The cab air filter needed replacement. During my two week trip in BC it made since with most of my travels we're on (dusty) dirt roads.