2019 Tacoma V6 Transmission Fix

What problems?!

 

Totally different vehicle with totally different powertrain designs. Typically, a 3rd gen Tacoma will get drastically worst fuel mileage as your speed increases above 70 mph. Even then, at 70 mph, head wind/ tail wind can make a huge difference in these trucks and that difference exponentially increases with speed.

 

The transmission doesn't have any issues. It's working EXACTLY as it was designed to. I can see the downshifting happening if you're carrying a fair of weight which you might be. I suspect that the transmission gearing is designed to provide good mpg at freeway speeds but due to the low amount of engine torque at lower rpms, it's forced to downshift to maintain speeds on hills or driving into strong winds.

 

Just a suggestion here but maybe just test drive the truck before buying it. If you like the way it drives put it on the list and if you hate it get something else. None of this really needs to be that complicated.

 

V6 owners be like

 

I've been driving my auto for about 3 months. I still don't get the issue with all the shifting. The vehicle has 6 gears, why not use them? Who cares if it shifts slightly more than what you are used to? It's a freakin' automatic. You don't have to do shit!

When I read about these shifting problems it sounds like people expect the truck to have a single magical gear that it just stays in all the time for every situation. These are heavy trucks, they can't just cruise around in 6th gear all day long. What the hell do you guys expect?

Mine will sometimes prematurely upshift slightly before I want it to (usually when going around a corner), but that's normally the case with almost every automatic I drive. I've never had an issue with it downshifting though. Every time it downshifts, the situation seems to justify it. It is pretty good about matching what I would do if I were driving a manual. It is hilarious to hear comments like "OMG my truck downshifted when I was going up a hill!!! OMG!!!!". No shit Sherlock. If you are going up a hill I would expect it to downshift. Plus these Tacomas have poor low end power anyway, so they do much
better at the higher RPMs, which probably accounts for a bit more downshifting than people are used to. The truck is just shifting to find the correct gear for the specific situation. Sometimes it picks the wrong gear, but not anywhere near enough to be a problem.

I think so many people are just obsessed, trying to chase perfection, which simply doesn't exist with any vehicle. You want a near-perfect performing driving experience? Get a sports car, but don't complain when you can't haul shit around or go off road. Want a super powerful V8 with good low end power? Get a full size, but don't complain about having to park it. Want a 'supposedly' better shifting transmission? Get a Colorado or a Ranger, but don't complain when it starts to take a shit. People want a single vehicle that will do everything absolutely perfect with no compromises these days.

 

Just purchased a 2019 Trd Pro about a week ago. Came from a 2009 w/ the 4.0 V-6. I see what everyone is talking about on the 3rd gen shift patterns. I did test drive it, but was a very short drive.
Now that I have run it through lots of different scenarios, I am going to see if there is an ECM re-flash for it. The shift points, as they are, don't make a bit of sense.
If I am able to get it serviced, I will try to remember and report back here with the service info & results.

 

AMEN !

 

I have a 2019 Tacoma TRD Sport with 2500 miles on it and I've taken it back to two different dealers complaining about it jerking in 5th and 6th gear under light load.
Results: One dealer says it's not doing it when they test drive it. I don't live in the city so they can't really test drive it on a highway at 50, 60, 70 miles an hour like I do. If feels like the engine is misfiring lightly even without kicking a code.
Other dealer says they experienced a light jerking then they drove it even after I drove them in it and make it jerk at highway speed going up light grades. This dealer says they drove another one and it did the same thing. NO FIX, WE CAN'T JUST CHANGE OUT PARTS SINCE THE NEW PARTS WOULD JUST BE NEW PARTS AND NOT A TOYOTA FIX.
This is a beautiful truck but it sure isn't the old tundra v8 I traded in. I wish I had my old Tundra back.
I don't know what to do about this issue with jerking, it's irritating to drive a $37k Truck around that jerks.

 

See my post.

 

I've owned my 2018 Tacoma Offroad since June of 18. Since purchasing it, I love everything about the truck EXCEPT all the shifting. It constantly "hunts" for a new gear. up down up down up down and then it actually feels like a turbo boost engages without shifting. It will surge and then stall out on the top end without shifting. All this under normal driving conditions. I also own a 16 4-runner TRD with the 4.0 and auto. Much, Much better set up than the new 3.5 liter. The complaints are valid with the transmission. I contacted the dealer and there is a service advisory where they will re flash the computer and change the shifting pattern. I have an appointment to get mine done to see how it changes and will update when I get it. All I know is the transmission is a deal breaker for me. If the reflash doesn't correct the issue, it will be for sale. Yes it's that aggravating. I'll buy a new 4-runner for my wife and use hers for my overlanding.

 

2018 OR DCSB I bought in April. The always hunting transmission drove me nuts! I liked everything about it except the transmission. 6-4, 5-6, 6-4, etc...The wind off of a vehicle passing the other direction made the transmission drop to 4th. I bit the bullet and bought the OVTune and the difference is night and day. The transmission is smooth and rarely drops down to 4th. I was skeptical and didn't think only a tune would help, but I was wrong. Disclaimer: I am older and drive like an adult. I bought a truck and not a sports car. I don't care about 0-60 or how big of a hill I can climb. I wanted driveability on the highway. Love my Taco now!

 

The TSB, does help. Some people say it only lasts a little while and the transmission re-learns it's bad habits. Search TSB in the forums and you can read all about them.

 

Are there any other dealers in your area that are close to a highway that u could go to? Has the trsnsmission fluid level been checked?

 

I have a 2019 DCSB,and will say the tranny does shift different, but I wouldn’t consider it bad at all. I understand these vehicles are very expensive these days but being on the older side I’ve driven cars that if it rained for a couple of days in a row wouldn’t start. Or if if you forgot to pump the gas twice before you started the car it got flooded, and it wouldn’t start. To me all these newer cars are amazing
compared to then.I always try to keep in mind nothing is going to be perfect and I think at some point Toyota will eventually come up with a programming fix. The only problem is the fact that this is talked about so much that even if they do really come up with something better it still won’t be good enough which is a shame. It’s a great looking truck that WILL be reliable as hell,and have a great resale value.

 

The TSB helped. More predictable shifting.

 

Where can I see this tsb? I'm not looking in the right places.
I have a new 2019 Limited that was fine on a short test drive and on the highway home but feels like it's miss firing when trying to hold steady speeds. Like the converter is locking and releasing maybe. Jerky and vibration.Seems to shift ok other than heading for high gear as quickly as it can.
I can find no Toyota TSB's posted in any searches.

 

My suggestion is drive it for 1500 miles or so this way the trans can finish its learn mode.
You should see a much different behavior. I have a 2019 off road with 10 k and it shifts beautiful now

 

Normal operation when running on 87 octane fuel based on my own experience. Especially in th 40-50 mph range. I dont notice it when running 93 octane.