2017 Toyota Tacoma: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Jun 3, 2021 · Transmission · CT

I have been having several intermittent issue with the automatic transmission on my 2017 Tacoma TRD off Road with 43000 miles. Among them are as follows: It fails to shift correctly (hunting for gears) on the highway and hesitates to accelerate when needed, Also the transmission sometimes has a delayed engagement when putting it into reverse or drive from a standstill. The engine will rev up like it was in neutral then abruptly catch the reverse gear causing a loud and disturbing “BANG” and even some tire spin on the pavement. I also intermittently experience a loud “CLUNK” when slowing down to a stop in traffic as if the transmission is not downshifting properly from the higher gears to the lower ones and is forced to come to an abrupt halt. The dealer has performed a software update but this has not helped. The dealer also cannot replicate these problems because the issues are intermittent. I understand that a lot of 3’rd generation Tacoma owners are experiencing the same exact issues but it seems that Toyota is not issuing a recall for some reason. I believe this is a potential safety hazard and should be addressed.

Filed Jun 5, 2019 · Brakes, Engine · TX

Heard valves tapping alot of time. Reported and took to toyota. They said no code no work. They gave the line of when this gas hits this part then this one tries to catch up or burn excess fuel. Out of 40 plus years and puchasing many vehicle I never been told that before. I talked to other 2017 owners and they dont have this issue. Also the brakes make metalic clunking noises moving backwars and fowrds when braking. Thier answer was floating valves. And again this issue isnt on other tacomma owners. I tryed three times with valve issues. Same old line no code no work. Maybe pads are worn but still have 70 % left on pads

Filed Dec 9, 2018 · Engine, Transmission · 3,717 miles · NY

Noticing that as I come to a stop at the last second the drivetrain seems to snap out of gear causing a very loud clunk at this point the vehicle seems to free wheel forward unsafely. . The jolt you get can be compared to putting the vehicle into gear at too high of an idol, which will cause premature wear and tear to your drivetrain. Also, the engine seems to surge at idol while in gear and if you aren't ready for it and you are parking behind something, you run the risk of hitting it.. I have addressed the drivetrain issue with the dealer, but they say they can't get this to happen for them. Very interesting considering there seems to be others with similar issues.

Filed Dec 30, 2017 · Transmission · 1,000 miles · CA

When driving at highway speeds and you come to an abrupt slowdown to rolling the truck will shudder, clunk into gear and then when about to stop will lunge forward at times. This has happened 3 times where the ABS actuates due to the lunge from the transmission shift and almost caused me to rear end the vehicle infront. In the toyota tacoma forums there are many whom experience the same issue but toyota seems to not resolve it.

Filed Apr 29, 2017 · Transmission · 41 miles · CA

Transmission has jerky shifting and low at fluid. Purchased 4x2 automatic on feb 2017 with 20 miles on it. Within 2 days of driving it I felt the hard jerks of the transmission at the start of the day. Once it runs for more than 7 minutes the hard shifting of gears stops. I called service dept at the dealer they told me it is the adaptive transmission learning, not to worry it is normal and it will stop after 600 miles. I also noticed it is very stiff shifting from p to r and d in mornings only. At 650miles the hard shifting continued. I went to dealer and after a cursory inspection and 5 minute drive tech told me nothing is wrong. I asked him to check the atf level because many people wrote online about low atf levels causing the problems. Tech said they do not send out vehicles without proper levels of fluids and it could not be. I asked manager to make someone check. They of course would not let me watch them in the service bay when they took it back but later insisted they did check my atf and it was full. It is now at 827 miles and I am going to a different dealer to have them check for me but I am worried the longer I drive it with low atf it will damage the transmission worse.