Serious use 3rd gen issues

Reminder for myself to check what the service replacement interval is for serpentine....

 

On top of that, they were winching on the axle. Not the frame.

 

Yikes

 

I bought a 2021 Trd sport with 18k miles. A week later I noticed knocking and a little smoke on start up after it was sitting for a while. Everyone on here told me its normal and the "Taco Tick". After a month at the dealer I got a new short block. Found scoring in multiple cylinders and "excessive" metal in the oil pan. Ticket came to $18k which was covered under warranty. I traded the truck the next day.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2-7l-update-3rd-gen-maintenance-maps-get-300k-miles.789809/

 

I have monitored the forums since 2018, when I bought my vehicle, and think I have a fairly good handle on reoccurring issues with the 3rd gen. Long story, short, leaking fluids are the most common issue (timing cover, coolant crossover pipe, and steering rack), but there doesn't appear to be a high rate of failure. Nothing that will leave you stranded, and most leaks seem to stay at a slow rate, making topping off of fluids a solution for most.

Yes, a good majority of vehicles will have some sort of one off issues in the warranty period. This is normal. Get them fixed and move on.

2016 and 2017 models had various teething issues, but those flaws have been generally corrected.

There are also ride quality issues (noises and vibes), but I don't consider those deal breakers, it's a midsize truck, learn to not be an OCD freak.

If you wheel and mod it, reliability will be reduced, but in the grand scheme of things, this truck seems to be able to take a lot of abuse. Routine maintenance and the aftermarket provides solutions to pretty much all the weak points that abuse will reveal. The PCV valve sucking oil on steep inclines is the only real design flaw I'm aware of, that can have serious consequences (blown engines). A catch can will solve that problem.

 

I changed mine at 6 years. It didn't have any problems either. I was just gonna be road tripping through mountains and snow and just bit the bullet and got a new one

 

Whenever it starts looking bad....

Catch can will help, doesn't solve the issue.

All power steering seeps. If it doesn't leave a puddle, you're good. Same with timing covers (come the fuck on Toyota, get it right).

But generally yes, these trucks can take a beating.

Changed mine at 94. Still looks decent, but it's been underwater several times and had the piss wheeled out of it.

It's a $17 part (OEM) and takes 3 minutes, so why not? Lol

 

Lets buy a new truck and take it out in the willy wags and see what we can break!