Clutch replaced in 2010 4 cyl Taco at 10,000 miles

Wanted to put this out there and see if anyone else has had this problem.

Just had clutch replaced under warranty at 10,000 miles on my 2010 Toyota Tacoma Extended Cab 4 cyl, 4wd SR5. Less than 20 miles total towing 28 ton log splitter, rare light hauling (mulch, 1/2 load of fire wood). Been driving a standard for 35 years. When truck was 1 month old I pulled a splitter up a tiny grade, 20 feet, in my neighbors yard and smelled the clutch. Called dealer immediately "Oh, that's a protective coating on the new clutch that will wear off in 100 miles". OK. Any time I had to give vehicle a little gas to get going from a stop on a grade or over snow it smelled. Took it in to dealer at 5000 miles. "Can't reproduce problem". OK. At 10,000 miles started "chirping" when in gear and even when in neutral with clutch engaged. Took it to dealer at 10,000. "Looks like your throw-out bearing is shot". They replaced the bearing, assembly and entire clutch. New clutch performs better and doesn't smell. Hauled 2 loads of firewood with 75 miles on new clutch, started on a grade, no smell. Be on the look out for this problem!

 

My work truck is an 09 2wd 2.7 5speed. It has 37K on it now, squeals like crazy under any kind of load getting started. Very easy to get it to smell backing out of a steep driveway or something like that. I just started driving this truck, the last guy that drove it was the boss's son. I can't see him abusing the truck, and he's been driving a stick shift for a long time. He had complained about the noise for awhile, just never did anything about it.

My personal truck is an 06 v6 6speed. It just had the clutch replaced due to squeaking throwout bearing. Common issue for the six speeds. The old clutch was also very easy to get hot and have it smell. Happened just about every time I backed out of my girlfriend's driveway, very steep and on a blind turn. Been very, very careful with the new one and so far have not had it smell. Interestingly enough, I used to drive my old 1986 Toyota over to the same house, and never had the clutch smell in that truck.

Not impressed with the clutches in these trucks.

 

you towed a 28 ton log splitter?

 

Was this all replaced under warranty?

Motoretro

 

I think that means the force the splitter had... not it weighed 28 tons. I had to read that twice too.

 

I had to replace my clutch at just under 60k. Clutch pad was fine but the bearing were shot. Dealer wouldn't cover any of it under warranty. I do some offroading but nothing too crazy and I have driven manuals before and driven much harder in my younger days. Kinda disapointed in toyota on that one.

 

With all the problems people have had with manuals in the 2nd gens, it makes me wonder of the truck is now just too heavy.

 

The splitter is rated at 28 ton splitting load, it weighs about 250 lbs, tops!

 

Yes all under warranty.

 

I had all the same issues in my 96 2.7l. I also had to have my leaf springs replaced due to basically the same TSB they have out now.

It seems like in 15 years Toyota has learned nothing.
I still like my 08, just find it frustrating that I am experiencing the same problems.

Shawn

 

4.0 liter 6 speed....simply driving back and forth over dumped sand in driveway to tamp it down had my clutch smelling for a couple of days. Long time manual driver.

How can Toyota get away with it? Not much competition in this market sector. I couldn't wait to get rid of the POS Dodge Dakota I traded on my 09 Tacoma, the 5 cylinder Chev offering was about okay for gardening supply trips, the Ford/Mazda truck was tiny and out of date. Didn't need or want a full size.

 

My thoughts too. Although I was already heavily biased toward Tacoma, I did look at the competition just to make sure. One problem with Frontier was it only came in 4WD/Prerunner height, no base suspension like a Tacoma that my wife could easily get in and out of. I thought it kind of funny that the salesman insisted Frontiers had never been lower, until his manager assured him that there used to be a regular height version until 2004.

Tim

 

It would definitely be nice to see a little more serious competition in this vehicle category. (If for no other reason than to prod Toyota into picking up the ball with their clutches.)

I got some smell from mine - not so much recently. (Protective coating? Knock on wood...)

A quick search doesn't turn up much in the aftermarket for a 2WD 2.7L 2nd Gen. Hopefully there will be some decent upgrades available when I'm a few years out of warranty.