Concerned about possible new 2017 SR5 V6 purchase

These trucks are great in general, but the assembly on some was subpar unfortunately. My truck had several things loose, dry joints, loose leaf springs, an out of round drum from the factory causing vibrations, low transmission fluid, and a faulty crankshaft sensor as the biggest concerns. I also had the transmission TSB done which did help for a little while but was temporary. If you buy, may consider OVTune as the biggest set back many have commented on is not the truck or engine itself - but the way Toyota seems to have rushed through the way it programmed the ECU. Luckily there is a "fix" on that front. And if you don't like how it hunts for gears and want something less expensive, I hear the Shift Sense works well. Here's a bit on the ECU:

https://www.ovtuned.com/blogs/news/2gr-fks-toyota-tacoma-bringing-new-life-to-the-tacoma-platform

after fixing things that were not delivered properly from the factory (mostly things I had to diagnose and fix myself) and getting it tuned to drive smoothly throughout the RPM bands, it is easily my favorite vehicle I've ever owned. I was angry the first few months and was one of those who says "...a $40k truck shouldn't require me to spend weekends in my garage figuring out what's wrong with it" and it shouldn't have but I loved the look and function of the truck and stuck with it.

 

I agree with the extended test drive . Every manufacturer has it flaws, recalls, issues. I will admit If I had my 35 grand back I wouldn't of bought this '17 DCSB V6. I am not stuck on any manufacturer or model, This was my first Toyota truck and only good thing I can say about it is my resale value/trade in will be good. The whole shifting/surging/downshifting/clunks is more than I care to deal with and I'm not sold on the ECU tune to fix it either at $800. The crappy headlights are another big con for me that sucks bad and is an expensive fix (to do it properly) not just a bulb upgrade which I did try. I could live with the plastic bumpers if that was the only issue... I just can't afford to buy a new vehicle and then spend another 2-5k for upgrades or fixes. Sure I may get 200-300K miles out of it but I can't deal with the issues. I haven't had a chance to look at any other options yet due to holidays/ family deaths, but hope to have something before winter is over.

 

Per the Ovtuned article.

Here is the difference between the Camry 3.5L and Tacoma 3.5L Valve timing tables. Notice the Camry uses extra advance, but top end targets are relatively the same. So is the Camry picking up all this extra horsepower simply by extending the rev limiter? We think not. But that the next logical step for us to take.

The image on the left is the Toyota Camry 3.5L 2GR FKS Valve timing. The image on the right is the Tacoma. Did Toyota just get lazy, or were they rushed when they Tuned the Tacoma? They focused on high load and low RPM, and then just threw a flat advance through the entire mid-range. It's not hard to see which platform Toyota spent more time developing. (hint: it's the Camry). But even still...where's that magical horsepower?

 

I have a 2017 TRD OR and I've had NONE of the problems that are being talked about. No driveline vibrations. No transmission problems. No differential hum, etc. I never noticed that the seating position was poor until someone complained about it, but it doesn't bother me in the least! I absolutely love my truck and would buy it again in a heartbeat. There are a lot of people who just like to complain!

 

Non-profit doesn't mean you don't charge for a product, or that you have to give it away. Non-profit means the primary goal of the organization is something other than making a profit.

If they made money by selling data to those whose products they were testing, they now have a financial interest in making those products look better. By charging the consumer that wants to research and/or buy a product, they are expected to provide impartial analysis of those products.

Whoever pays the piper, gets to pick the tune.

 

What?! How about those of us who answered yes to both questions?

 

I love mine! I've had it since May, and the only issue I have is the entune system. It's just not Android auto compatible. I feel like that, and apple car play (or whatever it's called) should be pretty standard by now, but for some reason they went with that entune crap. Other than that, it's my favorite thing!

 

Few things you'll learn here. Lots of overblown issues. People seem to voice their opinions more when there is an issue, no matter how small. Remember, this forum does not reflect the whole Tacoma community/buyer base. It's just a small sample of whiny people, believing their new truck should be flawless from day 1. I don't know of a single truck to date, that has not has some sort of major issue.

Others keep chiming in, adding comments like, "I've got 9k miles with no issues, so Taco is the best."

These anecdotal posts inform you of nothing. I certainly paid no attention to them when buying my truck (Toyota and non, alike).

Most manufacturers produce good trucks these days. I would test drive others out there. Don't be shy of going domestic. They know their trucks, especially full-size. That's their bread-n-butter. Be sure to test drive a new F150. Better MPG, better ride quality, and much better power. If I had the space, I would buy another one.

You will know when you're behind the wheel of your next truck. You really can't go wrong. Just tune out the noise.

 

I have an SR5 DCSB with automatic. Only a couple complaints for me.
1. Stock low beams SUCK!!! I did the HID kit and get a little wiggle/bounce on bumpy roads but I couldn't see the road at all with oncoming lights and now I can. No cars blink me so the reflectors are doing their job pointing the light appropriately.
2. The transmission does SUCK, but you get used to it. It's probably more noticeable for me as I live in the mountains so it does want to hunt for gears. ECT mode, or just put in S mode in 4 or 5 and that stops.
3. Coming from a 2009 4 cylinder...this thing is quick but you have to romp it, and then it will scoot just fine.
4. My mileage is 23mpg as long as I baby it, drive the speed limit and use the hills to my advantage. Got 25.1 on a long trip but then I drive 55 or 65 just depending on what it is. Winter has dropped it a bit (winter fuel formulation) but it's still 23MPG (23.1 with 360 miles on this current tank).
5. Much more comfortable than the 2009.
6. It is my daily driver and I drive 30 miles each way to work. Seats were a bit uncomfortable at first and I thought I was going to have problems but I acclimated to them in about a month. No issue now and find them comfortable (they are just so hard from the factory).
7. 4WD works great! Love the 4WD in tacomas, 2009 or 2017!! If it won't go there...you shouldn't go there!

