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

[WKTJR1]

The alleged issue is contamination in the transmission, if the contamination is steel or iron/ferrous, then it will be attracted to the shift control solenoids in the valve body because the solenoids are electromagnetic switches, and the contaminants with find their way in the torque converter and never leave… the contaminants will also hide in any low flow area in the transmission pan. If you are insistent of the issue and the dealer service writer is dismissive of your problems, then pay to have the Toyota technician drop the tranny pan and look in the pan, also setup a cheese cloth to drain any fluid from the pan- the cheese cloth will hold the contaminants. Insist on being next to the technician when this service is performed.

The issue involves casting sand remaining in the torque converter, apparently due to improper flushing. Given the pressures within the transmission and the size of the sand grains, it's unlikely the particles will settle; the filter may or may not capture all of them. However, the grains are large enough to lodge in the solenoids, leading to shifting problems. This may partially explain why not everyone is experiencing the exact same issue—some individuals report no problems, others experience intermittent issues, and some face complete transmission failure.

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[Gfenza89]

The issue involves casting sand remaining in the torque converter, apparently due to improper flushing. Given the pressures within the transmission and the size of the sand grains, it's unlikely the particles will settle; the filter may or may not capture all of them. However, the grains are large enough to lodge in the solenoids, leading to shifting problems. This may partially explain why not everyone is experiencing the exact same issue—some individuals report no problems, others experience intermittent issues, and some face complete transmission failure.

Exactly, I’m not understanding why Toyota can’t at least have dealers drop the pan on the trucks in the vin range and eliminate trucks breaking down and angry frustrated customers driving around in crappy shifting transmissions, just replace the transmissions with the debris and be done with it .

 

[TacoFreak]

This may partially explain why not everyone is experiencing the exact same issue—some individuals report no problems, others experience intermittent issues, and some face complete transmission failure.

That describes my truck. It started out shifting perfectly. By 500 miles it had developed pretty much all of the problems - hard shifts into 2nd gear, rumbling when downshifting into 1st, super hard shifts into reverse and low fuel mileage. After a couple hundred miles of that fun it went back to shifting normally again, although fuel mileage is still 5-7 mpg lower than the EPA numbers.

Whether the debris was caught by the filter or it settled where it does not currently cause problems is hard to say. It is also hard to predict if it will go back to bad shifts, run normally or fail completely one of these days. Obviously that is pretty frustrating.

Like a lot of other owners I say Toyota needs some way of diagnosis which transmissions are in danger of failing. Having them tell us to just drive our trucks until they fail is not cutting it with me, but I don't know wtf to do about it.

 

[Gfenza89]

That describes my truck. It started out shifting perfectly. By 500 miles it had developed pretty much all of the problems - hard shifts into 2nd gear, rumbling when downshifting into 1st, super hard shifts into reverse and low fuel mileage. After a couple hundred miles of that fun it went back to shifting normally again, although fuel mileage is still 5-7 mpg lower than the EPA numbers.

Whether the debris was caught by the filter or it settled where it does not currently cause problems is hard to say. It is also hard to predict if it will go back to bad shifts, run normally or fail completely one of these days. Obviously that is pretty frustrating.

Like a lot of other owners I say Toyota needs some way of diagnosis which transmissions are in danger of failing. Having them tell us to just drive our trucks until they fail is not cutting it with me, but I don't know wtf to do about it.

We all deserve answers and a fix for this issue, it’s been plenty long enough they’ve had to develop something. Let’s GO Toyota….

 

[32spoke]

I did mostly manual shifting on my way home from the dealer I bought it from because they were 600 miles away. If I kick it into manual shifting mode when it starts occurring the issue goes away. I’m wondering if doing 600 miles of manual shifting caused the transmission adaptive learn to not learn correctly?

I think the software is different for manual vs drive mode… and that the OEM drive software will be fine with minimal use

 

[32spoke]

The issue involves casting sand remaining in the torque converter, apparently due to improper flushing. Given the pressures within the transmission and the size of the sand grains, it's unlikely the particles will settle; the filter may or may not capture all of them. However, the grains are large enough to lodge in the solenoids, leading to shifting problems. This may partially explain why not everyone is experiencing the exact same issue—some individuals report no problems, others experience intermittent issues, and some face complete transmission failure.

I promise you that unless the contamination floats, some will hide in a low flow area of the transmission pan. Same issue happens on sand casted engine blocks, like the ford 6.0 power stroke diesels..

 

[TacoFreak]

I promise you that unless the contamination floats, some will hide in a low flow area of the transmission pan. Same issue happens on sand casted engine blocks, like the ford 6.0 power stroke diesels..

I agree and it is the same as the Tundra V6 engine mess, which is ongoing. I have also been told that the debris can never really be completely removed from the torque converter, even if the whole system is flushed.

 

[32spoke]

I agree and it is the same as the Tundra V6 engine mess, which is ongoing. I have also been told that the debris can never really be completely removed from the torque converter, even if the whole system is flushed.

Yes, that is correct!!! I would even have an inline transmission filter installed in the return line, to prevent contamination from circulating through the system again.

 

[WKTJR1]

I agree and it is the same as the Tundra V6 engine mess, which is ongoing. I have also been told that the debris can never really be completely removed from the torque converter, even if the whole system is flushed.

Thus the reason it's changed out with the transmission.

 

[WKTJR1]

I promise you that unless the contamination floats, some will hide in a low flow area of the transmission pan. Same issue happens on sand casted engine blocks, like the ford 6.0 power stroke diesels..

Toyota needs to develop a dealer-level test to confirm contamination. Fluid analysis is not black magic; establish a clear protocol, conduct the test, send the results to corporate, and make a decision the same day.

 

[Ray T]

Definitely agree with all of you i might have been the one that commented on the 37- 40 mph really filling rough so when I took my truck back to my dealer the agent who was in for another vehicle also drove mine had no solution since he said he has never driven a pro before went to Maryland where he got to drive another pro said it drove the same so maybe it’s transmission is bad also but they did document mine and made a file on it but no fix yet my technician told me to call Toyota and voice my options since I already owned a hi lux 3 4Runners 4 tundras and now this pro both my son and daughter own a rav 4 love the truck but also like everyone else wanting a fix filling everyone’s 86k pain just dive it until something happens I still do have faith in Toyota they have been to me for a long time

 

[Ray T]

Sorry a little transmission fatigue 68k not86k

 

[TacoFreak]

@Ray T - I also have a long string of Toyota trucks and cars in my history, and until now I have trusted them completely. But at this point that trust is getting pretty thin.

Like you I paid a lot of money for my truck and never felt it was a mistake because I have always been able to count on my Toyotas. I traded in a 14 year old Tundra that never even thought about leaving me stranded. I have bought Toyotas with over 100k miles that I trusted more than my Pro.

They can document this all they want but it won't bring us home if our trucks die out on the road.

 

[TacoFreak]

Toyota needs to develop a dealer-level test to confirm contamination. Fluid analysis is not black magic; establish a clear protocol, conduct the test, send the results to corporate, and make a decision the same day.

That is perfect. I couldn't agree more about what Toyota should be doing for buyers who lost the transmission lottery.

I no longer know if I even expect them to do anything more than just drive it and keep your fingers crossed. I don't even know if they give a damn at this point. If you had told me 6 months ago that one truck could totally shake my confidence in Toyota, I would have laughed. I am not laughing now.

 

[Ray T]

TacoFreak I get where you are coming from I as well as my tech and service manager also believe something is going on with my truck I will be calling Toyota tomorrow 1 800 331 4331 not giving up have to keep pushing the issue at them

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