20 MPH Vibration Problems on 07 Tacoma Auto V6 Access Cad TRD

First things first...if you go to arbitration as you've stated, you'll "lose".

Why?

The dealer offered to attempt to correct the situation, and you've refused to accept their attempt.

If you don't like the decision of the arbitrator...you can "serve" them, but you'll end up paying their (and your) legal expenses, and the suit will be dismissed.

Why?

Because to submit a case to arbitration (also known as binding arbitration), you agree to accept the outcome of the arbitration as a final and binding settlement of the situation...AND you give up your recourse to civil suit.

A copy of that signed agreement will be the first item passed to the judge, by the dealership...just before the judge dismisses the case.

Why would you not want the dealer to try to fix it?

 

Before I had the new drive shaft put on the truck - a passenger (including me and my wife) could definitely feel the vibration. I haven't tried that test with the new drive shaft but I think a passenger can still feel it if they paid attention.

 

Adkins,
Do you also feel the vibration in the steering wheel when accelerating?
Thxs

 

Hello everyone.....I've submitted many, many pages of repair attempts, etc....to the arbitrator, as Toyota insists this vibration is "normal specs"...this is total hogwash. I've taken my truck to my mechanic of 35 years and he said the vibration is absurd...recommended 3 fixes(road force balancing/driveshaft/rotors...etc.)..to which MY dealer did...and nothing has helped...My dealer's GENERAL MANAGER even drove mine, and said the vibration made his hands tingle. When I asked him to put it in writing, he refused. I have until May 10th to finish faxing paperwork for my arbitration process....just received Toyota's copy of their statement...basically, our technical service representative said the truck has no vibration and is within specifications...I'm asking for either a replacement truck OR a refund. I've read over 100 examples of this vibration in both the 06 and 07 double cabs TRD 4x4's and others....I told them that if this is "normal" Tacoma performance that there are surely going to be a lot of Tacoma owners complaining about their normalcy.
I'll keep the Forum informed of my progress(decision on the 14th)....in the short term, if ANYONE can send me any more "evidence" of this problem that I can add to my case, I'd appreciate it.

Please also feel free to contact me:

Barry 703 878 4575 (H) 703 981 2079 (C) kelseasdaddy@comcast.net
barry.mensh@fcps.edu

I'm a high school teacher in northern Virginia....

Thanks!

 

Barry,
If you don't mind I'll call you tomorrow (Sat.)
Thanks.

 

Genemens, I stand corrected...and recant my prior testimony, regarding arbitration in automotive warranty/lemon law regards.

After discussing fanofpre's experience in a phone conversation, I have to reverse what I said earlier. Submitting to arbitration--in this aspect--is not binding to the vehicle owner, and it does not require him or her to forfeit the right to file civil suit under provisions of his/her state Lemon Law.

BTW, fanofpre sounds to have a vehicle which will qualify for Lemon Law disposition...he's had numerous other individuals validate the vehicle's characteristics as unusual.

 

Hi Steve,
I dislike correcting people and never replied to your above post due to this. Thank you for stating correction, that speaks highly of you.

I tried to find the time to call Barry today but have mom and dad in town on their annual migration north.
I'll call Barry Monday.

Chat later.
Bye

 

Hello GT...


I'll be around tomorrow evening...I'm putting together another 50 or so pages to fax the arbitrator........had daughter's birthday stuff all weekend, so wasn't around much....did drive a lot(still vibrating!)......***one interesting note, that I mentioned to Steve in a phone conversation Saturday evening....when a load is put in the bed(I'm putting about 1/2 - 3/4 of a ton of mulch)....NO VIBRATION...sounds like either the B.F. Goodrich tires or a suspension issue.......I'll probably mention this to the arbitrator as well, though I'm thinking they'll come back with another "fix", which I'm tired of....

More later....

Take care, all.......

Barry

 

Barry and GT88,

I am really sorry to hear about what your Tacomas have put you through. I wish that I could be of help, but my truck has been just fine. In the POLL that I did on Tacoma defects, it seems that the DoubleCabs are having the most trouble with vibrations. I don't know if this helps you or not, but I found it to be interesting.

