2012 Stock Tacoma Driveline Vibration

Update time:
Joe B. at Toyota 101 (dealer in Redwood City) did an amazing job of working with his best mechanic, Toyota USA in Torrance, and me to get the driveline virbration problem about 75-80% solved. He even read some of our posts I believe.

I'm happy. The resolution so far did not involve any spring packs, or replacement of the driveshaft. They removed it, tested the truck in 4wd as a front wheel drive, and the vibration was 100% gone. Before reinstall, they confirmed up with Toyota USA, then they adjusted the carrier bearings to help compensate for driveline angle, greased the zirc's at the U-Joints, reinstalled and re-torqued everything. There's more detail which I'll provide and will scan the text from the paper work and post as an image. Additionally, the OE BF Goodrich offroad tires contribute to vibration, once I swap to Michelin's, things should improve again.

Jeff - you were right about the test and the rear driveshaft being 100% of the problem.

I still after warranty plan to do the "LoneCountryBoy" fix for a permanent 100% solution.

 

sourcing a drive shaft from a 4runner as we speak. as soon as i find one i found a local shop to modify to my specs 140$.

 

I also have the same exact vibration that is being discussed here. I bought my 2012 Tacoma Double cab TRD sport with the upgrade 18" wheels last month. The truck is really nice, but how I wish it didn't have this vibration. The harder the truck accelerates the worse the vibration. I have taken it to the dealer three times. But only once was it actually worked on. The dealer contacted toyota and they also removed the rear drive shaft and had me drive it in 4wd (front wheel pulling) There was absolutely no vibration. They reinstalled the drive shaft and the vibration returned. So, the dealer shimmed the drive shaft. I picked up the truck and the vibration is no better and just might be worse. I called the dealership and the service manager said he will contact Toyota. I'm hopeful, but honestly, I'm a little disappointed. My wife's 2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Warrior drives perfect. No vibrations what so ever. At this time, I'm just waiting for the service manager to contact me, hopefully Toyota will have a solid fix this time. I'm being very patient. But this issue is really starting to annoy me. Normal or not, I can't believe Toyota or anyone else would design something like this. Also, not all Tacomas have this driveline vibration. I drove another new 2012 Tacoma TRD sport, and that one did not vibrate. Mine does.

 

I received a call from the service manager. The manager will have a Toyota field tech guy take a look at my truck. I'm taking it in to the dealer on Friday. I hope Toyota finds a solution. My wife and I are very disappointed with this issue. I mean seriously, although this is not a safety issue, I can't believe this vibration is good for the truck. A vibration like this could be bad for the drive line seals and bearings.

HRCH

 

I've noticed the same vibration going from a dead stop and breaking. I'll probably say something when I bring it in for the first oil change. I'm just over 2000 miles now but I noticed this the next day.

 

Sub'd

I have an SR5. I noticed a vibration right after installing a lift. Mine is most noticeable right at take off. Only have 200 miles on it. Installed lift at 150 miles. Toytec Ultimate kit AAL with angled shim.

 

Here's the scanned image from the RO (repair order) that describes how they reduced the shudder. Again it's not fixed, just reduced. I'm going to contact Toyota USA about getting this fixed.

Note: RO also includes the summary on the steering wheel off center from the factory, they fixed this the right way by adjusting the tie rods, not removing the steering wheel, nice.

 

Sub'd.
I've got a '12 DC Sport Upgrade- stock 4pack rear leaf; 3K miles.

Vibes right @ 20mph on accel then on decel it does this little cadence shake/bumping coming down from anything over 40mph finishing with the same 20mph vibe I experience when accelerating- regardless how smooth the road. Going into the dealership Friday.

Thanks for the ammo. I'll let you know how they diagnose me.

 

Well, I just dropped off my Tacoma at the dealer today. Toyota engineers will be looking at it tomorrow. I even asked the service manager if he wants me to road test with the engineers and he said that would not be needed. For some reason it seems to me that the vibration is getting worse. Ironically the service manager let me use a Tacoma loaner vehicle. Its a dbl cab V6 4x4 short bed. And....this loaner vehicle does not have the vibration that my truck does. This would be the second Tacoma 4x4 that I have driven that did not vibrate. So, once again not all Tacoma 4x4 have this vibration on acceleration. Mine does.

