RoadVitals

2009 Toyota Tacoma Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
47
Latest Jun 21, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 518 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Toyota Tacoma submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 47 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

The 25 most recent of 47, in the owner's own words

Body & structureTransmission
Filed Jun 21, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FOOT REST NEXT TO THE CLUTCH SNAPPED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE PIECE THAT CAME OFF, FELL BEHIND THE HER FOOT, CAUSING A DISRUPTION IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 19,200. UPDATED 07/17/12*LJ

NHTSA ID
10462618
Incident
Jun 9, 2012
Mileage
19,200 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Jul 20, 2011

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED FOR EXAMPLE AT A RED LIGHT THE VEHICLE RPM WILL INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE WILL THEN LURCH FORWARD. FORTUNATELY MY FOOT IN ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY TOYOTA REGIONAL REPS AS A WHINING NOISE FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL AT 50 TO 70 MPH. TAKEN BACK 3 TIMES TO DEALER THEY SAY ITS NORMAL BUT I KNOW IT IS NOT. THESE MAY BE 2 SEPARATE ISSUES BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT TOYOTA MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS TO GET WARRANTY REPAIRS AND IN ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR ITS LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE IN FIXING ITS VEHICLES UNTIL PEOPLE GET INJURED. *KB

NHTSA ID
10413688
Incident
Jul 20, 2010
Mileage
29,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 20, 2010

2009 TOYOTA TACOMA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM LOW SPEED. THIS OCCURS AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MPH. WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE REVS UP BETWEEN 500 AND 2000 RPM BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE. I REPORTED THIS SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE AND ALL THE TACOMA TRANSMISSIONS DID THIS AND IT WAS NORMAL. THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS AND I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER IF TOYOTA HAS A FIX FOR IT EVERY TIME I TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND I AM TOLD THERE IS NO FIX AND THE TRANSMISSION IS WORKING CORRECTLY EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID HE GET NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER TACOMA OWNER. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND I AM UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350822
Incident
Aug 19, 2010
Mileage
15,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 8, 2010

BOUGHT A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA NEW. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS HAS ACTED STRANGE AT LOW SPEEDS FROM DAY ONE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, THEN ACCELERATE THE ENGINE REVS UP AND THE TRANSMISSIONS TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO ENGAGE INTO GEAR. THIS IS A DEFINITE HAZARD WHEN IT COMES TO ON COMING TRAFFIC. WENT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE!!!! IF THIS IS NORMAL, THIS WILL BE MY LAST TOYOTA. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE TOYOTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID
10348055
Incident
May 30, 2009
Transmission
Filed May 10, 2010

2009 TACOMA 4 CYL. 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANS 4 X4. CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AT 5000 MILES, AT 15,000 SLIPPING BADLY. BROUGHT TO DEALER WHO REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AS A WARRANTY ISSUE. DEALER WANTED AUTHORIZATION FOR REPAIR COSTS OF $480 -$1000 BEFORE THEY WOULD DISASSEMBLE AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF A DEFECT EXISTS.DEALER IS LOOKING FOR A BLANK CHECK, ONLY TO CALL THE DEFECT A WEAR ISSUE AND CHARGE CUSTOMER FOR REPAIR RATHER THAN ACCEPT A LOWER WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT FROM TOYOTA. DRIVER HAS HAD 4 PREVIOUS TOYOTAS AND ALL HAD MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS . VEHICLES LOGGED BETWEEN 161,000 AND 191,000 MILES AND NEVER NEEDED A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10329802
Incident
May 31, 2009
Mileage
5,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 22, 2010

'09 TOYOTA TACOMA. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. DROPS INTO FIRST GEAR AND LURCHES WHEN TURNING A CORNER. TRUCK TRANSMISSION FEELS OUT OF CONTROL AT APEX OF TURN IN AN INTERSECTION. NOT SAFE FOR FOOT TRAFFIC OR OTHER VEHICLES IN THE INTERSECTION. DEALERSHIP SAYS TRANSMISSION IS OK. MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON EDMONDS.COM FORUM. TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10326940
Incident
Mar 13, 2010
Mileage
1,500 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 23, 2010