Hope that helps ya!

 

Well written with some valid points, but 2 out of the last 6 cars I owned died with head gasket problems before they were barely 100K miles old, they were a Chevy and a Ford. The other 4 were all Toyotas and they were well over 200K miles old and still ran well when I sold them. Anecdotal for all cars, maybe, but not for my trend.

 

Test drive it and then go drive it again a couple days later.

 

The majority of issues happend in the first year of production. However, My 2017 TRD off road has had some diff noise. My dealership looked at it, could not find any reason for it, nor any oddities in it. But they did agree to install a new rear differential.

Other then that I love this truck, it seemed to go anywhere I want it to!

 

22k on my 16. Have no problems with it. Drive it up and down mountains every day. Love it. Got to use my buds 2004 Silverado. What a POS. Everything in that truck rattled. When I got back to Alaska and back into my taco, it was really nice to sit in the quiet cabin with all the tech I need and the power is decent. I barely hit the gas to get up mountains. I really don't get peoples problems with the power...

 

If you want a manual transmission (MT) the Tacoma is one of your only options, and its why I own one. The Nissan Frontier still has a stick, is similar in size to the Tacoma but older in design, and you still might be able to get the 4.0 in the Frontier - the last of the "big" naturally aspirated V6 truck engines; most manufacturers have dropped down to around 3.5 liters, with engines that make their best power above 3500 rpms (more car-like, and not very "truck-like"). Other than that, you are looking at the Ram 2500 diesel if you want a new truck with a stick. But I don't imagine you are cross-shopping the Tacoma with a 2500 diesel!

If you don't want a MT, then shop the full-size trucks hard. First test drive the Tacoma - not on a dealer-imposed short drive, but take a long, overnight test drive. Pay special attention to engine power. Then go test drive the Tundra, the Ford F-150, and the Ram 1500. You will see a huge difference between the Tacoma and these full-size trucks in power (low-end torque especially), comfort, payload, towing capacity, etc. The 2019 Chevy Silverado is coming out soon and it looks nice. You should be able to get the 6.2 in the Chevy that makes 420 horse, and 460 ft/lbs torque. This is probably the best naturally aspirated V8 in the segment, so it could be worth waiting for.

Now decide what you want in your truck: a mid-size truck that will be more nimble on the trails, easier to park, easier to get into your garage, etc. or a full-size truck that will give you much better power, payload, etc.

P.S. I think at sea level the 3rd gen Tacomas do okay, but above 5,000 feet they feel under-powered (in my opinion) - especially at lower rpms. For example, my commute home involves driving from 5,500 ft. to 8,500 ft. up a road with three steeply climbing hairpin turns. In my 1997 Tacoma I can take those turns in second gear because there is enough low-end torque; in my 2017 Tacoma I have to downshift into first gear.

 

I've only had mine for 1,000 miles. I think it has plenty of power and it feels comfortable. Plenty of space since I'm not very tall. I had an '03 SR5 4 banger for 15 years with nothing in it so its a huge upgrade for me with all the bells and whistles. I had absolutely no problems with it for the whole time I owned it. My family all owns toyotas in some form or another and have been great reliable vehicles all around. A lot of my friends have silverados, f150, or wranglers. I have driven every one of them and the trucks are comfortable if you want a Cadillac feel and the electronics all break or quit working as soon as warranty is up. I own two GM dump trucks for business and they all have the electronic problems and cost an arm and a leg to fix the computer and sensor stuff. I'd rather drive my daughters power wheel than a jeep. I would test drive and not rush into a vehicle until your sure about it. Just my 2 cents.

 

Every car made has some issues. I have never heard of ANY model that didnt have some little problem. I love my taco......

 

the second time drive with ECT on the entire drive.

 

I say it depends on what you plan on doing with it, if you plan on towing anything other than a small utility trailer it's gonna turn 3500-4000 grand maintaining any highway speed, if you want to tow anything buy a Tundra, I had a Tundra loved it except it got 14mpg, traded it for my wife a highlander, year an a half later she moved to a camry, and I wanted a new truck, bought 2017 Tacoma sr 4x4 dcsb v6 because I drive it every day and it gets 20+ mpg. It's still a truck and will do work but I just wouldn't tow with it. And the only issue I have with it is lack of low end torque but I am comparing it to tundra which has tons of low end torque plus a 4.30 rear end. So it's all on what you plan on doing and what you expect it to do, be reasonable with your self on what you need,if u just want a truck and towing is not an issue you will be happy, but like I said if u want to tow or want a truck that will run like a muscle car(0-60 times on tundra are crazy for that heavy a truck) get a 5.7l tundra.

 

Ect really does make a difference keeps the revs up where the power is

 

if you have ever known anyone that has gone thru nursing school when they learn the symptoms of various diseases they automatically think "i have that", just like after reading posts on this forum!