2020 Toyota Tacoma Powertrain & Transmission Problems

Toyota has a manufacturing defect going on with their v6 in Gen 3Tacoma's. I have a 2020 Limited with 48,200 miles that needs a new cylinder head. It threw a check engine light on me, and luckily enough I took it to the dealership within about 30 miles, otherwise my engine could have exploded. I have videos from the dealership inspection that I cannot attach here. I have since found via the error code a history of these issues on newer trucks. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] I believe that this issue could pose serious safety issues for someone who is not as immediate on stopping driving, as it was just a check engine light. If you were to drive on this light down the highway, and have catastrophic failure, the Tacoma becomes a completely unpowered hazard. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Vehicle accelerated on its own at highway speed, had to hit the brake in order for it to stop accelerating. Other more common issue is that vehicle RPMs go up when trying to accelerate but vehicle does not accelerate, just RPMs go up. This happened about 5 times over the past year and a half. Most noticeable time was where I couldn’t accelerate after at all until I pulled over and put it in park. Then back to drive again and worked fine. This car has been brought over to Lia Toyota of rockland numerous times with this second issue and they can never duplicate nor fix the problem

I am having same issue as the incident i found here 12/06/2025, LISTED UNDER COMPLAINTS-I live in Rio Rancho NM- Concern it involves the automatic transmission torque converter specifically torque-converter lock-up behavior, The issue presents as a vibration/shudder during steady -speed driving , we are driving around 30-40 miles per hour when it happens, The vehicle remains in my possession and is available for inspection upon request. The vibration/shudder occurs during steady cruising at moderate speeds which affects vehicle smoothness and driver confidence, while no accident has occurred yet, the behavior is unexpected and distracting and could impact safe vehicle operation, particularly during highway driving or when maintaining steady speed in traffic, I Took it to my Toyota dealer a few months ago they said they could not find any issues, I am taking it again tomorrow and now I CAN SHOW THEM THAT I FOUND THE SAME ISSUE UNDER COMPLAINTS, I NEED TO TOYOTA TO FIX MY ISSUE ASAP,

The concern involves the automatic transmission torque converter, specifically torque-converter lock-up behavior. The issue presents as a vibration/shudder during steady-speed driving. The vehicle remains in my possession and is available for inspection upon request. The vibration/shudder occurs during steady cruising at moderate speeds, which affects vehicle smoothness and driver confidence. While no accident occurred, the behavior is unexpected and distracting and could impact safe vehicle operation, particularly during highway driving or when maintaining steady speed in traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The concern has been reported to and evaluated by a Toyota dealership. Diagnostic checks did not produce fault codes, but the symptoms are consistent with torque-converter lock-up issues that occur without triggering warning lights or diagnostic trouble codes. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by a Toyota dealership service department. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives, as no accident or collision occurred. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lights or messages were displayed. The primary symptom was a noticeable vibration/shudder during steady-speed driving, which began after the vehicle was purchased in July and after routine dealer-performed maintenance. The condition developed without advance warning indicators.

Throwout bearing premature failure. Saftey was put at risk with harsh shifting and potential transmission failure while merging into traffic due to not going into gear. Was brought to a shop to install a new TOB and had to replace my pressure plate as well due to wear. TOB is now doing something similar causing noises due to wear on the shaft it rides on. This is a very very common problem and should be addressed as a failure point especially for what little milage is on the truck.

While driving my Tacoma truck it has gone into "limp mode" (looses power and you can get but about 25mph) when I have pulled out into traffic 5 times over the last 3 years. I took it to a Toyota dealership on 4/28/2023 for evaluation but no codes where found to indicate a problem. When the truck goes into limp mode I pull over and cut the engine off. I immediately turn the engine back on and the truck operates normally. I know this is a protective system but if you are pulling out into traffic and the truck goes into limp mode for no good reason, it could result in an accident. In addition, the trucks computer system is not registering the event. I haven't noticed any warning lamps, messages prior to the failure. I did notice that the truck shuck prior to going into limp mode.

