IS THIS 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA SAFE TO DRIVE? TOYOTA CANADA SAYS YES. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

PLEASE SEE YOUTUBE VIDEO BELOW:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo_nEyf1NLg

Having serious, potentially dangerous problem with my Tacoma. Surging engine operation in drive, neutral, and park.

Love to know what you think. I have driven nothing but a Tacoma since 2003. My dealership is great, Toyota Canada, not so much. The truck was with my dealership for about 5 weeks straight. Fuel pump was replaced, engine reprogrammed, transmission reprogramed. Malfunction data recorded numerous times. No improvement. Getting a little frustrated.

 

Take it back 2 more times, if they still don’t fix it the lemon law should kick in, but check your states lemon laws. Obviously there’s something wrong with it, but I didn’t see anything that would make it “unsafe”.

edit: I just realized you’re in Canada... I’m not sure about lemon laws there. It’s super frustrating, but what can you do besides taking it back to the dealership? You’re praising the place when they gave you back a truck that’s obviously still fucked, I wouldn’t have even left the parking lot before giving it back to them.

 

I’m confused what you think is dangerous about the tachometer and/or engine RPM oscillating up-down a tiny bit. Maybe I’m missing something important.

 

Wasn't this video just posted within the last few days as a similar problem??

 

just received a notice form Toyota Corporate about faulty fuel pumps and a potential recall...seems like this fits that scenario perfectly.

 

Assume I can't see the video.

Describe the problem.

 

The problem is I unexpectedly have no power in drive. Truck surges and jumps 4-5 times while trying to pull away. Very unpredictable and occurs frequently.

 

Oh. I didn’t see that in the video. Maybe I didn’t watch enough of it.

 

Smells like a bad sensor to me.

 

Just a few things I notice:
Why does the TPMS screen not show any pressure in any of your tires? Do those things take a minute to 'warm up' and talk to the truck when you first start it? (I have a 2nd gen, not 3rd)
Is the AC compressor on at all when this happens? Either AC or defrost setting. Wouldnt expect it to surge this much, but 'compressor surge' is definitely a thing on Tacos
A bit hard to tell from the video, but does it stops surging when you turn the wheel at all? Seem to recall reading these trucks boost the RPM a touch when turning (at idle) for the sake of the PS pump

 

PacoDevo, Yes I posted video earlier. Since then a representative from Toyota Canada has told me "Since the truck only does it when you shift from neutral to drive a few times back and forth we consider this an abnormal driving behaviour, therefore we believe the truck operates correctly under normal driving conditions" Lol, I guess the rep has never heard of a three point or 'Austin Powers 10 point' turn.

 

SR-71. Yeah its not the usual RPM surge you are referring to. This is a very regular (10-15 times) surge. Usually happens first thing when starting out for the day. Almost like a limp mode. In drive it will 'lurch or buck' forward with the accelerator pressed down.

 

Yea sounds iffy. I had a car that would die intermittently. Going 65 MPH in traffic and loosing power, power brakes & power steering is a trip.

 

Thekidkaiser, I'm aware of that upcoming recall. My dealership is unsure if it could be related. My understanding of the description of that recall is the vehicle completely stalls out. If you know more about it could you please elaborate. Thanks.

 

I was kind of getting at the same thing @0xDEADBEEF was. A faulty or intermittent sensor somewhere

Thats about as far as my idea goes though unfortunately

 

Yeah, it's a tough one to address unless you've got time,skills and test equipment

 

GuduJarlson, At the end of video when I try to drive forward I have no power. The RPM goes up and down in park and neutral which still can't be explained but no power pulling out of my driveway or onto a street is really concerning.

 

OxDEADBEAT, thanks for the input. My truck has been hooked up to the dealerships computer stuff, data has been sent to Toyota Canada. The data collected didn't suggest any sensor faults. I think they replaced the fuel pump as a guess, however, I think the fuel pump that was replaced was not one of the new ones being prepared for a large number of recall coming up.

 

Yeah, it could be the fuel pump. Do they have a way of logging fuel pressure?

 

I'm not sure of their abilities regarding that. A master technician was supposed to come down from Toyota Canada in Ontario (1 hour flight) as part of regular dealership visits but Toyota has cancelled that visit understandably. I have to give them a break on that one so I'm being patient but still frustrating.