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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,139 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Toyota Tacoma drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2017 Toyota Tacoma Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #64

Mar 132024

Tacoma

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The Tacoma still has only 10,000 original miles. We yearly replace the oil when we have our annual vehicle inspection. The truck has been trouble since the beginning. Early on I noticed when going downhill, the automatic transmission seems to slip when applying the gas. I have taken the truck back to the dealer in Kona to be told that it is not part of the rear end differential recall some years ago. I asked them to make a notation of this should the transmission or rear end differential fail in the future. Recently, we received an informational letter from Toyota regarding something about a possible faulty high pressure fuel pump. I made an appointment at the dealer and since I was there asked them for tire rotation, oil change and annual vehicle inspection. I explained to the service writer that I still believe there is a rear end or transmission problem. At first, she said, the recall was never done and later said it was done. More importantly, I have been smelling gasoline when I exit the truck although I see no visible fuel on the ground. I believe that this is related to the fuel pump issue which I received the letter from you. I was told several hours after I dropped off the truck that the fuel smell was not related to the letter I received.

- Holualoa, HI, USA

problem #63

Jul 062023

Tacoma

  • miles
Transmission line was described by two auto mechanics (one from a Toyota dealership) as -??rusted out-?? and -??porous-??, -??low pressure/fluid-?? and -??needs to be fixed-??. I was totally unaware of the issue until I had to get my AC recharged. Note: this is a 2017 truck with 82,000 miles driven in Massachusetts. No warning lights went off.

- Marshfield, MA, USA

problem #62

Aug 312021

Tacoma

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that after shutting off the vehicle with the push-button keyless ignition, the vehicle was parked inside of the garage with the garage door remaining opened and the contact exited the vehicle. When the contact came back to the garage, he noticed that the vehicle was missing as it had reversed down the driveway inadvertently while the engine was off. However, the transmission gear shifter was on the drive position. The vehicle had crashed into two trees in the woods. No police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to a body shop and remained at the body shop, waiting for repairs to the front and rear passenger side doors, rear windshield, rear fender, and passenger side mirror. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

- Ashford, CT, USA

problem #61

Sep 012021

Tacoma

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

as vehicle was being shifted from reverse to drive the shift lever locked up in neutral ! ! !

- Palmyra, NY, USA

problem #60

Mar 092021

Tacoma

  • miles
I have been having several intermittent issue with the automatic transmission on my 2017 Tacoma TRD off Road with 43000 miles. Among them are as follows: It fails to shift correctly (hunting for gears) on the highway and hesitates to accelerate when needed, Also the transmission sometimes has a delayed engagement when putting it into reverse or drive from a standstill. The engine will rev up like it was in neutral then abruptly catch the reverse gear causing a loud and disturbing -??BANG-?? and even some tire spin on the pavement. I also intermittently experience a loud -??CLUNK-?? when slowing down to a stop in traffic as if the transmission is not downshifting properly from the higher gears to the lower ones and is forced to come to an abrupt halt. The dealer has performed a software update but this has not helped. The dealer also cannot replicate these problems because the issues are intermittent. I understand that a lot of 3-??rd generation Tacoma owners are experiencing the same exact issues but it seems that Toyota is not issuing a recall for some reason. I believe this is a potential safety hazard and should be addressed.

- Milford, CT, USA

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problem #59

Mar 032021

Tacoma

  • 35,865 miles
Every so often I heard a bang coming from the drivetrain while I'm driving and also when I put the truck on reverse the sound it's loud. I don't know it's a transmission problem or the joints with the differential. But it's getting bad. Also I have problems with the charging system and it was brought in and the day there is no problem but for some reason some times lights will come up out of the bue.

- Quebradillas, PR, USA

problem #58

Jan 222021

Tacoma

  • 23,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Idle surges. RPM surge while at park and it surges when about to drive from the parking

- Daly City, CA, USA

problem #57

Oct 302020

Tacoma

  • 36,000 miles
Transmission when in cold weather. Has a very slight thump when coming to a stop as if the transmission is not shifting down smoothly in gears. You sometimes hear and feel this thumb when driving around city streets. Not as much as when the weather is cold or at startup.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #56

Sep 252020

Tacoma

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine with gray smoke coming from the exhaust tips. The contact attempted to accelerate however, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact pulled off the roadway and the vehicle started shaking. The contact immediately turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to his residence. An independent mechanic inspected the vehicle at the residence and informed him that a section of the transmission transfer case was missing. The contact had the vehicle towed to rochester Toyota (48 farmington rd, rochester, nh 03867) where he was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Barrington, NH, USA

problem #55

Apr 182020

Tacoma

  • 37,300 miles
My truck stalled while driving. I looked up what could of caused this and find out I may have a crank position sensor that's malfunctioning causing my truck to stall.

