Hello! Potential new owner worries

Test drive it. Still want the AT and don't like the AT shift points of the 3rd gen? Get OVTune (flashed) or use sport mode (click shifter to the left then click down to downshift. apply skinny pedal pressure to accelerate.)

 

It's what we do, lol

love my manual, no issues with it at all

 

As others have pointed out, joining a forum for any vehicle is a quick way to be convinced you have a POS. I love my 2017 automatic and can't say I have any complaints and that includes the transmission. A lot of times people are more sensitive to certain issues and will overblow it. It's something you'll have to decide for yourself through a test drive or two.

 

Automatic guy here. Still go for the manual!

 

Thank you, everyone, this is all really helpful. I'm no stranger to the Forum-Negativity-Effect but I appreciate the supportive discussion.

 

My automatic has been perfectly fine.

 

Maybe I'm just lucky, but my 21 doesn't seem to have the same AT issues as described for the earlier ones.

 

There's nothing wrong with the trans. It's just the way Toyota programmed everything to work together. From the factory, the throttle is 'squishy' and it holds gears in "weird" spots. As others have stated OV Tune is the way to go, you can find people to flash it for you, around ~$300 and never look back.

I drove mine for 2 years before I got it flashed, never had a problem, it drove fine, but now it drives amazing.

Internet people have fantastical expectations about how things should be.

For reference, I drove manual for 19 years, and this was my first auto, a treat to myself for living in LA traffic - so take that for what it's worth... 3 dogecoin.

 

Test drive it. If you like it buy it, well in your case, lease it. If you are of the mindset that "I don't need technology" get a manual.

 

OP, I can only give you my personal experience. Last year, I traded in my 2005 SR5 for a TRD OR. I wanted the SR5 because I think that is the sweet spot for price, value and capability. Money wasn't the issue for me -- it is just that I only drive the truck on weekends so I didn't really need the OR features or the Pro features. But none were available so I bought the OR and I really like it.

I've read a lot of the discussion here about the AT / transmission issues and am happy to report I have not noticed any issues at all. I have been completely happy with the truck and it meets all of my needs. No issues what so ever. I know several other folks personally in my shoes who read the forums and think they must be talking about another truck completely. Don't mean to imply those folks are imagining things.

My best advice to you is ask for a test drive, let them know this is the one concern you have and ask them to let you take it for a Highway drive. I think the generally don't like to do that but if you point out this is your only barrier to signing on the dotted line they might let you take it for a real highway test. Then you will know if it works for you.

Good luck! Definitely report back what you decide!

 

If you are getting a new truck, not just new to you then the AT has been mostly worked out. I just got the ECU flash done on my 2019 and it drives much nicer now. The shifts are not harsh and jarring any more and less dead pedal feel.

 

This is all very reassuring, thank you for sharing these first-hand experiences!

 

It's my understanding that the transmission will learn from your driving style to some degree.

 

I’ve had zero issues with my 2016 auto.

 

mine is an automatic TRD OR- I've had no issues with the shifting, but the dealer said (during the fuel pump recall replacement) - they would flash it anyway after I mentioned the many complaints on this forum...after the flash, I definitely noticed a difference but to me it wasn't necessary - however, my (19 year old) son noticed the difference when he drove it and thought it was MUCH better (he drives a standard transmission 2002 Tacoma).

I have zero issues with the truck - and I drive a lot...I have about 106K Miles (bought it new Jan '19)...lot of those miles in 4WD.

 

My $0.2 is the truck is great at what it is... not great at anything but good at everything. I can go off-road, I can drive in town, I can haul plywood, I can also park in small down town parking garages, I can tow light trailers and as long as I drive with a patient mind, I get 18-20 mpg (yes with 33's, and plate bumpers, but 90% highway driving). Yes there are vehicles that can do each of those individually and probably better but not many that can do it all.

Second, the transmission is weird, but to me, not broken or overly problematic. It took a little to get used to it when I got it and with each major change it takes a few days to acclimate but it's always a short change. I.e. going from stock to 33's or changing my driving habits from mostly city surface streets to mostly highway.

Last thought, what I think trips people out, is this truck likes the gas pedal. If you want it to move, your going to have to push that pedal DOWN. Believe me, it will move, it's just as fast as those big V8 full sizes people claim to abandon the Tacoma for (all in the 15 second 1/4 mile range). But for some reason people on Tacomaworld want a 12 second truck that gets there at like 3k rpm.

 

Well dang, what do you do? The only person I know that puts their truck through similar paces is a oil well servicer. He is majority "offroad" in NM.

 

SR5 can't be had with an MT can it?

No problems with my AT. I can even back up hills and stuff.

 

I've been happy with my automatic. I never had any issues, but I did get a tune recently and it did improve performance. They aren't expensive and they are reversible. Just something to think about. I do know you'll read complaints on here, but if Tacomas weren't awesome their sales numbers wouldn't be what they are.

 

Transmission gets complaint by a bunch of whiny people that don't understand new vehicles operate differently than those 10 yrs ago.

Add in that if someone has a complaint they will throw a fit anywhere they can for self gratification then others have to jump on the band wagon. Thus making something look like a POS but when you filter through you find only 1 or 2% of people actually had a legitimate part failure. why warranty exists, no car manufacturer has a 100%success rate. 10% of their sold vehicles having a legitimate warranty problem is considered top of the line.

Don't stress. Enjoy a new truck and ignore the cry babies.