T-SB-0077-16

So, I took my truck in for an oil change, fan motor recall and complained about the transmission. I told them it's terrible to drive in heavy traffic, as it doesn't like to downshift properly. So I pick up the truck tonight and drive it home......WOW what a difference! This is what the truck should have driven like from the beginning. I've read many of the posts about how this update makes such a difference, well all those posts are not kidding! It is SO much better to drive!

 

BigRich - I am about a month into my first ever Tacoma. Its a 2018 sport. I have been reading through TW about different issues people have been having and I am not sure if I am just being picky about things that seem off to me or if its really something just wrong with the truck. I notice when I coming to a stop after having accelerated, a noticeable "thump" as the brake pedal is pressed. I am not a car person but I "think" its the transmission downshifting. Hoping this is normal for this truck.

Also, do all truck require the T-SBs that are talked about. Thanks in advance.

 

Tom, welcome to Taco ownership! This is my first Taco as well. I've had it since early June and liked it until the TSB was done on it, now I LOVE it! OK as far as the "thump" goes, not sure exactly what you mean. Yes my truck does downshift, when coasting down hill is when i notice it the most. The truck will lurch a bit and the engine RPM's will jump up but this appears to be normal. It is common for vehicles with stability control to use this method of down shifting to help control the vehicle. I had this on a company 2012 GMC Savana 2500 cargo van. Personally I hate it and found the way to disable it on the van, have not read up on how to disable (if you can) on the Tacoma.
The TS-B-77-16 covers '16 & '17 models with the auto transmission, yours being a newer model should have the update. My truck as described above, always seemed to stay in too high of a gear and I had to press the accelerator 2/3 - 3/4 of the way to the floor to get it to downshift and accelerate. It made it very hard to drive in bumper to bumper traffic. After the update, it downs shifts properly and is MUCH better to drive! It now accelerates like a 278hp truck should, not a muscle car by any means but goes pretty well! Hope this helps you out.

 

Thank you for the reply. It sounds like the tactile feel of the downshift is normal. As long as it's not symptomatic of something, I'll live with it.

 

That's great to hear! The issue I seem to notice the most is when shifting from P to D and R to D, and the lag of the truck getting into gear. I believe that this TSB covers that as well as the constant downshifting on hills, yes?

I'm scheduled to take my rig in for this on Saturday. Fingers crossed...