When did transmission problems start with the 3rd gen?

I have no tsb of any kind applied since I bought my ’16 almost 4yrs, it has been flawless after 1800+- mile learning\adjusting.

Moreover, I have climbed very steep hills at 75mph while trying to keep up with our very heavy footed niece doing 85+mph in a TOYOTA Avalon, so I know what @ppat4 is referring to, I get it.

That said, I stand by my repose to his concerns

 

No, I have the right truck for my driving. I am retired, and the truck is mostly used in deep bush remote solo fishing trips. The roads are overgrown trails, low hanging trees, roads same width as the truck etc. If the truck were any bigger, it would not fit down the trails I drive. I had only the Taco or Frontier ro choose from, meaning I did not want a mid size north American truck. Jeeps and such no good, as I carry a 10 foot aluminum on top, and sometimes in back of the box.

My 1986 F150 was about the same physical size as the Taco. Today the new F150s are huge. I could never use a modern full size pickup for the spots I go. Have fished about 120 lakes across BC, I never see another truck or human on the majority of my trips. Thirty five years of 4x4 only access to lakes, have found a lot of secret spots, but hard to get to. I could not even put a lift on my Taco. Another 2 or 3 inches higher, and I am scraping the roof full time on these old trails. My 86 F150 took a beating that way. Hundreds of full length deep scratches, my Taco starting to get those too. Its ok, that is as expected. Mine is not a show truck. Haven't hand washed it the last 6 months. Just pressure hose to blast it off after trips.

Best for these trips was my old 1994 Mazda B4000 4x4. Stock, tiny, got me in the same spots as ATVs. Used to surprise the heck out of ATV guys.

That was even more gutless on hills than the Taco, but it was only 170hp and 5 spd manual, so to be expected steep highway hills would be a challenge. Never surprised me, knew that going in.

however, the Taco is fairly light weight, and you would think At 276hp the trannie in cruise and the truck empty, would be able to maintain 70mph uphill, without resorting to long stretches of 5,000rpm.

I say this noting I can use the pedal, no cruise, and maintain 70mph at 3,000rpm without it ever climbing over 3K rpm, on the same hills. Have repeated both scenarios many times.

The software, in that sense is not very smart. Nothing to do with fuel economy when going 5,000 rpm for miles uphill without a letdown. That will hardly save fuel.

My brothers older2004 F150, stock vehicle, is gutless in city or highway acceleration, in fact terrible. The Taco blows it away, not even close. Difference being he can drive those hills over 80mph at low RPM, no strain.

 

If I were on the highway trying to get 24-26 mpg, I would be a going 50-55 mph. Otherwise, no way in hell. 18’

 

I have had three 3rd gen Tacoma’s. A 16 auto sr5, a 18 manual Trd OR and a 19 auto Trd OR. The 19 and the 16 are so different. The 16 was a nightmare, the 19 drives like a dream. I went up in tire size and lifted it and it still shifts perfectly. The 19-20 I think got the updates software. No gear hunting and it feels natural.

 

2019s seem to be ok

 

Although I can see where people are coming from when they complain the transmission gets a little boggy (immediately after transition to 3rd is where I can feel it), I find the shifts of my 2019-OR to be smooth and predictable. Does it struggle holding cruise on a slight incline? Yep. The truck is a tad underpowered. Can I tow my 3K boat rig in 6th gear? Nope. Lock out 6th and use ECT. Overall I have few complaints but...if I could get a little more HP and torque with the OVTune, would I? Maybe.

 

I intend on trading in for a ‘18 and up soon . This helps

 

same. out of the many issues I did have, engine/trans was never one of them.

 

My 2017 manual trans shifts just fine right where I want it to every time.... only issue I have is forgetting to go from 3rd to 1st at a redlight while either looking at something else or dealing with 2 monster kids in the back seat!!

 

I just stay out of 6th gear. Too many F’n gears trying to squeeze mpgs...

 

2019 TRD OR. 3500 miles and trans shifts just fine. No issues here

 

I have a ‘17 DCSB I bought used with just under 19,000 miles. i have almost 50,000 on it now. I do a lot of hiway driving, getting 23/24 mpg at interstate speeds, and usually always have the ECT button on. I had to have the ECM replaced, but otherwise I am completely happy with the performance of my truck. Mine will put you in the back seat when you mash the gas at hiway speeds to pass someone... I drove 3 different FJ Cruisers before getting this truck.

 

2019 - bought new in Jan...37,500K miles (lots of daily mileage up and down hills and valleys) - no issues here either.

 

5th-6th gears are over-drives, 4th gear is one to one I believe that latter ratio was used as over-drive long ago so it is still tall to cruise at 70+ going on prolong climbs, your engine will scream but its design is not like your old truck engines, this baby was born to rev high, so no worries.

Moreover, I can’t see how software will overcome it for a very long climb. Using ETC may help so I’d use that, S5 too and tough it out because unless we get another gear or two, we maybe SOL under your type hills.



Good luck

 

My 2018 TRD OR has no problems whatsoever, on or offroad. The gas pedal took some getting used to at first, but you just gotta push it a little harder than normal.

 

My 2019 drives perfectly. No trans issues whatsoever. My buddy’s ’16 shifts like shit. Do the math.

 

Very funny how people call "transmission problems" to something that was designed the way it does for fuel efficiency etc. NO ONE in their right mind will buy a truck with "transmission problems" right off the lot. LMAO

 

Is there a way to lock the trans in 4th or turn OD off when driving mountain roads?

 

Yes. S4