2018 TACOMA TRD OFF ROAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION

3 weeks ago I got a 2018 Tacoma TRD OFF ROAD has 551miles on it and I'm already having transmission problems, on normal take off this tranny up shifts so fast that it feels like if your on 5th gear going 25mph, truck feels weak , give it gas and it just start picking up slowly, I give it more gas an d it down shifts hard ( it kicks ) hesitates and then it takes off, this really sucks, I got rid off my 2008 TRD SPORT that I never had any problem with , also on the sticker shows that it comes with a 6 speed transmission, if you go to manual mode and up shift manually while driving,the screen on the dash shows that it goes up to 5th gear ( does not shows 6th gear ) my old Tacoma had manual mode but did not show the manual mode gears on the dash , so I know that most of the newer tacomas do show, please check yours and let me know so I can see if theres a problem with mine taco only, any way I already have a case open with Toyota for the transmision issue

 

In S-mode you're not actually shifting the transmission. You're just telling the controller the highest gear you will allow it to use. "S6" would just be "auto" or D.

 

When I got mine, my salesman told me to “ drive it like a bat outta hell for the first few weeks and you will be fine” referring to shifting.

 

That's right. You can try to simulate a tiptronic by downshifting to 1st at every stop and selecting the next gear after high revving but the computer itself decides to shift so there is that delay between when you select then next gear and when the trans actually shifts.

 

I will say mine smoothed out as time passed but there is a lot lacking especially for the first 1000miles. Some will reccomend ECT power and some say aftermarket tunes.

 

Obligatory "Did you not test drive this truck, or did the transmission drastically change after you brought it home? "

 

"It's not you, it's me" said the ECU to the tranny.

Its a pickup truck, and to me, it drives like how a pickup should drive. I'm at 2k miles and shifting has smoothed out from when I first got it. I am happy.

 

Posts like this shouldn't be allowed on here anymore.

The truck does exactly what it is supposed to do. You either like how it drives or you don't.

 

oh! I forgot to say , this is my fourth Tacoma since 1995 and this is not like a normal A/T run, is not like this is my first truck ,thanks for everybody's opinion , I don't think that I have to run the crap out of it so the tranny would self adjust, I don't think so , how would you feel if you driving on the freeway , you start picking up speed and all of a sudden your Tacoma starts hesitating,, oh! it's normal, oh! it's a truck, I just want to see if it's somebody out there having this issue, if not ,thanks

 

I've not experienced these issues on my 2018 SR5 4x4. I'm at 1500 miles.

And I should say, for the first 1000 miles I did not rev past 4000 RPMS if I could help it. The manual says to not rev highly during this period. I dont think you should have to drive your truck like a racecar to get the transmission to shift properly.

 

You're best bet is to take it to the service department for a ride along. Explain your situation and try to replicate it. Maybe they can check for a low fluid condition, reset the truck and flash the software if not up to date.

People get defensive or annoyed here easily because this gen has so many quirks that aren't considered nornal but are in fact a normal characteristic of the vehicle .

Am i happy with my truck? Not really but i pulled the trigger on it and have to ride it out and a lot of people are in the same boat. Don't flog it but definitely give it some time and get it inspected.

 

There are literally dozens of pages devoted to the shifting issue. I agree with you that the truck drives very different than the 2nd gen (and different from other AT vehicles IMHO.) Some people like it. Some don't. I didn't like it personally, so I didn't buy one.

Bottom line is, this issue has been discussed again and again and again. This truck drives different than your 2008. You either like it or you do not.

 

It's an engine that likes to run at high RPM. The transmission keeps it at low RPM. That's all. Doesn't make a lick of sense to me but they didn't ask my opinion so I didn't give it.

I'm really not trying to be a jerk, but this engine/transmission combination has been around since 2015. I feel for the OP. But if he'd done any research at all he'd have known this truck was going to be "different." Instead he gets on here and writes one long run-on sentence over a topic that has literally been beaten to death.

 

When it comes to this new 6 speed, I don't think anyone really likes it... Its the individuals level of acceptance...lol

I have accepted it... But I understand how it works... Which makes it easier to accept..

 

I think it depends on your expectations going in. I'm coming from a lifetime of owning cars. This is my first Tacoma and more importantly my first truck period. The tranny meets my expectations totally. I think people are just expecting to have all power at all the time, and it just isn't the case. Thats not the case in an economy slushbox, its not the case in a middle of the road sedan or a crossover.

When I need power I push the pedal down and get the power, some people seem to not accept that they can't lightly depress the pedal to get hill-climbing torque.

 

Shift Sense Pro - level 3 + ECT PWR on = 80% problem solve
Still lacks the torque below 3000 rpm which probably OV Tune would improve (probably next on my list)

That's it!

 

Trade it for a manual trans

Rev to your hearts content

 

I know it pissed you off - and I totally get it. It can be fixed. Lots of folks have had good luck with the Shift Sense pro which is a pretty cheap solution to shift points, but if you want to really transform the truck the tune is worth the bones...

 

OP, sell it an move on. Its obvious that the truck does not like you and does not want you to drive it. It already has a case open with Human Resources.

Good luck!

 

I have a '16 SR5 4cyl. that shifts fine now, except on the interstate where it down shifts to 4th on the slightest grade and wants to stay there. I contribute this to the 4 banger and the 33s. Drive it like you stole it, it's a Tacoma!