2009 Toyota Tacoma Power Train

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that while pulling into the driveway, the transmission suddenly disengaged causing the vehicle to stall. The contact turned off the vehicle and noticed that transmission fluid was leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission line had rusted through causing the transmission failure. The transmission line was replaced; however, the forward gears remained inoperable. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, IT FEELS LIKE A "THUD" UNDER THE VEHICLE AND/OR GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND. I NOTICED THIS ON A RARE OCCASION STARTING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BUT IT SEEMS TO NOW HAPPEN MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.

TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP OR SLIDE AS ONE COMES TO A STOP, IT FEELS LIKE ONE IS GETTING BUMPED FROM BEHIND.

DRIVESHAFT AND UNIVERSAL JOINT PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT - ZH2" FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL, AS THE CONDITION CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN DRIVESHAFT FAILURE, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND DEATH. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO ALSO EXTEND TO THE CENTER BEARING AND POSSIBLY THE DRIVESHAFT ITSELF, AS I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR SERVICE UNDER WARRANTY, AND STILL HAVE VIBRATION ISSUES EVEN AFTER THE WARRANTIED PARTS (AND CENTER SUPPORT BEARING AT SIGNIFICANT EXTRA COST) WERE REPLACED. THIS VIBRATION BEGINS AROUND 40 MPH AND INCREASES THROUGH 60 MPH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND MAY SUSTAIN A SUDDEN DRIVESHAFT FAILURE FROM IMPROPER REMEDIATION OF THIS ISSUE UNDER THE ZH2 CAMPAIGN.

REAR WHEEL BEARINGS GRINDING WHILE DRIVING.

AFTER GOING IN REVERSE THEN STOPPING AND PLACING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP, I WOULD ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOTHING BUT REV UP AND THEN IT WILL FINALLY ENGAGE.

AS SOON AS I CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I NOTICED AND FELT A THUMP COMING FROM UNDERNEATH AND TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IT DOES NOT DO IT EVERY TIME BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY... UPDATED 09/30/15*BF UPDATED 11/01/2017*CN

BOUGHT A 2009 TOYOTA TACOMA NEW. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, THEN ACCELERATE THE ENGINE REVS UP TO 3,000 RPMS AND THE TRANSMISSIONS TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO ENGAGE INTO GEAR. THIS IS A DEFINITE HAZARD WHEN IT COMES TO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, UPON REACHING 35 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SHAKE FOR ABOUT TWO TO THREE SECONDS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE COMPUTER AND AFTER HAVING THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY THERE IS A TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKUP PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TSB DOES NOT PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA IS DELIBERATELY TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO NOT HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IF THIS IS HAPPENING IN OTHER VEHICLES THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE VEHICLES MILEAGE IS WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS. TOYOTA WILL GENERALLY STAND BY THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL AND THESE ARE THE VEHICLES MY FAMILY HAS EVER PURCHASED. HOWEVER, WE WILL DEFINITELY NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA AGAIN. *TR

CLUTCH SLIPS GOING UP HILL. YOU HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN GOING UP HILL. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, I NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK NUDGES OR SLIGHTLY MOVES WHILE AT A STOP, BRAKE ON AND ENGINE RUNNING. WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED IT NUDGES AGAIN. I AM UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE OR A BRAKE ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN TO TOYOTA ON NUMBER OF TIMES. NOTHING DONE. ONE COMMENT FROM TOYOTA ONLINE WAS THIS IS THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT YEAR TRANSMISSION. FUNNY, IT DID NOT DO THIS WHEN PURCHASED. NOW I CANT SELL IT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE FROM TOYOTA. ANOTHER FIND ONLINE FROM OTHERS WAS THAT THIS IS A DRIVE LINE WRAP. SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT WHILE UNDER LOAD. THE TRUCK RUNS GREAT AND I DO NOT EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES WITH THE SHIFTING OR DRIVE-ABILITY OF THE TRANSMISSION WHILE MOVING. NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED LAST MONTH AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO DIMINISH. IT IS NOW BACK TO THE SAME PATTERN...AT EVERY STOP. CAN YOU ASSIST WITH ANY SOLUTIONS? I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT FIXED. HOPEFULLY BY TOYOTA ON THEIR NICKEL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AT FREEWAY SPEEDS GRINDING NOISE FROM DRIVELINE UPON DECELERATION. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK/LOCKUP. DEALERSHIP HAD THE TRUCK FOR 2 WEEKS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY OPENED A SERVICE TICKET WITH TOYOTA AND EVENTUALLY A FIELD SERVICE TECH CAME TO DIAGNOSE THE TRUCK. HE DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT STATING "NO ABNORMAL NOISE HEARD DURING OPERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NO FURTHER REPAIRS AUTHORIZED". I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY TOLD ME "WE STAND BEHIND OUR TECHS". TCC WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH THE FIELD SERVICE TECH?!? I EXPRESSED MY FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT TO TCC TO NO AVAIL. WHY WOULD THE DEALER BE SO CONCERNED ABOUT MY TRUCK BUT TOYOTA BLEW IT OFF? I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH TOYOTA. *TR

MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH DIFFICULT ENGAGING. SLIPPING FEELING IN FORWARD GEARS AND REVERSE. THE CENTER SECTION OF THE CLUTCH DISK HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE FRICTION MATERIAL SECTION OF THE CLUTCH DISK. DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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

'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

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

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

DURING SLOWING DOWN AND COASTING AROUND 10-20 MPH TRANSMISSION NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND RIGHT GEAR AND PRESSING ON ACCELERATOR REVS ENGINE LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL NOT RESPONDING. WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIP WORKSHOP I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE THAT IS COMMON PROBLEM FOR TACOMA AND THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT. CONTACTED TOYOTA USA CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO SET ME APPOINTMENT WITH DEALERSHIP MANAGER WHO SAID ALL CAR NEEDS IS RESETTING AND FOR CAR "RELEARNING" BUT PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. *TR

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

I AM REPORTING AN INCIDENT I HAD WITH MY 2009 TOYOTA TOCOMA PICKUP TRUCK. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP. I ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AS WELL, AND SHIFTEDINTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE, UNTIL I REPEATEDLY PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR AND IT SLOWED BACK DOWN. A TRIP TO THE DEALER (COBB COUNTY TOYOTA, KENNESAW GA) REVEALED NOTHING. THE FLOOR MAT WAS STILL FASTENED BY ITS HOOKS, AND WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS OCCURED ON JANUARY 14, 2009 WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 2,100 MILES ON IT. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT THERE WERE TWO TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO SHIFT GEARS UNTIL IT WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. THESE INCIDENTS WERE ALSO UNSOLVED BY THE LOCAL DEALER. *TR