Transmission issues

Finally couldn't take it anymore my 18 Tacoma crew cab long bed with 7,000 miles has been having transmission issues since I bought it... let's be clear the trans shifts fine it's not the shifting that's the problem... the tranny has issues when in the low rpm range while in overdrive whether going 25mph in a school zone or 75 on the highway... the feeling throughout the truck is like a shuttering like having two not one but two dead misses or like a muscle car going 25mph while in 5th gear bogging if you will... not to mention while coming to a stop almost every time while braking the tranny cannot and does not downshift smoothly it makes the truck feel like the brake rotors are out of round... took it back to the dealer they told me after test driving it for days and replacing the rear brakes and drums and updating the software for the trans and test driving a brand new 19 Tacoma that the bogging shuttering feeling is normal cause the 19 was doing the same thing that mine was doing was normal and that I would have to live with it... after the update and the new rear brakes nothing changed... all you Tacoma owners with the 3.5 6 speed auto should really really pay close attention to your truck in overdrive while in the low rpm range especially while just maintaining speed going along with traffic... I know these trucks are pretty bouncy and what not but the truck should not feel like I'm driving an old classic that needs a major tune up or that I accidentally shifted my muscle car into 5th gear while going 25mph... I think this is a huge problem that Toyota is trying to sweep under the rug cause not enough owners are speaking out...

 

Welcome to TW. Sorry you are having trouble with the trans... I have the m/t so I can't really be of any help here

 

I keep mine in S4 while in the city, so it never hits overdrive. I don't have the issues you speak of. Even on the interstate in Drive and coming to my exit, I get a smooth downshift. Sorry about your experience, but it does not apply to everyone.

 

Tacomas are not very smooth vehicles. I have just learnt to accept this and enjoy the rest of the truck. Some blame this on the engine, some blame the transmission, some blame the software, others blame all three. At the end of the day Toyota did not do a great job with the power train on these trucks and everyone knows it.

What remains to be seen is how reliable these trucks are going to be long-term. If they are on-par with the mechanical reliability of the 1st and 2nd gens then I'd say the subpar driving characteristics are worth it.

If however 3rd gens start having transmission or driveline failures consistently before 100k miles then our trucks will be famous for severely tarnishing Toyota's reputation. Time will tell.

 

I had a car that had a bad torque converter lock-up solenoid (yeah, that's a real thing apparently), it would not unlock as I came to a stop. Same symptoms as you are describing.

 

I see the problem.. you got a crew cab.. those are notorious for...

 

Here we go again... first time poster... Ranting about the Auto transmission.

 

Sorry for jacking the thread. I’m a 1st gen guy and considering a ‘20 4Runner. Do they have the same issues or different transmission?

 

I feel your pain with the transmission. I have the same issues.

 

4Runner engine and transmission are staying the same as they have been for a years.

 

They have 5-speeds.

 

No idea about the 2020 but my 18 has been flawless

 

What a first post, lol.

Sorry about your truck but airing out your dirty laundry here won’t help.

 

Dealer replace the drums?
I heard only 2020 tacoma trd pro 6MT come with drums

 

drive it with ECT on, will take care of those issues.

 

Regards, '70fitz: Something obviously isn't right. At 7k miles, you're a whole lot more patient than I would be. While at the dealership was the transmission fluid level checked?

It might be to your advantage to take it to another shop for a second evaluation, then contact Toyota Customer Relations. Email with your concerns for documentation then call, a call to C.R. gets more immediate attention than does email. Be patient, polite and persistent.

Lots of knowledgeable people on TW, hopefully you'll get better advice than I'm able to give.

Good luck.

 

It sounds like your truck is messed up OP. Did it drive like that on the test drive or did the problems occur after some miles? Try driving another new Tacoma yourself and compare them?

 

Your Tacoma is a steaming pile of shit. You should immediately set it on fire. Make sure you video this for the masses. We’ll be waiting.

Thanks.






Really though, did you not notice this during the test drive, or is it something that started right after you bought it?

 

Holy run on sentence Batman.

 

You

Has Nigerian prince even contacted you??