Automatic Transmission shifting issues

I've had my 2011 Tacoma 4x4 for a little over a year now and ever since I got it I've noticed that the transmission can't decide what gear it wants to be in. It drives me crazy because it dithers back and forth, first a lower gear, then shifts up, then back down and so I when I'm running through town specifically around 30 mph. I've even noticed it happening at even higher speeds now. Is this something that can be adjusted? A guy at work suggested re-chipping the computer that controls the tranny using a Jet performance chip but I didn't see one available for my truck. I'm open for information or suggestions. Thanks!!

 

Did you have the transmission TSB done? That helps out a bit.

 

Don't waste your money on a JET chip!!! My truck is not comfortable driving at 30mph. The trans shifts up and down, like the gearing is off at that mph. I was very lazy one day driving home and put the cruise control on at 30mph, truck could not decide which gear to stay in. I am heavily modded so maybe that's it.........

 

Ok, I'm a bit naive to the acronyms, unfortunately. What's a TSB? Thanks!

 

Its not normal. Take it back to the dealer, it should be under warranty.

 

I'm actually going in for the 20k service tomorrow so I'll hit them up on the shifting issue. Bet they say it's "normal".

 

TSB stands for Technical Service Bulletin. It is predominantly meant for dealer-level technicians to help them with common procedures, specs, or problems, allowing them to do their job better. They are also used by "do-it-yourselfers" who want to keep appraised of problems involving their trucks, and possibly fixing it themselves in order to save the high cost of dealer repairs.

 

I guess I'll find out Thursday when I take it back in for a technician to check it out. I let you know how that turns out. Thanks for the information so far!

 

Please update if you find out something.
My 2012 surges and shudders between 40-42 mph under light throttle. I told dealership about it at my first oil change and it was the usual line "nothing found"

My fix is to not drive at that speed and accelerate harder through 40mph which works well but on 30k truck it is annoying. It has to be in the programming my 06 tundra same tranny i think never did it smooth as silk at all speeds and shift points.

 

I will definitely let you know. I go in Thursday afternoon for the technician to check it out. Hopefully I can duplicate the problem for him. Talk to you then.

 

My 2012 Tacoma automatic gets to bucking if I'm stuck in heavy traffic at 30-40 MPH. The only way to control it is by shifting it down to 3rd gear. When the traffic lets up I have to remember to shift back to "D".
Of course, the dealer tech says "no problem found". The foreman is pretty cool. He pretty much said that's the way it is.
Mike

 

.
Didn't know about the .... transmission TSB ??? ...
.

 

Ok, here's the bottom line........Service man said it's performing by the book. It's shifting into overdrive and back out to satisfy emissions, if I want it to stop he says to put it in 4th gear until I get out of the low speed (30 mph) area. Jeez, why didn't I think of that!

 

Oh yeah, forgot to tell you that they checked for a TSB and there was none. Guess I live with it.

 

Makes sense (geez why didn't I think of that)! Do any of you still get that 1st gear drag the sudden shift into second?

 

There is a tranny TSB for an odd 1st to 2nd shift pattern for the 08-09's , not sure if it applies to your 07

 

Did you get this fixed??

Mine is doing the identical thing...started within the past 2 weeks.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1670762#post1670762

 

Mine does the same surging and bucking at light throttle 35-40 mph.
I believe it's in the trans shifting or the throttle cut-off. It seems to be normal for a couple of year models.
The only way to tolerate it is to put the auto trans in #4 or #3.
Mine also pings badly driving around town, especially in low speed turns, on light throttle. This also appears to be normal. The engine is just running too slow in an attempt to get good milage.
My '98 T100 had none of these problems. Disappointing.
Mike, 2012 Tacoma

 

no...im pretty sure the shudder feeling is not anywhere near normal. I drove for thousands and thousands of miles without this issue.