NOTE: THE DATE GIVEN IS FOR THE FIRST OF SEVERAL INCIDENTS. VEHICLE: 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA; 4 CYL. AUTO TRANS. WHEN ASCENDING MOUNTAIN PASSES, IN DRIVE, LETTING OFF ON GAS AS SUMMIT IS REACHED, VEHICLE ACCELERATES OVER SUMMIT AND CONTINUES ACCELERATION. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DROP THE RPM BY REPEATEDLY HITTING BRAKE AND THEN TAPPING GAS. THIS LOWERS THE RPM AND PUTS TRANSMISSION BACK INTO HIGHEST GEAR. THIS IS A COMPUTER OR ELECTRONIC PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED THE SAME WAY SEVERAL TIMES, OVER A FEW THOUSAND MILES AND SEVERAL MONTHS. I NOW MAKE THE ASCENT IN THIRD, SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AT THE SUMMIT, WITH NO PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, LITHIA TOYOTA IN KLAMATH FALLS OR, AND WAS TOLD "THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO ADJUST TO YOUR DRIVING STYLE", BUT IT STILL HASN'T HAPPENED. TOYOTA IS STONEWALLING, AND TELLING THE DEALERS TO DO THE SAME. THERE ARE DOZENS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT TACOMAS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10313477
Incident
Aug 28, 2009
Mileage
900 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 22, 2010

I BROUGHT A 2009/TACOMA PRERUNNER /ACC CAB 4X2 V6-AND IT HAS ABOUT 18,500 MILES. MY COMPLIANT IS WHEN YOU PUT THIS VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AT A RED LIGHT OR WHEN YOU STOP AND THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE---THE TRANSMISSION SPINS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN IT TAKE OFF. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NEURAL WITH THIS VEHICLE. IT?S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A NEUTRAL THING. MY OTHER TACOMA 2007 DID NOT DO THIS AT ALL. I FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. TO ME IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE THE VEHICLE IS NATURAL/PARK AND THEN YOU PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE GOES NO-WHERE FOR A FEW SECOND AND THEN IT TAKE OFF VERY FAST. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOK IN TO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BRING IN MY VEHICLE FOR TEST AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. MAYBE I AM NOT EXPLAINING WELL ENOUGH FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND --HOWEVER, PLEASE CALL ME AN I CAN EXPLAIN BETTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10312921
Incident
Feb 20, 2009
Mileage
11,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Feb 19, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON A HILL WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS AND THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND DUPLICATED THE FAILURE; YET, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17311. UPDATED 03/19/2010. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR. UPDATED 07/19/10*JB

NHTSA ID
10312014
Incident
Jul 15, 2009
Mileage
6,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 14, 2010

FROM A COMPLETE STOP I TURNED RIGHT AND ACCELERATED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT CAUSING THE TRUCK TO NEARLY STOP. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT PAUSE, THE TRANSMISSION FOUND A GEAR AND THE TRUCK ACCELERATED FORWARD. MY BRAKES STOPPED THE TRUCK AND I DROVE IT TO MY DEALER. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE SO FAR. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE TOYOTA NATIONAL HOTLINE GAVE ME A CLAIM NUMBER AND CALLED MY DEALER TO MAKE SURE THEY LOOK AT MY PROBLEM. WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS COMPUTER PROBLEM AND IS WORKING ON A "FIX". I JUST HOPE IT DOES NOT TAKE AS LONG AS THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10310353
Incident
Feb 5, 2010
Mileage
3,465 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 9, 2010

TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2009 (TACOMA SR5, 4X4, ACCESS CAB, 4L, V6, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, TOWING PACKAGE). WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE WILL REV UP TO 5000 RPM. MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AND I AM NOT SLAMMING ON THE BRAKE. WHEN I SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, THE REVVING STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN TWO DAYS, NOT EVERY TIME I STOP. THE TRUCK HAS 3900 MILES ON IT. AFTER THE THIRD TIME, I DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THEY DID A "SYSTEM HEALTH CHECK" AND THE TEST CAME BACK OK. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONDITION IN THE TIME THEY HAD THE VEHICLE. I LEFT THE VEHICLE THERE FOR A TECHNICIAN TO DRIVE TO SEE IF HE/SHE CAN REPLICATE THE CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10307999
Incident
Feb 8, 2010
Mileage
3,900 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 5, 2010

I PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA TACOMA SR5 PICKUP 8/27/09. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED A PROBLEM WHEN I SLOWED DOWN AT SPEED BUMPS AND TO TURN CORNERS AND THEN STARTED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE THEN SURGE FORWARD. I CAN STOP THE HESITATION SOMEWHAT BY VERY LIGHTLY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AFTER I SLOW DOWN AND THEN SLOWLY ACCELERATING. IF I FORGET TO VERY LIGHTLY ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD FOLLOWING THE HESITATION. ONE TIME THIS SURGE AS I TURNED A CORNER ALMOST TOOK ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES LOCALLY WHO TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA, WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD BY THEIR COMPLAINT CENTER THAT IT WAS TOYOTA'S POSITION THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING NORMALLY. I FEEL THAT THIS TENDENCY, WHICH HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS AT ONLINE SITES SUCH AS EDMUNDS.COM, IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED IN A RECALL. THIS SITUATION OCCURS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND REQUIRES VERY CAREFUL CONCENTRATION TO AVOID A SUDDEN AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE SURGE IN SPEED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AND NO RESPONSE OTHER THAN TO DENY MY COMPLAINT HAS BEEN TAKEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10306696
Incident
Sep 28, 2009
Mileage
100 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 12, 2010

IN AUGUST OF 2009 I PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA TACOMA. AFTER A WEEK OR SO I NOTICED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AND SLIPPED WHEN YOU DECELERATE THAN ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND STALLS THE VEHICLE WHILE IT TRIES TO FIND AN APPROPRIATE GEAR TO MOVE FORWARD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE TECH SAID THIS IS NORMAL FOR NEW TACOMA'S. THIS IS A HAZARD AND WILL GET SOMEBODY KILLED BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MERGE INTO TRAFFIC UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10299565
Incident
Sep 17, 2009
Mileage
200 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Nov 23, 2009

WHILE IN CRUISE AT 70MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY,VEHICLE SHIFTS DOWN FROM DRIVE TO SECOND. THUS REDLINING THE ENGINE.BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF TOYOTA AND THEIR ANSWER WAS,"VEHICLE IS OPERATING PROPERLY AND IS DOING WHAT IT IS DESIGNED TO DO". SO THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THEY HAVE DESIGNED A VEHICLE THAT IS DESIGNED TO SHIFT DOWN TO SECOND, NOT THIRD AT 70MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10293233
Incident
Jun 18, 2009
Mileage
200 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 11, 2009

2009 TOYOTA TACOMA W/AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AFTER DECELERATING BELOW 20 MPH TO ACCOMMODATE TRAFFIC OR TO MAKE A TURN THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE WITH TRAFFIC OR OUT OF THE TURN. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SEARCH FOR THE CORRECT GEAR FOR 2 - 3 SECONDS BEFORE RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WILL SOMEONE NEED TO DIE AFTER BEING STRUCK BROADSIDE TRYING TO COME OUT OF A TURN BEFORE TOYOTA IS FORCED TO RESPOND TO THIS PROBLEM? *TR

NHTSA ID
10291856
Incident
Nov 11, 2009
Mileage
150 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Nov 3, 2009

