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

There isnt much information released for your AC60F / AC60E as it is considered a new transmission . It usually takes a year before we start to see aftermarket input , however , the AB60 transmission in the Tundra uses the same technology an adaptive learning .
The Tundra 6 speed designed by Aisn Seiki is almost identical and " should " give you a clear picture or baseline as to what you can expect to see in the near future.
There are aftermarket solutions within this PDF document that fix some of the known issues with the Tundra transmission .
I havnt had the chance to determine if the internals of the transmission from the Tacoma and Tundra are the same and simply utilize a different bellhousing for V6 and V8 , but here are the common fixes for the Tundra
http://www.ukrtrans.biz/files/2011/10/Toyota_AB60_Transmission.pdf

Keep an eye on my post here as I will be updating on a constant basis as new concerns and fixes come out .
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transmission-the-new-6-speed-automatic-in-the-2016.361114/

 

My 2016 has had several problems. The first were resolved after 25-26 days out of commission. I have put 1200 miles on it since getting it back. I have found the transmission not shifting properly. When cruising at 78mph I was at 3500 RPM's, I shifted to manual and it was in fourth gear still at 3500 RPM's,, I bumped to fifth then sixth with no change cruise control still on 78mph and 3500 rpm's. I slapped into regular drive and it still stayed at 78mph and 3500 rpm's. Had to release the cruise and then accelerate the CC again before returned to normal 21-2200 RPM's I have a video but can't upload it here.

 

Cruising at 55 mph my MPG is pegged out, at 60 27mpg and 65 mph Im showing 22-23mpg

 

Test drove a V6 SR5 4x2 double cab mid October and it was similar to what people had described. Very lethargic. Struggled to maintain highway speeds on moderate hills, lots of gas pedal action and reluctant down shifting. Pretty much what everybody is saying. Test drove a TRD Sport 4x4 access cab last Saturday, it was a night and day difference - very frisky, almost was hanging on to the lower gears. Both times, the ECT button was OFF. Maybe they found a new transmission mapping?

 

I guess I don't see the issue with 1200 rpm at 35. There isn't any performance need that it is failing. My truck spends a lot of time in the 40-45 range and pretty much 1200 rpm getting great mpgs. In no way does it feel like it is lugging. Lugging implies that it will fail to maintain the current speed at those rpm. It maintains speed just fine. If I hit a reasonable incline, it shifts down and bumps up to just under 2k. If I step on it, it goes as fast as I want it to. Maybe I'm underthinking it.

Now I can see the annoyance with hunting while hill climbing or in CC, but the 1200 rpm thing is where the truck is getting good mpgs. If you want more rpm, step on it more, but why? If you have to make a performance related maneuver, it will do whatever you want by pushing the pedal harder and have higher rpm to boot.

Also, there are a lot of people complaining about very little gains in mpgs from the 2015. It may not seem like much, but even 2mpg is a 10% improvement. 10% is a pretty big gain by most standards.

 

It's amazing how different the manual drives compared to the auto. The manual feels torquey off the line and drives like a real truck should. During my test I had to finesse the gas pedal/clutch to not chirp the tires and did not have a problem holding gears. I think it's worth the 2 mpg hit.

 

How else do you think it's getting the modest MPG it does in the new 3.5?
It wants you in 6th asap.

 

Ok I'm sorry if this has already been addressed i never read the entire thread...I'm currently sitting at Toyota for my 8000km service.. My service advisor informs me that there is a transmission software update...I will keep you guys updated when it's done..crossing my fingers


Edit: service done . Apparently the computer that does the updates needs to be updated.. Go figure. So it looks like next service. At least we know there is an update

 

Today I stopped by my dealership and talked with my maintenance Cordinator. She talked with their master mechanic and they research their systems and they do not have any notes on th she talked with their master mechanic and they research their systems and they do not have any bulletins, notes, recalls, for anything else related to the 2016 Tacomas. She did say master mechanic stated that he's driven the Tacoma and noticed the differences between the second generation in the new third generation and he said he knows that people are not going to like the difference.

I also have the good vibration issues, the adhesive separation and they also I do not have any information on that as well and will address it on my next service.

