2016 6-cylinder 6-speed automatic erratic shifting and drivability problems?

I've had my '17 for 3000 miles now, and I cannot believe how much less power it has and how much it downshifts unnecessarily compared to my 2006 V6 Auto with 250k miles. That truck felt like it would run laps around the 17. Also, I'm averaging 14.5 mpg. I know the lift and larger tires account for some loss there, but not 25%. This engine is supposed to have more power and better milage than it's predecessor, and it feels like the transmission software has compromised the whole drivetrain. I took to dealer and they topped up the fluid, to no effect.

Don't really have much time to waste days at the dealer, but I wish the engineers could code a solution to this, it makes me wish I'd gotten a used 2015.

 

I hate to say that I am now joining many of you in my distaste for this trucks road manners. I am at 4K miles and I can no longer stand it. I drive in town and mainly drive 25-45 mph. I just flat hate it. I have taken it to one dealer earlier this week, and it is currently at a second dealer that is working on it. It is supposed to be ready tomorrow. I really have no faith it will be fixed. I am also working on trading it in on something else. Has anyone had any luck with the lemon law?

On a happy note, my lease payment is $440 a month, and it is transferrable if the person is ok'd byToyota. I may market it that way locally and see if I can get rid of it.

 

What exactly are your truck's symptoms? Mine will downshift 2-3 gears with moderate throttle on highway, shudder and jerk when downshifting as truck decelerates rapidly to a stop, (occasionally) and seem to have low power around town at street speeds. Dealer saw it again yesterday, said all was normal and said they have no software update for mine. A friend with a 2016 got great results from an update. Also my mileage is around 13 mpg lately. I don't drive like a maniac.

 

Basically, it is always in the highest gear, then any time you need to apply throttle it downshifts 2 or 3 gears. It is always shifting, mostly down to accommodate any change in speed. When I picked it up from the shop on Tuesday, they said that it need the update (its a2017) and that's what they did to it. It did drive wonderful for about ten miles. It was like an entirely different truck. After ten miles it went back to the crazy shifting pattern. I actually got some lag or slack in the pedal with the last update. Its like the first inch of travel in the pedal doesn't do anything. Both shops drove it and both said it shifts more than it needs too. I like in Kansas city metro area. It is hilly here, and maddening to drive a vehicle that acts like this through town while the trans cycles through the top three gears.

I wonder if the regear to 4.88's would change it? I regeared my Jeep front and rear, and Charger rear, and have all the tools, but the entire reason I bought a new truck was to not spend time doing this! Swapping gears is not the most fun, but If it fixes it I may just do it anyway. If I cant get out from under it I may just try it.

 

Agreed, new trucks should be not needing parts swapped just to make them behave well. Interesting that they deny there is an update for my truck.... Hmmm well thank you for sharing. Love these trucks, I hope they get this sorted soon!

 

You guys need to try out that shift controller. It's $175 and has some solid reviews so far.

$175 is nothing compared to what you're going to lose on trade.

 

Hey thanks for that tip, I just read up on it and I think I'll order. Something has to happen and I don't have time to waste sitting around dealer when they won't acknowledge there's an issue. "If you want something done, do it yourself"!

 

i took mine in for the first reflash and the truck drove the same after i got it back and there is no sticker under the hood so i dont think that they even did the reflash for me

 

I agree feels shifting weird at first. I've driven like a grannie as well (punching the gas every so often for fun or to pass). Maybe the shifting is to get better gas mileage?? I've gotten 22+mpg driving like this which to me seems pretty decent. The gears do seem to shift gears quickly in the first 3-4 gears. When I first purchased my 2017 I thought "if it's shifting this many times what are there 10 gears lol"

 

I think you may be onto something. It's aggravating because I do like the truck.


It's too late now. I traded it for a 2017 4Runner.

 

OK UPDATE: I bought the Shift Sense controller and installed it tonight. Install was easy and took about 5 min. I'll go inside the dash tomorrow and tighten the install up a bit but it was drizzling tonight so I just plugged and stuffed it. Took the truck for a test drive, and I have to say my first impression is BUY THIS THING. THe shift map is all sorted out, feels much smoother and power delivered more consistently. I didn't notice the rumbling rough downshift from 2-1 I used to, but that was intermittent so I'll test more later. Right out though, the truck feels amazing. Hopefully it might improve my 13-14 mpg issue.

I'll report back in a few days.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ability-problems.401475/page-22#post-13686265

Update: I took my '16 Tacoma in for the forth time and to find out what the status of my claim with Toyota and was told that according to Toyota my truck drives as designed and that there is nothing wrong with it. Does anyone know of a class action lawsuit out there? Because obviously Toyota is refusing to address the problems with these trucks. It appears they do not care they are going to lose customers in droves. If no lawsuit exists yet, how about starting a Class Action Law Suit against Toyota.

 

Very interested to read all these comments. Tmeyers yours are very thorough also. I'm dealing with the shuddering/bucking and also occasionally it will do a real hard slam going down from 2nd to 1st. Dealer says all is well and can't replicate the worst issues. They say there is no software update for my truck. The truck is also getting 13 mpg combined cycle, being driven very modestly. Here's what the truck has aftermarket, 285/70 17 tires on alloy rims, Fab Fours bumpers front and rear, 3" lift kit, and side step bars. This is the 5th Tacoma I've had but the first new vehicle ever, so it's very sad to have this critical issue ruining what otherwise would be a very happy experience.

I did buy the Shift Sense box that controls the shifts when you set the trans selector to manual, it helps with powerband management but the other issues are all still there as well as the abysmal gas mileage. I wonder if the issue set I have here could be tied to any one component failing, like torque converter, etc, or if it's all ECM. The shifting we all know sucks, but the gas mileage seems to not be affecting many of you, right?

 

Man, taco bill, that's not what I wanted to hear, but I'm thinking that's what it might come to if this doesn't get sorted. My previous 2006 with 250k miles on its 4.0 v6 was faster, smoother, and better mileage than the 2017. Crazy

 

where can I find all the TSB for the 2016 Tacoma trd off road.. thanks in advance Robert

 

I learned a lot in this thread.

 

^ this was my '16 dcsb limited going up a 3% grade with the cruise set.
I kept the truck for 10,000 miles and 6 months.
Haven't had a single complaint about the '16 trd pro 4Runner that replaced it, 27,000 miles/1 yr later.
Toyota really screwed up when it came to the 3.5/6speed auto and should have used the 4Runner 4.0

 

Having the same issue. So close to just taking the loss and trading it in. Toyota doesn't seem to care.

 

@moab4x432 is that after REV-1 update?