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Toyota Tacoma Transmission

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Toyota Tacoma • Consumer complaints • Transmission failure • Safety interlock failure • Spontaneous starting • Misc. failings --- News • NHTSA Ends Toyota Tacoma Investigation • Toyota Resists Possible Tacoma Recall

Bert of Rescue CA (7/24/03):
I have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma. I took it to Folsom Toyota to have a high-pitched noise in overdrive standard trans fixed. They said yes they heard the noise but it was manufactured that way. I later met with a factory rep and he said the same thing.

I then went to California state mediation. There I met with a rep From Toyota and the mediator. The Toyota rep stated that he knew what was causing the problem. He said it was the way the gear was cut at the factory and all of the Toyota standards were cut that way. I then asked both if they would buy the truck if they knew it had this problem. They both said no. I said I would not have bought the truck had I known of this noise.

I was denied my compalint from the mediator. He said on the grounds it was not a safty factor. I still am living with the very loud noise. I cannot drive between 60 & 70 without a loud noise.

Terry of Tucson (9/17/03):
Now here is a really sad occurrence. I am a 54-year-old "working class hero". Have worked hard all my life and managed to save enough of my earnings to finally purchase a new Toyota truck for the use and enhancement of my upcoming retirement next month. The new truck (03 Tacoma, Standard Cab, 2WD, Standard Transmission), I call it the "plain-jane" model; it's nice, but it is the basic truck.

This is the first new vehicle that I have ever owned. I could never afford to purchase a new vehicle prior to this. Less than 3000 miles on the odometer and now it's getting the transmission replaced. At 2,900 miles it began to produce a low-tone rumbling noise in the drive train, first noticed upon de-acceleration (coasting downhill, in either 4th or 5th gear with no load on the engine). Shortly after, the same noise began to appear upon acceleration when ascending a grade in either 3rd, 4th, or 5th gear. In combination with the noise, the truck began to shift hard when changing gears. It also demonstrated poor clutch response in combination with a clunk noise.

This condition was not very noticeable upon a cold start of the vehicle (when first starting and driving for a short way). Once the truck was fully warmed up the noise began to appear. Yesterday I took the day off and returned to the Toyota Dealer to get it looked at. After several hours of waiting, the dealer's service manager informed me that the transmission was bad (he said that there was something loose inside it). I am not sure that the dealer is actually at any fault in this, unless the transmission never had any fluid in it, and checking fluid levels being part of the responsibility of the dealer.

Actually I had suspected that the throw-out bearing was bad, it sounded sort of like that. The dealer has been OK in responding to the problem thus far, and has provided me with a loaner vehicle until the transmission is replaced with a new factory unit (in approximately three days). Now in a rightfully paranoid state of mind

Brent of King NC (9/4/03):
I bought a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. I have a leak in the floor. I've took it back twice but they can't find it. I want a new truck -- I can't help it that they can't find the leak, I can't find it either but it was a brand-new vehicle. I paid $23,000 cash, there was nothing wrong with my money. There shouldn't be anything wrong with the truck.

Ed of San Mateo CA (8/8/03):
I bought a 2003 Toyota Tacoma 4x4, extended cab in April of 2003. After about 3000 miles, the transmission developed a strange noise after the truck is driven 40 miles on the highway. After exiting the highway and getting into street driving, there is a terrible grinding/meshing/bearing noise from the transmission when accelerating in first gear from a stop and in 2nd gear at speeds from 15mph - 18mph (note, 15mph is the shift speed suggested by Toyota in their owner's manual). The noise is worse when the truck is under load (starting off on a hill, for example).

The dealer has heard the noise and Toyota is making them say it is a "characteristic". The technician does NOT think the noise is normal and thinks there is a miscut/miscast gear in the transmission. But his supervisor and Toyota will not let him investigate. Why won't they trust their technician? He is a Master Tech, which means Toyota has vetted his skills and expertise. I won't drive the truck anymore and so it sits, a $24,000 mistake in my driveway.

Lost my investment in the vehicle in a matter of 4 months instead of 5 or 6 years. A total waste of money and the truck could only be used for short (20 mile) trips. Not to mention time wasted on 2 trips to the dealer to get the problem dealt with and numerous calls to Toyota corporate to get assistance (they just toss it back to the dealer, a big circle).

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