- Mountlake Terrace, WA, USA

problem #54

Dec 232019

Tacoma

  • 16,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On one of my services I mentioned that I feel that the standard transmission was not shifting into 2nd gear very easy. Because it's new to me and it also has some kind of anti roll I thought maybe just wasn't working the pedal far enough or just missing it but it didn't seem smooth. My other concern was about shifting or thy lack of engaging in four week drive. Toyota agreed that there was a problem. They replaced the transmission and said here you go. Unfortunately the same problems are still occurring. My truck has been at maui Toyota for months now. They are now saying that they replaced the transmission and they agree that it's no better but tha it's in running condition. I have been told to all service honolulu where I have been basically left blind. I understand that there is a critical situation going on so I figured that has part to do with not getting any updates. Yesterday maui Toyota calls and informed me that they will have my truck towed on Tuesday. Very unprofessional and horrible customer service to say the least. I don't want a new transmission that acts like one they said was not right. I want a proper functioning vehicle that will last that's why this is my fourth Toyota truck.

- Pukalani, HI, USA

problem #53

Apr 172019

Tacoma

  • 17,614 miles
I started having problems with the vehicle shifting from 4th or 5th gear when attempting to reach highway speeds which in this area is 70 mph. The truck would stick and the rpms would go above 3000 RPM. I had Toyota of midland look at this on 03/07/19. In April I contacted Toyota corporate and told them of the problem and they assigned case #1904152129 and sent a corporate representative here on 04/24/19. The corporate rep, along with a local technician, hooked up a computer and rode with me and witnessed the shifting problem. The corporate rep. Said that this wasn't any fault of the vehicle and the local techinician said that his 2017 Tacoma was doing the same thing. On 01/22/2020 I brought my Tacoma in for it's 30K maintance and told the sevice writer about this issue again. The service writer said that he had experienced the same thing when he owned a 2017 & 2019 Tacoma, and remeded the problem when he traded for a 2020 Tacoma.. this is my families 5th Toyota vehicle; it will be my last Toyota.

- Midland, TX, USA

problem #52

Dec 162019

Tacoma

  • 21,000 miles
The vehicle surges when backing up in reverse and when taking foot off brake pedal in drive.

- Roselle Park, NJ, USA

problem #51

Jul 152019

Tacoma

  • 37,000 miles
Rear differential seeping and leaking after second repair and still not fixed. Also seeping from fill bolt rear differential, carrier gasket, and bottom stud and carrier bolt. It also pops when starting sometimes.

- Loomis, CA, USA

problem #50

Sep 012017

Tacoma

  • 10,110 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. While attempting to stop the vehicle, it began to jerk. The vehicle was taken to tustin Toyota (36 auto center dr, tustin, ca 92782, (714) 602-5311) where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed a software update. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed oil. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer a third time where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,110.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #49

May 132019

Tacoma

  • 15,000 miles
While entering the freeway, pressing the accelerator to merge, the truck stumbled as if lost all power for a full 4 to 5 seconds causing me to miss my chance to merge and pull over to the shoulder and wait for a clearing. It has done this several times but not this bad and this time I had my kids in the truck. There is a technical bulletin for this but my dealership will not perform it if they can't duplicate it.

- Norwalk, CA, USA

problem #48

Oct 052017

Tacoma

  • 15 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated that the six speed auto transmission failed to downshift properly. In addition, the transmission was slow to change over, there was an abnormal noise, and the vehicle lunged forward, which presented the risk of a potential crash. The failures occurred intermittently. Recently, while the vehicle was at a stop with the brake pedal depressed, it lunged forward while a passerby was walking in front of the vehicle. Capitol Toyota (765 capitol expressway auto mall, san jose, ca 95136, (408) 705-4707) was notified of the failure for more than two years and indicated that a software update may remedy the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified several times. The approximate failure mileage was 15.

- Spreckels, CA, USA

problem #47

Jan 012018

Tacoma

  • 100 miles
Transmission constant hunting/ shifting.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #46

Jan 032018

Tacoma

  • 5,000 miles
It doesn't track straight at 45+mph, under powered, cruise is lost shifts erratic an. 16-18mpg running 91oct....etc

- Bella Vista, AR, USA

problem #45

Jun 202017

Tacoma

  • 3,717 miles
Noticing that as I come to a stop at the last second the drivetrain seems to snap out of gear causing a very loud clunk at this point the vehicle seems to free wheel forward unsafely.. the jolt you get can be compared to putting the vehicle into gear at too high of an idol, which will cause premature wear and tear to your drivetrain. Also, the engine seems to surge at idol while in gear and if you aren't ready for it and you are parking behind something, you run the risk of hitting it.. I have addressed the drivetrain issue with the dealer, but they say they can't get this to happen for them. Very interesting considering there seems to be others with similar issues.

- Poughquag, NY, USA

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