No matter what, you guys have our support. I agree that these trucks should not have "normal" vibration or any other "charactaristic" that is abnormal in any other vehicle.

Best of luck!

 

Hi 007 and Barry,

Barry the extra load cancelling the vibration could be due to the lower ride height changing the angle of the driveline also.

But what is the fix for that??...........put an extra 800lbs. in the bed permanently?

Will update and will call you shortly.

 

Oh, and thank you 007 for your concerns and help.

It really is a shame but somehow I knew Toyota was going to respond like they have to everyone.

And when I say Toyota, I mean South East Toyota Distributors in FL.

 

I don't know if this helps guys but i was feeling the shudder type feel when the tranny shifted from 1st gear to second gear, but i wrote it off as, " hey its a big tough truck " not a Lexus... no big deal. But when i added a 4 inch skyjacker lift kit and big 33 inch BF-Goodrich all terrains that vibration disappeared. So i would have to say the problem is drive line related with the tranny's 2nd gear and the final drive ratio.. because when i added those tall tires it took away some low end rpm and the thus lowering the the 1st gear torque, which equates to a smoother transition from 1st to second gear, so i have no vibration at all now.. I know that this condition is considered normal for Tacoma's, but bigger tires do make a difference, also this condition does'nt happen with Tundras.

 

My 20 mph vibration is still there at 1700 miles but is definitely fairly subtle now with the new driveshaft. Yesterday the head of dealer service asked me to come in and drive other new, V6, 4x4, TRD, access cabs on the lot to see if any of those felt better. I drove two - both had the 20 mph vibration, one definitely worse and the other equal if not worse. No point to trading parts or trucks.

Other than some serious mods (such as lift kits, etc.), has anyone been able to completely eliminate this vibration? Also, I'm curious to hear if arbitration been successful for those who haven't had any success working with the dealers.

For now, I'm going to just keep driving the truck and monitor its behavior. I don't think the vibration is serious enough to cause damage in the near term. Will it affect long term reliability? Possibly, but at least its under warranty for the next 5 years. My hope is that with enough complaints, Toyota will have a TSB soon.

 

If a TSB comes out for the vibration then i will definately take mine in for a fix, but as it is now i don't think its worth the trouble. my vibration is very subtle. Sometimes it's hard to tell if there is a vibration or i'm just on rough or damaged asphalt. So until i hear of a TSB i'll just leave it alone unless it gets worse

 

I have the 30-20 mph vibration/shudder. I also have a 50 mph all the way to 75+ mph harmonic pulsing type of vibration that stops immediately when I let off the gas pedal, this is felt in the steering wheel, seat, and floor. You can also hear it. This is not tires or rims or the balancing of them, otherwise it would not stop instantly when I stop accelerating. What I have is positively driveline related like transmission/flywheel/torque converter/u-joints/driveshaft.....

FWIW, Our attorney had all 4 wheels road force balanced to the tune of $125 only to find that none of the 4 rims needed any balance.

You can chime in anytime Toyota....

 

I have a 2007 Tacoma, Access Cab, Six Speed Manual, V6, SR5. My truck has only 2,700 miles on it and has been vibrating at approximately 21mph basically since I bought it. This vibration can be felt by anyone anywhere in the truck. When I first noticed it (400 miles) I took it to the dealer and they told me it was tire tread pattern noise (even though I told them it was a feeling not a noise), other wise the truck was performing normally. I took it to another dealer and they said once again no vibration noise heard (even though I specifically wrote a note and taped it to the steering wheel saying the problem is a feeling not a sound). So I took it back to that dealer again for a ride along with the technician. During that ride along the lead technician explained to me that he felt the vibration and has had at least 25 other Tacoma's come in for the same problem, but it is not a safety issue and ALL Tacoma's do it therefore it is a normal operating condition. After prying him for answers he explained that the driveline towards the rear has a design flaw and therefore is out of balance. He said he could fix it in 1 hour with a couple of shims but Toyota won't let him because it then becomes a "modification". He of course would not put any of that in writing. I have been in contact with Toyota and a Toyota engineer is coming to drive it on 11/21/07 but I'm sure he'll just feed me a line of crap. Anyway I have also started the arbitration process. If arbitration delivers unfair results then class action will be next, as there are many many people complaining about this exact problem all over the internet...

