Rough transmission shifts

[Burgi]

I would say there are days where it’s smooth and some where it’s not. But definitely a bit letter than at the beginning, which makes me believe it’s a software issue because in about 2-3 occasions I seen the rpm gauge goes down as if the truck is shifting, but in about 1-2 second later is when the transmission actually shifts.

there are days where first to second shift fast and smooth and there are days where first to second the rpm gauge hangs and it doesn’t shifts right away. I’ve also noticed that when I’m light on the throttle, from a stop, it hangs before shifting, but if I’m a bit aggressive on the throttle it tends to not hang and shifts into second a bit better. I can’t explain it in words and can only be experience if you drive it and feel it for yourself. Once I’m over 20-25 mph this truck feels amazing though .

I’m 50/50 as far as enjoyment with this Tacoma to be honest.

I feel exactly the same. Driving under 20 mph in stop and go traffic sucks. The first 3-4 gears are hit or miss on whether I get smooth shifts or not. It definitely shifts smoother the harder I am on the gas. Once I’m doing faster then 30mph the shifting is super smooth. I’m at 3500 miles and don’t remember it being like this when I first got the truck. When I take it in for 5k service I’m going to ask them to reset the “learning” data for the transmission.

Everyone talks about how bad the 3rd gen transmission was but honestly my 2021 shifted way smoother than this 4th gen.

Sponsored

 

[ldudiaz]

I feel exactly the same. Driving under 20 mph in stop and go traffic sucks. The first 3-4 gears are hit or miss on whether I get smooth shifts or not. It definitely shifts smoother the harder I am on the gas. Once I’m doing faster then 30mph the shifting is super smooth. I’m at 3500 miles and don’t remember it being like this when I first got the truck. When I take it in for 5k service I’m going to ask them to reset the “learning” data for the transmission.

Everyone talks about how bad the 3rd gen transmission was but honestly my 2021 shifted way smoother than this 4th gen.

wow, we're having the same experience. I also did not notice the truck being like that at the beginning. I have about 3200 miles on it now. I also have the occasional clunk while shifting into reverse. I really hope this is a learning process for the transmission.

 

[GRKTRD]

Some of you must have not driven Toyotas before. Pretty standard on a cold trans it will clunk. Drive my r8 when cold thing has the same issue until warm

 

[Readyalready]

I feel a hard downshift to first every time I come to a complete stop. Also feel what others are experiencing accelerating from a stop, but other Toyotas I’ve had have done that too. Goes away when warm.

The downshifts Im assuming are due to short gears, 8spd. Bummer to see people getting transmissions replaced. This can’t be the only Toyota model this transmission is in…

 

[TacoTacoBurritoBurrito]

I haven't noticed shifts while driving, but mine is jerky when going from reverse or park to drive. You definitely lurch forward or backward when it engages in gear.

do you have an update on this? ty

 

[TacoTacoBurritoBurrito]

wow, we're having the same experience. I also did not notice the truck being like that at the beginning. I have about 3200 miles on it now. I also have the occasional clunk while shifting into reverse. I really hope this is a learning process for the transmission.

what did you do to fix this problem? did your truck mark anything on the dashboard? ty

 

[jdr]

2024 4x4 TRD Off-Road Manual owner here. Wanted to give some insight from the manual POV. Interesting thing reading through this post is that, I feel like I had to learn to work through everything your auto transmissions are experiencing.

Shifting from 1st to 2nd is tough, and tougher from a cold start. Once I hit 3rd, truck really feels like I can let on the throttle and catch up to highway speed traffics. Once I'm up to speed, shifting is smooth between 2-6, only after I learned to account for the slight rev-hang. I just slowed down my motions a bit, I shift more relaxed. Downshifts can be hard for me too. I always downshift on my way to full stop, and with this truck just flat out decided not to downshift to 1st. I will downshift as far down as 2nd and break to full stop.

All this to say, I feel like I drove my manual like OPs auto when I got the truck, but was able to learn my way around the tranny after driving it (close to 600 miles now). Hopefully OP tranny is indeed just a matter of breaking in/learning. Hopefully, if anything involves a software update, Toyota has the means to deliver these.

 

[ldudiaz]

what did you do to fix this problem? did your truck mark anything on the dashboard? ty

No warnings on the dashboard at all. I’ve not don’t anything to correct it I’m just letting it be and hope for the best. I did however, installed a TRD Air filer and call me crazy but I think the extra air is making it shift quicker from a stop. My brother works at the service department for Toyota and he thinks I’m going crazy lol.

 

[TacoTacoBurritoBurrito]

No warnings on the dashboard at all. I’ve not don’t anything to correct it I’m just letting it be and hope for the best. I did however, installed a TRD Air filer and call me crazy but I think the extra air is making it shift quicker from a stop. My brother works at the service department for Toyota and he thinks I’m going crazy lol.

Oh ok, and does it shift the same all the times you do it? Cause sometimes for me, it doesn’t shake or anything but I got this response on Reddit, I will be trying it later

 

[TacoTacoBurritoBurrito]

No warnings on the dashboard at all. I’ve not don’t anything to correct it I’m just letting it be and hope for the best. I did however, installed a TRD Air filer and call me crazy but I think the extra air is making it shift quicker from a stop. My brother works at the service department for Toyota and he thinks I’m going crazy lol.

And yeah it does feel like you’ve gone mad ha….

 

[Tacotee]

I haven't noticed shifts while driving, but mine is jerky when going from reverse or park to drive. You definitely lurch forward or backward when it engages in gear.

Same here

 

[maxx075]

Mine still does the hard shifts into reverse, nothing clunk or anything but you can definitely feel it engage.

Got to test out 4lo and the MTS settings yesterday. No issues shifting there. I'm not sure what the MTS settings do transmission/drive wise, but all I could tell was that it disabled traction control and a few other settings from the dash.

 

[ldudiaz]

Oh ok, and does it shift the same all the times you do it? Cause sometimes for me, it doesn’t shake or anything but I got this response on Reddit, I will be trying it later

Not sure how true this is, as I ave experienced the clunk when putting it on reverse after I get from from work and reverse without the emergency break being activated/deactivated

 

[TacoTacoBurritoBurrito]

Not sure how true this is, as I ave experienced the clunk when putting it on reverse after I get from from work and reverse without the emergency break being activated/deactivated

Yeah idk,, ima try it later, I also asked for a video on how they fixed the issue

 

[26wx]

None of the Tacomas have seemed to have had buttery smooth transmissions. That A750 in the 2nd gen wasn't smooth at all, but unless I missed something, they held up great with very few problems. While I haven't felt the issues, I'd probably say don't worry about it, because my 2nd gen had similar complaints to what has been posted here and it was solid as can be.

Sponsored