Trans Shutter

That sure sounds like a frustrating situation! I hope you are able to eventually find a satisfactory resolution.

I was specifically referring to @IndianaDan problem with increased RPMs when creeping into the garage.

 

LOL, sorry.

Yes, it is mind blowing how the dealer nor the manufacture will step up and see this thing through until a resolution is found. Truly amazing.

 

I have not been back to the dealer. I keep trying to better acquaint myself with the problems so I can duplicate them on the spot. Here's what I have been learning about the power bursts while creeping into the garage.
It's the steering! It never happens in normal stopped traffic because I was not steering. But as you creep into the garage with minor steering adjustments for the perfect spot, the steering will cause the RPMs to jump from 600 to 900 in random bursts. It's not always the same burst, but sometimes, if you are not expecting it, you get a surprise. My opinion, this is a semi-serious safety issue. It also happens when steering into a parking spot between cars. I am not so comfortable when backing slowly to my wife who is watching and directing how close I can back to the whatever, for easy loading/unloading.
While I'm sharing, the vibration at the low end of every gear is still extremely annoying. Sometimes, just to give myself a bit of relief, I will manual shift in "S". In this case, "S" stands for Decide for your-"Self" when to shift since the programmers at Toyota do not have the same ideas as I do. And maybe it's not the programming or the tranny at all? I don't know, other than it reminds me of some of the raggedy old used cars I used to buy and felt good about learning and accepting all the stupid problems and loving it since I only paid $850 for it!

 

Wow, the steering thing sounds different than what I'm experiencing. That indeed does sound like a safety issue. I would find a different dealer and file a claim with Toyota for sure on that.

On the vibration issue, I believe we are sharing a very similar concern on this one. I posted up on here somewhere what I did that alleviated 90% of that issue. I'm fed up with Toyota and the dealer at this point, so if I blow it up I really don't care anymore. I/we should not have to deal with these kinds of stupid and unnecessary issue simply because Toyota does not want to assume responsibility for their mistakes/oversights. Again, I really like the truck, the 4-cylinder/auto. power-train package is 100% pure GARBAGE!

Regardless, I would suggest finding a different dealer and start over from scratch with your new found symptoms and see what they can do. If not call this lady, file a case and see if they are willing to help you, unlike they did with me:

Donna Plocek
Customer Experience Operations Manager
Gulf States Toyota, Inc.
DPlocek@gstoyota.com
713-580-3412 Phone

 

Well, I am VERY VERY HAPPY to report that I no longer own this rubber band powered tin can. I traded it off last night.

 

I have had the exact same issue with my standard 2019. AND told the exact same thing by both the dealer and toyota headquarters. This ia a normal operating vehicle. Being from Massachusetts I am considering applying for the lemon law arbitration.
Do you notice this more when you are going up hills? Im also considering taking it to another dealer. Have you tried that?

 

Yes, slight inclines and it would really start bucking and shuttering. I took mine to 3 different dealers, no luck.

I did fix my issue though. I got rid of that piece of sh_t "normal operating vehicle" once and for all! I don't know where the designers and such at Toyota came from but, I do know, I've been working on cars, building cars, racing cars and so on for 40+ years and what my truck was doing is NOT and can NOT be considered "normal" by anyone who knows anything about how a truly "normal" vehicle operates. If anyone tries to say otherwise, they are just as stupid as Toyota and all of Toyota's Minions (dealers). If this was truly a "normal" characteristic, then why aren't ALL 4 cylinder / Automatic vehicles on the road doing it? They can blame it on Government EPA and CAFE but that's just more BS. There are millions of 4 cylinder vehicles that conform to all the exact same Government regulations yet they don't shutter and hesitate. Doesn't matter how it's designed as far as the consumer cares, it's not the consumers job to care as long as the vehicle is safe and operates as any average person believes it should at purchase. No "normal" person goes into a NEW vehicle purchase expecting defects or issues. The average consumer expects to be sold a vehicle that is free from defects; engineering or parts. The bottom line is that my truck shuttered and other Tacomas, Fords, Chevys, Dodges, Nissans and so on don't. For all the trolls out there, YES, every auto maker has issues with their vehicles. I am very well aware of that. I've owned many NEW and USED Chevys, Fords, Dodges cars and trucks with, for the most part, reasonable amount of success. I don't mind owning a vehicle that has a problem, I take it in, they fix. However, this is something entirely different and the "brain surgeons" at Toyota know this, that's why they do not want to get involved until they are flooded with complaints.

