Transmission 2016-2023- 6 SPEED AUTOMATICS COULD BE LOW ON FLUID DIRECTLY FROM FACTORY

Thanks to all, esp Gearcruncher for the craniums up.

I have a 2016 Tacoma SR5 Double Cab 2X4 with ~5000 miles. Truck is slow to go in gear on cold start, first upshift is rough when cold, transmission slips when going uphill. The dealer performed ECU re-flash calibration, and refilled 1 quart transmission fluid level to specs. Service writer commented he has seen this problem over 100 times (YGBSM!).

I called Toyota to establish a case number and ask for an extended warranty. Non tech savvy phone jockey at Toyota stated:
-- If only a quart low, no damage was done
-- Toyota will not extend the warranty, but if you have a transmission problem after 5yrs/60K your case number is documented so we may choose to pay for service if we deem the repair related to low ATF on delivery. No, we will not provide this assurance in writing.
-- You have no other recourse at this time other than to write a letter to Toyota Customer Experience Center, Toyota Motor Sales USA, PO Box 259001, Plano TX 75025
-- If you return the truck to a dealer complaining of the same problem then the issue will be elevated to a Toyota case manager for review

Phone jockey sounded sympathetic, but said her hands were tied-- I couldn't fault her for policies set by corporate.

How many other brands routinely deliver vehicles with low ATF?
Is there an outside agency (like Car and Driver or www.carprousa.com) who would be interested in this story?
Any suggestions on how I can convince Toyota to extend my warranty as others have done?

 

You need to ask for a case manager about it

 

I have contacted all the big transmission forums to give them the heads up with our brand new Tacoma's arriving from factory " Low On Fluid " , but haven't notified any outside agencies .
Feel free to publicize as you wish !
Maybe I should add a poll to the existing content on the first page to see how many of you guys managed to get extended warranty ? Yes / No ?

 

I did speak with a case manager. 'Toyota phone jockey' in my post = case manager. I should have been more clear in my wording. I specifically asked for an extended warranty. I was told she needed to discuss with her supervisor and would call me back with the decision. The supervisor said no extended warranty.

I'd like to know what arguments result in an extended warranty from Toyota
I'd also be interested in polling data regarding our success rate.

Question: Would the F150 sales team be interested in Toyota's failure to address large numbers of new Tacomas sold with low ATF?

 

Wow! Thanks for all the work and documentation. I'm going to check mine myself now. If it is low I will take it to the dealer.

 

Interesting you should post this. I have a 2003 4Runner and a 1999 F150. A couple of years ago about the same time the F150 had a failed cat converter that I cannot get a replacement from Ford (V6 engine). The 4Runner had cracks in the dash. Toyota replaced the dash for free under warranty. Ford laughed at me trying to keep my work truck running. That experience was a major part of the decision to buy the 2016 Tacoma. All manufacturers have problems sometime. None want to pay more than they have to to keep customers.

 

Took my 2017 to the dealer Monday to check ATF and do the TSB. They checked the ATF and said the level was fine. I am going to check it myself since I didn't see it with my own eyes.

Also they said something about Toyota not reimbursing them for the TSB update so they didn't do it. Anybody heard of this? I was going to bring it into another dealer to have this done. There is bit of lag when I switch from D to R or the other way around.

 

That's ridiculous... it's under warranty, so it's covered. Either they ticked off Toyota for something else or they're just lazy and don't want to do it.

 

Idk my buddy was able to get his done at another dealership in the area. I'm gonna call and make an appointment for this weekend. There should be an update for the 2017 right?

 

Had the fluid on my 17 TRDOR checked this morning and they said it was perfectly level. Checked the full plug and the factory paint was misaligned so they definitely checked it.

 

@gearcruncher Please check dm

 

Sounds like I need to go to your dealership service. Every dealership I go to gives me the run around and say they are unable to perform the procedure because their techscanner does not indicate any codes for them to check.

 

Hi everyone,

So after haggling with 3 different service dealerships (and letting each service dealer keep my car for at least 6 hours) in the past two weeks, I finally convinced my local Toyota to check my ATF fluid at 1313 miles. Guess what? It was 3 Quarts low!! Not surprising at all.

