What Has Gone Wrong With Your Tacoma?

I have a 2021 SR5 4 cyl. and have been very disappointed with the transmission shifting. I checked the fluid and found it a little low and thought that would fix things (see excellent write-up here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...n-fluid-level-check-diy.547455/#post-17758357), but that was short lived. The poor shifting, especially--but not exclusively--at slow speeds in traffic (15-30 mph) has gotten worse. I just took the truck in for the 5,000 mile service (i.e. they rotate the tires and fill the washer fluid ) and explained my issues and had requested to take a ride with the technician when I booked the appointment. When I took it in they said they don't do the technician rides!

This was the second time I've had the truck in about the bad shifting and they say, the technician couldn't recreate your concern and it tests out OK. This last time they basically blamed the 4 cyl. engine. I agreed that I wished I had the 6 cyl., but told them that doesn't explain why it's gotten worse. I've had the truck since 7 miles and I know it has gotten worse and that it is not my imagination, LOL. Today I'm going to disconnect the battery for awhile, but it's my understanding that reset the ECU fully you need TechStream.

[side note: the dealership and Toyota would not let up with requests to "rate (my) service experience," so I finally completed their survey and told them how unhappy I was with everything. The service manager sent me an email that he would look into it Monday and get back to me. I am not holding my breath, but maybe they will try to help me some more.]

 

I have a 2019 SR 2.7L 4 cyl. and have no issues with shifting at lower speeds. What exactly is the “poor shifting” you’re talking about? I also typically have it in ECT mode driving around town at low speeds. If you aren’t, push that ECT button!

 

2017 SR5 V6 Auto 2WD

Zero issues.
* Battery died in forty second month.

 

@davidstacoma, it's funny you mentioned the ECT button, because I did experiment with that. Initially my shifting issues seem to be better with it in power mode, but not so much anymore. To answer your first question about the 'poor shifting' I'm experiencing, probably the most noticeable and consistent scenario I can describe in writing here, is if I come up to a red light and I'm rolling slowing along (about 10-15 mph) when the light turns green and I give it gas. I'm not pounding on the gas pedal mind you, just trying to gradually accelerate. It often feels to me like it engages rough. (it is vaguely reminiscent of an old accord I had that was experiencing the transmission starting to 'slip' <sigh>)

 

It's fixed got a 100,000 mile Powertrain warrantee with free oil & filter changes till the 100k mark AND a PIN# for a $5000.00 discount on a 2021 Tacoma if I personally buy one before December 31 2021 for my troubles.....Yea feeding a tundra for a week THAT'S TROUBLE

Not a chance I just love the inferno color & all my additions with the one I have now.

 

TX built 2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD OR w/ OME coilovers, block and aal rear w/ 33" BFG AT KO2s.

Very nice, very capable truck that gets decent highway mpgs considering the lift and tires. I've owned a bunch of Toyota 4x4s including 4 Tacomas, but I'm really considering something different next time.

Auto transmission has always bugged me, before and after ecu flash

the infotainment and Nav is outdated compared to competition and the Nav has always give me incorrect info (I just use my phone now)

Plastic wheel well liners keep coming loose thanks to wrong sized washers used from factory

Fuel door spring seized, bent door, and I managed to rebend it so that it's useable again, 2nd Tacoma this has happened on

Front passenger door shuts rough and has a loud clunk, just before closing

Driver window whistles before and after warranty fix

Leaf springs squeak, before and after lift

It's a cool truck and I realize none of the above are going to leave me sitting alongside the road, but for a truck that still has a retail value over $35k (according to KBB) I don't want to have to deal with all these minor issues.

Seriously considering a Gladiator next......but FCA worries me too.

 

I’ve had zero issues with my 2017 TRD OR 4x4, however, my son has a 2017 TRD Sport 4x2 and in 2019 his truck spent about 10 days at the dealer because a sometimes chirping and some times screaming noise under the hood.

First they replaced an idler and the noise was back the next day. After about another week they wound up replacing every single pulley and several different serpentine belts but they finally got it take care of.

Hopefully the link works, this is chirping, you should’ve heard it under load driving away!

https://share.icloud.com/photos/02NCIRjfLruuYOlrbpM6EnJXw#North_Las_Vegas

 

-TRD Pro door emblem lost its adhesive grip on the passenger door. My stealership ordered and replaced the emblem under warranty.
-My VIN falls under the the fuel pump recall. Still waiting for the part to arrive to my stealership.
-Had the newest auto tranny software update installed at my request. Stealership installed software with no questions asked. “Gear hunting” is noticeably reduced but is not 100% eliminated.

Biggest disappointment? Fuel mileage is awful for a mid sized truck. My work truck, a 2020 F150 Crew Cab with the 3.5 V6 (not the EB), gets better fuel economy and is MUCH roomier inside.

That’s all folks...

 

My blind spot monitor sensors went out at 10k miles. Dealer replaced them and haven’t had any other issues since. Currently sitting at 41k miles.

 

I haven't had any issues with my 2017 except for the battery just dying at like 7k miles. AAA replaced it for I think $50. These threads always scare me lol

 

OVTUNE 2.0 considerably improved my shifting.

 

My truck bed is tilted lower on passenger side near bumper

 

2016 DCLB. Oh where to start! The paint seems to have developed some localized loss of integrity on every panel. OK, I guess those are deep scratches from the woods and using it to do work. The mileage totally sucks - 14.9MPG combined. Might be from the lift, skids, sliders, and 33" E-rated BFGs, though. There is a lot (for it's age) rust on the frame around every weld (but I live in Michigan) and around all of the door sill trim plates which is really annoying. The adjustment cams for the LCAs were totally seized and had to be cut out and replaced to do an alignment at 70,000 miles. Other than that it has been a great truck.

 

2021 SR 4WD at 2,000 miles and counting.. I have made peace with the transmission shifting but my truck does this wild shaking/shuddering at low RPM's. It's like a momentary loss of power or a slippage or something where it will buck and jerk. This usually happens red light to red light where I'm running ~45mph. If I throttle up and get a downshift, it goes away. Maybe lack of power due to being in too high of gear? Dealer says it's a normal thing but two other 2021 owner's I spoke with disagree. It seems too destructive in nature to be normal. Anyone else out there in the same boat?

 

Thank you! Unfortunately I have a 4 cylinder and its my understanding those are not able to be tuned

 

Third brake light leaked, sourced a new one on eBay and got a friend who’s really good with headliners to drop the headliner and help me replace it. The Toyota dealership wanted $600, I kid you not! Other than that (and I don’t think I want to complain about that all too much) my 2016 Tacoma Limited double cab has performed like a champ.

 

Hopefully it holds up as that is a new power train...I try to avoid 1st year of unproven powerplants.

 

Did you get check engine light? Did you lose traction? Has it happened again? I had a similar issue went into limp mode it was the fuel pump issue happened to me while driving threw a code I reset it on the fly and kept going. Next day fuel pump replaced (with the actual fix not the same defective part). I confident my issue has been remedied.

 

No it wouldn’t. You would trigger an evap CEL (engine light). The evap system runs a test randomly to make sure the tank is holding pressure. A lack of pressure signifies that gas vapors are leaking into the atmosphere versus being recirculated to the intake and burned. Should not affect performance at all.

 

Mine ran out of windshield wiper fluid