2010 Tacoma Grinding noise in 5th gear when let off gas pedal

Thanks Abby
It helps a lot. It sounds like you have the same issue. I knew I couldn't be the only one. I have a meeting with a Toyota Rep and the dealership on the 9th. It will be interesting to see what they say. I'll let you know.

 

Well folks,
I met up with the Toyota Rep at the dealership near me on Thurs Sept 9th. I had him ride in the truck with me and he heard the noise I've been talking about in this thread. We both agreed it sounded like a tolerance or play issue in the gearing but he wasn't sure. I left the truck got a loaner and they called later that day and said they were replacing the rear driveshaft assembly. They found that a U-joint in the rear driveshaft was frozen.
So far so good it seems to have WORKED! I've been test driving it all morning and the sound is GONE! Thank god! I checked out everything under the truck and the driveshaft assembly is definitely new even though the truck was new looking to begin with.
Since this was happening from the start and I only have 12K on the truck it was a freebie replacement so I suggest ANYONE who has a new Toyota Tacoma still under warranty that is having this same issue to go to the dealer have them look at it and escalate it to a meeting with a Rep if you have to and have the work done! They would probably have to send a rep out ayway if it's under warranty so just make sure they can hear it.
My problem came with the truck so there may be others out there. I'm really glad this sound is gone and the truck seems perfect now. I'm glad it's not something inherent in the truck and I'd have to live with it. I have no other complaints otherwise except for wish they could have done bucket seats instead of a bench seat in the single cab. My truck is a 2010 Toyota Tacoma Single cab 4x4 5 speed manual transmission magnetic gray. Purchased Sept 11 2009. Exactly 1 yr ago.
If the problem comes back I will let you know but as of now the annoying little grinding or whirring noise I had when I let my my foot off the gas in 5th gear (did hear it once in 4th) going 60 to 80 on the highway seems to be GONE!

 

When I did my first oil change at 2500 I though what the hell throw a pump or two into the zerks(more to find them myself). I was amazed at how much grease it took probably 5-8 pumps before anything started to show. I wonder if they use just enough grease to get to that first service? Glad you got it fixed and this is why they make a 36/3yr warranty. Mine was purchased Sept 10th so already 1 year.

 

I have 2009 tacoma. manual transmission. In 5th gear (sometimes 4th) I have the same problem. I notice it making the noise between 60-70 mph. I had it checked at the dealership. They had it inspected and found nothing wrong with it. The technician said all he heard was the wind created from the brush guard....the brush guard?!? It's not the wind it's a scraping noise from the drivetrain!! It feels like they they don't want to repair it because the costs would be too great so they're keeping it quiet.

 

I now have had my 2006 Tacoma 4X4 serviced for the TSB to replace the rear differential components with the upgrades. The noise is almost gone, however I can still hear some noise still at times. It seems this noise is the same type of grinding sound but barely noticeable. Also it is only at around 70 mph when letting off the gas. I am now thinking there is more to it, but Toyota may not be wanting to address it like they should. The TSB also calls for placing some sound deadening material under the carpet near the rear of the cab. Sounds like not the best fixed, but just enough to get by.

 

I have a 2006 Tacoma Prerunner SR5 with the TRD package. I have the same issue and it is very annoying. Unfortunately, I did not notice the noise until I had about 72K miles on my truck. I took it to the dealer, and they want $2200 to replace the rear differential. From the posts and the TSB, it looks like Toyota knows of an issue but are unwilling to take care of it the right way. For now I am just putting up with the noise....

 

ya... nothing really to do if they wont repair it for free. I'll probably just wait for the rear end differential to go or something lol

 

I've got a 2011 std cab 4x4 5sp, and this perfectly describes a noise I hear. I only started hearing it after I put on my old man emu leaf springs -- it's fairly quiet, right? I suspect the sound may have been there all along and the new springs may just conduct the sound into the frame and body better. Or possibly, the slight change to the pinion angle caused it to start.

At any rate, I attribute it to "normal" driveline noise and I don't worry about it.

