oh no....TSB-0171-16 Driveline vibration

I recently had this vibration and it took several visits to the dealer before they acknowledged there was a vibration. Unlike most on this thread, my vibrations started at around the 21000 mile mark.

My advice is be persistent, no matter how much the dealer wants to say "it's normal" or "it's a tire balance issue"

My dealer finally opened a case with Toyota Canada and two new axles later it's finally driving smooth again. Apparently, mine were out - of - spec by only a few thousands of an inch.

 

Which axles did they replace?

 

They replaced the two rear axle shafts, bearings, plus all the important seals and gaskets.

 

Unfortunately, in my case Toyota (US) case manager told me this past Friday that I have no recourse beyond this (now closed) case . . . I'm going to try a different dealer, hopefully this week.
Beyond cab mounts, nothing else has been replaced.

 

My 2019 SR5 had this issue. Two new leaf springs and the problem is 95% better. All done under warranty.

 

Tervill - Is your SR5 a DCLB ? Are you in Canada or US ? Also, please let me know about what month/year and mileage the springs were replaced.

abhamber - Please let me know about what month/year and mileage your axle shafts were replaced . .

I appreciate the help to start !

 

Hey Woody!

My axles were replaced at 21,000 miles this December. My dealer kept insisting that "all Tacoma's ride like this" until I asked them to test drive a brand new one (and it was smooth) - that's when they decided to start a case with Toyota Canada. I got a DCLB.

 

Hi WoodMan,

My SR5 is a DCLB and I'm located in Canada. My springs were replaced about 2 weeks ago at around 32,000 KM's (20,000 miles). I think in my case the springs were just too soft and was causing the shuddering. Before they were replaced my truck seemed to wander a lot while driving straight and the steering felt loose. The truck feels really tight now, no wandering, and the vibrating is 95% better. It's still there on occasion but not nearly as bad.

 

I agree! Mine is about 95% better, when I do feel it every now or then, it's hard to tell if it's our poor Canadian roads or engine and or transmission.

But after dealing with this issue for 1.5 months and after numerous dealer visits, I'm gonna call it fixed and finally move on.

 

Just got my 2020 TRD Sport 4x4 and noticed this issue within the first few miles of driving home. Pretty disappointed.

I will go through the motions of trying to get it resolved.

My concern is around longevity of the drivetrain if unresolved. It sounds like people have had hit/miss of a full resolution, so I’m wondering if down the road this will F things up.

$40K truck...

Edit: I put it in neutral at 30mph, and slowly and gradually applied the handbrake. There was a LOT of vibration coming from the rear. I’m guessing the drums are messed up.

 

So I stopped at a different Toyota dealer last week and spoke directly with the service manager. Described the 48mph rear end vibration and he says he's seen it before - the dealership had replaced the transfer case (!!!) in a 2017 & 2019 DCLB and it took care of the problem. After he pulled my vin up on his computer, he could see all the attempts the first dealer made, and then he got to the last one where the regional TFST said my vibration is "within normal specification" - He then said even if he diagnosed a transfer case, he would not be able to get approval under warranty . . .

zx10_afm - You are absolutely correct - if something is vibrating, wear is being caused on something, and that something will need to be replaced.

I will try the handbrake thing, but my main vibration concern is the 48mph one . . . the 20-30mph is not as noticeable.

 

just how do they diagnose that the transfer case is the problem ?

 

Let me know.

Also.. I’m wondering if the Baja Mexico plant is primarily responsible for not QCing these issues. Do we all have Mexico trucks?

Just a hunch.

 

Not sure, he didn't say. Our conversation basically drew to a close when we discussed the regional TFST.

As it happens, my window sticker does list Baja Mexico plant. I doubt it's a QC issue, since it's been going on since the 2016MY.

 

If we do notice a trend with this being Double Cabs (DCs are only made in Mexico IIRC), then it could be poor QC for the tolerances of the axles. That could span any numbers of years.

 

My Limited made in January of 19 does not vibrate at any speed and it was made in Mexico. My buddies Limited, made in Nov of 18 and made in Mexico vibrated so he sold it after the dealer did a lot of work to it and then told him they didnt know what else to do, sorry. So its a crapshoot.

oh, and we both had second gens, mine was an access cab that had a light vibration, his was a double cab that had the 30 mph on down shudder.

 

This happens on my new(ish) TRD Pro (May 2019). It has gotten progressively worse, and just thought it was a 'quirk' until I read this post. I'll take this up with my dealer on the next service - fingers crossed!

 

Is your Limited a 4x4?
Was his Limited a 4x4?

 

zx10 - Assuming this has been going since 2016MY, I would like to believe that Toyota Corp has collected a lot of data (warranty replacements, NVH recordings, owner complaints, etc) and that Toyota Engineering is working on a solution . . . I've heard/read rear springs, axle shafts, bearings, driveshaft angles, wheels/tires, etc in forums and Toyota's own TSBs. I'm looking for the silver lining that solves my (and hopefully many other owner's) problem.

jimmerheck - You are correct - from a poll on this forum, seems like it's 51/49% that either have a vibration or don't in their 3rd Gen. On a service test drive with a local Toyota tech this past year, he told me he got out of his Tacoma 2 year lease after 1 year because he couldn't take the vibration anymore. It seems like I'm in your buddy's group - "we can't help you anymore".

Chunkeymonkey - To your point, my TRD Sport DCLB had no vibration upon delivery . . . by my first 6 month service (<3,000 miles) I first mentioned the 48mph vibration to the dealer. And yes, it has become progressively worse over the 3 years I've owned. It does appear that the TRD Pro's are not included on most of the TSBs I've seen/read.

The thing that sucks most - I love the truck . . . optioned the way I wanted, adding accessories that I wanted, etc . . . please just fix the f**** vibration.

 

If it’s vibration and just vibration from some sort of engineering basis, then I can live with it if it doesn’t cause damage to other parts in the long run.

But we also may be experiencing different vibrations.

As I mentioned, I did the e-brake test and my drums are clearly out of round. Also, I did a hard brake on the freeway and noticed a substantial vibration. I’m taking it in for service soon - though I HATE having to do so because I don’t trust other people to work on my vehicles.