Factory fader issue

Hello Tacoworld, I just upgraded from a 2nd Gen Tacoma to a 3rd Gen, a 2021. It is an SR5 factory audio system. The fader portion SUCKS. I took it to the dealer, checked another 2021 on the lot and the same issue. Rear speakers cannot be heard unless the fader is all the way to the rear. I am going to write to Toyota today and complain about the issue, anyone else have this?

 

This is just part of the factory system. Rear speakers have always been useless. Toyota knows and they don’t care to improve. Your option is new radio or add an amp

 

Thanks, I was hoping for a different reply, but expected one like yours. Still worth a complaint to Toyota just to vent.

 

We have the same issue on our 21 SR5. It really pisses me off that they have not done anything about it. We have had ours for 2 months. Dealer said it is normal operation. We opened a ticket with Toyota. I plan on just raising some hell. Posting on sights like this, getting as many people as possible to just complain and open a ticket, post a Yelp review for dealership and Toyota. And anything else you can think of. If I don’t get any assistance on this from Toyota it will be the last vehicle I buy from them. They have known Since at least 2017. So I please urge you to raise some hell. Thanks! And this is a place where I can share my experience, I form others and possibly get pressure on Toyota to do the right thing.

 

This is the factory radio’s rear output response. You need something like a JL FiX to remedy this.



You shouldn’t really be hearing the rear speakers however.

 

Getting a new system is not the option. Rear speakers DO work. I have had probably 30 cars in my lifetime and I have never had this issue. My 88 Hyundai Excel sounded better than this. There is no excuse. You can walk out onto the Toyota sales lot and step into any of the other cars and you will hear the difference. So to tell me that’s all I am getting is not the answer. Thank you though.

 

Meow. Maybe you should have purchased one of those other better sounding cars if that was your priority.

The people in this forum can help you make it sound better, but nobody here bought a Tacoma for the radio, and this isn’t a place you can productively influence Toyota’s engineering department.

 

Or maybe they should make a quality product. When I see something wrong I try to make it right. Not just for me, but for those after me. If I let it go then the person that buys one next year gets disappointed in what is presented as a quality product.

 

Maybe you’ll have better luck at change.org Karen.

 

Wow, Karen? Because I am trying to share information with others so they don’t get surprised? There was a gentleman on another thread that literally just drove off the lot and discovered the speaker issue. He was going back to the dealership to talk with them. But I thank you for your input. Have a nice day.

 

Couldn't agree with Kerry and GoldenJoe more. Imo this is a terrible realization on the SR5. I get that not all people care about music in general or more importantly (to me) sound quality but to say this issue is not important or sling mud over it ("Karen"and other references) seems a little harsh, imo.
I love my new 22 SR5. But theres a lot of things I knew I would be changing/improving to suit my own needs. The rear speakers has been the only unknown one.
I also talked to my dealer and the service manager within days (14) of taking ownership. The dealer relied on the service manager to get back to me which he did. He said it's "just something that people have to get used to on these trucks". I accepted that explanation and won't be going nuclear on Toyota over it, but I will be upgrading those useless speakers.
I wish I could consider it's what happens when you don't buy the higher end models but damnit...they are really bad!

 

That’s the problem Jim125, replacing the speakers won’t do anything. There is not enough power to push them from the head unit. So if you want more power, from what I have read, you have to have a separate amplifier to power those speakers.
I am not going nuclear on Toyota, I am just not giving up. I would appreciate you opening a ticket and speaking with them, that while you don’t plan on escalating it, you are not satisfied. As it will help mine and others that are pursuing it. Thank you for your supportive words.

 

I understand Kerry. I will look into the ticket. And thanks for the heads up about the upgraded speakers not being effective. That completely contradicts my service manager. He literally said it was all that was needed.
I have installed my own systems from Crutchfield for years. I really didn't want to go to all that hassle in a brand new truck. Back to square one...more research.

 

Peculiar situation ZMan, I could see from an email alert you posted a question like ..."I just need to ask, what’s so important about having the sound faded to the rear? Is it not loud enough when the fader is set to “0”?...but that question has never populated on the thread, just your meme. Don't know why.
I can attempt an answer anyway but be advised I am not a sound professional, just a car guy with an ear for good sound reproduction...
Having said that...I've had a series of vehicles over the past 15-20 years that I have attempted to "upgrade" the sound quality in the process of overall improving on the design of the vehicles I have bought. These are my likes and what all these vehicles have in common...big tires, big motors, big sound, big carbon footprints, and fly in the face of what most people today consider to be correct or "civilized".
To answer your question directly it is actually NOT about the actual fader set to zero, it's about getting the most sound of out every square in of the space you are occupying and appreciating that every speaker and installed component can add or detract from that sound. My goals are always to have as much sound in volume and quality to achieve balance within the space (living room, car, truck, etc.) Kerry's point goes to balance and how in this case Toyota has stuffed a speaker (2 actually) that do nothing to improve the overall sound of the space they were designed for. So they are a waste. I couldn't agree more. And the kids in my back seat are all out on their own now.

 

Yes, I did post a question. Karen er.. Kerry answered it in post 6. I have to say, I consider myself a bit of an audio nerd, and I know for certain, the factory installed audio system is the pits. It’s the first thing I changed in my now 16yo truck. I’m not saying you’re not, but in all honesty you’re in a forum that people are UPGRADING the audio system, not complaining that the factory system sucks. WE KNOW THAT!! That’s why we’re here. If it meant that much, you would’ve checked it out before dropping $40k+.

 

Well I'm new here so...my story is I was shocked as others to find that speaker situation to be so bad in an otherwise outstanding truck. I hope to enjoy mine as long as you have enjoyed yours. Thanks.

 

Why do you insist on calling me Karen? Is this how you feel better about yourself? I assume that by you calling me Karen you spent time finding out that I am a woman. So that must matter to you. Then once you did you jumped on and in a degrading manner said that I should be happy with what I get, because if I was smart (like a man?) I would have known ahead of time that the speakers suck? Your a piece of work there bud. Go back to Facebook please. The adults are trying to discuss real life shit. sorry everyone. This MF’er is pissing me off.

 

Karen is a stereotype but not necessarily gender specific. Let’s not go all me too as well here.

Once again, we can help you make it better and this isn’t a place where you can productively influence Toyota’s engineering department.

Once you are ready, we are here to help.