Looking at buying 2021 TRD OFF ROAD. Heard they may have transmission or electrical issues

Hello

Looking at buying a 2021 Tacoma 4x4 Off Road

Heard they may be issues with sensors, electrical, traction control unit, transmission etc.

We have the 2016, 2008 and a 1998 been great daily drivers with no issues.

Please advise if you have information on any issues with the newer model.

Thank you.

 

Welcome to TW!

A lot of folks don’t like how the transmission is programmed, but there haven’t been any reliability issues.

Also, there are no common issues with sensors, electrical and TC.

CPS affected mainly 16-17 MY, maybe some 18s. Also, some reported Crawl control to not work properly.

My truck is 2018 and has none of the “TW issues”, I’ve been more than happy with it. You can’t go wrong with a Toyota really.

Good luck!

 

Welcome to TW

If you delve into most of the issues that you find here, most are the consequence of modifications made without due consideration of the effect those mods may have on the interrelationships between those items you mention.
While technology can be wonderful and those interrelationships can be beneficial overall, once you start adding (or changing) things that are not accounted for in the systems' programming, shit happens.
I moved from an '06 TRD OR AC Manual (4.0V6) to a '21 TRD OR AC Auto (3.5V6). Many changes and refinements happened over those 15 years, and I've slowly adapted to them. I have done no mods that connect to electrical or electronics, so I've experienced none of the issues you read about here on TW. I have no intentions of doing suspension mods.
The more extreme your mods, the more you're gonna pay - both upfront and down the road if you upset the balance of Taco's nature (the electronics & programming).
Change the suspension's geometry and you may have issues that are tough to resolve.
Add aftermarket electrical stuff and they may not play well with the factory systems.
Play cautiously and you should be fine.
Just my humble opinion based on several years of hanging out on TW.

 

21' with 22,700 miles.. no issues at all with tranny

 

Just hang out here long enough and you'll hear about many. I almost had second thoughts while reading TW posts and waiting for my '21 to arrive.

 

None here either.
One has to understand the power band of the 3.5V6 and how it affects the tranny's propensity to shift.
Towed my 1500# trailer last week with my 2000# tractor on it. S5 on the flats & S4 on hilly or urban stretches. ECT on throughout. Nothing unexpected.
Was pleasantly surprised at how well it performed.

 

My 21, owned since last December has had no reliability issues but it’s stock except for the 4Runner wheels and 275 Wildpeaks. In cruise control it’ll shift more than people like but it is what it is, the motor likes to rev. I remember my 1982 Toyota 4x4 with 31x10.50’s on it. Every hill I had to downshift into 3rd gear just to maintain speed and it wouldn’t go any faster even if I tried. Owned a few Tacoma’s including a 2008 TRD and I don’t see much of a difference in the overall feel of the truck. However, all my trucks have been stock. Altering any vehicle can lead to issues. I feel that the 21 has a little more pull on the top end.