Having a Hard Time With my 3rd Gen.

Top of the morning to you guys and gals, this is one of my first posts on here so we'll see how this goes. New to the forum (finally made a name after all these years), but not new to forums in general.

I'll start off by saying I had an 07 Taco TRD Sport while stationed in Hawaii, and absolutely loved everything about the truck; fuel economy, comfort, drivability, etc. I now work for Toyota and have recently picked up a 3rd gen DCSB OR 4x4 and do not love the truck as much as I did my 2007. For starters, I feel like the interior has done both improved and taken a step back. The seats in the 2nd gens were much more comfortable and fitting. I will say the infotainment is an A+ though. This new Atkinson cycle motor.... not a fan of it AT ALL. SO slow, especially compared to the old 4.0L, it feels like you're constantly carrying a couch up a hill. I also have a jet ski, and it towing that always seems much worse. Super delayed shift patterns (I know they just came out with a TSB for it, but lets move past that), and how it can never decide which gear to go in and the constant upshift to 6th gear even at 40mph and still accelerating normally. The gas mileage isn't anywhere as good as the 4.0L was either from what I am experiencing.

I will say the off road capabilities of this truck is superb. I got it maybe 2 and a half months ago and I'm creeping up on my 5k service here in about 400mi... This truck has had about as much time off pavement as it has on pavement and no complaints from me. At the end of the day, I'm almost wishing I got a 15 instead.

I can't be the only one experiencing or thinking these things? Any chiming in is helpful!

 

Welcome to TW, I think your not the only one that has had complaints about the new truck. Their is quite a bit of unhappy owners with the new Tacoma. When I traded my 2010 TRD sport in I new write away I was going with the 15. I would rather wait till it is about 3 or 4 years into it.

 

You work for Toyota.
Bought a Toyota.
And you bitch about it,
My Chime,
I wouldn't bite the hand that feeds you,
But learn to use the resources that are staring at you in the face to your advantage.

 

I've owned a 2000, 2008, 2011, 2015 and now my 2016, so have some experience. Your complaint with the transmission has been addressed, the TSB has made a lot of owners very happy, I never had an issue with mine though it was built later in May so might have had the logic update any-who. As far as the engine and power delivery I will agree it is more sluggish than the 4.0 off the start, but once it gets going it gets going, its a smaller displacement engine, with less torque and more hp, you should have known this is the case going into purchase, regardless it still has very similar power delivery to the 4.0. Not sure the issue with the seats, the 2nd gen seats weren't comfortable either for extended trips, its a mid size truck not a King Ranch F150, my seats feel no different than my 2nd gens seats especially after long trips. Your gas mileage should improve, but a lot of that is driving habits too, if you floor it from one red light to the next your never gonna achieve EPA estimates, I found this the case with mine and the truck does consistently get close or match EPA estimates if I don't drive like a mad teenager. The interior is hands down way better than the 2nd gens, not sure how you can say a step back. Not trying to minimize your issues, but you can fix the biggest one with a TSB update, the rest are a bit nit picky, seems like your trying to find faults, 2nd gens had lots of little nuances too.

 

Welcome to TW, sorry to hear about the issues you are having with your 2016. Toyota will work the bugs out with these Bad Boy Tacoma's.

 

Welcome to TW!

OP, there are a ton of threads on this same topic.

I have 13,000 miles on my TRD OR 4x4 Auto. I love almost everything about it except the auto shifting.

The 4x4 capability is awesome; the size, handling etc. It has a ton of power if I need it, but it really struggles to maintain 75mph in the wind and only averages 16 mpg.

I have had it since Sept 29, 2016. I think the Taco is a great choice based on each person's location. In Texas in the DFW area with a ton of overpasses, lots of wind and inclines with a posted speed of 75mph; the Taco is not a good choice for regular driving without constantly shifting.

Others that drive at the EPA rated 55 - 60 mph can get 20 mpg.

Regardless, it is what it is. I drive slower at 70mph and not posted 75mph and rarely use the cruise. I love the Taco way better and enjoy it better. Sound system is great and AC is super cold. When we get heavy rain and flooding and roads are bad after a storm .... I smile because my Taco LOVES the challenge and enjoys getting muddy!

 

Looks like we found the forum Grinch. Every other Toyota product out there is awesome - these are just the issues I am finding with the vehicle, is that okay with you sir? So because I work for the company I'm not allowed to comment on it? Your comments sound a lot like mother Russia in its extremist communist days.

Another one of my Taco pals is in an '11 TRD Sport and frequently I'll end up driving his truck to the boat ramp or something and the first thing I notice is how much more comfortable it is over mine. Wish they would have put more of a rav4 style seat in there with more side and bottom bolstering. The seat thing is a personal preference, you are correct with that, but like I said, just posting to see if anyone else is feeling the same way.

I do not drive with a heavy foot, I am 27 years old, not a 16 year old that just got his license. Those days were about 20 tickets and 8 cars ago... This is a truck, not a 300c SRT-8 lol. I start the acceleration from a light, and I feel the transmission hesitating, and shifting from 2-3-5-4-11-2-6 depending what Im asking of it. It either over compensates, or under achieves.

Thank you all, those that were helpful, for chiming in! It is much appreciated!

 

Since u work at Toyota, you should break into their engineering designs and correct their blueprints. Just add a zero to the horsepower specs, and erase a digit from their total manufacturing cost. That should do the trick.

 

No worries bud I too was looking for issues when I bought mine. Instead as with much of my life now I try to focus on the good things which often outweigh the bad, its all about perspective, Toyota is never gonna give us the perfect Tacoma, but we can all hope. I would honestly make an appointment ASAP to have the Transmission TSB done, I bet it solves 99% of your issues which seem to be drivability related. Cheers!

 

I was thinking the same thing. I knew there would be some positivity with this post haha!

 

Just like @usafwx said, look at the positives. My 15 has more problems than you can shake a stick at, so you might have wound up like me. Instead of getting all worked up about it, I take it to the dealer and let them fix it. I choose not to get mad because I was just unlucky and wound up with a bad one. There are far greater things in life to be worried about. The whole "I paid 40k for this truck and it should be problem free blah blah blah" argument is ridiculous. Every automaker has problems no matter how much you pay. These are machines that are built partially by man and mostly by machine, so there will be problems. Just let toyota take care of it and proceed to higher steps of need be.

 

Sorry you are not happy. Have you considered selling it for something else, such as an older Taco?

Also - depending what you do for Toyota you may have a good point to bring these issues to their attention. If you are in corporate then make sure they are aware!

 

Trade it in and buy a '15...

 

Here's some of my adventures thus far...

 

Looks like you live somewhere beautiful and have a beautiful truck OP, I'll trade lol.

 

South FL man, wouldn't trade it for anything!

 

Stuck in dirty jersey till my enlistment is up. Sister and brother in law live in Charleston, would love to end up in the south. Love the people and environment.

 

You asked for a chime you got it...
You said you work for Toyota right, why would you buy a truck with all the documented issues, as if they amount to very much at all, and then come on a public forum to complain....ask for feedback, then to top it off bitch and complain about how the feedback reads to you?
I for one and others gave some good feedback on what to do....kinda think your the type that just likes to whine about anything you can.

 

Have a nice day