2021 Tacoma Front passenger clunking noise ??? HELP

Hello! I have a brand new 2021 Toyota Tacoma with only 2,000 miles on it and it has recently started making a clunking noise in the front passenger side, but only when I takeoff after the truck has been parked for a while, it does not make the noise when I drive, it does not make the noise when I turn, and it does not make the noise any other time… it only makes the noise when I take off after I have been parked for a while. Help? Any suggestions? As usual, the dealer couldn’t find the problem.

 

I’m sorry to tell you this but the mechanics didn’t find it after inspecting it in person. I don’t think anyone here will find it through internet. I say leave it alone. I’m sure If I tried hard, I can find lots of noises in my truck too, but I won’t be doing that. Perhaps, the least you could do is send us a video to listen.
My suggestion - when you take off, turn the volume all the way up.

 

It could be just the brake pads breaking loose from the rotors. It could also be something similar if you used the parking brake, where the shoes stick.

 

Have you checked to make sure the passenger seat slide is locked in? Had this problem on my 19 and the seat needed pushed back to lock in fully.

 

Does it do it when you reach like 5mph every time? I had a similar complaint when I got my Tacoma and I found out that the ABS engages at I think 5mph and makes a sort of pop or clunking noise when it does it. I heard it every morning when I left for work and swore something was loose on the front suspension.

 

Yep definitely the ABS check clunk. Perfectly normal and supposed to happen. Occurs around 3-5MPH on startup after shifting out of park into drive. After about 15000 miles, I don't really hear the sound anymore. It was much louder when the truck was new. Maybe it will be noticeable again after new pads are installed when that day comes.

 

^^^He's right you know. Some dealership service managers have more knowledge than other service managers. Mine happened to know what the clunk was also. Some people don't notice it. Some trucks don't do it but some do. Mine does it. OP drive it and forget it!

 

I just bought a 2023 Tacoma and mine is doing the exact same noise after about 5ft of driving forward.

Is your Tacoma still make the same noise? Has it ever gotten worse or better?

At what mileage approximately did the popping noise begin? Curious to how many miles you drove it before the noise began?

Mine started making noise roughly around 200 miles. Now happen everyday.

Thanks!

 

Mine did it right off the lot. Still has the clunk shortly after shifting into drive and driving a few feet. Just the ABS check occuring on the front passenger brake. It has gotten a little milder though over the years.

 

My noise has unfortunately gotten louder from 200 miles to 1400 miles.

The dealer let me test drive another 2021 Tacoma today and I could hear a similar noise but it was much quieter.

Then my friend has another 2021 Tacoma and he said his doesn’t make the noise at all. I’m going to test drive his to compare the noise with mine hopefully this week or next week. Wondering if he has bad hearing lol! Or maybe this noise is actually something else.

I have talked with 7 other Tacoma owners online that say they don’t hear a noise at all but then there’s another 7 that say they do hear it.

How many miles do you have on your Tacoma now?

Thanks for the reply and info.

 

Just crossed 29000 miles the other day. From what I can remember, it was always a noticeable clunk sound and feeling in the steering wheel for a few thousand miles at the beginning, then it died down to a really quiet sound and a light feeling on the steering wheel. My assumption is the brake system wearing in.

 

Nice. You still got low miles. Glad to hear that it gets quieter too. The 2021 Tacoma I test drove had roughly 29000 as well so maybe it does get quieter as it breaks in.

Funny that you say brakes because I remember my brakes for the first 300 miles were extremely sticky. They still are a little sticky but not as bad. Were your brakes ever sticky when you pressed them?

 

Like the other members have posted, it is 99% that it is the abs self test you are hearing. Mine does it every time on startup after I move the truck 5-10ft. I currently have 16,000 miles on it, it has done this from day 1. I don't think you have anything to worry about, it is perfectly normal operation. I too thought I had an issue, but after researching on this forum I found the info. Mechanic also said the same thing, so no worries here.

 

I honestly can't remember how long the stickiness lasted, but I attributed that to just new touchy brakes since the pads were new at the time. It's not like that currently.

 

That’s good to know. I’m probably being extremely cautious but they’re going to try and fly out a Toyota field technician to verify my popping noise since it’s quit a bit louder than the 2021 Tacoma. And mine seems to happen more consistently often than the 2021 Tacoma.

 

I’ve heard this and a few other noises since having the truck. Clunks, engine clicks, air whistles, plastic trim rattle, tire whine, muffler noises, and loose coins (somewhere?) all seem normal to me. The radio and the wife make them all go away.

 

My ‘23 does the abs thing too

I reckon you turn the radio up, chasing the little noises in this truck is gonna drive you nuts