Tacoma TRD Pro issue on steep hills

Checking in this forum to see if anyone is experiencing same problem as I am with my truck, and/or any ideas/recommendations on what might be causing the problem, and how to resolve it.

I have a 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro 3.5L automatic with about 25K miles.

On rare occasions, when I am driving down a hill near my house and come to a stop at a stop sign, when I accelerate to turn onto the other road, I quickly discover my shifter has moved from drive to neutral. This can be a bit scary, as I find my truck coasting into the middle of the road, until I put the shifter back into drive.

This has never occurred on any other road for me, but I am often on this road, where it has occurred approx. 5 times over the past 200 times, so the problem is very intermittent.

I checked to see if there were any recalls and checked the internet and forums to see if others are having similar problems but coming up empty. I haven't brought my truck into Toyota service yet, as I suspect they will not be able to reproduce the problem, unless they drive all the way to this particular road or test on a similar road, which I know they wouldn't go to that effort.

Anyone experiencing similar problem or have a recommendation I can have Toyota check?

 

It shifts from D to N by itself?

 

Have a passenger record it and submit it to Toyota for investigation, it’s a safety concern.

 

Welcome to TW!

Definitely a safety concern. Like Bishop said, try to recreate the issue in video. Good luck and stay safe!

 

Is the automatic shifter mechanically linked to the transmission with a rod or cable or is it electro-magic?

If it is mechanical it sounds like a bad mount somewhere.

 

It’s a cable and linkage, it’s most likely the issue.

If we got this we would likely take photos and video along with documenting the issue, Toyota takes this stuff seriously.

 

It’s definitely a linkage or cable issue and believe it or not will likely be an adjustment for a more positive lock when in gear . My guess is there is pressure somewhere when on an incline and the adjustment is borderline enough to kick it out of gear . Bring it back to the dealer as soon as you can. That can be very dangerous.

 

Yes, it actually shifts from D to N.

Thanks for the tip to record on Video. When I called the local Toyota service shop earlier Today, the Service Advisor was not aware of what could cause the problem, what to check, nor seemed interested in helping...he actually recommended I bring it in to another dealership.

 

Well that just inspires confidence.
If there is another dealer convenient to you it might be good advice.

 

When you are leaning and turning your body to look left to make sure its clear, your jacket is hitting the shifting and pushing it into N.

Thats my guess without reading much into the rest of this.

 

Oh boy
That’s a great response. Sounds like you got ahold of an idiot with no customer service skills.

 

Also, try other trucks on the lot, see if the shift lever has the same resistance. If yours is different. If yours requires less force to move, this comparison could be a good and quick example to get more cooperation.

 

Well, even though I wasn't any coat every time, I actually thought I might have hit the shifter the first 1-2 times, but by the 3rd time I knew I was nowhere near the shifter and it was doing it on its own.

I appreciate everyone's feedback, and I will be trying to reproduce & record the event, and then bring in my truck (to a different) Toyota dealership.

 

OOF…that “Service Advisor” needs to be walked out. LOL

 

Try to get a dashcam that points at the shifter, but just drive normal, not trying to reproduce it or anything, just your normal drive.

 

To be on the safe side, get a video of it doing this and get it off to Toyota itself. You really may have found a safety issue that Toyota needs to research. It could be as simple as bolts that worked themselves loose to something inside the transmission needing a redesign. Ford had something like that back in the late 60s with trucks that would shift out of park and into reverse. There was a recall on it and yes a few deaths where the truck backed over people. Volvo also had the slipping out of park problem.

Would be great if you'd update this thread with your findings either way, OP.

 

The gist of it is that Service Managers are not mechanics.

 

Does the truck sit periodically (outside in moisture especially) for a few days at a time? I had two auto 05's and my 2017 I just traded was an auto. All 3 of them the shifters would bind if they sat for 4-5 days in moisture. And they always wanted to return forward. When I had the first two I had several other vehicles so they sat a lot in the warmer months, usually outside. I lubed cables, took the shifters apart and lubed them.... Nothing really helped other than just moving the shifter back and forth. Now my Tacoma is my only 4 wheeled vehicle. When I got back from a vacation last fall the 2017 had a really bound up shifter.

 

Honestly sounds like a typical Toyota dealership these days. They'll kiss your ass when you are signing your name but if you have a problem down the road good luck!

You'll have to either film in and then (assuming it's a mechanical issue and not you bumping it somehow) raise hell at the dealership or go to the dealership and make them ride with you over and over until it does it.

 

Might need to find where the issue is consistent, an especially steep grade and take the service advisor or tech on a drive. Seems like many people experience problems in general and arrive at the dealer for service to only have their vehicle working 100%