Is my trans beginning to fail?

[Ricky33]

That’s interesting that it’s the driveshaft. Your shuddering was on acceleration then? My shuddering is at low speeds like traffic and cornering through a parking lot. It’s like the transmission doesn’t know what gear to be in and the torque converter is screwing up. It’s insane to me that they claim it can’t be replicated….i like the truck beside the transmission issue but as the time goes on I’m starting to just hate it and I’m growing more pissed that Toyota has done nothing about this issue. They absolutely know there’s customers with similar issues as me and they’ve decided to blow us off. I should have just kept my 3rd gen Tacoma.

It started 6 weeks after I bought it, so late last September. I noticed it when only going into 4th gear between 40 to 60 kms. Yes when accelerating but it would continued to do this even if my foot was off the pedal but not as much. I had my truck in about close to a dozen times since then about that or other issues, (AC compressor makes a horrible sound at times and other odd lose parts and things not assembled correctly. Also burning smells after driving on highway for a min of 39 mins, coming from tires which ended up scalping them. ). Many more problems and no solutions except normal. As for the vibrations, I went to a independent garage, they said to Toyota it was the shaft. Forcing them to fix it. I can write further detail later tonight. It has been a nightmare of a vehicle, worst one with the worst service. What happened Toyota?

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[Gfenza89]

It started 6 weeks after I bought it, so late last September. I noticed it when only going into 4th gear between 40 to 60 kms. Yes when accelerating but it would continued to do this even if my foot was off the pedal but not as much. I had my truck in about close to a dozen times since then about that or other issues, (AC compressor makes a horrible sound at times and other odd lose parts and things not assembled correctly. Also burning smells after driving on highway for a min of 39 mins, coming from tires which ended up scalping them. ). Many more problems and no solutions except normal. As for the vibrations, I went to a independent garage, they said to Toyota it was the shaft. Forcing them to fix it. I can write further detail later tonight. It has been a nightmare of a vehicle, worst one with the worst service. What happened Toyota?

Dam shame but your story is nothing new. I’ve heard dozens upon dozens of stories like yours and mine through the years. All manufactures have these problems, unfortunately Toyota has been having very concerning quality control issues the last 5 years or so. I hope you’re able to get your truck lemon lawed and get out from under it. Toyota surely isn’t what they used to be at all and they better get their act together soon because people are seeing it, especially with the tundra DISASTER

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

I'll throw my two cents in for color. Mine is under the TSB, although the tranny has been behaving well for me with about 18.5k on the truck now. I have noticed that this tranny seems to shift, well -- not rough, but a little heavy when the tranny is cold. Once warmed it's a smooth as glass. Since I live in Phoenix. we are in summer now and it only takes a short while the become at operating temp as you can imagine. However in the winter I've noticed it takes a bit to get warmed up. Other than that no clunking, or other noises from the tranny. Seems to be always smooth and compliant.

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

Mine does that randomly as well. I believe Its something fuel/air algorithm related to a specific ambient situation ive never cared to pinpoint.

ive had every gen tacoma, and they all made odd random engine noises and all lasted well over 300,000 miles with zero issues. I think this noise is just another characteristic, as ive heard it in other gen 4s as well.

My 3rd gen had a random engine whistle upon acceleration that disappeared somewhere around 75,000 miles.

If were taking about the same thing, I believe that's the fuel injectors, but dont hold me to it, but that's my feeling. I have noticed as I have accumulated more miles on the truck now, that sound I believe your referring to has diminished quite a bit. Although I'm typically not "into the motor" much since it's got loads of torque in the and around the 2K range which is where I'm at mostly.

 

[Ricky33]

Dam shame but your story is nothing new. I’ve heard dozens upon dozens of stories like yours and mine through the years. All manufactures have these problems, unfortunately Toyota has been having very concerning quality control issues the last 5 years or so. I hope you’re able to get your truck lemon lawed and get out from under it. Toyota surely isn’t what they used to be at all and they better get their act together soon because people are seeing it, especially with the tundra DISASTER

Thx! I will try to get it resolved. I definitely want out and if I get out, not only will I never get a Toyota again, I'm not buying new either. Who cares if there is no warranties on used, they don't honour them on new vehicles anymore. Rather find something a few years old, good shape and no bad history.

 

[Gfenza89]

Thx! I will try to get it resolved. I definitely want out and if I get out, not only will I never get a Toyota again, I'm not buying new either. Who cares if there is no warranties on used, they don't honour them on new vehicles anymore. Rather find something a few years old, good shape and no bad history.

