2018 vs 2021 Transmissions (aka Dead Equine Flogging)

Haven’t yet closed out here, but I traded my ‘18 Taco TRD-OR in on a ‘21 Tundra Limited TRD-OR because the deal was almost too good to be true, but I digress...

Had to take the Tundra back yesterday to get the paint/interior/rust “protection package” completed (negotiated as part of the deal), and they gave me a ‘21 Taco TRD-OR with 2k miles on it as a loaner.

The transmission in the ‘21 Taco doesn’t even seem like the same one in the ‘18. Shift points were mostly adequate, it didn’t hunt and flip-flop on the highway, and generally much more fun to drive than the ‘18 was. I was stunned. Didn’t realize how bad the ‘18 trans was. Glad they’ve worked on that a bit.

 

Yep, my 2017 was barely tolerable. The 2021 is MUCH better.

 

In my estimation, the transmission on the ‘18 is not ‘bad’. It’s programmed from the factory to supposedly achieve a specific result. The highest mpg it can get. In the process, other desirable conditions went by the wayside. @Mooseditty17 came along and tweaked the @OVTune so now one doesn’t have to be looking for something better in the form of a later model. The ‘18 driving is as close to perfect as possible. My opinion.

 

That's imposible, I read on here all the time the transmission is just fine, no problems, everyone says so...... not.

 

I dont know man. My buddies 2018 OR AT is perfect. I drove with him on monday for about 2 hours on a hilly hwy. It shifted just fine and held gears on the hills. He didnt even get the tsb done. I forgot to tell him to try the CC, but i know he never uses it. He laughs when i say ppl complain about the tranny on TW. I did actually drive his truck about a year ago and it drove perfectly fine to me.

Might be different expectations? I dont know. I do know some earlier calibrations were quirky but thats about it. There are a lot of guys i know, some personally and on TW that are very happy wity their 3rd gen ATs.

 

The 18 I recently acquired runs as smooth as the electronic shift Allison in my Duramax....after the TSB upgrade.

US$0.02

.

 

Here's one more for you, 17 here, no problems. Not my first AT, so I think I can judge it honestly.

Also, no one says "not" anymore.

 

Made me laugh a little...

 

Not anymore

 

Yeah, both of us tried to find things wrong with his 19 AT but we couldnt, he had 2nd gen AT too.

I will ask him to use CC on hilly highways next time and report back.

 

Why do you even hang out in this group if you got rid of your Tacoma? BTW I have absolutely no issues with the AT in my 2020 Off-road.

 

My 21 drives great. And I used my CC on some hilly back roads last weekend and it did fine.

 

Enjoy the Tundra and turn your Tacoma card in .

 

I have no complaints with my 21’. It seems to shift like any car does and up shifts and downshifts at the right times. No prior taco experience so I can’t compare

 

I must be lucky, my 18 performs as well as I could expect. I flogged on a 2020 Pro during a spirited test drive and noticed no difference in motor/tranny behavior. Now that Fox suspension on the other hand was quite nice.

 

t’was one last post on the way out the door man...ok, maybe two last posts...

 

Pretty sure he was referring to @Gearheadesw post.

 

Isn’t the tranny the same? If the dealer flashed the older tranny with the latest software, wouldn’t they be identical???