Are you still experiencing transmission issues?

Brand new to the thread so I apologize if this is a topic that has already been brought up. I'm planning on getting a pickup truck for the first time next summer and I really like the Tacomas. Since I've been looking into them a lot recently, I read many articles on the Transmission issues they were having back in 2016 and 2017. I know many of those issues have been "fixed" but I'm curious on what you all think. Is your 3rd Gen Taco still having transmission issues? Does it still have trouble finding the right gear? Does it feel "underpowered" when driving? Slow when changing from Park to Drive? Are these issues still happening in the 2019 and 2020 models? I want to find out everything I can before making this purchase next summer so whatever you got, please share! Thanks!

 

Never had any transmission "issues" with my 2020 automatic.

Ignore this cesspool of a forum and do extensive test drives. Make up your own mind.

 

It’s only mostly when you put on larger tires / lift with heavy bumpers/ winch And skiD plates that Will affect how it drives. My 2017 drives fine

 

I have a 2017 and as far as I know it has never been given the update. Coming from a 4 speed, I can honestly say I haven't noticed the issues people often complained about. Sure, it is a little different, but still feels like an upgrade to me. My understanding is that in 2019 they made the update standard from the factory and I haven't really heard any issues since. But the more gears, the more gear hunting (you should see the complaints about the Ford/GM 10 speed).

As far as under powered, that has more to do with the gearing. The 3.5L has 40+ more HP than the outgoing 4.0L had. But the rear gears are geared for MPG (you can likely thank the competition and the EPA) and so people complain about the engine without considering the gearing. I've heard all those issues go away if you regear it, but personally I like the current gearing because I commute about 90 miles a day and gas adds up.

 

The Tacoma is defintely undertuned for epa standards. The Camry 3.5L is 301 hp and same torque.

 

2020 Tacoma seems fine. Maybe just the older models that have that issue.

 

That term is very subjective. Do an extended test drive and see for yourself!

 

They also have different applications, gearing, etc. Many manufacturers use the same engines across multiple vehicles and have different power numbers due to their application and what they are paired with.

 

Lidstrom, yeah I know I just like reminding people of the camry, the 3.5L is awesome

 

Get a manual .. auto was a no go for me . I drove the 20 in a auto and it still hesitated to go at times when applying gas . They did fix the gear hunting issue .

 

I see how you meant it now.

 

Yeah brain fart and I hate the Flyers (Lindros)

 

I think that some early 3rd gen transmissions were underfilled with fluid from the factory, but that's since been taken care of. Also, a TSB that updated the ECU (applied in 2018) helped my 2017 driveability in terms of gear hunting.

I am 100% stock at this point in terms of wheels/tires/suspension, and the truck drives fine in all situations. It will downshift on hills, etc... to better use the power band of of the engine, but while this can be slightly annoying, its not a problem per se, more of a design choice/compromise around fuel economy.

Using something like VF tune is always an option for getting the most out of the drivetrain in terms of power.

 

When I first got my 2017 the gearing was pretty awful. Transmission died on me around 30k, dealership covered it warranty and I got a 2018 transmission as a replacement. I clearly had a lemon from the start but gearing is much better now. It still has some trouble figuring out what gear to be in on steep hills, and by no means is quick, but overall I’m happy with it now.

Like everyone else said I’d highly recommend taking a test drive. They gave me a Camry rental while my taco was down and compared to the taco the Camry was smooth as butter.

 

If you get a truck and expect it to drive like a sports car, you're gonna have a bad time.

The transmission in the Taco is a 'learning' transmission, meaning it learns and adjusts based on how you drive it for the first, shoot, 2k miles or so? Don't quote me on that exact number. But it takes some time to get your habits down, and how you drive it will effect how it shifts to a moderate degree. A person who drives it in stop-and-go traffic will have a different feel than someone who eats up highway at 70mph all day every day.

It does have a tendency to hunt for gears, especially between 5th and 6th. This isn't so much a problem as it is just moderately annoying and people who are truly bothered by it just put it in ECT mode and push the gear selector over into sequential (S) mode. S-mode just sets a 'cap' on how high a gear the transmission can shift into - when you slap it over, it's automatically set to 4th. If you're going to be going over 45mph, push it up to 5th, it'll help with the gas mileage, or so I've found.

I live and work in the DMV area, so I gotta deal with DC crazies on my commute to work and I've had to shit and quit it a couple times to get out of a bad spot/avoid some stupidity flying my way and I've never felt like the transmission was an issue. it was a bit annoying during the learning/break-in period but at 15k miles now it's pretty good.

 

Finding the right gear isn’t a transmission issue. It’s a software complaint for the automatic. The transmission have worked as intended and are reliable based on forum feedback.

Best way to check if you like it is to test drive. Using others opinions on this forum is not a good way to judge.

 

My 6-Speed Manual is great!

 

You are right on with this assessment. I hated mine when I first got it. Now, since it has "learned" my driving, I am getting insanely great gas mileage both on the highway and around town. I had resigned myself when I bought the truck, to not getting as good gas mileage as I did with my old 96 4cylinder, but now, I am actually doing better than I did with that 4cylinder! I average 28mpg hwy and 22-25 around town! totally not bad for a much bigger truck with a 6cylinder!

 

I got ya. Well, I'm a Wings and VGK fan. But Wings first and foremost, no matter how bad they're doing.

 

I had a Subaru with a CVT before I got my 2020 so I really didn’t notice how annoying the transmission was until my company rented me a Ram Cummins a few weeks ago. There is nothing wrong with the Toyota transmission but now I want a ram.