MY TRANSMISSION ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. IT DOESN'T SHIFT WHEN IT SHOULD OR IT DOWNSHIFTS WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. WHEN I AM USING CRUISE CONTROL IT'S STAYS IN LOW GEARS WAY TO LONG AND REEVES THE ENGINE VERY HIGH. ONCE I TAKE IT OFF CRUISE CONTROL IT GETS BETTER BUT STILL ISN'T RIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2018.
2018 toyota Tacoma powertrain problems
moderate 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
MY 2018 TOYOTA TACOMA PICK UP TRUCK WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY HAS A SKIP OR HESITATION THAT RANDOMLY HAPPENS IT'S LIKE A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE IT'S MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN I HAUL MY CAMPING TRAILER UP HILLS TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE LAST TIME THE SENIOR TECH TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE AS L HAD EXPLAINED THE REPORT SAYS HE CALL…
WHILE DRIVING UNDER VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TRUCK WILL VIOLENTLY JOLT FORWARD. A STOP CONTROL MALFUNCTION WARNING APPEARS, THE TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE. THE TRUCK WILL IMMEDIATELY ENTER LIMP MODE WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE TRUCK TO SHIFT ABOVE 3/4TH GEAR. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED 8 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PURCHASED AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIRS UN…
VEHICLE SURGES BETWEEN 40-50MPH, VEHICLE HE A 4 SOD AUTOMATIC WITH 2 ELECTRONIC OVERDRIVES, MONRONEY LABEL STATED 6SPD AUTOMATIC. VEHICLE STICKS IN IT LAST GEAR 4TH SOMETIMES LOCK IN 1ST OD RPMS ARE HIGH, MILEAGE IS 4 MPG LESS THAN LISTED. VEHICLE STUTTERS, DOESN'T ACCELERATE WELL WHEN TRANSMISSION LOCKS
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2018 toyota Tacoma?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 25 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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