Mechanical Help

Hi friends,

I have this 2017 Tacoma TRD Pro for 8 months now. Since the very early day, whenever it comes to a complete stop, it kicks a little. It feels like someone has rear-ended us.

I have discovered that it usually happens at slow speeds and when stopping after a very short distance drive like 1/4 or 1/2 miles. I took it for its first oil change to dealer and they could not replicate it.

What is wrong with this truck?

 

Check your U-Bolts
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/check-your-u-bolts.397913/

 

Does this happen all the time or are you usually at 1/2 a tank of gas or lower when it happens?

Several people have mentioned a similar feeling and I believe it was suspected to be the gas sloshing to the front of the tank when stopped.

 

Transmission TSB?

 

It's a really common problem around here. So far people have claimed axle wrap, transmission issues, and one guy said he had the dealership drill a hole in the slip yoke area of the driveshaft to allow it to relieve built up pressure. There hasn't been a real consensus on the cause but it's definitely an issue.

I don't buy the gas tank excuse. If it was gas it would not be such a sudden shudder. The fuel does not take that long to reach either end of the tank when accelerating/decelerating and would do it more than once since the fluid isn't going to just spontaneously stop sloshing.

In my own personal experience it feels like something in the driveshaft binding up and breaking loose so the slip yoke being the root cause wouldn't surprise me.

 

1/4 and 1/2 are quarter and half a mile distance traveled. It is an automatic transmission. It is not that frequent but not that seldom either.

It happens on full tank as well as almost empty tank and in between.

 

So then this happens all the time if you only go a short distance?

 

Yea, but you need to drive it slowly and stop slowly to have it happen. It happens 6 out of 10 times if condition is right. But again, Dealer can't replicate it. It makes me really reluctant to break and come into full stop sometimes out of fear of this kicking me again.

 

You'll be fine. This is a known problem with Toyota trucks. Most likely, it's axle wrap. These trucks have possibly the shittiest leaf springs out of all trucks. Just keep driving.

 

If it happens that often can you request to take a tech for a ride along while you drive. That way you can attempt to recreate the issue if you know the typical conditions that can cause it?

 

Toyota quality when to shit or American workmanship is bad? Is this the case with Japanese 4Runner?

 

I am planning to do that. But need something on my hand to point out to Toyota.

 

It's just a common problem on Toyota trucks. Skimping on price I assume.

 

I am at Toyota and the service advisor was familiar with the issue from 2nd gen. He mentioned that he has not seen the 3rd gen with the same issue.

I showed him the possible Slip Yoke and Axel Wrap. Lets hope they can comeup with a solution.

 

Finally out. They could not duplicate it. The mechanic assigned to my truck was very familiar with Tacoma as he had one himself. He said it all comes down to bad transmission firmware. He checked and reset mine. He said as more people will complain, Toyota is forced to iron out the software issue.
He said, he will report my issue to Toyota

 

Another A/T related issue...
Probably it won't do much harm mechanically though.

 

Next month I'll let Toyota know as well. mine has same issue. Not really a big deal to me unless it could lead to something worse..

 

One of the most common complaints on the turd gen. Search forum for "clunk in rear" as well as "hard downshift" or "harsh downshift" ... also some say it is axle wrap which will turn up some threads here too if you use Search Function.

Bottom line there is no definitive solution because the problem and symptoms you described could be stemming from a variety of issues and causes.

Also the Dealership will tell you it is Normal for the vehicle.

 

Same thing happens to me. I've seen a ton of different answers around here. Could be quite a few different things though.

 

same has happened to me in my 2016 SR5 since day one, I tightened the U-bolts, had the TSB on the tranny done and I just wrote it off as the CVT tranny or as smitty mentioned above....who knows?...lol