 

I'm a high miler so my next service will be in a month. I will make sure I get all the info I can on this so called update

 

Can you please let us all know which Toyota dealer, city, you took your Tacoma in for service and who the service manager was that informed you of this? Maybe the rest of us can refer our dealership to contact yours to get the updated information. It may help us all. Thanks

 

I hope there is a service update when i go in for my scheduled maintenance. When I took my wifes highlander in for service I asked the shop foreman if he was aware of a update on the tacoma transmission. He stated he wasnt aware of it and his head mechanic stated that I needed to stay off the internet looking for problems. Id like to prove him wrong.

 

Russelle Toyota in Peterborough Ontario
Not sure of the guys name but I think I'm going to swing by there after work tomorrow if I get off early enough. I will keep you guys updated

 

I gassed up today.

329.3 miles
19.021 gallons
17.3 MPG

Mostly mild city miles at 25-45 MPH. I've driven three or four 40 mile interstate trips on this tank. This is not as good as my 2012 Tacoma was; same model (double cab), except my 2012 had more rugged tires.

While the vehicle is accelerating if I get to a point that the gas peddle and acceleration equalize the truck shifts to a gear drop goal the RPMs to about 1100. At this point if I manta in the speed with no additional input the truck maintains speed but has a very mild lugging feel. I can hear it in the exhaust sound and feel it in the seat.

Very annoying in city traffic because I can be accelerating through 30 MPH and need to pause for a split second and then slightly accelerate again. The transmission immediately recognizes the pause and shifts to a higher gear dropping the RPMs to about 1100 but then back up again because of the slight increase in acceleration. It's like riding a roller coaster, up and down.

Anyways...another one of my rants on this topic.

 

My 2016 has almost 2000 miles on it. I love the truck but I absolutely hate that automatic shifting all the time. If Toyota don't come up with a fix within another month I'll be trading for a used 2015 Tacoma or another truck of some kind. My 4th Toyota truck, 3rd Tacoma and this is the most aggravating thing I've ever driven.

 

The quick automatic shifting is here to stay. The newer EPA rules for mileage are forcing the automakers to add more overdrives to the auto transmissions. The AT in the Tacoma's, 4th is a 1to 1 ratio, and 5th and 6th are overdrives. Most all of the new auto transmissions do this that are 5 speed plus, which of course drives us nuts. I will say the reports of the transmission "learning" how you drive are true, I have 4000 miles on mine already and it shifts a lot less often now than it used to.

 

Except I can't get above 17.3 MPG (members crunching) with a mix of mild city and highway driving. The computer isn't accurate even after a reset. Computer says I'm in mid 16 MPG.

 

New owner here with about 700 miles. The issues I notice is that when cold the engine idle sometimes hunts and surges and the truck will surge while cruising at 20-25 mph. More bothersome to me is when descending a grade by my house (about 18-20%) in 2nd, at the bottom is a SS, I put it in drive and the eng revs and takes about 20-30 feet before the trans engages.
Gearcruncher, you seem to know the design a bit, any ideas? Im a heavy equip mechanic by trade and the shifting on these is something that I have seen a lot better on. I know the fuel mileage standards are high hence the 6 speeds. I remember back in the day the Ford E40D came out and onlasted 20k miles.

 

Hello, This is my first post on here and I have been reading up on the shifting issues with the new 6 speed. I am considering a DC SR5 2WD and I was wondering if the 2.7 with the 6 speed auto has the same issues??

 

About 3000 miles on my 2106 4X4 TRD Tacoma auto...
I decided to go with Toyota because of the quality aspect - everyone says they last forever. I traded in a Ford f-150 which had a ridiculous number of issues when brand new but I drove it for 3 years. I am SO disappointed with the way this new Tacoma drives. I am teaching my daughter to drive on this vehicle and several roads around our home are 45 mph. Trying to drive at 45 in this vehicle is terrible! It is almost nauseating with the shifting, and acceleration adjustments where there are even the slightest grade changes. In addition, when you are slowing down - often the downshift will throw the truck forward. I have noticed it frequently myself, and it is freaking my daughter out as she pulls up behind another vehicle. The engine also sounds like it is overworked and it even has a tick at idle that sounds like an exhaust leak on an old car. I have always wanted a Tacoma and was hoping for an awesome new car experience this time and wanted a car I could keep for many many years. It has gotten bad enough bad enough, I am considering taking the financial hit to unload this thing. What has happened to quality?? And with all of the modern technology...I had cars from the 70s that had larger engines, more body mass and got better gas mileage. These are not inexpensive trucks and quite honestly, I am wondering why? Sorry for the rant - just frustrated!!!