2012 Stock Tacoma Driveline Vibration

Dont have any vibrating in my brand new 2012, but, just thought I would mention I noticed a sticker on my driveshaft. I was surprised to see its made by Spicer, which is owned by Dana, which builds some of the most respected driveline equipment around. The sticker says the driveshaft was "system balanced". Is this something new?

 

I had this same issue when mine was new.

my truck now has 28000 km on it and the vibration is gone. I'm not exactly sure when it stopped doing it but I haven't notice it for a while.

auto repair...

 

I, too, had the vibration when my 2012 was new, I noticed it on the drive home after picking it up from the dealer. But I just hit 5000 miles, so it's time to take it in to the dealer for my oil change and I was going to mention the vibes. So the past 2 days I have been intentionally trying to get it to vibrate, stopping real fast through 20 mph, etc. Not sure if I'm just used to it, but I can barely notice it any longer.

 

Try stopping then going up a hill, or put a load on it with lower rpms. Mine shakes like hell in these scenarios.

 

same here. 2011. its at the dealer right now. they replaced the drive shaft and said the vibes are gone, we'll see! picking it up tomorrow. here's to hoping.

 

My dealer blamed it on my lift. They told me the ones they sell with a spacer lift also has a small vibration. I don't remember any vibration when stock, but I did install my lift just after 150 miles. In the rear I'm running an AAL with TSB spring on my SR5. My vibration was from 5-25mph. Now after taking out the Shim spacer and carrier bearing spacer the vibration is only for a quick second at 5 mph.

 

I spoke to the service manager at my local dealer today and advised him that the shims took the edge off the vibration, but the vibration is still present. He told me the shims are not a long term fix and the engineers now want to install stouter leaf springs to resist the rotation of the axle/differential housing.

I agreed to trade some ride quality to eliminate the vibration - to a point. I told him that if the back end skips around while cornering, I will want the stock springs reinstalled.

I asked which springs they intended to use. He was not certain, but thought the springs used on the T|X packages. After researching the Toyota site, my impression is the T|X package is simply a cosmetic package that builds on the TRD Offroad / Sport packages.

However, I see no mention of different springs between TRD and non-TRD trucks. Does anyone know if different springs are offered between the different Tacoma packages besides standard and PreRunner? What I am asking, is there a difference between the springs on my PreRunner and those on a TRD / T|X?

-Jeff

 

from what I read on the T/X it was simply the "tsb" rear springs in the rear, different front coil from Eibach up front, but the "standard" 4 pack in the rear- this was what I read on one of the more in depth reviews, but only comparing part numbers would one be certain

 

So I took my 2012 DCLB in to the dealer day before yesterday for a list of issues. Went to pick it up and they said they could not make it shudder like I described. They are trying to blame it on my tires and wheels which are Nitto Terra Grapplers in stock size and the wheels are 17X8 with a bit more aggressive offset than stock but no rubbing.

So I told the service guy to let me take a tech out for a spin and I will surly make it happen for him. And I did with no problem. I also asked him if he has had any other 2nd gen Tacoma's (any year) in for the vibration and he said he has never heard of it before (yah right). This guy is not new and this is one of the biggest dealers in the state. I get so tired of this "could not replicate" crap.

So now that I was able repeat it for the tech they want to bring my truck back in and swap the tires out with a new truck on the lot. This is such a waste of time. I told him about all the posts on this and other forums and he would have nothing of it. If this does not pan out I will be calling Toyota customer care and finding another dealer.

This shudder or vibration should not happen on a new vehicle.

 

You're going to have to call Toyota Customer Care for sure, and you should IMO.

I was to bring my truck to the dealer again yesterday to demo the prob (again) so Toyota USA could open another issue number on this and send someone to help the dealer resolve this. I'm traveling for work, so hopefully can get it there in the next couple weeks.

It's totally unacceptable that a brand new vehicle should have probs, especially something they can't fix.

 

My dealer replaced the front rotors. No change. The paperwork says they tried driving it without the rear driveshaft on and the vibration was worse. Argh. This is so frustrating.To make it worse I work with ALL GM guys so the ribbing is relentless.

When I called the dealer back they told me the residual vibration I was feeling was normal.

I, too, feel this vibration is completely unacceptable. Some of you guys paid 35k+ for your midsize trucks and they drive like a POS Colorado. I'm definitely looking elsewhere for my next truck if Toyota continues to give me the runaround. Thank God it's a lease.

 

I heard back from Toyota customer care. What a waste of time that was. Since a Field tech specialist already looked at my truck, I was told it was a "normal driveline vibration". I replied saying, "there you have it, a vibration, how could a vibration be normal" , "Also, don't forget, I test drove another TRD Sport Double cab V6 auto trans on the dealer lot, and that one did not vibrate". Then the official word was that there is nothing that can be done with it. So, Toyota had me waste my time taking it to the dealer several times, replaced the trans mount only to tell me that this vibration is normal. If it's so normal, than why didn't that other TRD Sport double cab I test drove have any vibration. The conversation, went back and forth. Then I was told I could always bring the truck back to the dealership to have it looked at again, but I was reminded that it was a normal driveline vibration. So I called the dealership and I left a message with the service manager to call me back but it's been three days and he didn't return my call. Nice! I guess the dealer didn't like the fact that I called Toyota. What should I do now? Call Toyota, call the dealer?

 

^ that's very discouraging you'd think it would be in their best interest to solve this not so isolated issue

 

What can you do? The same thing I'm going to do. Look somewhere else for my next truck. Thank GOD it's a lease.

 

Arbitration or lemon law. Read about it in your owner's manual.

-Jeff

 

Toyota is ready to perform the leaf spring swap out. The service manager at the dealership told me this is similar to the TSB that applied to the previous generation. What I see is an increase from three leaves to four in the spring pack.

I hope they are working the problem rather than throwing stuff against the wall to see what will stick. As always, I will report the result of this latest experiment.

-Jeff

 

any update?

 

Guys I have a 2012 Dblcab TRD sport I just got this week. I noticed this same issue from the start, have around 150miles on it now. Time to take it to the dealer

 

I had the springs replaced Thursday and have not put many miles on her, yet. I will get about 100 miles of mixed miles on her today.

My initial impressions are that the stiffer springs cured the vibration issue about 95% in normal driving. I can now accelerate has hard as I please without the truck feeling like it is self destructing. The vibration (now more like a quivering) is still lurking in the background, but in normal driving, I may be the only one to notice because I am sensitive to it. It took hard acceleration, from a standing start, up a hill to make the vibration rear its ugly head.

The truck appears to sit a bit higher in the rear. The ride is slightly harsher than with the stock springs, but I have the long wheel base, so it not an issue.

In summary, the truck drives smoother than it ever has, but is not 100% cured. I wonder if the shims with the firmer springs would make it 100%.

My service invoice states:
Field Technical engineer advised leaf springs flexing may be causing condition.
Installed new rear leaf springs and u-bolts per Steve Everett, Toyota Technical Assistance.

Spring Assy, Right, 48210-04571
Spring Assy, Left, 48220-04211
Bolt, U, 90117-A0005.

For those following in my footsteps, my case number is 113180326. Feel free to have your service manager reference my history.

I will post an update as I put more miles on the truck.

-Jeff

 

the above poster of yours has a Sport DC so he already has the 4 leaf pack and is getting vibration, so I'm not sure how viable a fix the extra leaf would be

on the other hand the extra leaf is what a lot of folks have clamored for a long time