Transmission issues? TSB follow-up

[tddawson77]

Good afternoon guys/gals!
I just bought a used 2024 Tacoma TRD Off-Road and have been loving it, although I am still in the honeymoon phase having just a couple hundred miles on it so far. Unfortunately for the first time today though, I got in the truck on my way to work and when shifting into reverse I got a loud clunk that I could also feel that seemed to come from the rear of the truck somewhere. This is the first time I’ve felt this over the last few weeks of owning it. Concerning I went online and have just seen where a TSB was issued for the transmission of certain VIN number trucks and what do ya know, of course my truck is within the listed VINS. My luck would have it no other way! My question is, have others had this thud/clunk when shifting into reverse? Or is this the first indication of a failing transmission? The truck just hit 20k miles for what it’s worth and has shifted flawlessly up until this morning. It did seem to repeat this thud/clunk when reversing into my parking spot at work, although MUCH more subtle than what it did in my garage. I have also noticed a pretty substantial clunk when disengaging 4WD and going back into 2H, but this comes from the front diff and I’m sure has more to do with being on pavement and being under load when disengaging 4WD so I haven’t worried too much about it. What do you guys think? Kinda disappointed to see there was a TSB as this of course was not mentioned at the dealership. I already looked past the recall for the rear breaks being that there should be a fix coming very very soon according to the dealer.
Thanks for any info!

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[radbrad]

Yes been having that clunk into reverse since the beginning. At about 6000 miles. Probbaly happened 6-8 times so far.

 

[MT-Taco]

It’s best to be moving and the wheels as straight as possible for a smooth 4H 2L shift. Totally normal for these t-cases to be a little clunky. I’ve never had a clunky transmission shift. Mine is rather firm going from drive to reverse and visa versus. But if you slightly let off the brake going in and out or reverse at the right time it’s less firm.

Good info here for ya.. Don’t sweat it too much there hasn’t been many failures and Toyota will get you fixed up if yours does fail?
https://www.tacoma4g.com/forum/thre...failure-issues-replacement-october-2024.7340/

 

[Vidman]

Shifting in and out of 4 wheel drive is usually noisy especially if you have any axle bind. Eventually you will find a happy way of doing it. I have also had a loud thump when shifting into reverse on my taco. I had the noise 2 times and have around 1100 miles on it and I’m not on the transmission TSB. not worried about i. If the transmission fails my dealer will take care of it

 

[chasea1989]

I get it occasionally too. I'm fairly sure it just has to do with the position of the gears and such in the diff and trans when it all comes to a rest. Either that or the there's pressure on the parking pawl in the transmission when shifting out of park.

 

[Dirt]

From my experience, you are right on the suppositions when changing from 4x4 to 2x4. For the clunking when shifting into reverse, I'd let the service department at your dealership know and record the unusual event(s) so there's record of it happening while still under warranty. Then drive it like you love it.

 

[inlandsmog]

Unfortunately it is a symptom of an internal issue with the transmission, Toyota will not do anything TSB related unless the listed codes are current or in memory. I am thinking about finding a way to generate one of those codes and get my trans replaced unless they widen the scope of the TSB to include the numerous shifting complaints discussed on this platform.

 

[TacoFreak]

@tddawson77 A lot of people have very similar shifts from 4th gens, and it may not really mean all that much.

My truck is within the TSB range and has had the shift into reverse from hell a few times. After about 600 miles it quit doing that and most of its other rough shifting. But just today it did a small clunk shifting into 1st when I stopped. Other than that I drove it all morning and it was perfect.

I think these are just clunky transmissions, some worse than others, and I don't think it means your transmission is necessarily going out. A lot of the transmissions that have failed shifted fine right up until they didn't shift at all.

The 4wd-2wd transition is a whole different subject and it sounds like you already have a handle on that.

 

[Lando]

I’ve had the occasional loud clunk shifting into reverse or into drive on my old trucks and cars before. Never thought anything of it. I think it is just the rear/ trans may be under pressure where it came to a halt as has been mentioned. I’ve had it more on hills. I’ve always assumed it is a normal mechanical thing and never had issues because of it.
I have not heard it on the Tacoma yet, but haven’t parked on any hills either yet.
I do not see it as anything to worry about.

 

[TacoFreak]

I’ve had the occasional loud clunk shifting into reverse or into drive on my old trucks and cars before. Never thought anything of it.

This is different than just a loud clunk when engaging reverse or drive. The first time my truck did it I stopped to see if I had backed over something in the parking lot. It sounded like my transmission case had been high centered on a large rock and I could feel it through my seat. If something had fallen off of my drivetrain and was laying on the ground I would not have been surprised.

I have also experienced clunky shifts in other vehicles, but trust me, this is way beyond that.

 

[TGHouse]

Does anyone notice the hard shifts into reverse after using the break hold function?

 

[tacorancher]

I get the same 2 clunks - reverse and in/out of 4H. The reverse is not common and the 4H can be minimized by moving the truck slowly when getting in and out of gear.

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