Are the transmission issues fixed in the 2020?

The future is NOW!

 

Long time Toyota owner, have had 60, 80 and 100 series Land Cruisers, Gen 1, now a 2020 TRD short bed Tacoma, I want to love it, I know it will last forever and I'll probably get crucified for my comments but the engine transmission combo is an issue where I live, I did test drive my neighbors 2019 but definitely not long enough, I recommend a lengthy test drive in your environment. I live at 8000 feet and commonly drive over 10000 to 12000ft passes, the cruise control is basically worthless in a daily situation and you have you be an active participant in shifting, should I have bought a manual....probably but a worn out ankle begged otherwise. Yes I've tried the ECT. Does it get me where I want to go, naturally it does but with a bit more drama than I'd think would be necessary in 2020, 5th and 6th gear here rarely come into play but it does like to try to go between them time after time for about 1 second at a time, assume it wants me to get good milage and while I appreciate that I don't think I should have to be in 4th every time there's a slight rise in the road and in 3rd to go 60 mph up a hill with a 6 speed transmission, I realize less oxygen puts me at a disadvantage but it seems torque is lacking, maybe it's the Atkinson cycle. I also wish it wouldn't default to 4th when shifting into manual mode, the only vehicle I own that has ever done that. Love the reliability, loyal to the brand.

 

I live in Washington state and don’t seem to have a problem with my transmission. I think at this point it’s a preconceived notion that there is an “issue”. There is a few times where it wants to shift into a higher gear to early and then 10 seconds later it downshifts. Is that a big deal to me? No, it isn’t. Is it a big deal to some? Yes, it is. I get that Toyota is trying to get the best MPG out of this truck and it doesn’t bother me. I have a 5 speed manual scion XB before this and drove fairly similarly. I’d be driving around town in 4th gear, at 30mph-35mph at 1,500 RPM’s. I researched trucks for probably 2 years and I haven’t seen enough complaints about transmissions going out or needing major work to think it’s an issue. It is just how they are programmed to drive. I will say if you tow or live in a big city it kind of sucks to have to drive your pickup like a sports car and be in the power at 3,000rpm-4,000rpm but I think that’s Also not going to be an issue with anything other than people not liking that it doesn’t drive like their old V8’s. I had never driving a newer taco other than my test drive that was roughly 5 miles 50/50 city and highway. I like the truck a lot.

 

My 16 has always shifted and performed fine, none of the described problems with cc either.

 

Hey everyone, Thanks for the great feedback. I just bought my 2020 MGM DC OR LB last week and love it so far. No issue with shifting at all. I really like the way it drives and handles for what it is. Honestly when you read the test drive reviews of the Tacoma in the press (Consumer Reports especially) you’d think the Tacoma slept with their sister or something. Don’t understand all the haters. It’s a great truck! Looking forward to joining the club.

 

It’s not a transmission issue. It’s a driver expectation issue. It’s a 4x4 truck. It shifts, like a truck.

it doesn’t shift like an Mercedes AMG transmission with a dual, wet multiplate clutch. People here expect it to preform like a supercar.

The tranny is fine as long as your expectations are attainable.

 

I’ll be honest. I came from a 2018 Jeep Wrangler JL with the 8sp Transmission. That thing Really brought to life the 3.6 v6. It was an awesome shifting tranny.

Fast forward to my TACO 2020 OR. The transmission shifts fine but it does really DRAG this engine. The gearing is off or something because I feel like it shifts too soon from 1 to 2.

I will say however it doesn’t bother me and I much prefer reliability over the crap show my new Jeep was.

 

I have a 2019 DCLB Sport 4x4. Of the four (4) Toyota Trucks I have had since 1988, this the first auto trans. Had to go auto as I wanted the DCLB and it didn’t come in a manual. Thought I was going to hate it but truth be told, the only time I ever even think about the transmission is when I am NOT driving it. No complaints, no issues with the transmission to date. I only have hauled smaller/lighter loads with it so far, but all is good.

 

My 2020 off-road shifts very well, no issues. If it wasn't for the talk here about 16's, I would give it no thought other than how smooth my transmission is.

 

Glad you are loving your new truck. In the end, that's all that matters!

 

I've had a 2020 sr5 v6 for about a month and a half now. I've even towed with it. I came from an 01 4.7 tundra. The 6 speed tacoma transmission with its 2 overdrives makes for a much busier tranny on secondary roads than the v8 tundra. Still, with the tacoma i noticed what i think is a minor converter issue with the trans causing a light shutter when braking to a stop, especially on hills. Dealer says its normal but my tundra never did it. Gotta believe toyota has known about it and could be working on a remedy.

 

I was told by the area rep. that the vibrations are a Normal Charistic of the Tacoma...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mysterious-vibes.629750/#post-21722246

 

Interesting, especially the howling. I just chalked it up to the wind hitting the hard tonneau bed cover when rounding certain road corners at 45-50 mph....but yeah, i got the same bs from the dealer here. All in all despite the minor gremlins, the tranny does shift smoothly, with no other notable issues. Its far better than a friends 2016.

 

The transmission "issues" seem to be a Toyota thing, and how they set up their vehicles for fuel economy.
As evident in this review of the Camry TRD. You hear the same "gear hunting" issues in the camry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPUCcUsJhYQ

 

The Transmission is fine, if you stay off Internet Forums you wouldn't even worry about it.

 

Is hilarious how people call "issue" what in reality there is non..

 

When your steering hand and foot on the gas pedal start going numb it truly is not hilarious... especially, being bone stock with less than 400 miles on odometer...

 

Well, that might be a health problem not a truck problem. Not being funny, but that could be avoided on a test drive.

 

Not sure. But make sure that TSB 62-18 is applied and to test it, floor the gas peddle from a dead stop and the truck should immediately take off. If it lurches, pauses for a second while hunting for a gear, then takes off, you need to get that TSB applied. It can be a safety issue for when you are passing folks on the freeway or get surprised by someone at an intersection. When I convinced the dealer to do it to my '18, it drove like a different truck and the transmission issues vanished.

 

Did that... city driving with back country twisty 2 lane test driving did not reveal a steady speed vibration starting at ~50mph...