Manual Transmission needs Replaced

Given how early we are in the lifespan, at such low mileage and given the tiny market share of manual Tacomas to start with this is starting to look like an inevitable failure.

Will be connecting with my dealer to see if there is anyway I can get out of this truck before it fails. I get this is first model year but between this and the stuff going on with Tundras my confidence in Toyota is shot, probably permanently and this is not my first Toyota truck by any means.

Going to try and snag a 2024 4Runner and be done with it if I can get out of this truck, can't enjoy the 6MT knowing it's a time bomb.

 

You'll have to try to just do a trade-in and lose, I doubt your dealer will buy it back otherwise.

 

I got my 2024 TRD Pro 4runner and no regrets, it was that or a new 4th gen and im glad i chose the 4runner

 

Probably. I will have to weigh how much I stand to lose so if it's less than a $1K out of pocket I might lean on loyalty to see if they can just let me walk away. If not, I will shop around for best trade in value.

Plus side is it's a lease, so there is that I guess.

Oh, I know. I traded a 2022 TRD ORP 4Runner for this. I don't know what I was thinking - I really wanted to drive a stick shift for once but looks like I am one generation late to the party. I feel really stupid right about now.

 

That's brutal I am sorry to hear. I'm getting nervous every time I'm behind the wheel now.
Pardon my ignorance but how did you figure out your build date.
I'm staring at my OR 6MT Vin trying to decipher build date and I'm blanking.

 

Driver door jamb sticker that also has VIN.

Same, I'm only at 450 km, build date 05/24

 

Thank you!
My build date is also 05/24 with 510km so it looks like we're sharing a liferaft..let's get paddling.

On a side note..truck was delivered to my Ontario Canada dealership on May 28th...that's a fast run all the way from Mexico with a May/24 build date.

 

Mine also delivered on the 28th to New Brunswick. Might be close on the line. Last 3 digits of my VIN are 053.

 

You shouldn't feel stupid man. Maybe unlucky at some point, but not stupid. It happens. I bought an MT FJ in '08 that was the crown jewel of toyota products, MT and Made in Japan, most trouble prone vehicle I have ever bought.

Besides, 3rd gen MT's need to use 4 lo to back up in reverse with a load or trailer, so Toyota knows how to muck up an MT just as much as an AT, but the fanboys drown out the real talk. 90% of the problems with my FJ were related to the 6 speed in it as well.

Owning a Toyota and having a Trans issue should be a Toyota merit badge at this point. Like getting a new frame lol.

Good luck with whatever you do.

 

Thanks - appreciate it, truly. I just never want to be stuck on the side of the road with my wife who saw no issues with the 4Runner waiting for a tow, just because I had to have a stick shift toy. I'd feel really brilliant in that scenario.

Called my dealer and he really wants me to think about it more as I will be out a bit of money over something that hasn't happened. Sure it's an overreaction... if nothing happens. But I have a hard time picturing my truck will see 60K+ transmission trouble free kilometers when it seems some folks can't even break 1K.

Obviously things posted online are of dubious verification - I am not calling any of the posters here liars, obviously the OP has a flatbed picture but let's be honest, anyone can open an account just to pour it on if they have a thing against Toyota. I recognize that.

But the signs from the Tundra situation just seems like a vision of the future, and that is going to be me in two years or less. What happens to trade value then when perception is in the gutter? These Tundra guys are having a hard time trading them into the same dealer that sold it to them - if they won't stand behind the product.. lol who will?

Anyway, I don't know what I'm going to do. Warranty claims are fine. Every Toyota I have driven had stupid stuff happen, door trim here, seat back there, diff howls, TSBs for the automatic transmission, etc. Totally reasonable as you can use the vehicle you paid for while waiting for parts and service dates.

But catastrophic failure, being out a vehicle you are paying for, potentially for months and your resale being killed? That's hard to swallow. The only thing is the moment this thing fails, if it does, I can't trade it anymore even if I wanted to so it's one of those decisions you have to make from a perceived risk standpoint and given the mileage of the failures it'll be a few unnerving weeks ahead while I decide what to do, that's for sure.

 

I think you’re way over paranoid about this problem. If something happens, you should get a loaner to use while the truck is waiting to be fixed and you’ll get either a new transmission or a transmission with the repair implemented. If it’s a repair, it won’t be too involved because Toyota will not issue a change that involves some super complicated transmission disassembly. They’ll do something techs can handle. Give them some time to work out the kinks. Whether you have the problem or not, your truck won’t be tainted in resale or anything else other than time or mileage. Your truck won’t be tainted just because it had the issue, if it gets it. Parts are replaceable.

