2020 SR5 Tacoma v6 - Transmission issues?

Hello All,

This is my first post in the forum.

I just purchased a brand new 2020 SR5 v6 Access Cab.

My wife was driving the truck yesterday and she called to let me know she thinks there is an issue with the transmission.

I took the truck for a drive last night and of course I was super attentive to everything the truck was doing. I notice that between 28 MPH and 38 MPH, depending on whether or not I'm pressing the gas pedal, that the transmission will shift gears. **It FEELS like the transmission is trying to predict what happening, are we slowing down or speeding up, and at times it seems the gear changes either on-time, slightly delayed or slightly ahead.

I took the truck on the highway and didn't notice this issue so much. However I did notice that the truck doesnt accelerate anywhere near as fast as my 2014 Camry v4. I pressed the gas pedal to the floor and got some additional push, but not what I was expecting.

Do these observations resonate with anyone as a potential issue? OR is this just how a tacoma runs?

 

Most likely the computer learning driving patterns. The transmission learns the way you drive, and adjusts shift points accordingly. It takes about 500 miles or so before it really dials you in. If you keep switching drivers who drive differently, it's going to be one confused tranny.

 

Note: don't Google "confused tranny" on a work computer to add funny emphasis on your post.

 

Oh, and I almost forgot - welcome to TW!

 

It's no camry

 

LMAO. I will make sure not to google this!

Thanks for the advice and warm welcome!

 

You're welcome!

If you're used to a Camry, you're going to have a hard time. It's a truck, not a dragster. That said, if you mash the gas it will realize you're serious and provide you some "ooomph."

I find that by normally driving in a conservative manner my mileage stays in the low 19s/high 18s. My shift points are used to this and it will hold higher gear longer, especially up hills. I distinctly remember my annoyance whenever it would hunt between 4th and 5th, but over time it realized I preferred higher gears and lower RPMs and settled down. My wife has also only driven my truck once, so it didn't take too much time for it to figure me out.

I also had a tune update (courtesy of a TW brother here in town) but that was to take it up to the tune that you should have by now. It took Toyota a few years to really dial this tune in, and I think all of the 2019s and later have it.

 

I’ve got 850 miles on my SR5 DCLB and the gear searching seems to have gone away.

 

Welcome to TW. Do a little search, and you will find no less than a gazillion posts about this.

G.

 

My Transmission got better with time as well.
I have 6K on the clock and it seems to have settled a bit.

It still likes to hunt in the 5th and 6th gear range but it's not as bad as when I first got it.

The little V6 has some oomph to it, and I have no complaints about how it drives or handles.

 

My sr5 v6 auto was cuckoo till around 1200 miles...by 1500 it worked as well as any good auto.
On another note not to hijack this thread, its getting colder now in the early morning. This engine runs really weird till the truck is near fully warmed up. Don't know if others are experiencing an eratic idle speed up, and down plus a different exhaust tone...almost like its dropping cylinders till up to temp. Once there all is normal.

 

Mine is around 1500 miles now and the gear hunting was never really bad for me. some in the 1st 500 miles but nothing annoying. I also drive probably fairly conservative. My last vehicle was a small SUV with a 4 cylinder turbo diesel too, so I've had to get used to Gas engines again that you can rev up as opposed a lower rpm diesel engine with most of the torque @2000 rpm.

 

Doesn't sound like an issue, OP. It'll have to learn your driving characteristics before is starts to smooth out. Likely not going to entirely go away, but you'll probably see some improvement. My 2020 was pretty smooth from the start, but I'm nearing 7,000 miles and it has gotten even better. Also, don't be afraid to mash on the skinny pedal. This engine likes to rev and will move on when you get the RPMs up. Still not going to outrun the Camry, but it does have some get up and go.

 

I had a 2016 and it was ok with the reflash, but my 2020 is perfect, not one complaint on the drivetrain.

 

Welcome to TW @2020tacodude - where abouts in country are you located?

 

I’m a little over 2500 miles now and it seems fine shifting on mine. I have noticed that pushing that pedal down gets it going once it goes above 3500rpm. Then it says ok your serious so I’ll move. Kinda like a little power band. It’s quicker than my renegade was so I’m happy.

 

that's the vvti kicking in...yo