Are the 2018s still having Engine and Transmission Issues?

Good catch on the only 5, posts from two years ago on the Ridgeline. Now back?
Makes you wonder. Hi smitty ?

 

Just picked up a 2018 with manual trans. Zero complaints.

Did a test drive in both manual and automatic. Both work fine. I prefer a manual. My understanding is they have the automatic sorted out.

Yes, the engine and drivetrain use advanced technology to improve fuel economy. No, you don't get trainloads of torque on the low rpm band.

Atkinson engines are legitimately more efficient, but they make the big horsepower at higher revs. That's just how they work. There's nothing especially wrong with it, it's just different.

Having said all that, I find the truck has plenty of grunt at lower rpms for what I do. Plenty....

No, it's not a 600 horsepower camaro. That's not what I bought it for.

 

Bought my 17 used with 9K, Transmission works perfect for me. All recalls were done, so maybe it has been reprogrammed. Feels peppier in ECT/SPORT mode, but for day to day driving, I see no issue with the regular shift program.

 

My father n Law has had a 1st gen, 2 - 2nd gens, and now a 3rd gen 17 TRD Pro in Cement. He's had zero issues with them. My bro n law has the 1st of his 2 - 2nd gens and that thing has been solid.

I asked him how he liked the Pro and he loves it. Not one issue. After I drove it a few times (auto) I really could see myself owning one. So i bought mine and it's been fine. No vehicle is perfect and there are some design things i don't like. But from a reliability stand point, you really can't go wrong with a Tacoma.

Plus the community is strong, so there's always help/solutions if you need it.

 

Just turned 25k this week! I like it more and more each month!

 

65k miles and no problems. Don't let a few posts turn you off.

 

1600 miles, been wheeled quite a bit now and I honestly get a high when I need or want to drive it. Different experience to the previous 2nd gens. No transmission or engine issues. Fun to drive. It came with the pads in between the leaf springs. Fingers crossed, still no squeaking even with all the dirt and mud that got blown or thrown up there.

 

Someone put forums in perspective by reminding us of how many Tacomas are sold monthly compared to the number of us who read and comment on forums. Unfortunately many of those comments are negative.
My daughter has a 2016 SR5 in Florida. I rode in it last summer but never drove it. Then I wanted one so I bought my 2017 TRD in October. I told her I hated the truck because of the constant shifting. She said she has never noticed hers doing that. Hmmmm. A 2016? She drove mine and said it shifts just like hers. GRRRRR. Dad there is nothing wrong with yours. There you have another owners perspective.
I installed the ShiftSense Pro V2 Monday evening and it has made a big improvement. Love the throttle response. And love my daughter. Must remember to wish her Happy Valentines Day.

 

Yes, it's been two years between the two trucks. I was laid off in summer 2016 with a baby on the way and developed bad anxiety. Even with a good job it took about a year for me to get to a good mental state to commit on a purchase.

I'm deciding between the Ridgeline, Tacoma, Sienna, and Odyssey right now. Not trolling just trying to gather feedback

 

Had my 2017 TRD Off Road DCSB for a year now. Only have 3800 miles on it as I drive a company car most of the time. Overall I like the truck. I do not like the way they set up the engine and transmission. I know it is all for mpg issues to help meet CAFE numbers. But it is still a pain. You have to learn to keep your foot in the throttle when driving around town as that is where the engine makes power. On the interstate, it shifts into overdrive too soon and when cruising at 70mph and starting up a slight hill it will shift back and forth from 6th to 5th and back. Very annoying. I like the truck enough that I have learned to live with these issues. Overall, the way the transmission is set up is my major complaint. But I have no intention of getting rid of the truck. Particularly after spending $10K on mods already.

 

Issues???? Lol, most engine "issues" people have is they don't like the power. Most transmission "issues" people have is they don't like the way the truck shifts. Those are not issues, but more of complaints, whining, and regrets.

I have a 2016 TRD OR that I purchased in fall of 2015. I've had zero "issues" of course I only have 22k miles on it so far. I don't get to go out in and play with the truck much do to having to work all the time.

 

1.2k 2017 Bought a month ago nothing to report yet.

