2024 Tacoma Transmission Overheating on Long Climbs Off-Road

[Gunnison]

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.

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.

yes sorry for my terminology, I was referring to the actual manual transmission option in the Tacoma

Sponsored

 

[Bcphoto3]

So took my TH in for oil change and 10K checkup.. Told them about the transmission heating up and also about the System Malfunction Visit your Dealer message I got running 4HI in Great Sand Dunes NP.. the message went away after stopped, turned off truck and waited couple of minutes.. Their replay was that they checked and there were no codes thrown at all and that if the Trans heats up and gives a Warning and goes into ‘limp’ mode, it doesnt throw codes.. Since nothing was wrong with the transmission when I took it in, their response was they had no idea.. First they blamed it on all the aftermarket stuff I have on (Method wheels with Falken 285/70/r17 tires, Prinsu rack, AluCab Contour Canopy and CBI Covert front bumper with Warn 10S winch.. Then they blamed it on the fact that I was out West and it must have been hot! Until I told them in May it was 50-70F most days..
Really disappointed.. They said they hadnt heard anything about Tacomas having problems with Transmission heating up..
wonder how to get a listing of all the problems being reported to Toyota about the new Tacomas?

 

[BAQ717]

This has to be addressed as there are too many on here with the same issue. My uneducated opinion is that it could be remedied with a software update but first Toyota needs to investigate it which it seems they’re not interested in doing.

I would recommend that those who’ve had this issue and are not satisfied with your dealers resolution to file a ticket with Toyota.

https://support.toyota.com/s/questi...zMDk5MTMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTEzMDk5MTQkajU5JGwwJGgw

 

[Gunnison]

This has to be addressed as there are too many on here with the same issue. My uneducated opinion is that it could be remedied with a software update but first Toyota needs to investigate it which it seems they’re not interested in doing.

I would recommend that those who’ve had this issue and are not satisfied with your dealers resolution to file a ticket with Toyota.

https://support.toyota.com/s/questi...zMDk5MTMkbzEkZzAkdDE3NTEzMDk5MTQkajU5JGwwJGgw

Thanks yea so I took mine to the dealer and same response as above, there is no code and they couldn't figure it out and to check with Toyota on any additional software codes, so I called Toyota and they said they have nothing additional so basically the response I got was that there is nothing they can do until they decide that something needs to be done, and when they decide that or how to get them to do something about it I have no idea because it is not a "safety" issue so there wouldn't be a recall unless something "dangerous" happens. I suppose then all the Tacoma and 4Runner people having this issue need to just keep bringing it up to their dealer and to Toyota until hopefully Toyota does something about it, which sucks.

 

[bsquaredMTB]

All, if you go into the main infotainment (where you control the radio) screen there's a menu for vehicle alerts. I believe it's under the car icon. When the overheating happened to me (turned out to be loose radiator fan plugs) I was able to pull up the history of alerts.

 

[CrispyTacoLover]

So took my TH in for oil change and 10K checkup.. Told them about the transmission heating up and also about the System Malfunction Visit your Dealer message I got running 4HI in Great Sand Dunes NP.. the message went away after stopped, turned off truck and waited couple of minutes.. Their replay was that they checked and there were no codes thrown at all and that if the Trans heats up and gives a Warning and goes into ‘limp’ mode, it doesnt throw codes.. Since nothing was wrong with the transmission when I took it in, their response was they had no idea.. First they blamed it on all the aftermarket stuff I have on (Method wheels with Falken 285/70/r17 tires, Prinsu rack, AluCab Contour Canopy and CBI Covert front bumper with Warn 10S winch.. Then they blamed it on the fact that I was out West and it must have been hot! Until I told them in May it was 50-70F most days..
Really disappointed.. They said they hadnt heard anything about Tacomas having problems with Transmission heating up..
wonder how to get a listing of all the problems being reported to Toyota about the new Tacomas?

Who was the dealer that said that?

