2017 Toyota Tacoma: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 7, 2025 · Fuel system · AZ

I was driving my 2017 Toyota Tacoma and I my car suddenly was lurching and running rough. I had to put on hazards on a main road and pull over immediately and was not even able to let it run for air conditioning. It was 108 degrees out that day, waited for 1 hour 30 minutes in heat. Had truck towed to mechanic that stated my fuel pump was bad and there was a federal mandate recall on this. I have the paperwork for this (attached), when I called dealership they said it was not covered so I called advocate for Toyota that stated my truck was built in June and the mandate was only for September of 2017 and forward. So I have the exact same problem that they have a federal mandate to fix but won't fix mine. If I had been on the freeway I could have been killed. I have attached estimate to fix.

Filed Jul 10, 2019 · Transmission · 10,110 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2017 toyota tacoma. While attempting to stop the vehicle, it began to jerk. The vehicle was taken to tustin toyota (36 auto center dr, tustin, ca 92782, (714) 602-5311) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed a software update. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed oil. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer a third time where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,110.

Filed Feb 7, 2018 · Transmission · 1,000 miles · CA

Transmission does this on a random basis it is too quick to upshift causing the engine to bog down. -transmission causes the tuck to lurch forward at low speeds. -shifting from r to d on a hill can sometimes cause the truck to roll back as if the truck was in neutral -in general, the transmission is inconsistent in operation. In the same situation, it may react differently -during hard acceleration after you let up on the gas, the engine RPM's will stay high and slowly come back down. If you press the gas again during this time the transmission will either cause the engine to rev but the truck won't accelerate or will slam into a gear causing the truck to lurch. It also does this randomly the transmission being slow to downshift to a lower gear when trying to accelerate or it would upshift to a higher gear while accelerating/merging resulting in an unexpected change in acceleration.the vehicle will also "noticeably" down shift while the foot is off the accelerator resulting in an unexpected change in deceleration. The problem seems to be getting worse and now the shifting is starting to jolt the vehicle. While driving at constant speeds the vehicle will randomly surge high in rpms then come right back down. The vehicle is presenting unsafe conditions. Took the vehicle to the dealer multiple times. 1st time they topped off the transmission fluid as it was low from the factory. 2nd time they are aware of the issue and others were having it as well and the transmission ecu was re-flashed. This still did not resolve the problem. Brought the vehicle back a 3rd time and they didn't see a problem with the vehicle. Vehicle currently has less than 2500 miles on it. Not sure why you would design a vehicle to do this. I have taken my truck in for this problem and toyota of orange says the transmission is working the way it was designed to do...

Filed Nov 1, 2017 · Transmission · 3,600 miles · CA

6 speed automatic transmission is always on a higher gear. Often lugs the truck around and can be hazardous when turning left or right from rolling as the truck often stays at a higher gear and will either lug the vehicle or jerk/rough downshift. When sudden acceleration is needed, truck will lag or jerk. Has the potential to cause or be involved in accidents due to transmission mapping.

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.

Filed Feb 17, 2017 · Transmission · 1,200 miles · TN

Driving home from the dealership, I noticed a hesitation or jerking upon acceleration. I returned the next week and was advised there was a bulletin, t-sb-0077-16 and the software was reloaded or updated and the problem was fixed. When I left, it appeared to be fixed for the first 5 miles, then the problem returned and is getting worse. I contacted toyota, complaint 170206-000100. I received a return email the same day and subsequent phone call several days later. I was advised I would be contacted within a week for resolution or plan of action. That week has come and gone. Meanwhile, the truck continually gets worse. Twice, I have accelerated from stop and the truck seems to shift in neutral and I had to let off the pedal for it to accelerate again. One of those times, I was almost rear ended. It is worse when driving in the city. The truck begins jerking and it is difficult to get it to accelerate. I feel it is very unsafe to drive, but right now I don't have much choice. I almost feel like I need a tow truck, ambulance, and attorney to follow me everywhere. I hope this will at least bring awareness to an unsafe issue and others will be spared the potential results.