2009 TOYOTA TACOMA 4X4 CREW PICKUP TRUCK WITH AUTO TRANSMISSION AND V6 ENGINE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY TO OVER 80 MPH, THEN LATER ON THE SAME TRIP IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS ON A LONG STRAIGHT STRETCH OF INTERSTATE THE SECOND TIME SO I ALLOWED THE TRUCK TO ACCELERATE TO APPROXIMATELY 95 MPH AT WHICH TIME I STOPPED THE TRUCK AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I HAD DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL DUE TO A SLOWER CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND WHEN I ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL RESUME FEATURE THE TRUCK ACCELERATED 15 MPH PAST THE PRESET SPEED AT WHICH TIME I TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AND REGAINED CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THE SECOND TIME THAT IT HAPPENED THE TRUCK WAS AGAIN IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE AND WAS GOING UP A LONG HILL. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION DOWN AND ACCELERATED TO MAINTAIN SET SPEED THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE PAST 95 MPH AND WAS ONLY STOPPED BY TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN. I ALLOWED THE TRUCK TO GET TO THAT SPEED TO SEE IF IT WOULD DISCONTINUE ACCELERATING BUT CHICKENED OUT AT 95 MPH BECAUSE IT IS AFTER ALL A TRUCK. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE SELLING DEALER, HE TRIED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AGAIN WITH NO SUCCESS (TOLD ME HE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT BUT COULD NOT DO THAT UNLESS HE COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE CHANGE OUT) AND IT HAS NOT HAPPENED BUT ONE MORE TIME. 4 THINGS SEEM TO BE COMMON: 1. THE CRUISE IS TURNED ON. 2. THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTS. 3. THE TRANSMISSION HAS AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTED. 4. THE PROBLEM IS HALTED BY TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD THE DEALER DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM SINCE HE WOULD NOT FIX IT. I HOPE THIS INFO HELPS IN YOUR CONTINUING INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA SEEMS TO BE HAVING. I AM NOT A DISGRUNTLED CUSTOMER, I HAVE PURCHASED A 2010 COROLLA FROM THE SAME DEALER SINCE THE INCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290758
Incident
Jul 15, 2009
Mileage
2,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 22, 2009

WHEN RE-ACCELERATING AFTER A LOW SPEED TURN MY 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA REVS HIGH BUT DOES NOT GO ANYWHERE. AFTER A SECOND OR SO IT RETURNS TO A NORMAL RPM AND THEN IS IN GEAR TO DRIVE NORMALLY. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF CARS WERE APPROACHING IN A FAST MANNER, THE TRUCK WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10289433
Incident
Apr 17, 2009
Mileage
7 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 22, 2009

1. NEW VEHICLE--PROBLEM BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES. 2. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 SECONDS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH--TACHOMETER INDICATES ENGINE SPEED REACHES APPROXIMATELY 3000 RPM BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION REENGAGES WITH A JERK SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE REAR WHEEL SLIP ON WET ASPHALT PAVEMENT. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT ALMOST EVERY INSTANCE WHEN I SLOW TO APPROXIMATELY 10MPH FOR A TURN. THIS PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY VERY COMMON FOR MY VEHICLE MAKE /MODEL--THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTS ON VARIOUS INTERNET SITES UNDER THE HEADING "2009 TOYOTA TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS". THIS PROBLEM, IF NOT RESOLVED, WILL LIKELY CAUSE MANY ACCIDENTS DURING THE APPROACHING WINTER MONTHS. 3. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AT 4018 MILES (08/12/09)--SERVICE MANAGER TEST DROVE VEHICLE, REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND STATED "IF CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT IS NOT ON, THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE". *TR

NHTSA ID
10289426
Incident
Oct 2, 2009
Mileage
3,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 16, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE FAILED. HE THEN ADDED THAT THERE WAS NOT AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ON 10/16/09 AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE A RESPONSE WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,100. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

NHTSA ID
10288659
Incident
Jul 16, 2009
Mileage
1,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 2, 2009

THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IS WHEN I SLOW DOWN TO GO AROUND A CURVE OR DECELERATE FOR ANY REASON IT DOES A HARD DOWN SHIFT AND THEN WHEN I PROCEED TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR THE TRUCK ACTS LIKE IT IS SEARCHING FOR WHAT GEAR IT SHOULD BE IN, AT THE SAME TIME THE RPM IS INCREASING (ENGINE STARTS TO RACE) AND FINALLY THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES FORWARD AND GOES INTO GEAR. IF YOU ARE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR CROSSING A BUSY HIGHWAY THIS IS VERY UNNERVING AND IN MY OPINION A SAFETY ISSUE AND AN ACCIDENT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NEW TECHNOLOGY AND THAT I HAD TO GET USED TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10286141
Incident
Oct 1, 2009
Mileage
3,379 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 1, 2009

