2012 Clutch Slipping

My 2012 2.7L 5 speed with 45,000 miles has a slipping clutch. Toyota is blowing me off saying that it is a wear part and not under warranty. I have been driving stick shift vehicles for about 50 years now and the last time I had to replace a clutch was in the year 1966. This clutch is defective. I am not inclined to pay Toyota to replace a defective clutch and I don't think I want another OEM clutch considering the premature failure of the original. I am shopping for a new clutch but the parts dealers do not yet list a clutch kit for the 2012 models. Does anyone know of a decent 3rd party clutch kit that will fit the 2012 Tacoma?

 

Thanks Captchas! I understand that they don't warrant wear parts but there is absolutely no reason this clutch should have failed. It is what it is and Toyota is not going to fix it. That's why I want to move on to an upgraded 3rd party clutch kit.

By the way I had a 62 Corvette back in the day. :]

Thanks Beavis, I'll check out urd.

 

The 4cyls are either equipped with an Aisin (Japan) or LUK (Mexico) clutch, you appearantly have a LUK. Aisins are good. I wouldn't give up just yet, this is a HUGE known issue, call toyota corperate, and see if they will do anything for you. The inadequate pressure in the pressure plate is the real cause, and while the clutch disc is a wear item, the diaphragm spring in the pressure plate is not. There is lots of info here on TW about this very issue.

 

Is there any way to tell which clutch you have without pulling the trans to look at it?

 

Thanks landphil, I showed your reply to the manager at our local Toyota dealer. His comment was that this is not an official site and that someone just started this forum. I told him there are thousands of posts here by some very knowledgeable people but he seemed unimpressed.

Wheelspinner, You asked a great question and I also would like to know the answer. I see that you are driving a 4cyl manual. Watch the clutch like a hawk. If anything feels funny it probably is.

Update: Toyota wants $1300 to put a clutch in my truck. They have offered me a customer loyalty $500 off. I assume this means they know they have a problem but will not admit it due to the liability of having to replace thousands of clutches. I will call corporate Monday AM.

 

45k is when mine went. Now have 95k and ok. So, $800 + tax, done? That's not horrible. Make sure they resurface the flywheel, too.

 

Gonefish, toyota has a TSB out for the issue, (technical service bulletin) TSB # 0066-11 was the one I found, but it only went as new as 2011. There's probably a revised number including the '12s, since the issue obviously still persists.

Howerver, the 3yr /36,000 mile limit applies for warranty, so the $500 discount might be the best you can out of them, it won't hurt to try with corperate though.

If you end up going through the dealer, be sure you're getting the aisin clutch. It might be worth getting a quote from an independant shop, are you 2wd or 4wd? It would be hard to beat $800 parts and labour if your 4x4 unless you're up to a DIY.

 

Update: I had the Toyota dealer replace the clutch, $771 plus the $500 customer loyalty discount. The service rep talked to the parts department and confirmed that the new clutch was made in Japan. The new clutch feels much better than the old clutch.

I am happy to have the truck running again but not happy that I had to pay to replace Toyota's defective clutch. I would suggest that owners of new Tacoma's with manual transmissions have the clutch checked every time you take the truck in for your free Toyota care. This would at least create a record of concern about the clutch should it become a problem in the future.