TSB: Hybrid Tacoma Now Included in Transmission Failure Issues & Replacement (October 2024)

[TacoFreak]

Yeah - my truck was built July 27th and it is included. So Toyota has taken a long time to get this one under control.

Toyota claims that a few early transmissions had this problem and yet they were still building trucks with this defect through the summer. That doesn't sound much like under control to me.

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[tacorancher]

I'm sure Toyota is formulating a plan for how best to address this. If they plan on replacing affected transmissions, it will take months to build up the additional inventory. Once the used transmission inventory is sufficient, they'll likely rebuild those and use them for future replacements. Regardless, the dealer network will need the personnel to handle it. Some shops are short on quality techs, and no dealer is going to assign a master tech to warranty work.

Oh, and they also have Tundra engines to manage. I know that during the frame replacement ordeal, some shops had dedicated techs who did nothing but that. Depending on the specific needs of the vehicle, they could knock out a truck in just a few hours.

Then again, this is strictly conjecture, and I could be completely wrong—so feel free to ignore this post.

I think this is right. They don’t have the bandwidth to drop transmission pan

I'm sure Toyota is formulating a plan for how best to address this. If they plan on replacing affected transmissions, it will take months to build up the additional inventory. Once the used transmission inventory is sufficient, they'll likely rebuild those and use them for future replacements. Regardless, the dealer network will need the personnel to handle it. Some shops are short on quality techs, and no dealer is going to assign a master tech to warranty work.

Oh, and they also have Tundra engines to manage. I know that during the frame replacement ordeal, some shops had dedicated techs who did nothing but that. Depending on the specific needs of the vehicle, they could knock out a truck in just a few hours.

Then again, this is strictly conjecture, and I could be completely wrong—so feel free to ignore this post.

This reflects my current thinking. I’m in the TSB range, have some of the symptoms (not super bad), and have put it out of my mind. If it goes bad, they’ll fix it. I am probably on the far end of the toyota diehard spectrum, so my views could be fringe. I’ve owned many Toyotas and they all pulled me through thick and thin for hundreds of thousands of miles. I just don’t think toyota will fuck us. This will take a long time for us to know the story. It’s not worth worrying about. They will fix every failed transmission.

 

[tacorancher]

So - this is weird - lately when I start my truck cold from being undriven over night - the transmission is “warm” — according to carista 100 degrees when ambient overnight temp is like 75. Is that normal?

I literally just got a carista but I had noticed the temp bar having a small reading the last couple weeks in AM - never remember it doing that in the past. Was always blank like the engine coolant temp until a couple minutes of driving. Now it starts warm.

 

[TacoFreak]

So - this is weird - lately when I start my truck cold from being undriven over night - the transmission is “warm” — according to carista 100 degrees when ambient overnight temp is like 75. Is that normal?

Yep - definitely sounds weird to me. I have never seen any engine or transmission not go back to ambient temperature after sitting overnight.

It would be interesting to see if there is a reason for that or if it is just bad data.

 

[tacorancher]

Yep - definitely sounds weird to me. I have never seen any engine or transmission not go back to ambient temperature after sitting overnight.

It would be interesting to see if there is a reason for that or if it is just bad data.

Yeah. Super weird. To me it seems more likely it’s a bad sensor because .. how? I’ll test max ATF temp today on a 60 mile drive and report out.

 

[tacorancher]

After 35 miles it went from 140 to 200 — not sure if that’s good or bad. Need more data.

 

[TacoFreak]

That seems reasonable, but it would be nice if Toyota published an acceptable temperature range.

 

[tacorancher]

Ok - I just test drove a hybrid in the 10,000+ VIN range - so outside the TSB. Gary is right ( @Gfenza89 ) - it does not do what my truck does when I stop. I think my transmission is impacted. It has not gotten worse but I think it’s impacted. I called brand engagement and they documented my issue. They also told me to tell my dealership service dept so it’s documented and this will support toyota helping me if an issue happens outside my warranty. She told me if this happens at my ranch in a remote spot they would do something to help me - not sure if that’s true or not.

Anyway, I am not going to let this get me down.

One other note - the Tacoma I looked at seemed to have various defects fixed (loose trim on tailgate was tight, no cowl issue)—this is probably not a bad time to buy because folks are scared of the Tacoma but in reality it seems issues are resolved.

Let’s all call brand engagement and keep each other updated

 

[Gfenza89]

Ok - I just test drove a hybrid in the 10,000+ VIN range - so outside the TSB. Gary is right ( @Gfenza89 ) - it does not do what my truck does when I stop. I think my transmission is impacted. It has not gotten worse but I think it’s impacted. I called brand engagement and they documented my issue. They also told me to tell my dealership service dept so it’s documented and will increase the odds of toyota helping me if an issue happens outside my warranty. She told me if this happens at my ranch in a remote spot they would do something to help me - not sure if that’s true or not.

Anyway, I am not going to let this get me down.

One other note - the Tacoma I looked at seemed to have various defects fixed (loose trim on tailgate was tight, no cowl issue)—this is probably not a bad time to buy because folks are scared of the Tacoma but in reality it seems issues are resolved.

Let’s all call brand engagement and keep each other updated

Thats good to know you documented, I’ve been saying this for a while now, call corporate and voice your frustration, glad you did! Yup the shudder vibration your feeling is more then likely the same thing mine is doing and same as others have mentioned, unless it’s something else causing the issue…. My mechanical mind says it’s the transmission though. Mines still chugging along can’t wait for it to just finally fail

 

[tacorancher]

Thats good to know you documented, I’ve been saying this for a while now, call corporate and voice your frustration, glad you did! Yup the shudder vibration your feeling is more then likely the same thing mine is doing and same as others have mentioned, unless it’s something else causing the issue…. My mechanical mind says it’s the transmission though. Mines still chugging along can’t wait for it to just finally fail

I will add that I was very chill with the brand lady

 

[Rick97]

When does built Tacoma fall outside the TSB range ? Receive my Off Road hybride premium first week of december in Canada. I don’t have the vin (I know it is strange) so in can’t know for the TSB

 

[tacorancher]

When does built Tacoma fall outside the TSB range ? Receive my Off Road hybride premium first week of december in Canada. I don’t have the vin (I know it is strange) so in can’t know for the TSB

0% chance you will be in range because we are already over 4,000 trucks beyond the TSB - I don’t know the date but it’s around the 6,400 serial number mark

 

[Gfenza89]

I will add that I was very chill with the brand lady

What all did you say to brand engagement? Curious to see if it lines up with my statement?

 

[TacoFreak]

0% chance you will be in range because we are already over 4,000 trucks beyond the TSB - I don’t know the date but it’s around the 6,400 serial number mark

That is true, but there is no guarantee that more VINs won't be added to the TSB, since it has already happened once. But I also agree that buying one well past the TSB VIN range is probably safe.

@Gfenza89 and @tacorancher What kind of fuel mileage are you getting. My hybrid has never topped 17.3 mpg, and I am NOT driving at all aggressively or fast with the engine still breaking in.

 

[Gfenza89]

That is true, but there is no guarantee that more VINs won't be added to the TSB, since it has already happened once. But I also agree that buying one well past the TSB VIN range is probably safe.

@Gfenza89 and @tacorancher What kind of fuel mileage are you getting. My hybrid has never topped 17.3 mpg, and I am NOT driving at all aggressively or fast with the engine still breaking in.

I get around 16.5-17mpg around town and I drive very conservatively

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