In all fairness though whatever other brand you buy is still subpar to Toyota and plagued with much worse problems. You can get a lemon from any brand, I’d personally still bet my money on Toyota. Before blindly buying another brand out of frustration I’d really do your homework on the issues of that manufacturer. Good luck

 

[Gfenza89]

I'll throw my two cents in for color. Mine is under the TSB, although the tranny has been behaving well for me with about 18.5k on the truck now. I have noticed that this tranny seems to shift, well -- not rough, but a little heavy when the tranny is cold. Once warmed it's a smooth as glass. Since I live in Phoenix. we are in summer now and it only takes a short while the become at operating temp as you can imagine. However in the winter I've noticed it takes a bit to get warmed up. Other than that no clunking, or other noises from the tranny. Seems to be always smooth and compliant.

I’m jealous, wish I could say the same for me. Mines smooth at cruising speeds and shifts really good. Anything under 15mph is intermittent torture of clunks, jerks, and the shudder. The crazy thing is with all this bad behavior you’d figure the fluid would reflect it by being burnt or having debris floating around. Fluid is clean as a whistle though . So strange

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

I’m jealous, wish I could say the same for me. Mines smooth at cruising speeds and shifts really good. Anything under 15mph is intermittent torture of clunks, jerks, and the shudder. The crazy thing is with all this bad behavior you’d figure the fluid would reflect it by being burnt or having debris floating around. Fluid is clean as a whistle though . So strange

That's unfortunate, I'm sorry to hear that. I dont want to bash Toyota specifically, but as a whole it sure seems that quality across all manufacturers has dropped, significantly. I'm pretty sure cost savings are applied across manufacturing processes, everywhere and anywhere possible. After all a few cents saved on each part is millions of dollars when combined. Hope you're able to get some relief in your transmission woes.

 

[Gfenza89]

That's unfortunate, I'm sorry to hear that. I dont want to bash Toyota specifically, but as a whole it sure seems that quality across all manufacturers has dropped, significantly. I'm pretty sure cost savings are applied across manufacturing processes, everywhere and anywhere possible. After all a few cents saved on each part is millions of dollars when combined. Hope you're able to get some relief in your transmission woes.

true, I agree. Hopefully before warranty is up I’ll get it fixed !

 

[Ricky33]

In all fairness though whatever other brand you buy is still subpar to Toyota and plagued with much worse problems. You can get a lemon from any brand, I’d personally still bet my money on Toyota. Before blindly buying another brand out of frustration I’d really do your homework on the issues of that manufacturer. Good luck

Trust me I did do my homework. I knew there was a gamble with new gen. However it's also the service. Toyota isn't owning up and for the price you pay for them, it's uncalled. I've literally spoon fed my dealer, telling the it's a drive shaft for almost a year. I had to find a great local mechanic to claim the same as me. Once I did that they then had to admit it. The service manager askk me why I did go to him earlier however I did...2 fn times. They are horrible. I've own used toyotiand they were great, I've owned many new, o ly had one other crappy truck and that was a Dodge and some what expected but Toyota needs to do better when issues come. Warranties from everyone nowadays are useless. Buy used

 

[Dirt]

Trust me I did do my homework. I knew there was a gamble with new gen. However it's also the service. Toyota isn't owning up and for the price you pay for them, it's uncalled. I've literally spoon fed my dealer, telling the it's a drive shaft for almost a year. I had to find a great local mechanic to claim the same as me. Once I did that they then had to admit it. The service manager askk me why I did go to him earlier however I did...2 fn times. They are horrible. I've own used toyotiand they were great, I've owned many new, o ly had one other crappy truck and that was a Dodge and some what expected but Toyota needs to do better when issues come. Warranties from everyone nowadays are useless. Buy used

Definitely depends on your dealership and the service dept they have. There are a couple in my area (150 mile radius) that have great service depts. Whether I buy from the dealership again or not remains to be seen, but couldn't ask for better service. Just sayin'

 

[TacoFreak]

@Ricky33 I'm glad you got there in the end.

There are some good Toyota dealers and a whole lot of really, really bad ones, so keep looking and stay away from those creeps that had no clue about what was wrong with your truck. The lies that some Toyota service departments tell owners are beyond belief for those of us who know better, and they give Toyota a bad name.

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