 

I bought my 2018 TRD Sport 4x4 DCSB on Dec 30th. It has 2800 miles on it. I don't have any complaints about the truck, but I don't have things that I was used to having in my last truck in this one, and am remedying that. I'm comfortable in it, it gets way better mileage than my Tundra did. It can't tow as much, but we were downsizing our camper anyway (6138 pounds is going to be a stretch for this truck LOL). The speakers it comes with are garbage, but I knew that already and had planned for that. Unlike quite a few people, I actually like the Entune Premium suite, and am amazed by the advances in technology over my last truck (2009 Tundra). The TSS and adaptive cruise control is incredible AFAIC.

I commute in this truck, but I also do a lot of camping with the Boy Scouts as well as family and friends (my wife is the only one that actually sleeps in the camper, me and the kids hammock camp), and this truck is perfect for getting where I need to go. I might do a small lift later (like when the OEM tires are at the end of their service life), and I have been doing some mods to make it mine, but it is a great truck as it came from the dealer.

 

Mine is fine. 18,500 miles no transmission or engine issues.

 

The one question to ask yourself, do you plan on modifying the truck, specifically, changing out the tires? The driving characteristics of this truck change dramatically from the stock tires vs a 33"+, 10 ply tire, that is a fact. I think a lot of people test drive the truck, like it and buy it, then go mod crazy and suddenly the low torque of the engine and higher gear ratio becomes an issue. In stock form, I feel the engine/tranny are very adequate for this vehicle.

 

Nope, don't plan to modify it besides running boards and maybe roof crossbar. I don't plan to off road so a TRD Sport will probably be my choice. I'm looking for a family vehicle to use for camping, going to the mountain, hauling our bikes and mulch, and some home depot projects. and maybe some trails when my son joins the scouts

For my use case, that's why the Ridgeline, Sienna, and Odyssey are alternative options . I'd prefer a truck over the vans because I don't want to use the trailer hitch for mulch and I'm too short to access roof racks

 

They're bad ass. I've put about 35K miles on mine and it still puts a smile on my face every day.

 

......never mind the second gen........pick a brand..any brand or make....go to a forum of that brand.........search.........read........realize....it's the same everywhere......come back to Toyota where at least we have the highest resale value.....................................................and fewer deaths.!...oops, to soon!?

 

OP - this is a great truck for this and I am sure the RL is as well. I was a "Honda" guy and had a 2004 Civic EX MT coupe that was flawless and got rid of it with ~120k mi on it. The reason being my family grew, so I naturally looked at the CR-V and the Forester Premium manual transmission (wifey is a Subie girl). Long story short, not to do with vehicles, I came home with a 2014 CR-V EX. Good car, but never really liked it and not nearly functional for what I could use a vehicle for. This means; projects around the house, towing, hauling dirt, loam, lumber, camping, romping, etc... One day my wife says you could really use a truck . I Started looking and really liked the Tacoma, especially I could get it in a manual, so this put it ahead of all the competition in a heart beat. She said get the payment the same as the CR-V and it yours - done!!

The Ridgeline did nothing for me, especcially after owning the CR-V. Junk AWD and I mean what useless effing feature in my opinion - remember we own Subies - that is a real AWD. Our Outback puts the CR-V to shame in quality, functionality, comfort you name it. This put me into real truck with real 4wd. The twins "looked" great on the outside, but interior and re-sale was crap vs the Tacoma. I and my family have never had luck with a Ford, GM (never owned a Chrysler Product). This left the Tacoma and as mentioned I really enjoy driving it daily here on the State roads of NH, it does the shit I need it too, hauls my little family of 3 plus dog comfortably, and I am VERY confidant it will never let us down. End rant, hope it helps.

 

I think there are people that have legit problems with the transmission, but overall a lot of the complaining is coming from people who don't have "problems" so much as they just don't like the feel of the transmission and how the engine puts down power. I have a 16 and it runs exactly as it's supposed to, which is to say it's very different from my 2010 4Runner. I preferred the 4Runner, but the Taco is ok. So if you see complaining about the transmission rushing through the gears to put you in 6th by the time you're at 35mph, or the engine seeming kind of gutless until about 4000 RPM's, understand that's the way the truck has been engineered and make your decision from there.