2016 Transmission T-SB-0077-16 Shift Feeling Enhancments (PDF)

I reported shifting issues with my 2016 Tacoma Limited in February. Had the firmware installed in August. Fixed about 60-70% of the schizoid shifting issues but the drive train is still FUBAR. Thought about getting a vanity license plate the spelled out "SHIFTY" as that seems to be what the transmission does all the time, less than 1% grade.....shift into 4th, shift into 3rd. Up, down, up, down, up down. Pulling even a small trailer only exacerbates the problem. All of this probably a result of manufacturers trying to meet impossible CAFE standards. Guess I'll have to rely on Toyota engineering to come up with a better solution to this manic drive train than a bandaid like the firmware. If not, I've got $41K into a vehicle that is too disappointing. Great sound system however.

 

Are you towing with ECT on?

 

ECT, on or off doesn't seem to make a difference. To Toyota's credit, the dealer (while reluctant at first) finally instrumented my Tacoma and after test runs admitted (looking at the data) that there was a problem back in March. I thought it was just my particular truck at first but then talked to other 2016 owners who were having similar problems. My son, who is an serious off-road and tech for Nissan as well as Hyundai/Kia told me the shift schedule was incorrect but additionally there were other issues with the ECU and drivetrain combination. He suggested that I stick with Toyota customer service and just keep at it until they fixed it. I buy a new truck every ten years so this was a real disappointment on my end. Thanks for the ECT suggestion that was one of the first things I tried.

 

A new firmware release is being worked on as we speak.

 

There has to be some humor in all of this. My other son who is a service manager for a large Honda dealership (how did I get two gearheads for sons?) called me and laughed. When I asked him what was so funny he told me that "I was beta testing the Tacoma for Toyota". I hate it when my kids are smarter than me and use humor as a tool to prove it. The firmware upgrade made the Tacoma more "driveable" by getting rid of the "instant hi-rev downshifts to 4K-5K RPM while using cruise control but the erratic shifting coming up I-5 Grapevine grade out of Bakersfield (5% grade) was so crazy I started laughing when I reached the Tejon summit. The automatic transmission couldn't find a correct/useable gear/throttle combination and so it just kept shifting up and down one or even two gears at a time trying to find something that would work; must have shifted 20 or 30 times. I'm an aerospace engineer and watching all this happen I couldn't imagine the "1's and zero's" of code being swapped back and forth between the ECU, transmission and engine so I started laughing. It was as if the drivetrain lost it's marbles. Anyhow I'll stick with this until they fix it and if they can't I suppose I'll sell it. Love everything else about the vehicle.

 

This is exactly what mine did, although I didn't need to be on a grade for it to shift up and down continuously.

 

2016 Tacoma has had two re flashes performed , first in named second TSB-0077-16.temporarily helped issues. Case opened' in April 2016. After numerous calls to Toyota and returns to service department has yielded no corrective measures. Last visit to shop , service tech . deemed Tacoma owner issues could not be duplicated. Tacoma World members I am exasperated, I have been refused a meeting with Toyota field rep, just to drive my Tacoma and to end all proclaim vehicle is operating as designed. Fifth Tacoma, two time Lexus owner( currently have Lexus and two Tacomas, not bragging, just to show product loyalty), this is the most disappointed experience in my automotive ownership. Target satisfaction; correct current shifting and surging issues, that is all I wish.............Toyota is damaging a great product reputation by turning their backs to an obvious product issue with an extremely loyal Tacoma army. I would have already disposed of this Tacoma wanna be , however I can't give up, being dillusional about our Tacoma concerns is puzzling. Fix issues Toyota....... That is all your faithful Tacoma owners desire. Reason why sales numbers are down, May,June,July and August............sales numbers will be posted for September............odds are the trend continues, unhappy owners communicate about their ownership experiences . Toyota , if you are at all concerned............. Start listening to the masses that have propelled you to such sales numbers. To those owners that are fortunate to have not experienced any issues, congratulations...........that is exactly what you deserve! Satisfaction! Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

I'm an aerospace engineer. I'm also building an airplane with an engine that has FADEC (Full Authority Digital Electronic Control). I mention this not to brag but to clarify that I'm no stranger to digital control of machines. Imagine that the propeller is the transmission for the aircraft engine (good analogy). When you change the load or pitch on the propeller it's like shifting. Imagine the nightmare if the engine rpm and FI controls were out of spec and the propeller and engine combination surged and over-reved when the load on the engine changed with power settings, angle of attack or pitch (it's supposed to be a constant pitch for any load).

This is almost what is going on here. I offered several suggestions to Toyota when I called them but have only received email replies (canned). What is discouraging to me is that in my industry, when we have an aircraft or spacecraft with widespread issues, we usually pull a few of the faulty units back in and do analysis and tear-down. I don't know if Toyota has done this with any of the thousands (yes thousands) of defective Tacomas out there but that would be my first approach. I waited ten years to purchase the Tacoma and it has been a real disappointment. I'm hoping that Toyota will get on this issue seriously and get an actual "fix" to us instead of a "band-aid".

 

so last night i just i talked to Jesus......he said he is coming back soon and bringing a new trans TSB and new firmware with him.... its gonna be all good folks!!

 

yup!! Jesus told me so,,, and he has been in heaven so long he really knows his stuff!!! i trust him... just wanted to pass the good info off to everyone here that its been CONFIRMED!!!

 

Picked up new 2016 Tacoma OR on Sept 24 - on Sept 28 the drive train pretty much shut down going up H3 from town, check engine light, off line lights - Sept 30 happened again while in town. Took straight to dealer last night, awaiting some results. ugh... so much for having that new car feeling. see what happens. Pray for me Seth.

 

wow! not really knowing much details maybe its a CPS sensor issue ? just guess from reading some threads on similar issues like you describe.. look up ''CPS'' in the search. give us an update when u figure it out

 

Hate that for you, hope they fine what is wrong with your truck. Bend dealing with my transmission shuddering and flare for months its random hard to duplicate when tech drives it

 

can u describe a little more about what was happening when the truck was failing on you??... it happened twice??

 

put a video camera on the rpm gauge and record the flare...... look up 2016 tacoma shift flare on YOUTUBE

 

like this

 

Too late! Many have already been traded off!

 

Sounds like another bad CPS (crank position sensor)

 

Sad all the trucks sold, traded and are on craigslist to be sold do to poor quality on Toyota part all owner with any issues needs to get case # started so they can get TSB out and get all of our trucks taken care of

 

I am currently driving a Nissan Frontier as a rental while my truck is getting rear end diagnosed, again....

Theory time...

The Nissan Frontier hits hard off the line and then really drops off as the torque converter couples. I know that torque converters can be designed to accelerate the transmission side of the unit faster when it is stopped. I think the Frontier is designed like this. It's veins are designed to throw fluid at the non-moving side and start it spinning. After this, the torque converter is less efficient when near coupled....

I think the Tacoma is designed to be efficient when the unit is near coupled, which means the same speed on engine and transmission side. This means it's not hard hitting like the Frontier, but gets better gas mileage.

I know it locks up the clutch but it isn't always locked.