 

[Bcphoto3]

Fox Toyota in Clinton, TN

 

[Lando]

So took my TH in for oil change and 10K checkup.. Told them about the transmission heating up and also about the System Malfunction Visit your Dealer message I got running 4HI in Great Sand Dunes NP.. the message went away after stopped, turned off truck and waited couple of minutes.. Their replay was that they checked and there were no codes thrown at all and that if the Trans heats up and gives a Warning and goes into ‘limp’ mode, it doesnt throw codes.. Since nothing was wrong with the transmission when I took it in, their response was they had no idea.. First they blamed it on all the aftermarket stuff I have on (Method wheels with Falken 285/70/r17 tires, Prinsu rack, AluCab Contour Canopy and CBI Covert front bumper with Warn 10S winch.. Then they blamed it on the fact that I was out West and it must have been hot! Until I told them in May it was 50-70F most days..
Really disappointed.. They said they hadnt heard anything about Tacomas having problems with Transmission heating up..
wonder how to get a listing of all the problems being reported to Toyota about the new Tacomas?

Thank you for the update sir. First of all, if any of those mods even were responsible, Toyota would have a very weak and vulnerable truck. I’ve driven much more “modded” 4x4’s with no issue, - supposedly from a brand Toyota looks down on; GM/Chev.
So to the dealer, that’s a bullsh*t cop-out.
Second of all, disappointing they did not take you serious. This is definitely not normal for an off road truck.
Did they at least check the fan and cooling connections?

 

[BAQ717]

Not sure if any of you listen to the Smoking Tire podcast but their latest episode reviews the 4Runner TRD Pro (which they thoroughly enjoyed), however, they mentioned that they overheated the transmission on a steep climb in 4HI. They repeated the action in 4LO and the gauge didn’t budge off center. This is seemingly an issue Toyota will need to address one way or another. The 4Runner and Tacoma are too important for the company for them to turn a blind eye to this.

 

[izzy]

Not sure if any of you listen to the Smoking Tire podcast but their latest episode reviews the 4Runner TRD Pro (which they thoroughly enjoyed), however, they mentioned that they overheated the transmission on a steep climb in 4HI. They repeated the action in 4LO and the gauge didn’t budge off center. This is seemingly an issue Toyota will need to address one way or another. The 4Runner and Tacoma are too important for the company for them to turn a blind eye to this.

I really think it has something to do with the comically high stall converter these things have. It makes it fast for sure when you get on it, but Toyota has gotta make em lock up in 4Hi way sooner than they do.

On the street when you punch it, it spins to like 3000RPM for 2-3 seconds before it locks LOL it's cool but if the truck was slower and shifted sooner I wouldn't mind..

Edit: Does MTS ever request that the driver switches to 4Lo? Depending on incline? Descent control I can see it wanting 4Lo. Not sure about climbs though.

 

[TRDad]

Nope! None.

There is a cooler, its just inside the pan. Thats my next upgrade

 

[Lando]

There is a cooler, its just inside the pan. Thats my next upgrade

Please share when done, I’d consider an external transmission cooler. Always a good thing.

 

[Gunnison]

Has anyone found a dealer who could replicate this issue? I am bringing my 4Runner to another one this weekend to try and replicate it and I have an open case with Toyota. I'd like to try and connect my Toyota case person with any other dealers that have been able to replicate.

 

[TRDad]

Please share when done, I’d consider an external transmission cooler. Always a good thing.

I absolutely will, im going to do an external with an electric fan just to make sure its plenty cool

 

[wire4money]

I really think it has something to do with the comically high stall converter these things have. It makes it fast for sure when you get on it, but Toyota has gotta make em lock up in 4Hi way sooner than they do.

On the street when you punch it, it spins to like 3000RPM for 2-3 seconds before it locks LOL it's cool but if the truck was slower and shifted sooner I wouldn't mind..
.

Is this the sensation I get of a slipping trans? I swear the first time I drove it, I thought it had trans issues.

Sponsored