2020 Toyota Tacoma Transmission Problems

Your 2020 Tacoma's automatic transmission torque converter is causing a vibration or shudder when you're driving at steady speeds between 30-40 mph. This rough feeling makes the ride less smooth and can be distracting, especially on highways or in traffic. Your Toyota dealer couldn't find the issue on a previous visit, but you've now found similar complaints from other owners. The fix will likely involve inspecting and servicing or replacing the torque converter lock-up system.

Your 2020 Tacoma's V6 engine may develop a defect in the cylinder head that triggers a check engine light. If you continue driving with this warning ignored, the engine could fail completely, leaving you stranded on the road with no power. The fix will require replacing the cylinder head at a dealership.

Your Tacoma's automatic transmission is vibrating or shuddering during steady-speed cruising, particularly on highways or in traffic. A Toyota dealership confirmed the issue is likely related to the torque converter not locking up properly, though no warning lights appeared and diagnostic tests didn't find error codes. The vibration developed after routine maintenance and affects ride smoothness and your confidence while driving. Fixing this will likely involve transmission fluid service, torque converter inspection, or potentially transmission repair or replacement.

Your truck has experienced two separate acceleration issues: sudden unintended acceleration at highway speeds that required hard braking to stop, and multiple instances where the engine RPMs increase when you try to accelerate but the vehicle doesn't actually speed up. The second issue has occurred about 5 times over 18 months, and in one case you couldn't accelerate at all until you pulled over, shifted to Park, and back to Drive. Your Toyota dealer has been unable to reproduce or fix either problem despite multiple service visits.

Your truck's throwout bearing (a clutch component) failed prematurely and caused harsh shifting and difficulty engaging gears while merging into traffic, creating a safety risk. The repair required replacing both the throwout bearing and pressure plate, but the new throwout bearing is now making noise and showing similar wear patterns on its shaft. This appears to be a recurring issue at low mileage that may require replacing the throwout bearing assembly and inspecting the clutch system components.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.