Transmission Failures Keep Coming

[Muckle]

Same thing. Transmission throws solenoid codes. That's the only way you're getting it replaced is if you have the codes showing.

Thanks. Last question - would there be any indication of a code being present on the dash (check engine light, etc.)? Or could that code be present without any indication?

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[maxx075]

Thanks. Last question - would there be any indication of a code being present on the dash (check engine light, etc.)? Or could that code be present without any indication?

If you have the complete trans failure you'll get a whole Christmas scene of lights & you'll be well aware that something has happened as the most common symptoms are that you have no gears below 6th. Until then you'll probably just get hard shifts and random jerks when it downshifts.

There's really nothing you can do until then except pay attention to it, and not really worry about it. This is being made into a bigger deal than it really is. The failure rate is exceptionally small compared to the number of vehicles sold.

 

[Gfenza89]

If you have the complete trans failure you'll get a whole Christmas scene of lights & you'll be well aware that something has happened as the most common symptoms are that you have no gears below 6th. Until then you'll probably just get hard shifts and random jerks when it downshifts.

There's really nothing you can do until then except pay attention to it, and not really worry about it. This is being made into a bigger deal than it really is. The failure rate is exceptionally small compared to the number of vehicles sold.

But the symptoms are not. They are very prevalent

 

[maxx075]

But the symptoms are not. They are very prevalent

You're not taking into account that you're only seeing a very very small fraction of people on these forums reporting the issues. 99% of people without issues aren't on here nor would they have a reason to report issues because they don't have them.

The sky is only falling because you're seeking it out here.

 

[TacoFreak]

The sky is only falling because you're seeking it out here.

I agree that the failure rate is probably extremely low, and that most 4th gen owners will never have this problem.

I don't agree that rough or harsh shifts in a Toyota product are normal. Poor shift quality is common when shift solenoids are not working correctly and they have preceded most 4th gen transmission failures.

I have owned a lot of Toyota cars and trucks, and none of them have ever shifted poorly. In fact most shifts in my Toyotas have been virtually undetectable.

@Gfenza89 is not seeking gloom and doom, he is justifiably concerned that because his truck does not shift properly it might die outright one of these days. I would not call that spreading FUD, but honestly trying to diagnose a problem.

 

[Gfenza89]

You're not taking into account that you're only seeing a very very small fraction of people on these forums reporting the issues. 99% of people without issues aren't on here nor would they have a reason to report issues because they don't have them.

The sky is only falling because you're seeking it out here.

Yeah but you also have to take into account the thousands upon thousands of people that aren’t on forums or Facebook. No way of telling if those people are having issues, and the fact there’s been enough documented failures you can bet many of those min interested users could be having problems

 

[bking]

I just crossed 10K miles so I'm hoping no issues. No hard shifts yet. It does make you nervous. I was wondering around logging roads in the North Woods of Maine looking for Moose and it was in the back of my mind. I would've been in serious trouble if it had died out there.

 

[Goriders]

They are gonna have to do something there reputation is really tanking bad lately

based on what though? I usually form opinions on facts. I get that they are having issues but is it outside of normal expected failure rates for mechanical equipment?

via google it says they have sold roughly 127,000 tacomas. The government website has 39 complaints. What should they do? Replace 127,000 transmissions? That doesn’t seem reasonable.

I get people that have had them fail aren’t happy. Who would be? But isn’t that what the drive train warranty is for?

 

[Gfenza89]

based on what though? I usually form opinions on facts. I get that they are having issues but is it outside of normal expected failure rates for mechanical equipment?

via google it says they have sold roughly 127,000 tacomas. The government website has 39 complaints. What should they do? Replace 127,000 transmissions? That doesn’t seem reasonable.

I get people that have had them fail aren’t happy. Who would be? But isn’t that what the drive train warranty is for?

I believe it’s more an issue about the symptoms of the failures, some fail some don’t lot of grey areas

 

[Goriders]

Ok. Seems to be a lot of general worrying. I’m too old to worry about things without a concrete reason and no one seems to be able to give one.

Mechanical systems always fail. That will never change. A certain percentage will fail earlier. A certain percentage will never fail. The greater percentage will last roughly as long as the design lifespan. My guess on the transmission that’s around a decade and 200,000 kms or 125,000 miles.

I guess my advice is if it’s to the point that you’re losing sleep don’t by a mechanical system like a truck. Sleep is important.

 

[WKTJR1]

I mentioned in a previous post that the most likely outcome will be some type of fluid analysis or other testing to determine the likelihood of failure. Preemptive transmission replacement will not happen. Perhaps some combination of torque converter, solenoid, and fluid replacement.

Then again, I could be completely wrong, and none of this will happen.

One thing though, if it’s casting sand or some other contaminant, why isn’t the filter catching it?

 

[TacoFreak]

I mentioned in a previous post that the most likely outcome will be some type of fluid analysis or other testing to determine the likelihood of failure.

That is what I have been thinking - Toyota needs a way to diagnose which trucks are so contaminated that they are likely to fail. That way they could just inspect/repair those.

One thing though, if it’s casting sand or some other contaminant, why isn’t the filter catching it?

Maybe the filters are full of debris and are bypassing.

 

[trailhunger]

Read the first complaint - bro in SoCal leasing a TRD Pro and the tranny shits the bed 1K mi in.

Note to self: never lease especially when you’re on the hook for payments on a lemon and they won’t put you into a new rig asap. Leasing a halo and they’re like, yea make the payments and we’ll see you in a couple months. Wow…

 

[TacoFreak]

A forum member lost his TRD Pro transmission at 342 miles! I never thought about how a lease would affect that, but that is something to remember in the future.

 

[Paul F]

Gloom and doom, gloom and doom.

right.

give us a % of actual failures for realistic context.

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