Toyota getting cheap on batteries?

I have a 2011 Tacoma Sport 2WD. Its 17 months old. I just had my battery tested because I had a sluggish start this morning. Its already going out!
Now my previous Tacoma experiences have had the battery last at least 2 or more years. Some of you might be asking if I'm running anything extra on it, and all I have is a stereo amp. I have an Optima #35 red top being installed tomorrow. Anyone else have what I'm considering short OEM battery life?

 

That battery can sit on a shelf for a year or so before its put in your truck. So quite possibly, you buy the truck in 2011, now that its 17 months old, the battery could be 2 years old by now. Check the build date on the battery

IE:A0 would be Jan.2010.

 

Do you have the tow package Joe? Bigger battery if you do

 

My stock battery is still going fine 3 1/2 years later

 

ive got the stocker on my 07 and havent had a problem, unless they changed their battery i wouldnt say they are cheap

 

Ive never had a problem with optimas..Everyone complains about them..Oddyssey batteries are good if your running alot of electronics, dunno about for a normal DD if it will
Make a difference

 

That, and how long was the time between your truck's build date (on the door jam label) and purchase date? If the truck sat in a dealer's lot for a while without a battery tender, battery life will be degraded, too.

 

Had two optimas take a crap on me. Forget them. They dropped the ball in recent years. The reds suck but the yellows are OK but pricier.

As for the stock battery alot of people on here will chime in that they went 5-6 years on theirs. I have an 06 taco and just replaced mine this year as prevention.

No need for dry cell unless you are hardcore wheel it is a waste of money in my eyes.

 

Maybe you're not interested due to your experience with the first one , but shouldn't you be able to get a new OEM battery under the 3 year bumper to bumper warranty OP ?

 

Yeah, mine has the tow package.

 

I didn't think that covered the battery? Hmm...maybe I can take my old one in and get dealership credit perhaps

 

My stocker went out at 3 1/2 yrs.

 

Mfg date of 10/10. I think I should still have good battery life this far in.

 

I think the battery warranty is different for each carmaker. For my father's previous '96 Dodge Caravan, the battery and other consumables like lightbulbs and wipers, were warranted for only one year. Toyota's booklet makes no exceptions from its bumper-to-bumper warranty for batteries, so it should be covered.

 

Should be covered

 

Not sure what brand they are using on the Tacos. My wife's 06 4Runner has the original battery, Panasonic (I think), and it is still OK. I will probably swap it before winter, though, 6 years is a long time. I have had good luck with Duralast, so I will probably go that route.

But yeah, yours should be covered under warranty, that is not right.

 

My gen 1 Toyota factory orig battery lasted 8 freaken years lol. My gen 2 Toyota factory orig battery lasted exactly 39k miles (and exactly 3 years) just past warranty.

I have AAA because I travel all over the US and they have a battery service where they will come out and replace your battery no matter where you are (right now I am on the East Coast working). The price of the battery is a about 10-15% off of retail compared to many places and only about $20 difference then if you shopped it and did it yourself.

The guy who came out and did mine was super cool. He checked the battery, checked all the wires, cleaned the connections and any corrosion, replaced the battery, wiped it all down and did it like he was replacing it on his own truck (with care to details). Battery has the 3 year full replacement warranty (they will again come out and replace it free) and 6 year prorated warranty. Great deal.

 

Well, I tried to go run an errand earlier and it wouldn't turn over. I got pissed and went and got my Optima from Autozone. They matched Batteries Plus price of $165.00! Man, this thing is small! I don't like the way it fits either. Probably look into some kind of base for it to sit on. I don't trust the plastic one it comes with. Trucked cranked right up though. Thats all that matters!

 

Optimas aren't the same as they used to be. After having a few crap out on me, I started using the Exide Orbital.

When the battery in my '11 goes out, in goes a pair of Exide Edge
http://exide.com/Media/files/Downloads/TransAmer/Products/Edge 4 page booklet non spread.pdf

 

i know it is probably a mortal sin, but my last 2 vehicles I've used "walmart" brand everstart batteries... got 5 years out of my first one (Toyota supra, no longer around) and 4 years working on 5 in my scion. the taco has the stocker still, but when it goes I'll be replacing it with the everstart brand.

I'm in AZ here the heat is killer, so i dono.. at less then a 100 on average.. it cant be beat!