 

The noise isn't horribly loud, but loud enough to get annoying after a while. My truck is completely stock. I'm just gonna drive mine for a while and see what happens. I have plenty of warrantly left. Hopefully it will create a failure in the driveline sometime before it expires and not after.

 

I just bought a used '07 and discovered the same sound, exactly as described by other posters (a grinding noise when traveling over 60mph in 5th gear, just slightly pushing on the gas, mainly on down slopes). Molicious, has the repair they did on your truck in Sept continued to solve the problem? Has anyone else got Toyota to fix theirs? I have 1500 miles left on my drivetrain warranty, so need to get it in to them soon!

 

YES!! The problem has been solved on my truck. They replaced the Drive Shaft Assembly Propeller part number 37110-04170 and so far I can't even make the sound happen. I used to be able to make the sound occur at will but now it is gone and I can't recreate it. I've never been happier to get rid of that annoying sound. The truck seems perfect now. I had this done at 12K and I am now at 16k and all is well. I'm not saying it may not start occurring again but as of now it's all good. I will post again if the noise comes back. If I were you I would get it in asap and if the dealer sluffs you off escalate it to a Toyota Rep. I managed to do this just by slamming them real hard when I got the "after service survey" they always send. I filled it out and two days later got a call from a Toyota Rep who tried to survey me again. I explained everything to him (as he sat there in stunned silence), we scheduled a meeting and he rode in the truck with me and heard the sound first hand. I wouldn't depend on them calling you so you may have to request a meeting or if your dealer is honest they'll just go ahead and replace it but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. Good luck and I hope they take care of you.

 

Thanks for helping me narrow down the location of the noise. I took my truck to the dealership yesterday and they verified that it has a defective drive shaft - "slip joint has play". I think it helped that I was able to pinpoint the source of the noise, they didn't even test drive it. Only trouble is there is only one replacement drive shaft in the state and they're telling me it may take up to the end of next month to do the repair! Meanwhile they said I have to keep the mileage under 60K until it's fixed in order to be covered under warranty - it now has 58700. But at least they didn't try to deny the claim.

 

So here it is almost two months later and I'm still waiting for the Toyota factory to come up with a replacement drive shaft. How long can it possibly take? I wonder if there is a run on drive shafts due to having large numbers of defective ones? No wonder their reputation is going down these days!

 

I have the same noise. Scepticle of it being drive shaft related because it doesn't do it in other gears. Hmmm

 

Maybe has to with overdrive?

 

I had the same problem in my toyota. I even posted ealier in this blog but it seems the noise has left now. Its been a few k miles and i haven't heard it act up. i currently have 25k on it and its an 09 single cab i4 model. I'm not quite sure. And in response to the person who thinks its only 5th gear (or which ever gear) its not. when i did have the problem i noticed it also in fourth. Then i really started to freak out but all is well now = )

One more note to add. The more i think about it the more i think its not a terribly bad problem. I think it does use the trucks body to resonate that noise and make it sound much worse than what it is. (and no im not with toyota). I hope all goes well with all your trucks and that it will be alright.

 

Double check and make sure of that. My truck will do it in any gear at about 70mph. It also will make the same noise at a much lower volume at around 35 mph in any gear.

Try driving in 4th gear at 70mph and slowly let off the gas and see if you hear it. I bet you do.

Chris

 

i bet you i dont...

ive listened with no avail. only happens in 5th. and even then its only occasionally and didnt do it when listening for it yesterday...

i plan on regear so hopefully that will eliminate rearend as the problem...

u joints are cheap too so i really dont care if its driveshaft/ rear end related. just hope its not the tranny. that is why is concerns me that its not audible in other gears...

 

I thought my noise was coming from the trans too since I could only hear it in 5th, but by sliding the rear window open I can clearly hear the noise from behind. Can also hear it by coasting in neutral @ 60mph or so, though not as loud. It's easy to check for play in the drive shaft slip joint to see if that's where the problem is, just push up on it from below to see if there is any wiggle there. Toyota has finally found a new drive shaft for me, in Kentucky, and are supposed to have it here to install by the end of the month!

 

from what it sounds like, it seems to only happen at high speeds which would mean the sloop would be moveing at a high speed. just my .02