2019 Tranny Shift Issues

Guys keep throwing this out ad nauseam but, most people don’t want a manual especially if it’s a daily driver. Me included and I’m sure I have a lot of company.

 

I have a 2019 OR DCSB. Picked it up in February and have just shy of 10k on it now. The truck had several of the same issues you described - gear hunting, rough shifting at times. I chalked it up to the truck being new and the transmission still "learning" my driving habits.

After the 6 month of putting up with the truck still doing this stuff, I took it back to the dealership and told them to check the tranny fluid level & perform the TSB update for the 2018's. Dealership told me the 2019's are now included in the TSB for the 2018's and they would perform the update - no questions asked. They went ahead flashed my truck & to be honest, probably 80% of the issues are gone now - it stays in gear as I gun the gas pedal, it holds gears when driving up hill, accelerates smoothly, doesn't bog down & go into Atkinson mode randomly and it shifts alot more predictably now. For what it's worth, the TSB seriously helped my situation and made the truck much more driveable.

I don't want to get your hopes up, but the TSB really helped my truck out. Keep us posted on what happens with your ride!

 

Where can I find this info? There is a video on this forum where the chief engineer for the Tacoma says the 2020 tranny programming started with the 2019. I guess we will have to wait and see if there is a difference.

 

because Toyota didn't do it and it's your truck. that's why i did it. i own the hardware and I'll be damned if someone's bullshit software is gonna fuck it up for me.

 

I would say this is my experience as well - steady pressure on the pedal seems to help the ECU understand what I'm trying to do.

 

It is the only way to fix "gear hunting" and have a completely stock tune.

 

It is the same transmission with a couple of refinements/updates to the ECU. Use ECT buton as it changes the shift points a bit. Also drop it to S mode and downshift to 4th when you need it rather than burying your foot in it. Also read the following: https://www.ovtuned.com/blogs/news/...-tacoma-transmission-and-how-we-are-fixing-it

It sounds like Toyota has learned from OV tune and adjusted the ECU on the 2020 year truck to try to minimize the issues. Part of the problem is the large gap between 4th and 5th an overdrive gear.

 

A ridiculously expensive way. Like everyone has the financial resources to trade a year old truck for a new one just for a manual transmission. It’s just a silly suggestion in my opinion.

 

Where is this information coming from that Toyota has adjusted the ECU on the 2020?

 

Me Too! I have experienced the same. After learning about the shift program I understand why my truck shifts as it does. I use S4 and S5 depending on conditions. I it seems that the truck is doing better all the time. Just over 6500 miles on it now.

 

Why isn’t anyone suggesting Shift Sense? It isn’t an expensive reflash of the ECU but it greatly improves the shifting by keeping the RPMs up so the engine can respond to your input. It made all the difference in my ‘19.

 

So I found this video that talks with one of the Tacoma engineers about how they did a software update on the 2019/2020 Tacoma's transmission shifting problem. Go to 13:25 and he talks about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hELXIudcew0

 

Toyota says this is normal.

Agreed. It’s always this or “shoulda got a ridgeline”.

 

Same with me. Hated how it shifted when I bought it. Had the TSB done, been a year now and it’s been great since.

 

Delted

 

Right!

 

I have a 19 trd or that i purchased end of june and have 1800 miles on it and have yet to experience any of those symptoms or maybe its just the way i drive, i do get the throttle and fuel delivery is all electronic/computerized so maybe i understand that and drive adequately. It can be a hog going up hill, and I am looking at OVTUNE for the performance aspect just doing more research on it. Maybe people just wanna mash on the peddle and go

 

I have similar issues with my 19 OR, but I have learned that when I modulate correctly with foot pressure, the truck performs very well. I still slip up occasionally and "mat it"

 

good info thank you!

 

I'll add my 2 cents for any that care.

I worked in the auto dealer service world for 15 years with many different manufacturers so this is somewhat an educated opinion.

I traded in my 2012 Tacoma on a Tundra about two years ago. I missed my 2012 Tacoma so I traded the Tundra for a 2018 Tacoma that was pre-owned I felt I made a huge mistake for about the first week or two. The drive compared to my 2012 was far different, problematic and less enjoyable. I have owned and test driven many vehicles over the years and it was clear there was something wrong with my 2018 Tacoma. I don't care what anyone says from Toyota, the 3rd gen AT has a defect and it is known. Manufacturers hesitate to admit when there's a defect especially when it's not a safety concern. They would have so many people trying to turn their trucks in or pursue legal action. So they came up with a correction which is the software update.

After reading that many others experience this and have corrected it with TSB software updates I decided to take mine in and have the TSB's performed before driving this it off a cliff or something. I am very happy I did. The TSB fixed 90% of my concerns with the shifting and driving / re-learning the TCM to my driving habits over two months of ownership seemed to take care of another 5%. The only thing I still experience is the hunting between 40-50 mph which I am living with. I am likely going to take it back in over the next few weeks to hopefully have that addressed. Also, the video of the Toyota engineer stating there is some changes in software for the late 19's and 2020's which really brings me hope that they are continuing to address this issue. It doesn't sound like the newer models have any mechanical changes over my 2018 so I am hopeful there will continue to be revisions to the earlier models software.

In any case, I am happy with the Tacoma and the way it's driving. I myself, may go the OV Tune route at some point but for now I am just happy I can enjoy my Tacoma.