Tacoma is shaking at highway speeds

Hello,

I have a 2019 Tacoma TRD Sport. I noticed at highway speeds of 75-80 (never really go faster than that) I get a lot of vibration (left to right feeling) in the seats and inside the cabin. It is not in the steering wheel. The passenger seat shakes like crazy in a left to right motion. The vibration could be felt slighting through the floor board. I can also kind of feel this vibration when I’m driving 70-ish, but not as bad as when I’m driving between 75 and 80 MPH. I took it in a few months ago to the dealership Toyota and they told me that there was nothing wrong. I am almost certain that there is something wrong. Is there anything that you guys could think of? Thank you, I appreciate any feed back.

 

If it varies with speed like that you might have an out of balance wheel. You won’t feel them going slow 40mph or so, not more than just general road roughness. Once you get to highway speed they kick off, and based on where the heavy spot is will cause shakes at different periods so at different speeds like you’re seeing.

 

OP what tires are you running? My general Grabber ATX's do this around the same speed and have done it on both trucks i've had them mounted on. Balancing hasn't made too much difference, thinking I have a bad tire.

 

Shaking only at speed is balance issue. If felt in seats, it's a rear tire. If felt in steering wheel, it's a front tire.

Drive shaft is also a balanced item that shows up as a vibration in the chassis like a rear tire. Rare though.

 

Same reason i got rid of my general grabbers on the tundra...they couldn't be balance.

 

Could also be hub/bearing related but you'd also get noise at any speed. Jack up rear and do some pulling on tires to see if you can notice any wobble or looseness.

Others are probably closer with it being the tire balance. Easiest way to know would be to swap them back-front and see if vibration moves.

 

I have a 2019 DCLB OR (under 800 miles) with the exact same issue at those speeds. I noticed it the first night I was driving it home. I took it in to the dealership explaining the problem, they said I could not ride along with the tech due to their COVID protocols, I said ok but they'd have to get it up to at least 75 mph, they said ok. Several hour later I went back to get my truck and they said everything was fine, but they never took it over 65 mph or checked the tire balance as I asked them to. So I am waiting until they loosen restrictions so I can drive it 75+ with the tech setting in the back looking at the passenger seat going back and forth. In all fairness I seldom get to those speeds in my daily driving but I want o make sure nothing is wrong before I change out the tires, wheels, and suspension and then they blame the problem on me "modifying" the vehicle. If you get an answer please post it, I will do the same. Good Luck.

 

Call ahead and make sure the shop you go to has a road force balancer. That will show if there is something wrong with the tires.

 

No dealer will go over the posted speed limit to diagnose a speed related issue. Have to take a tech for a ride.

 

I also have the same vibration , had it since day 1 when I bought it ,at 77mph to 85ish. Thought it may be tires so I went ahead and bought some new MT’s and still have the same issue. Now I’m at 3600 miles. Sometimes the shaking is worse some times it’s not so much. I feel it in the driver seat and can see the passenger seat shaking side to side. But there is no vibration in my steering wheel. Haven’t took it to dealer yet, afraid they’ll blame my wheel spacers or mud tires.

 

Did you ever find a solution or cause of the problem?

 

Have you had any recent tire rotations or new tires mounted?

 

No, OEM tires and wheels, only about 1200 miles on the vehicle currently. I'm still waiting for the COVID rules to lighten up so I can ride along with the tech.
I want the dealer to fix or document the problem before I change out the tires, wheels, and suspension and then they blame the problem on me "modifying" the vehicle.

 

Check the torque on the lug nuts. 85ft lbs. Start there.

 

Good idea, I'll try that. I did a quick check with a regular 4 way lug wrench when I first noticed it but not with a torque wrench.

 

Fwiw, my truck does this. Always has. Only from 78-80 mph though. I just accepted it a long time ago. If someone is sitting in the passenger seat it doesn't do it.

I have 265 C load KO2s on T4R pro wheels that have never been perfectly balanced but are pretty close. They are probably the source but it did it with the stock wheels/tires too so. Admittedly it was less vibration with the stock setup though.

 

Have you checked the drive shaft? I’ve driven trucks with u joints that were just loose enough to cause vibration.

 

I had similar. Hot weather had jumped my tire pressure up to 40 psi. Let some air out. Much better now.

 

Sounds like it could be a critical speed issue with one pf the components.
Maybe balance the tires then drive shaft. Check shaft phasing.

 

This. Road Force balancing is the key.
In addition and this is nitpick but it does matter.
Michelin tires have the tread line up perfectly. I know it sounds crazy, but having a squirm in the tread can be felt.