2018 vs 2021 Tacoma Thoughts

Good to know. Might stop by and drive one. I was on the fence between the 4Runner and the Tacoma but I need and like a truck better. I Loved my 16 had one of the first ones and I had the transmission issues. Did the 1st tsb that helped with the gear problem from reverse and drive and it fixed it but the constant hunting when in cruise control and being in 6th gear when doing 40 miles was killing me also the howling and the last straw was the differential leaking. All of this in a period off 10k miles. I do appreciate your feedback.

 

Right there with ya bud, traded my mint 2015 for one of the first new 16's. I had the howling rear diff, low fluid that caused the clunk from reverse to first, hunting transmission and hesitation, the howling lower control arms and the passenger dash rattle from the poor fitment with the speaker cover. My truck was in service more than all my past tacomas, but I endured. The 20 is perfect, I would not hesitate coming back if I were you.

 

Good to know. Thanks for the reply. Will drive it soon

 

This is what I was talking about. This guy in this video has the 2020 and still experiencing the same Transmission issues https://youtu.be/TBKxltpC8S0

 

From what i am hearing...I think i will keep my 2015.

 

I had the transmission software update on my 2018 and saw minor improvement as I considered it dangerous. The hesitation pulling out into traffic and passing someone was still there. My 2021 is a big improvement. Shift points, pedal to transmission relationship all better, NO hesitation at all.

 

My 20 has an aux transmission.

 

I would take it with a grain of salt, he's also on a garbage rough country lift and 18'' bro wheels.

 

Good points. I've noticed that in the city, between 30-35 mph, the 2021 hangs around in 4th gear until about 35mph, which is a bit longer than the 2018 would take to drop into 5th or 6th lockup. But just about everything else is 100% better.

 

This has been my experience as well.

 

I had a 2019 short bed 4x4 v6 sr5. Only option was rubber floor mats. Put 50 k on it in two years. No issues at all other than that gutless feel. Just got a 2021 shot bed 4x4 v6 sr5. Only option is rubber mats. Does drive better, shifts better.... something is different, a noticeable improvement . The stock head unit, apple car play, auto on lights and the power seat are also better.

 

My wife's 19 doesn't have any transmission issues that I can tell. The only thing I have noticed between the 19 and 21, on a section of road that we drive a lot, if you have the course on, the 19 will up-shift later than the 21.

I haven't noticed the diff noise in the 19 or 21 that we have.

 

I have an ‘18 4cyl auto. I run the ECT ON all the time which made it a lot better running and shifting. I do know the limitations of my truck, the downshifting at the slightest incline, etc.

But I do have one thing that I’d call a problem. And it was there before and also after the fuel pump replacement. When driving at say, 40 MPH and I have to slow for a car that’s stopped waiting to make a left turn, and then he turns, and I’m now down to 20 MPH, when I then hit the gas, there’s a good second where it’s stumbling, trying to figure out what to do, then all of a sudden it screams, downshifts, and throws me back in the seat. Very annoying if not dangerous.

Has anyone had this, and does the TSB flash fix it? I mentioned it once to my service writer and he seemed confused, like he never heard of this. Maybe at my next oil change I’ll get more forceful.

 

I had this similar issue with my 2018 TRD sport. Slowing down as you experienced and pressing the pedal to pass someone or coming out of a side street from a dead stop and having a big delay before the truck accelerates. It didn't always happen but enough for me to try a TSB flash. I don't remember what flash it was but it did not correct it.

 

I’m starting to think maybe this is a sport issue and not with the later OR’s? Both my buddies that had the shifting issues both had sports also. My 19 OR shifts perfectly normal.

 

My 18 sport shifts perfectly normal as well.

 

Normal is highly relative to the user.

Stock, my Sport shifted as designed and I was happy with it.

Tuned, my Sport shifts like other cars and I'm happier with it.

 

I can say I have no problem with shifting or vibrations, I hope it stays that way. I will say, one of my biggest issues is that potato quality of the cameras. They really fucking suck. Like comon, camera technology is so cheap, you couldn't spend a couple of extra bucks for better resolution? Really?

 

maybe you need to have your eyes check

 

I've driven just about every year of third gen- here are my thought's.

• 2016: Feels kinda like a beta model of a truck. Some of them have weird rattles, and all of the auto's feel a bit clunky, and hunt like hell. Still a great truck tho.
• 2017: Less rattles, fit and finish on interior is a bit better. The one's with the tsbs preformed have less hesitation, still hunt a lot tho.
  
• 2018: More or less the same as 2017, marginal increase in fit and finish and starts to feel polished, auto transmission is marginally better
• 2019: Feels like a carry over of 2019 with again, marginal improvements.
• 2020: POWER SEATS!!!! YES!!!!!! As a long legged individual, I loved this change. Transmissions start to feel like they got their shit together.
• 2021: Fit and finish feels perfect, transmission feels like it should now. Love the power seats, and ordered one myself. 360 cam is cool, not my jam but cool. Love the small quality of life stuff. But, why does my reverse camera look like my SNES display? Minor nitpick but whatever.

Source- work at a Toyota dealer transporting cars.