25 Tacoma Hybrid(iFORCEMAX) Vibration at low speeds.

[Baltimore]

Just a quick update.

I've been getting my truck tuned by @CAMTuning, trying to iron out the poor shifting calibration toyota graciously gave us on the hybrid drivetrain. It's coming along really well. I had CAMtuning adjust the shift points of the transmission and it has pretty much eliminated most of all the annoying vibrations I experience with the Hybrid drivetrain. That 1-3 gear hard shift during cold start has been greatly reduced to a hiccup. The 36-44mph vibration has been greatly reduced (note: on Premium gas, after several tanks of gas, it was completely eliminated leading me to believe it's a combination of fuel and spark). No more lugging and vibration in high gear in 35mph-55mph zones where the transmission tends to lock into 6th/7th and sometimes 8th gear. The MPG has stayed the same if not slightly better in all situations with the truck in the right gears and rpm. I have my transmission tuned to be less aggressive than Sport mode, but shift slightly higher than OEM eco/normal shift points. Now every gear shift lands above the 1500 rpm range where on OEM calibration, anywhere below that would cause lugging and vibration. At highway speeds, 8th gear is engaged above 62 mph (shift lands on roughly 1500 rpms) and kicks down to 7th more immediate when you apply throttle. before that, it would shift to and lock on 8th gear at 55 mph (speeds dropped to 50 mph and it was still locked!) at less than 1500rpms, it caused the drivetrain lug and vibrate badly especially going up any hill. Overall the truck now drives about 90% vibration free in all driving situations.

I spent a lot of time testing every gear and which rpms caused lugging and vibrations. gears 1-2 don't have much issue. 3rd because it's geared so tall, does vibrate when it shifts from 2nd to 3rd. They are not matched well at all and the RPMs would drop off dramatically from gear to gear (TOYOTA ARE YOU LISTENING?). I countered this with having 2nd gear shift a little higher in the rev band so when it shifts to 3rd it's above 1500rpms, vibration gone. 4-5 gears have little issues lugging at all. 6th gear slightly does it at lower than 1500 rpms which is now fixed by the higher shift point from 5th to 6th. But the biggest culprit is 7th and 8th gears (overdrive gears). the factory calibration likes to lock these gears in even at lower than ideal rpm speeds = a bunch of lugging and vibration. With the tune, it never touches 7th and 8th gears in the 35-50 mph range. This still maintains decent mpg numbers and the revs are lower than sport mode and slightly higher than eco/normal.

Hope this information helps the hybrid owners experiencing drivetrain vibes.

I wonder if @CAMTuning is seeing parallels between our TCU submissions and pain points. He's been great to work with - and extremely responsive!

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[rnc]

Very interesting discussion. My 2026 Limited Hybrid has 1800 miles and I too notice the vibration, often on the first daily startup when slowly accelerating (likely being powered solely by the hybrid motor). From what I have read here I will need to pay closer attention to the specific conditions when it occurs. Hopefully together we can isolate the root of what we are experiencing.

 

[Baltimore]

Just a quick update.

I've been getting my truck tuned by @CAMTuning, trying to iron out the poor shifting calibration toyota graciously gave us on the hybrid drivetrain. It's coming along really well. I had CAMtuning adjust the shift points of the transmission and it has pretty much eliminated most of all the annoying vibrations I experience with the Hybrid drivetrain. That 1-3 gear hard shift during cold start has been greatly reduced to a hiccup. The 36-44mph vibration has been greatly reduced (note: on Premium gas, after several tanks of gas, it was completely eliminated leading me to believe it's a combination of fuel and spark). No more lugging and vibration in high gear in 35mph-55mph zones where the transmission tends to lock into 6th/7th and sometimes 8th gear. The MPG has stayed the same if not slightly better in all situations with the truck in the right gears and rpm. I have my transmission tuned to be less aggressive than Sport mode, but shift slightly higher than OEM eco/normal shift points. Now every gear shift lands above the 1500 rpm range where on OEM calibration, anywhere below that would cause lugging and vibration. At highway speeds, 8th gear is engaged above 62 mph (shift lands on roughly 1500 rpms) and kicks down to 7th more immediate when you apply throttle. before that, it would shift to and lock on 8th gear at 55 mph (speeds dropped to 50 mph and it was still locked!) at less than 1500rpms, it caused the drivetrain lug and vibrate badly especially going up any hill. Overall the truck now drives about 90% vibration free in all driving situations.

I spent a lot of time testing every gear and which rpms caused lugging and vibrations. gears 1-2 don't have much issue. 3rd because it's geared so tall, does vibrate when it shifts from 2nd to 3rd. They are not matched well at all and the RPMs would drop off dramatically from gear to gear (TOYOTA ARE YOU LISTENING?). I countered this with having 2nd gear shift a little higher in the rev band so when it shifts to 3rd it's above 1500rpms, vibration gone. 4-5 gears have little issues lugging at all. 6th gear slightly does it at lower than 1500 rpms which is now fixed by the higher shift point from 5th to 6th. But the biggest culprit is 7th and 8th gears (overdrive gears). the factory calibration likes to lock these gears in even at lower than ideal rpm speeds = a bunch of lugging and vibration. With the tune, it never touches 7th and 8th gears in the 35-50 mph range. This still maintains decent mpg numbers and the revs are lower than sport mode and slightly higher than eco/normal.

Hope this information helps the hybrid owners experiencing drivetrain vibes.

Checking in on you. How have things been now that they have baked in a while? How's your city & highway MPG been doing over the longer stretch of time?

 

[GSPHerder]

I have a hybrid also and haven't felt any of the vibrations mentioned, but I never drive in normal mode because I hate the squishy shift points and gas motor shutting off every time I stop. Soon as I get in the vehicle the first thing I do is put it in tow haul mode.

There has been a few instances of new owners having shift problems and when they took it to the dealer the tranny was low on fluid. Might be worth a check?

 

[redlimitediforcemax]

I have a hybrid also and haven't felt any of the vibrations mentioned, but I never drive in normal mode because I hate the squishy shift points and gas motor shutting off every time I stop. Soon as I get in the vehicle the first thing I do is put it in tow haul mode.

There has been a few instances of new owners having shift problems and when they took it to the dealer the tranny was low on fluid. Might be worth a check?

I was thinking about the fluid level as well. Im close to 30k thats when im getting my trans fluid flushed and filled. I will update with results.

 

[Baltimore]

I was thinking about the fluid level as well. Im close to 30k thats when im getting my trans fluid flushed and filled. I will update with results.

I requested specifically for them to check the fluid level on my last visit to the Dealership. It was written into the service ticket and they reported it was at an appropriate level as their notes.

I'm on the fence on taking it back in and trying to force them to do a pan drop and inspection. So incredibly frustrating.

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