Again as I have mentioned before, my wife drives a NEW Chevy Equinox 4 cylinder / automatic, drives like a dream, not a hint of a hesitation, shutter, jerk, NOTHING! So, in taking Toyota strictly by their words, I can only conclude that my wife's car is operating "abnormally" since it doesn't buck, shutter and shake, LOL. Toyota really needs to rephrase their pathetic & worthless response from the generic; "the vehicle is operating normally", to " even though our "experts techs" have agreed with you that you're vehicle is exhibiting shuttering, hesitations and such (as documented on the service order), WE feel you're vehicle is operating normally and we choose to do nothing about it". These a-holes at Toyota Corp. continue to deny and weasel their way out of being responsible which would otherwise force their had to create a fix or recall and they are simply not willing to do that because not enough people are complaining or even having the issue. I do believe it is a small percentage of Tacomas that are having this issue. This is plain and simple what it all boils down to. Needless to say, I have owned my last Toyota and I will continue to do all I can to purseude others from buying their products as well. IN MY CASE, Toyota had NO loyalty to me the customer and refused to stand behind their crap at the smallest level!

Good luck my friend. I can tell you, you might want to get rid of it if you can because it will just keep doing the same thing with the same negative results. The only slight reprieve I had was, drive with the ECT on all the time. That helped a very small amount but only was band-aid to a deeper problem within the torque converter. Yes, mine was nothing more than a torque converter issue but Toyota refuse to acknowledge and replace it which I'm 99.9% sure would have fixed the issue (as long as the replacement T/C was built with the correct tolerances/specs). YES, I approached the the master tech at my dealer with the T/C theory and guess what, he "unofficially" agreed that it is indeed a mechanical problem with T/C or something inside the transmission related to the transfer of torque but regardless, he agreed with my conclusion. However, he could not convince the dumbazzes at Toyota Corp. of this so, there you have it. They wouldn't even believe their very own 22 year, Toyota trained, master tech enough to at least replace it and see if that fixed it. That is too funny but so typical.

BTW....my truck had 7800 miles on it when I traded it.

 

You are

Can I ask how much of a hit you took with the trade in and what did you trade for? I'm going to try and take it to another dealer and if I get nowhere trade it. Thanks for your insight.

 

I did not take a hit at all. With the rebates and savings (leftover but still new 2018 model) I broke even on the trade. I got a NEW 2018 Ford F-150 STX, S-Crew and I LOVE IT!!!! This thing has tons and tons of power, plenty of room and the 2.7 V6 twin turbo I'm getting better average MPG's than the Tacoma week after week after week. It runs, accelerates and drives as smooth as any vehicle I have ever driven. I grew up a Chevy guy but Ford got it right on these trucks.

 

You sir are not the only one! I have a 2020 Sport and my POS does the same thing. I owned several brand new F150's that never gave me any BS problems like this thing does. I thought I would try a Toyota..never again. I love the looks of my truck but it does not have it where it counts. I want to like my truck but it's not enjoyable to drive it at all. I guess it's time to go drive it hard!!!

Going back to an F150 when I wont take a bath trading this in. Sorry Toyota you obviously don't give a sh-t about your customers!!

 

slap it in s-mode. problem solved.

 

I had the same problem. Traded that pos in. The way it runs is not acceptable. Back in an F150 with twice the power more comfort and 2 MPGs better has mileage...with the 3.5 ecoboost! No disrespect but I couldnt take how that thing ran.

 

mine runs great. better than any other automatic trans i've driven. i mainly drive with it in s-mode in 4 or 5. 6th gear sucks in this truck so i lock it out.

 

What is the big deal.with vibration if it doesnt harm the trans not a big deal. Its a tool.not an antique