I PURCHASED A 2009 TACOMA DOUBLE CAB SR5 4X4 AUTO IN JUNE OF 2009. IT NOW HAS 9000KMS. EVER SINCE NEW I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS STRANGELY AND SOMEWHAT UNPREDICTABLY. WHEN I AM DRIVING AT APPROX 18KM/H AND PRESS THE ACCELERATOR (TO ACCELERATE OR CONTINUE SAME SPEED) THE TRUCK USUALLY DROPS INTO 1ST GEAR AND STAYS THERE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE GOING BACK INTO SECOND GEAR. THIS CAUSES A "LURCHING" AS IT SHOULD NOT BE JUMPING TO 1ST. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND I HAVE DRIVEN MANY, MANY AUTOMATICS, INCLUDING TOYOTAS, AND THEY DO NOT DO THIS. I HAD A 2001 TACOMA BEFORE PURCHASING THIS NEW ONE AND IT DID NOT DO THIS. ALSO, WHEN YOU SHIFT THE TRUCK FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE, AND IMMEDIATELY PRESS THE GAS, IT IS ALMOST LIKE THE TRUCK HESITATES, THEN LURCHES FORWARD VIOLENTLY. SOMETIMES CAUSING WHEELSPIN. IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE THERE IS NO POWER FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS THEN IT SUDDENLY HITS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE DANGEROUS AS THEY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN IN TRAFFIC THIS IS NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285902
Incident
Jul 23, 2009
Mileage
1,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 29, 2009

2009 TACOMA, 5 SPD. AUTO TRANSMISSION. SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF OWNING THIS CAR (NOW AT 2400 MILES) THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN YOU ACCELERATE AFTER SLOWING PROBABLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR (10-15MPH). THE TACH WILL GO UP BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE AND YOU JUST END UP COASTING INTO A TURN OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THIS HAS OCCURRED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS POSES A DANGEROUS CONDITION DUE TO THE HESITATION AND SHOULD NOT BE AN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285634
Incident
Aug 25, 2009
Mileage
136 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 24, 2009

2009 TOYOTA TACOMA; BE AFRAID, DO NOT BUY IT AS IT HAS TRANSMISSION TROUBLES THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT LIVE UP TO. TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE ISSUE!!!! I PULLED OUT FROM A STOP WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED THEN CAUGHT JUST IN TIME FOR ME TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. I THOUGHT FOR SURE I WAS GOING TO BE T-BONED. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING BACK. I HAVE THIS TRUCK 6 MONTHS. I WAS SO EXCITED TO FINALLY OWN A HIGH END TOYOTA. SINCE TOYOTA "HAD" SUCH A GOOD NAME. I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THERE ARE NO GOOD VEHICLES OUT THERE TO BUY........ HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0DE869 HERE ARE MORE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF BY TOYOTA. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE THERE IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR A DEATH DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285178
Incident
Aug 2, 2009
Mileage
5,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 21, 2009

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2010 TOYOTA TACOMA WITH A 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN I SLOW DOWN FOR A RIGHT TURN (OR BRAKE FOR ANY OTHER REASON) AND THEN ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP INTO NEUTRAL AND FAILS TO RESPOND FOR A SECOND OR TWO. THIS PROBLEM MAKES MERGING INTO MOVING TRAFFIC VERY HAZARDOUS. WHEN I WENT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL" FOR THE 2009 AND 2010 TACOMA AND NO REPAIR WAS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10284767
Incident
Sep 12, 2009
Mileage
240 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 14, 2009

TRANSMISSION SLIPS GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THIS PROBLEM OCCURS EVERYTIME I ACCELERATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283938
Incident
Aug 20, 2009
Mileage
200 mi

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