biggest gripes about 2nd Gen.

I am sure people will have gripes with any car/truck.

I had an '01 Pre-runner, prior to moving to CO and buying my '06.
I can tell you the things I love with the '06 over the '01. (both were access cabs):
a) Access Cab doors that open!!
b) 4.0l power, over 3.4l
c) Awesome redesign of truck
d) Composite bed with electrical outlet and storage compartments

Those were some of the major improvements that I loved over the 1st gen.

As for the gripes:
a) Poor positioning of front body mounts
b) Ridiculous mud flaps
c) No sun/moon roof option
d) Crappy stock rear springs
e) Crappy tailgate, non-locking tailgate
f) No lockable compartments w/o cab (solved this with a Console Vault)
g) Manual transfer case (FJ's got em)
h) Rear disc brakes, again, FJ's got em

That's all I got for now

 

my damn truck rattles worse than most american trucks (dash rattles, windows are loose, wind noise like crazy) Needless to say, if Toyota does not beef up their quality, I will buy a Nissan next since they are cheaper and of similar quality now.

 

Only complaint-->Too many mods, too little money.

 

My biggest complaints are more aimed towards specifics on the X, but still 2nd gen features.

1. Braking System
- Front brakes - too small, too weak
- Rear drums - its a sports truck, go with the rear discs.

2. 6-speed Transmission
- This thing is a POS.
- Horrible gear ratios for the X
- Weak factory clutch.

3. 1GR-FE
- Open deck motor
- Not a 2JZ-GTE (going back to a sports truck idea)

4. Factory Options that should have been standard (specifically for the X)
- Should have been Supercharged from the factory
- Should have come with the TRD big brake kit

5. I'm not a big fan of the front seats, I don't find them all that comfortable for long drives (5 hours +).

6. Back seats could have been a little bit more comfy for passengers.

 

Yes, but if you wad it up, it returns to its original form.

Technology gleaned from the Roswell crash...

 

I had a 2003 DC and now own a 2010 DC and here are my observations.

1. 03' seemed to have more room on the inside despite being a smaller truck, I believe this was due to thinner seats

2. 03' felt more like a truck 10' feels more like a car

3. I liked my hand pull e-brake

That is all I can think of really that people already haven't said.

 

- My '96 felt like a truck, my '09 feels like a car.
- Manual trans on '96 felt much crisper than the '09 6 spd.
- Cupholders SUCK in '09... the ones that come with the 6 spd console. (ok, not a serious gripe, but still a gripe)

 

2010 Std cab 4WD

Gear ratio between 1 and 2 to large of a difference
Sliding rear window latch on left side
leaf springs seem weak
Would rather have manual 4WD engagement
list of mods still growing

Still love the truck

 

I hate the windshield wiper switch. Many vehicles do this now. I miss my honda where I had to twist the switch to turn on the wipers. Sometimes I accidentally bump the window switch while I'm turning the wheel and the wipers come on.

I wish the 6spd had a better gear ratio for 6th gear that was better suited for MPG. I dont like spinning almost 3k RPM doing 75mph on the highway.

The squeaky throwout bearing can be annoying sometimes.

This is my first truck and my first toyota so I dont have anything to compare it to. I have always driven hondas.

Like the guy above said regarding the cupholders. I kinda wish at least one of the cupholders was the same large diameter all the way down so my coffee thermos wouldn't move around so much.

 

- 6spd needs taller gears. It's geared way too low, killing the gas mileage.
- Poor gas mileage for a mid-size truck.
- Paint on mine seems to chip incredibly easily.
- I would prefer a manually operated transfer case.
- Sometimes I wish the center console container was the type that could fold back out of the way.
- Climate control fan ticking.
- When I first got it, my biggest complaint was how the ECU would control the engine speed. For example if you let it move too slow in a certain gear the ECU would decide to give it more gas, causing an unexpected lurch forward. I've since gotten used to this.
- Weak rear springs. (I know there is a TSB, but I missed the boat on the warranty.)

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I've got for now. Don't get the wrong idea though, I still love my truck.

 

Rear drums should be a thing of the past.
The truck needs better paint and more clear coat on it.
Seats need to be taller in the cab, my legs are straight out insead of bent at the knee.
Plastic bed needs to go away, I would much rather have the metal bed.
Would lilke a fuel milage readout on the dash. Most vehicles have this now.
Cheesy rear springs.
Steering could stand to be tighter. My wheel kinda bounces around going down rough roads.
Wish the dash lights were another color.
Tranny has awkward shift pattern from 1st to 2nd.

 

There is alot i would like to change about the tacoma but all i need is some money to get it to were i want it to be. I still got what i wanted and could afford.

 

Oh, I forgot to add in my earlier post: I really dislike the throttle-by-wire. The throttle was instantaneous on my '96 V6, but on this '09, it seems to be very slow to react to pedal movement. It makes learning to shift the '09 smoothly, a longer term thing. It's taken me about a month to really get used to it. It reminds me of the manual shifts on 70s era detroit mobiles. Needs to be shorter and crisper, with way better throttle feel.

 

Only one serious complaint. The front seat headrests tilt forward too much. They just bug the hell out of me and there is no way to adjust them backwards.

If anybody knows a way to correct this, I'm all ears.

 

Only one major bitch , "what's with no heated mirrors Toyota ?" I mean they see Canada as a different market from the US , we get 4 leaf springs standard , and you can get factory leather with heated seats , but apparently , during winter in Canada , you need to pour hot water on your side mirrors so you can see as the manual says you aren't supposed to use a scraper on them because you could damage the motors that adjust them . WTF ? Don't worry about keeping my ass warm Toyota , but I wouldn't mind being able to see when I change lanes or back up .

 

Manually operated transfer case.
Lockable fuel door.
ABS sucks, include button to turn off.
4.10 or 4.30 Gears optional.
Throttle-by-wire sucks. Manual trans trucks really need that quick throtle response.

 

My damn steering wheel and seat are not centered........................

 

Can't believe I forgot about the ABS. That garbage made me coast right through a stop sign once on mostly dry pavement. I was slowing approaching a 4 way intersection. Not long before I was at a complete stop, one wheel hit a small section of ice while I was on the brake. The rest of the road was bare and bone dry. I guess the ABS sensed that one wheel locking up, and it cut my brake power and I coasted right into the middle of the intersection.

Good thing no one was coming through.

 

i would like to add #3 to my list. Hand pull e-brake was awesome.

 

Wow, lots of negatives here. After reading this, I'm almost second guessing whether I should have bought my 2010 a few days ago. Especially the part about the rattles and such. Keep in mind, I have owned several Toyota 4x4's and Tacomas over the years but the last was a '96. I went back to Toyota after driving Chevys and Fords over the last several years. All of my Toyotas were rock solid trucks. Afte reading all of this, I'm wondering if I made the right decision.