All the service advisors I dealt with said they cannot perform the procedure to check ATF because "its sealed and they would have to drop the pan". In addition, "its a new truck" and "the techscanner does not show any codes." Thats all BS!!!

I finally decided to take it up with the Service Manager and Shop Foreman. The Shop Foreman was very knowledgable and "somewhat" acknowledged that they could be low. Anyhow, he stated that Toyota does not pay service to just check fluids. Only if there is an issue. But doesn't make sense to prevent something rather than treat it??

Anyhow, the truck feels a lot smoother now (although I never felt major symptoms). The truck easily goes into P to R without lag and no delay/no clunk.

Feel a lot better. Still gonna call Toyota Corporate about this issue. Thank you @gearcruncher !

-Gerald

 

Not surprising, unfortunately I would be surprised if there wasn't damage after that many miles. Recommend you try to get Toyota Corporate to extend your warranty on the drivetrain as a minimum. I would suggest an extended warranty on the whole vehicle would be appropriate since you were sold a defective truck. Imagine what your transmission would look like after 50K miles.

 

3 quarts low is a considerable amount of fluid . I am glad to hear you finally managed to get a dealership to manually check your fluid . You have patience my friend . I would have been on the phone to corporate after the first time they skipped out on the manual fluid level inspection . As mentioned above by Yojimbo
and now that you have written documentation , I highly suggest making a phone call pushing for extended warranty .

 

Checked my 17'
perfect of the factory line

 

At the 5,000 mile service i had them perform the TSB and that fixed the issue of lagging from R to D. However, i still noticed that every morning the first upshift from 2nd to 3rd over-revs by 2,000 or 3,000 rpms and this only happens once first thing in the morning. The other issue i have is when the truck is slowing down and seems to be going into 1st gear(approx 15-13mph). It does this randomly and feels like the truck shifts too early and so creates a lunging feeling, if any of you ridden in a manual transmission and know what i'm talking about.
Luckily i found this thread before going in for my 10k service. I told them i'm still having issues with the transmission shifts and that i wanted them to check for a new TSB and to check the ATF. The service advisor at first told me that since i just got the transmission update at 5k service that there's probably not a new one. And he also told me that they are aware at the dealership that trucks are coming from the factory low on transmission fluid and they would have checked mine before i bought it so it should be full. But that didn't fly with me because i had no proof it was checked other than his word so i requested to check the level as well as note how much was added if any.
When i picked up the truck that service advisor was not working that day so i talked to another person. The printout as i figured stated that fluid was added but did not state the amount that was added. I had one of the advisors call the technician who worked on the truck and find out how much was added. Apparently the tech said he only had to put about 1/4th of a quart.
My concern is, did he really only have to add 1/4 of a quart, or are these guys full of it? I don't truly know how low the fluid was for the 10k miles i put on it.
Also, are any of you guys having the same issues with downshifting?
Sorry for the long write up but i wanted to share my experience. It has been helpful reading everyone's posts on the issues with this truck

 

Checked mine myself today, 2017 TRD OR AC with build date Sept-Oct IIRC. Pinned the Tstat.
I got nothing out of the overflow when I pulled it right at the bottom of the temp range, added 150-200ml before I saw anything come out. Topped up and buttoned up by ~108F. So was probably more or less bang on I'd say, maybe ~150ml under filled from the factory.
Good to know she's full!

 

This post has now been in existence for well over a year .
Its clearly evident that late model 2017 trucks are now being checked for the low fluid issue before the truck is delivered to the buyer .
I was considering locking up the poll , however there are new members joining every day with early model 2016 trucks who are still unaware of this issue . With this said , I will leave the poll as it is for the time being .
What is astonishing is the fact that the procedure for checking the fluid on the first page has been downloaded 2300 times for the 4x4 , and over 1500 times for the 2 wheel drive .
Can you imagine if all members took the time out to report to the poll if they were actually low ?

 

My 2017 Pro was built December 8, 2016, have had the truck for almost a month now, and last week at the dealer they had to add a quart of tranny fluid.