Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Tacoma Gen 3 - Any Issues?

So I've had a Gen-1 (2000) and have a Gen-2 (2014), but have heard a lot of rumors about problems with the Gen-3 (2016 to present) model. I've been considering getting a new Tacoma (2022 or 23) but was curious what those more in the weeds than me on this have to say - Thanks!

The largest issue I've heard on the G3 is with an auto - it will hunt and shift a lot between 5/6 - looking for the "best" gear for mpg which ends up getting you not great mpg. A "tune" from many many tuners will solve this issue.

The 3.5 is a high strung motor - meaning it likes revs to make hp/tq

Basically a pretty good truck if you realize what it is and isn't. It isn't a full sized diesel and it isn't a commuter car.

I've been looking at them hard recently as I'm still truck shopping. Had a Toyota pick up and a Gen 1 in the past. I need just something decent to last a long time, be maneuverable and get me and my crap white tail and grouse hunting in WI/MI. So Taco size makes sense for me for logging road adventures. At most it would tow an aluminum walleye boat or side by side - well within the 6500-6800 tow rating. So I'm looking at a Tacoma, 2022, TRD Off-Road with a manual. Better rear gear (IMO) than the auto and of course, no hunting for 5/6.

2023 is the last of Gen 3 and Gen 4 is rumored, no more manual and a hybrid option if that's important to you. I'm thinking 22/23 is the one for me - last 20 years and worry then.

Have owned a 2005, 2009 2013, and currently a 2017.
I drive them for work and trade every hundred thousand miles, which is what my dealer prefers.
I really liked the 4.0 engine, but there is nothing wrong with the 3.5 with the exception that it does hunt for gears.
Nine have all been excellent.
Just do your maintenance.

Many 'Yota forums out there

here's one with lot's of info

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/3rd-gen-tacomas-2016.186/

Teal, yeah - the gear hunting between 5/6 is what I'd heard referred to.

Good article here:

https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/toyota-tacoma-tuner-automatic-transmission/

Thanks for the comments.

The only other thing I've heard is that the white color option - that's not a clear coat paint and it comes off easily. Sorta like the old Chevy hoods in the late 80's early 90's - people complain, Toyota isn't doing anything about it. I'd probably look elsewhere for a color. Might be BS - don't know but I've seen it mentioned more than once.

That's strange! That would have been my 1st choice with Silver second. I had a friend with one of those late 80's white Chevy's. It was BAD.

I prefer a silver or grey color as well. I like the lighter stuff - mostly because I hate washing.

I have a 2020 in silver - no issues. It is my third in 16 years. Too high tech with all the b.s. lane departure, auto slowing in cruise but I've learned to turn most of it off.
The auto rear sliding window is unnecessary - just something else to go wrong. But all in all maybe my last truck for the "duration".

I have a new 2022, doesn’t seem to hunt for gears. I’m getting 22 mpg with 265/70-17 AT tires at 27lbs air pressure. Door pressure calls for 29lbs air and air pressure calculator for new size tires call for 26lbs.

Rides and drives pretty dang good.

So far so good but I haven’t driven it too much yet.

There is no other midsize truck option that will be more reliable .


I would rather have the made in Japan 4Runner. I have owned 3 Tacomas 2006,2011 and 2014. All 4 wheel drives 2 Auto 1 6 speed. Best of the bunch was the 2014 and sold it and ended up with a Tundra.

Thanks for that. Just picked up a my new SR 4WD on Wednesday.

I know they've done a lot of work on the tune for the trans - likely the hunt was early 3g? Also the Taco has AI and will "learn" how you drive and adjust accordingly on the gears I guess.

IIRC - that's stock tire size but different brand you did - correct?

Tagged.

I too am looking at them, however having a hard time giving my Ram 2500 diesel up.

My son used gen 2, 4x4, manual, for several years for work, running 150 to 200 mi per day, then bought a gen 3, about the same all around, no issues, but a tiny bit better mileage but noticeably less power. Gave it to his wife, bought a full size Ford F250 4x4 (helluva fleet buy thru work) last fall and is getting close to 17 mpg in mountainous country. Tows cargo trailer occasionally with confidence now and only lost about 1.5 mpg. But, Ford body shaking apart, and auto 4x4 feature has failed twice, and windshield broke on its own from stress twice. Power windows are doomed to failure from dust accumulation, just a matter of when.

No, its one size up from stock hence the reason I did the pressure calculator. I only run Pmetric off-road on light vehicles because they flex more and are more comfortable over bumps. Sometimes maybe an XL Metric.

10-4 thanks

In other words, he wishes he'd stuck with the Tacoma?

Hey, I took my 2022 through the Hills today. It really didn’t do that gear hunt thing folk talk about. Additionally, there is a button marked “ETC Power” does make steeps stuff feel much better. I guess it reprograms shift points?

I have a 2020 and like the truck
Very easy to turn 6th and 5th gear off as that’s what I Usually do due to our driving conditions