2024 Tacoma Transmission Overheating on Long Climbs Off-Road

[CrispyTacoLover]

Some new 4Runner owners are now reporting this…

https://www.4runner6g.com/forum/thr...verheating-on-climbs-off-road.4888/post-62770

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[cranny]

Just got a new 2025 OR Hybrid 4Runner (~2,000 miles), drove it from Colorado back to California mostly off-road and am having the exact same issues, with no extra load. Happens in 2 and 4H. Tow mode helps. On roading is fine. I am bringing it to the dealer tomorrow to see what they say.

So I think I've found a solution by using manual mode and running a lower gear and pushing the RPMs a bit higher. Tried it several times now and running most long climbs in 2nd when auto would out me in 3rd and tranny hasn't overheated yet. The same climbs would push my tranny temp up every time in auto.

 

[izzy]

So I think I've found a solution by using manual mode and running a lower gear and pushing the RPMs a bit higher. Tried it several times now and running most long climbs in 2nd when auto would out me in 3rd and tranny hasn't overheated yet. The same climbs would push my tranny temp up every time in auto.

This is probably why throwing it in 4Lo helps. The stall seems pretty high on these torque converters, not sure why. That combined with a lot of torque from the twin scroll and long stroke 4 banger means a lot of heat..

Manual mode or 4Lo means more RPMs = locked up, and more coolant going through the rad.

My trans didn't overheat, just saw the gauge go up and let it cool.. but I wonder what this means for the guys that cooked their trans fluid to the point of the warning a few times 🫤

 

[Lando]

This seems totally the type of issue that engineers are supposed find out in testing. And find a solution prior to releasing it to the public. Maybe these trucks weren’t tested as rigorously as they boasted at the introduction last year?

The last time I was off road in 4wd on a long climb was years ago in a ‘98 Chevy K1500. Drove up a mountain on an old logging road. No issues and the truck was over a decade old at that point.

I have had no issues with my Tacoma, my first Toyota, and love it so far (10 months in). But goes without saying, my expectations are it will perform better off road than my old truck (especially with it being the Off Road trim).

Staying tuned, but I’m still not expecting any issues. A big thanks to the Tacoma community that is out there putting these rigs to the test every day. We all benefit from there experiences.

 

[CrispyTacoLover]

This seems totally the type of issue that engineers are supposed find out in testing. Maybe these trucks weren’t tested as rigorously as they boasted at the introduction last year?

Chief Engineer Sheldon Brown said they were. It must be true.

 

[timetoeatpotatoes]

pretty clear at this point they should have included more transmission cooling on anything with 4wd.

 

[Gear_yyc]

Has anyone tried using Tow Mode in 4HI to do higher speed climbs? Part of the function of Tow Mode is to keep the revs high and the trans cool, so curious if it has a similar benefit to manual mode.

 

[Gunnison]

Has anyone tried using Tow Mode in 4HI to do higher speed climbs? Part of the function of Tow Mode is to keep the revs high and the trans cool, so curious if it has a similar benefit to manual mode.

I have and it lasts longer but eventually still get hot. Since the 2025 4Runner doesn't have manual option this seems to work best right now besides putting it in 4L (which is stupid and unnecessary)

 

[Bcphoto3]

Chief Engineer Sheldon Brown said they were. It must be true.

Riight! Why so many different problems showing up? I have had the Tranmission cooling warning twice. Both times running 4 HI in a place where all my previous 4WD vehicles would have run4 Hi and never sweated..

 

[Gunnison]

So I think I've found a solution by using manual mode and running a lower gear and pushing the RPMs a bit higher. Tried it several times now and running most long climbs in 2nd when auto would out me in 3rd and tranny hasn't overheated yet. The same climbs would push my tranny temp up every time in auto.

Thanks! I mentioned this to the dealership to help explain the situation. Unfortunately for me the 4Runners don't have manual mode. They said to open up a case with Toyota so that Toyota can share software information with them that they apparently don't otherwise have access to. So that is my next step, while I cruise up hills like an inchworm in 4L.

 

[Kjc]

So I think I've found a solution by using manual mode and running a lower gear and pushing the RPMs a bit higher. Tried it several times now and running most long climbs in 2nd when auto would out me in 3rd and tranny hasn't overheated yet. The same climbs would push my tranny temp up every time in auto.

Hopefully it's a software issue and the transmission overheating can be fixed with an update?

 

[CrispyTacoLover]

I have and it lasts longer but eventually still get hot. Since the 2025 4Runner doesn't have manual option this seems to work best right now besides putting it in 4L (which is stupid and unnecessary)

What is “manual mode” ???

 

[TacoFreak]

What is “manual mode” ???

You move the shift lever to the left and it lets you control the highest gear the transmission can shift to. Toyota has used that in their off road trucks for a long time.

 

[Gunnison]

Thanks! I mentioned this to the dealership to help explain the situation. Unfortunately for me the 4Runners don't have manual mode. They said to open up a case with Toyota so that Toyota can share software information with them that they apparently don't otherwise have access to. So that is my next step, while I cruise up hills like an inchworm in 4L.

I'll

What is “manual mode” ???

You move the shift lever to the left and it lets you control the highest gear the transmission can shift to. Toyota has used that in their off road trucks for a long time.

Thats what the 4Runner has, don't the Tacomas come with an actual manual option?

 

[CrispyTacoLover]

What is “manual mode” ???

It’s called S mode. It was S mode on the 3rd gen Tacoma, too. The 4th gen Tacoma and the 6th gen 4Runner both have S mode @Gunnison.

See the owners manual.

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