Transmission shifting overly hard into 2nd gear after cold starts, 2-3 shift is quite noticeable. no other symptoms.

[BOLDTACO]

Hello all,
I have a 2024 Tacoma SR5 with the 8AT and over the last few months and about 1 thousand or so miles I've noticed overly rough cold start shifts and the 2-3 shift is almost always firmer, so to speak, than the rest of the gears. It also has the lurch when shifting to reverse or drive. no other symptoms, MPG is steady at the EPA rating, etc.
This morning though, when backing into a parking spot it did have a noticeable clunk into reverse from drive. Just curious on if I should be worried about this or just let it go and chalk it off as normal... any help would be appreciated.

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[timetoeatpotatoes]

If you aren't within the vin range i wouldnt worry about it. its gonna shift a little different cold.

 

[BOLDTACO]

I am within the vin range, probably should have mentioned that.

 

[bitflogger]

Hello all,
I have a 2024 Tacoma SR5 with the 8AT and over the last few months and about 1 thousand or so miles I've noticed overly rough cold start shifts and the 2-3 shift is almost always firmer, so to speak, than the rest of the gears. It also has the lurch when shifting to reverse or drive. no other symptoms, MPG is steady at the EPA rating, etc.
This morning though, when backing into a parking spot it did have a noticeable clunk into reverse from drive. Just curious on if I should be worried about this or just let it go and chalk it off as normal... any help would be appreciated.

An associate who bought about same time as the transmission TSB risk I don't but the exact same observations. Watching the transmission temp climb makes it smoother when warmer.

This comes to mind. We have our own 4 vehicles, I rent, and sometimes use a fleet vehicle. They all have what can seem like a quirk but now 9 months and 9000 miles my Tacoma is just a new to me normal.

 

[Madmez]

Cold start shifts are common and "lurch" is normal according to the manual.

 

[ZIGGY]

Same situation. Didn’t feel it for the first few months. Mine you can feel and hear a clunk for the first few shifts when cold. I’m in the vin range and took it to Toyota. They had it for 4 days and said they couldn’t find a problem. This truck is full of small but annoying problems. Makes me miss my 3rd gen because it was cheap and worked perfectly fine.

 

[BOLDTACO]

I love the truck itself, just worried the transmission is on its way out...

 

[Kjc]

I love the truck itself, just worried the transmission is on its way out...

I think your fine... I've had mine almost a year since April and mine does the same... Kinda jerks/jumps between 1-2nd and 2nd and 3rd..... But it's a truck and it's not as smooth as a fwd car... Also cold weather makes it way worse until everything warms up... If you notice problems going to reverse or park to drive and lurching then you should worry... I'm in the TSB range it just makes us more parinod.... Drive it and it's under warranty...

Also there is a thread on here where people have mentioned your same symptoms

https://www.tacoma4g.com/forum/threads/describe-your-transmission-behavior.6302/page-9#post-123543

 

[a.ron]

Same. I've only had mine for a couple of weeks, but the shifts are certainly more noticeable when cold. Warm it up for a bit, and everything is smooth. I am going to get a tune next week and suspect that, along with the added throttle response and improved boost, the shift points will also be refined.

 

[TacoFreak]

@BOLDTACO Also in the TSB range. My truck did that for a while and then stopped, and I have no idea what that means. But right now it is fine again and I am keeping my fingers crossed. If it doesn't have any shift solenoid codes stored Toyota will not do anything about it anyway.

 

[inlandsmog]

Same issue here. Will be dropping off at the stealership Apr 1st.

 

[TacoFreak]

Same issue here. Will be dropping off at the stealership Apr 1st.

I'll be interested to see if they do anything. Let us know!

 

[Devildog81]

I had my truck in at the dealership a few weeks ago to look at my truck for a hard downshift when slowing down around that 30mph. Hard enough where it almost feels like your tapping the break pedal. Tech drove it and verified what I was feeling, but they won’t do anything repair wise because there’s no codes or stored codes. I really like the truck, but this shift issue is really starting to make me dislike it. Was thinking about doing a drain and refill on the transmission fluid to see if that would fix the issue. Truck just hit the 3,000 mile mark.

 

[TacoFreak]

I have a friend, @Gfenza89 who is having the same problems and feels the same way about his truck. I think he will be able to really relate to what you said. The strange transmissions are the only really serious problem with these truck IMO, but they kind of ruin the whole experience when they shift like total crap. Good luck - I think they basically have to fail before Toyota will ever do anything.

 

[Gfenza89]

I have a friend, @Gfenza89 who is having the same problems and feels the same way about his truck. I think he will be able to really relate to what you said. The strange transmissions are the only really serious problem with these truck IMO, but they kind of ruin the whole experience when they shift like total crap. Good luck - I think they basically have to fail before Toyota will ever do anything. Next month will be interesting when the dealer looks at it again. The fact this is still being talked about is down right pathetic from a company that built a reputation on bulletproof vehicles. This truck has been the absolute most embarrassing new car I’ve bought to drive to the point I won’t let anyone drive with me other than my wife. DO SOMETHING TOYOTA !!!

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