Is Toyota's Reputation For Reliability Slipping? This 2025 Toyota Tacoma Is On It's 3rd Transmission

[WKTJR1]

Sponsored

 

[BAQ717]

If you’re doing 3-4 mph up a substantial grade in 4HI you’re asking for a transmission overheat with these high stall torque converters. Regardless, Toyota needs to address the issue. This guy is rationale and the dismissive nature of Toyota is not reassuring.

 

[Fiigtaco]

offroads and likes to use MTS loose gravel, but still has the front lip attached. Hes probably driving around dirt roads at 5mph in 90* heat when he should be using 2hi or just regular 4hi

 

[px3_taco]

Negative reviews and trashing on things in general do much better on Youtube than anything positive. Not saying that there isnt merit to the vid, just something to keep in mind.

That said, Toyota needs to step up their game. While their reliability is still better than most the gap has closed some. The amount of features you get on other vehicles for similar pricing compared to Toyota's is becoming ridiculous.

 

[TacoFreak]

Negative reviews and trashing on things in general do much better on Youtube than anything positive. Not saying that there isnt merit to the vid, just something to keep in mind.

I agree about online reviews, but there have been more issues with 4th gens than I expected, even on an all new truck. So I can see why Toyota quality is being questioned more now than ever before.

What bothers me more is how little we hear back from Toyota about what is going on. Maybe they are working on this stuff, but their silence sure doesn't give you a feeling of confidence.

 

[px3_taco]

The vaunted 3rd gen had more issues. It was just out long enough for people to forget.

Toyota has sold a ton of 4th gens, there really hasn't been that many issues, they just get posted more than ever before.

My biggest worry is these stupid videos that convince so many people these are terrible trucks and ruin any resale value if I decide to go back to an SUV in the future.

 

[bitflogger]

I recognize this guy has unfortunate problems as well as I recognize a lot of people are poor at stats and data. Most of the about 1/2 million Tacomas don't have problems. If someone wants to be concerned about a maker with problems take a moment to realize Toyota makes about 2.3x more vehicles than Ford with fewer recalls.

My contacting Toyota for two problems was very different. One was finding a problem with the manual, the other was the dashboard electronics where they followed up.

Hopefully the guy gets a good resolution.

Where I go for service has new ownership who has other franchises. Some of new service staff work across the franchises. They say by comparison, Toyota is still their best brand and just one store sells 25 to sometimes 50+ Tacomas a month showing them to still be good.

Again, I hope the guy gets a good resolution.

 

[timetoeatpotatoes]

Break three transmissions in a few months i start to wonder if the owner is doing something to cause this. Or maybe installed incorrectly? But outside of the bad vin range the odds to get three bad transmission is pretty astronomically low

 

[QuadTaco]

I'm local to TFL and know all the trails he mentioned overheating on well. It's worth noting they are all over 10,000 feet in elevation. On a hot summer day the density altitude can be well over 15k ft. The less dense the air the less effective your cooling systems (trans cooler) will be. So he truly could have been torture testing it under worst case scenarios. But thats why low range exists

 

[307Taco]

The truck was not on its 3rd transmission, that's just generating clickbait. His first truck had trans issues (clunk from 1st to 2nd, metal found in trans fluid) and it was replaced under warranty. He wasn't happy with it after the repair (rattle that couldn't be found/fixed, got hot in 4 Hi at low speeds going uphill) and his dealer made him a deal to swap for a new truck. His new truck's trans also gets hot when he is climbing at low speed in 4hi (like many/most 4th gens). The dude said it overheated when he was going uphill in 4hi at 3-4 mph, at that speed with these powertrains he needs to be in 4low to keep the trans temps low.

So first truck-legit issue/failure (that was repaired under warranty-replaced transmission).
Truck 2-no real issues (user error causing overheat)

My 2025 TRDOR has about 3300 miles with at least 300 of that off road, high elevation (WY/CO) in 4hi/4low. These trucks build heat when low speed crawling uphill in 4hi-they just do. If you manually shift to 1st gear that helps the temps but they still get warm...switch to 4low and you can crawl all day and the trans temps stay in normal range. Do I like that I'm needing to be in 4low for areas that traditionally I wouldn't-NO...but its not the end of the world to use for 4low for low speed climbing.

I'd be pissed too and hyper critical of everything had I faced the same issues with the first truck....but I think TFL is blowing this out of proportion.

 

[astroboy]

The truck was not on its 3rd transmission, that's just generating clickbait. His first truck had trans issues (clunk from 1st to 2nd, metal found in trans fluid) and it was replaced under warranty. He wasn't happy with it after the repair (rattle that couldn't be found/fixed, got hot in 4 Hi at low speeds going uphill) and his dealer made him a deal to swap...

Agree. Even the title and thumbnail screams clickbait off the bat.

 

[TacoFreak]

I agree - clickbait video here. Toyota reliability may have slipped a bit but they are still better than the competition. Ever since the 4th gen was introduced there's been a YouTube industry questioning these trucks. My Pro was hit hard in CCN's Unfortunate Truth Pro video, most which was mostly total BS.

 

[Lando]

@307Taco I was about to point out the same thing. Total click bait which voids the resulting video premise. It was one warranty replaced transmission. Nothing to see here folks.

Disappointed in TFL they resort to click bait tactics, I thought they were better than that. I guess they like most of the YouTubers these days looking for clicks. Still sad.

Sponsored