Popping Noise on Right side of Tacoma

I just bought a 2023 Tacoma Limited Blackout Edition in December and my truck is making a popping noise on the right side.

Here is when it makes the popping noise:

1. In the morning I START the truck
2. Reverse out of driveway
3. Put in drive and drive forward
4. Driving forward 1-2mph and within 5-10ft I hear a popping noise coming from the right side of the truck
5. If I shut the truck off and wait a couple minutes and do steps 3 & 4 again it will make the popping noise again.

* It only makes the noise once at the start of a trip.

Dealer is telling me it’s normal and if you don’t hear the noise then there’s something wrong with your ABS system self check.

Additional Testing:

The dealer is working with me. They had one other Tacoma on the lot on Thursday and they let me test drive a 2021 Tacoma and it made a similar popping/clunk sound but it was noticeably quieter. When compared to mine the tech and I noticed that my trucks noise was much louder.

Yesterday, I test drove a 2022 Tacoma from another dealer and it didn’t make a popping noise at all. I did notice the brakes on this used Tacoma were very stiff/hard to press down to stop? Maybe their ABS system self check isn’t working? Or this noise I’m hearing isn’t the ABS system self check in my truck?

They have another 2023 inbound and I will be testing that this week.

Lastly, they’re telling me that if you don’t hear that noise then your ABS system has a problem.

If anybody has time can you run through my steps 1-5 to see if yours makes the popping noise?

Preferably looking for reviews from Limited and 2023 Tacomas but really they should work the same.

Thanks!

 

It’s normal, even says so in your owners Manuel

 

I think ABS too

My ‘23 does the same since I brought it home new and it seems common from what I’ve read. It’s not as loud as when I bought the truck, but I can feel it or slightly hear it occasionally (15k now)

I recently noticed my blower fan has a tiny noise too on the lowest setting. But I’m choosing to ignore that and ruling it out as normal too lol

Chasing down these quirky noises will drive you nuts in this truck haha

Good luck and enjoy the new ride!!

 

I’m almost all the way through reading every sentence in mine. I would highly recommend reading as well

 

Thanks for the reply guys.

I have read the manual and dealer says the popping noise is coming from ABS system self check but the manual says the noise you may hear comes from Traction Control System.

I actually read through the whole manual over Christmas break too.

@fiftysix So, if it is a normal noise I am glad to hear that the noise got quieter over time which would line up with the 2021 quieter noise because that one had 29k miles and yours has 15k miles.

My Tacoma is currently sitting at 1500 miles. Still very new and hopefully the noise gets quieter.

I can totally live with the noise as long as I know it’s a normal mechanic noise.

The crazy thing is why didn’t the 2022 Tacoma I test drive yesterday make that noise at all?

I’ll attach a couple documents my dealer tech gave me this week about the noise as well. One notice was from the Sequoia’s from 2018-19 which aren’t Tacomas but he said it’s a general notice for all Toyota vehicles?

 

Mine does the same thing…at first start up.. roll forward about 5ft and pop.

 

Some have had a noise like this coming from the front brake pads. Adding a second pad retainer spring keeps the pads from binding/ popping

 

Was the 2022 an Offroad by chance? Those use an electronic brake booster as opposed to the vacuum booster the others use. Also explains why you noticed the pedal feel was different. Both my offroads have made a little clunk doing the self check.

 

Yes, it was an Off Road. I didn’t know the different Tacoma models have different brakes. I missed that in my research.

 

Yup the Offroad and Pro's have the electronic booster for the crawl control (or ATRAC in manuals) features. Other models get the regular brake booster with vacuum pump.

 

@Delta09 What baffles me is that the 2022 Tacoma I test drove yesterday didn’t make the clunk noise at all.

From what I’m hearing from you guys is it’s normal to hear this noise. If that’s the case then that 2022 Tacoma possibly has something wrong with the abs system self check?

 

Doubt it. Forgot to mention some days I hear it, some days I don't.

Tacoma's have some really odd quirks that if you don't know what you're getting into it might worry you a little bit. I'm currently on my 4th (2 2nd gens and 2 3rd) and they've all had their own "personality"

 

You’re overthinking this.
If there was a problem, the truck would let you know.
Drive it and enjoy it..

 

That’s reassuring considering you’ve had 4 Tacomas and 2 were 3rd gens.

It’s just good to hear that it does sometimes and other times it doesn’t.

Thanks for the info on the noise! That’s really the only quirk I’ve had so far. Everything else had been a good experience.

 

Just being cautious and cool. I definitely will continue to enjoy the truck. It’s a fun truck to drive!

 

Wait till you start hating the automatic transmission behavior

 

And the taco lean
The taco tic
The taco pump noise
The taco snap
The taco………..

 

Gotta love a good Taco

 

Hahaha! I hear yeah and have read a lot about that. Crazily enough mine accelerates pretty fast and very minorly gear hunts. Maybe 2 out of 10 times it’ll gear hunt between 5-6 gear.

I’ve been using S-Mode lately now that it’s past the break-in. I’m blowing people off the line and I’m not even pressing down that hard on the gas pedal lol!

That being said I am still considering getting an OTT tune. Have you ever gotten one on your 3rd gen Tacoma?

My only hesitation would be the warranty since mine came with a 10yr warranty.

 

Mine does the same thing as everyone else's...within 10' of pulling out of the driveway there's a slight bump from the right front after sitting overnight...I'm at 105,000 trouble free miles and it's completely normal.