Fluid weeping/leaking/staining on differential housing

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving 79 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that an unknown software update was performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Tacoma. The contact stated while driving up a hill and whenever the accelerator pedal was released, the vehicle started to roll backward. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Upon picking up the vehicle, the contact stated that the failure recurred while driving up a hill. The contact then took the vehicle back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with the engine not getting enough oil causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 7,800.

2020 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD SPORT, TRANSMISSION LURKS FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL A LITTLE HARDER THAN NORMAL TO KEEP FROM LURKING. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO LOOSE POWER WHEN DOWN SHIFTING WHILE ACCELERATING (GOING AROUND A CORNER). THE TRUCK ALSO SEEMS LIKE ITS HUNTING FOR A GEAR AROUND THE 35MPH OR 43 MPH, ON FLAT SURFACE, GOING DOWN HILL, OR GOING UP HILL. THIS ALSO HAPPENS ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE GOING 65-70MPH, WHICH WOULD BE CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THIS FEELS LIKE ITS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT ALSO COULD BE AN ENGINE MISFIRE OF A SPARK PLUG OR SOMETHING. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS, PURCHASE DATE OF 9.11.2020.

WITH THE TRUCK WARMED UP: PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR TO ENTER TRAFFIC THE TRUCK JUST SAT THERE AND DID NOT MOVE THIS HAPPENED TWICE. THE ONLY WAY THE TRUCK WOULD MOVE WAS TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL SLOW AND ENTER THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AT REDUCED SPEED. WITH THE TRUCK WARMED UP: PUTTING THE TRUCK IN REVERSE AND PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE TRUCK DID NOTHING. TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL WHILE STILL IN REVERSE THE TRUCK LUNGED BACKWARDS. I HAD TO STOP THE TRUCK WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE TRUCK LUNGED BACKWARDS IN REVERSE TWICE WHILE GIVING IT GAS. WITH THE TRUCK WARMED UP: STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND LUNGED FORWARD I HAD TO STOP THE TRUCK WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BECAUSE IT WAS MOVING SO FAST AND I WAS NOT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL.

2020 TOYOTA TACOMA TRD OFF ROAD HAS SEVERE HESITATION ISSUES DURING WARM STARTUP. TRUCK CRANKS OVER FINE BUT DRAGS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE FIRING. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SOMETIMES THE STARTER SEEMS TO STICK AND MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. OTHER TIMES THERE IS AN AUDIBLE SINGLE CLICK/POP NOISE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PUSHING THE START BUTTON BUT THE TRUCK STILL STARTS. AFTER THE TRUCK IS STARTED IT WILL OCCASIONALLY IDLE ROUGH AND THE TACHOMETER WILL DIP LOW AND THE TRUCK WILL SHAKE SLIGHTLY AS IF THE TRUCK IS GOING TO STALL. TOYOTA CONTINUES TO DENY ANYTHING IS AMISS DESPITE ME PROVIDING VIDEO EVIDENCE AND DUPLICATING THE ISSUE IN FRONT OF THEM MYSELF. THEY CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO DO ANY REASONABLE AMOUNT OF WORK TO FIX MY VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. HERE IS A LINK TO VIDEOS OF THE ISSUE FOR REFERENCE OF THE SEVERITY: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/Z-W-FD8GZIU

WHEN I START VEHICLE A HISSING OR ELECTRIC SHOCK RATTLES AND SEEMS AS I START TO DRIVE THERE IS NO POWER AND 4 WD IS ON WHEN I BRAKE IT SKIPS MAKING TIRES JUMP.

VEHICLE STRUGGLES TO START WITH NORMAL STARTING PROCEDURES. VEHICLE'S IGNITION DELAYS NORMAL STARTING PROCEDURES SOMETIMES ALLOWING THE KEY TO BE HELD SYSTEMATICALLY FOR AN ABNORMAL PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE VEHICLE STARTING. IF VEHICLE FAILS TO START IN THE FIRST TRY WITHIN 3-5 SECONDS VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT START. THEN A SECOND ATTEMPT WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE. THIS IS NOT COMMON FOR A GAS ENGINE VEHICLE . WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THIS IS NORMAL FOR MOST LATE MODEL TACOMAS.