Hard transmission downshift experience

800 miles on the odometer TRD off road Hybrid. I am experiencing hard downshifting around 25-30 mph. It shifts down hard enough to make the tires lock, like an old beater from the 70's with 4 speed tyranny. That is so awful and unexpected for me. I find that it mostly does it in eco and normal mode. I scheduled an appointment for Thursday so it can be looked it by the dealer. My vin starts with 3TYL. I sure hope it is an obvious and easy fix. I sure hope it is not a bad transmission.

 

Make a video of it happening, and try to figure out how to reproduce it so you don't waste your time.

 

With quite a few of these popping up here and there can we get a poll? Poll with what your VIN starts with whether 3TY or 3TM and if you’re having problems or not. I’d do it but I don’t know how

 

Dang, that sounds violent. Please keep us updated, what's the build date on it?

 

Built in 06/2024. Just to be clear, it doesn't do it all the time. But when my wife is riding in the back seat next to our son and it down shifts hard and the tires do the slight skid on pavement it is a bit much for a 2024 toyota. I expect that from a from the old 1977 jeep that I had when I downshifted hard and let off the clutch. The Taco is automatic I just wanted to make sure because I gave the example of the manual jeep that there is no misunderstanding.

 

I just dropped off the truck and the dealer wants to keep it till Saturday minimum. They gave me a ride home and they don't offer loaner vehicles. Let's hope they find something easy.

 

as a tech that deals with intermittent concerns alll the time. you said it doesnt do it all the time? does it do it everyday? every other day? was it warm or cold out? was it first drive of day? does it do it in same spot every time? can you force it to do it? was there ever a check engine light? has it gotten worse since it started? you said hard down shifting? does it happen in multiple gears? does it happen when merging on to highway and it downshifts to accelerate?

 

It didn't happen all day yesterday. It happens maybe 40% of the time when in eco mode or normal mode. I didn't notice it happening in sport mode. And it doesn't do it if you manually shift. The best way I can describe it would be that the transmission is skipping some gears as it down shifts as if it is going from 5th to 2nd skipping 4th and 3rd gear, hence why the tires lock up momentarily.

 

I know nothing about these hybrids, just spitballing out of curiosity. Are we talking about downshifting while accelerating, or while slowing down? If the latter, is there any regenerative braking setting that might be changed to a less aggressive option? Could be a combination of a normal/stiff downshift and aggressive regen brake making it more harsh than it needs to be. I know a lot of EVs have the "one-pedal driving" option that many people (especially passengers) don't like, basically makes taking your foot off the accelerator like stomping on the brakes.

If it happens while under acceleration, maybe the motors are overcompensating for the shift, causing a large spike in torque once the trans locks in. I wonder if there are any settings that could be changed in that regard. Either user-accessible or by means of reprogramming some modules.

Either way, hoping it's something in the programming, and not a hardware issue with the trans

 

So much for a “few early builds”. There is something going on it’s time Toyota tell us

 

The dealer checked the truck and couldn't detect anything bad during a test drive nor recorded on the truck ecu. I have been driving it for the past 3 days with no issues whatsoever. So I don't know what to make out of it, but I am happy it is normal now.

 

Mine does some weird shifts sometimes too some days are real smooth other days kinda wacky