 

Hey Gang...
Well, after many posts and MANY trips to the dealership, arbitration(lost), and a Lemon Law Suit....I won a settlement against Toyota and they bought back my 06 Tacoma for what I paid for it(less $200)......I loved the truck, except for the nagging, irritating vibration, and.....their Customer Service(Toyota's) really stank(for me, at least)...thus, I just bought an 07' Explorer(Eddie Bauer). Best of luck to ALL with the problem...Here's what I'll tell you....

Time, Patience, and Perseverence Will Accomplish All Things!

Don't give up....I had a folder 3" thick of paperwork....I believe Toyota is now 'aware' of the issue and had better come up w/ a fix soon!

Drop me an e-mail if you have any questions about the Lemon Law process, etc......

Barry

 

I know the thread said V-6 Auto, and I write this only to give you more support, I have a V-6, 6 speed, and it does not have the vibration you speak of. So it really kind of points to the auto trans, all I can say is not to give up until it is resolved in your favor, perhaps ask for a test drive of one on the lot, maybe try a six speed & auto.

 

The dreaded vibration. True, this may be "common" but it is certainly not "normal". But then that is how the world has defined "normal." It is truly a bunch of BS.

Normal is what people are willing to accept. I remember the tolls on the Garden State parkway were only supposed to be there for a few years at first, that was the proposal. But 30 years later it's now normal...and quadrupled.

 

This may not be related to the vibration noise, but my old 2002 Ford Ranger had a similar problem. See clips of posts I copied from my Ranger forum.... perhaps, this could solve the problem ???

Here is the problem statement:

Thump/ Kick in 1999 4X4
I've got a 1999 Ranger 4X4 Off Road (see photo to left) For about the last 30,000 miles (it's got 55,400 total on it) it's had a "kick" upon acclerating from a stop. It almost feels like a problem in a torque converter. It'll idle itself forward slowly from a stop (as one would expect), but once I give it gas, I can feel it "kick." It feels like a delay almost in the transmission getting power to the rear end, causing the "kick". It's almost like getting pulled on water skis with a loose tow rope at the start. Make sense? Just kind of a "kick."

I've checked the TSB's from Ford, and I've checked here and haven't really found a deffinitive answer. I had a service manager at a local Ford dealer tell me it was probably a loose drive-line. What does that mean? Like a bolt is loose? Or everything from the transmission, drive shaft, and rear differential are all ready to fall off? Aaarrrgggghhh!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Here are some suggestions as well as my own experience scroll down to the bottom...

Posted by 99RangerStep


I'll bet it's the classis slip-yoke that needs grease. Do a search on "slip yoke" and you'll find the answer. Basically, the grease dries out and doesn't lubricate. When coming to a stop it binds up. When you go to take off you get that hesitation and then the thump when the slip-yoke unbinds. All you have to do is pull the boot back and pack it full of grease, work the grease into the splines, and clamp the boot back in place. Do a search and you'll find all sorts of stuff on this. Your issue sounds exactly like that problem. I had the same problem with my 99 4.0 4x4. Greased the slip-yoke and it hasn't done it since.

My experience ---->>>>


My 2002 FX4 had the same problem. I thought about doing the GREASE deal myself, but last minute decided to take it to a shop as I also noticed a "seepage" or a oil slick on a Differential housing. The shop ordered a new grease from the Ford Dealership. He showed me the dealer receipt and it showed $21.xx for the grease. After the grease has been repacked, the CLUNKING / THUMPING noise completely disappeared. Wow ! 02 Ranger FX4 Offroad