Now, if you simply cannot deal with the process of taking the truck to the dealer and waiting with a loaner should it happen to fail, then maybe go ahead and get rid of it. Otherwise I don’t see a reason to get rid of it because of an issue that will eventually be fixed.

 

I think the loaner situation is also grey, from what I have read it is dealer discretion and Toyota corporate is hit or miss in terms of covering costs. Not sure if we ever heard back from OP as to what they have been driving since this started. Maybe they have a second vehicle but I don't and calling around to various contacts begging for a loaner seems unfortunately more likely than being given a rental for months at no charge voluntarily.

Another concern I have is Toyota will simply install another faulty/poorly designed or produced unit in there as they are known to do in other warranty repair scenarios. Maybe not in this case given the severity... but maybe so? Who knows with Toyota nowadays, the QC is becoming unrecognizable.

I get what you're saying and I'll probably end up sitting around waiting for this failure to happen for lack of better options.

 

It very likely does vary from dealer to dealer, but the typical move should be that they give you a warning that IF your problem isn’t covered under warranty, you will be responsible for paying the loaner. Then the diagnosis confirms what is bad (and that its warranty) and they’ll typically tell you to keep the loaner until they’re done and then it will all be $0 when you go to get your truck back after the repair.

I doubt this will be a half ass repair. It is a repair that will need to work. Much like how on the RC62F, when it came out, had a problem sticking in gear and you had to yank the shifter to get it out of gear. They redesigned the detent to be a slightly different shape and all was well and good after that.

Of course I don’t know for sure, but my guess is Toyota is working on it. With just 3-4 of them in this thread alone, and more of them at other dealers awaiting transmissions, surely they have to be doing something.

 

Hehe, I'm just joshing you. A guy could find a reason to argue about a Ford Pinto being superior to a Tacoma in any way he wants to try. I don't actually want to hate on the 4th gens.

Your issue of not being able to operate the even gears reminds me of some older trucks that would pop out of the even/odd gears when the shifter bushings got worn out. A guy would have to take it apart to actually see whats wrong but an issue in the shift tower is my guess.

Reason they want the whole transmission exchanged is most likely because they're so new that they want the whole thing for failure analysis. Manufactures do this all the time.

Toyota as we know typically has a very good track record for making solid vehicles so yes it sucks that these new trucks are having issues but honestly a manual transmission replacement is a pretty straight forward job with mild risk when you compare it to rebuilding a differential or even replacing an engine.

Also I had an issue when my truck was new of refusing to downshift into 4th from 5th intermittently. Long story short, the dealer told me to let it break in for 40'000kms.... long story, cussing and, swearing later, my factory transmission shifts smooth as can be. Not saying to tough out your issue, just acknowledging that nothing is perfect and even my 21MT had issues from the factory

 

Just to be clear, I don’t have a 2024 or the issue. I did have a 2024 transmission on order, but I’ve cancelled that for now. I do want that transmission for my 3rd gen, and I do want a 4th gen. Eventually I’ll probably get both. For now I’m watching and waiting to see what Toyota does as a fix. I can definitely see wanting to analyze the failure as a reason to do a full trans swap. I am betting strong on it being a shifter extension problem but only time will tell.

Sure sucks for the new guys having these problems, hope it’s fixed soon. I’d be annoyed too, when my truck had to be fixed under warranty, I was stuck in an auto loaner for 2.5 weeks. I hated it and was itching to get back in my truck.

 

Dude, you're going to get smoked if you trade it in now. You're worried about taking a loss, so you're gonna take a loss to stop from worrying about taking a loss? Doesn't make sense at all.

But, you're golden... you said it's a lease. While I understand you don't want to be stranded, this could be a very easy fix, and if it's a chronic problem, you can still get out of it as you need, OR, just hand that thing over without looking back when the lease is up.

 

As a married guy I get it lol.

 

Before I got my '22 I fixed up this old F-250 that just happened to be built right when they were transitioning from a 4-speed manual to 5-speed OD ZF transmission. Went to drop it to swap the clutch and saw it had a tag on it with a phone number and an ID code, stating that the transmission was not to be touched if there is an issue, and to first contact engineering (presumably so they can make an initial assessment and decide if they want it back to analyze or not). Also the transmissions are from a 3rd party I assume (Aisin?), they'll likely want their own people looking at it given that it's sort of a new release, even if it's mostly old stuff.

 

SR5? Don't you mean SR? Mt6 isn't offered on SR5.

 

It’s not a time bomb lol . It will be something dumb watch and see. Also pulling out a manual trans is not the end of the world to change the truck, and loose money is silly for this. It’s under warranty let them fix it . Push for a free extended warranty and forge ahead . I know it’s annoying but it’s a mechanical thing . Stuff happens. Too much drama here stay calm . It will be fine in the end .