HRCH

 

Let us know what they say please.

btw, I've started to accelerate faster occasionally because I'm at 750miles now, and the shudder is pretty bad when I accelerate more than just super gently, or am going up hill applying power faster than I did during initial break-in.

 

I spoke with a toyota engineer yesterday regarding my truck. I was told that the trd sport package has an aggressive driveline angle and stiff suspension. It is designed to carry weight therefore when its not loaded it everthing is even stiffer. He was surprised that i did not feel any vibration when i drove another trd sport double cab. I then asked if he thinks because my truck is the trd upgrade package with the larger 18 inch wheels would it then contribute more to the vibration? He said absolutely yes because my truck is higher up which will increase that angle even more. He said its the nature of tue beast. It will not cause any damage (so he said). To minimize the vibration the toyota engineer has ok'd the dealer to replace the transmission mount with a revised transmission mount designed to minimize the driveline vibration. So when that part comes in hopefully that vibration wont be as bad.

HRCH

 

I think I will call BS on that one I think that the Toyota engineer doesn't want to admit to you they screwed up on the engineering of the driveline and associated angles. Aggressive driveline angle? Whatever he is either lying or just doesn't understand the basic concept.

 

Not the first time toyota ignores a problem... owned 2 MKIII supras several years ago....

http://www.supras.org.nz/techinfo/bhg.htm

 

My 2012 does this too, so did the 2010 and 2011 I test drove over the years while slowly making the decision to by another Tacoma.
Its as if we're feeling each cylinder firing in that specific little speed range.

 

mine does it to, 2012.
Theres actually tons of threads already on it.
Its not just 2012s and the dealers tend to act as if its normal. One member here actually had a dealer come out and measure the whole driveline to send in to toyota....maybe a TBS soon?!

to me it felt like a pinion angle issue, but when i look at all the angles, they all seem well within spec of what you want on your pinions...so I'm baffled.

the driveshaft on this truck goes through quite a lot of crap from the tranny to the rear diff, lots of little shit to mess up IMO

One member here figured a way to eliminate the vibes by replacing the driveshaft with a 4th Gen 4runner driveshaft.....but theres no fucking way I'm going through all that to fix a problem on my 2012 brand new truck, its Toyotas responsibility.

here are some threads on it

the 4runner driveshaft fix

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/208402-finally-fixed-my-vibes.html

another fixed involving carrier bearing repositioning

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/153050-just-fixed-driveline-vibration-free.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/207688-anyone-have-shudder-issue-resolved.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/5383-shudder-issue-conclusions.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/210117-2012-dc-shudder-when-driving-0-35-a.html

even manuals do it

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/200543-another-vibration-thread.html

theres even a poll

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...tacomas-afflicted-drive-train-vibrations.html


my point is, maybe this needs to be a sticky on this forum and maybe toyota needs to start taking this one seriously.

 

Interesting that the people with manual trannys don't have (or at least don't complain about) this vibration.

Mine's a manual, and I don't notice a vibration at all.

 

au contraire

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/200543-another-vibration-thread.html

for sure not all tacomas do it, but a huge number of them do.

the question is what do the ones that do it, have in common?

-4 vs 3 leaf rears?

-???

its not between Sport package and off road package, they both do it

2wd and 4wd do it

auto and manual do it

single, access and double cabs do it

 

Another update:
Spoke with Toyota USA today, they're scheduling a "field rep / tech" to look into / at this prob now.

More news as I get it.

 

Here is another post of mine I just posted it yesterday more info on the shudder issue
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/212814-vibrations-observations-conclusions-etc.html
check it out and see what you think.

 

If your dealership fixes the vibration, please share the cure. If your dealership does not fix the vibration, contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 800-331-4331.

-Jeff