2025 Toyota Tacoma Transmission Problems

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2025 Toyota Tacoma owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

MY 2025 TACOMA is part of a recall by Toyota, I was notified of the potential issue on early November 2025 and told Toyota was working on a remedy. On December 3rd, 2025 while using 4-wheel drive during a snow storm the drive shaft (recall issue) broke. On December 4th, 2025, the local Toyota dealer checked my Tacoma and found it unsafe to drive - they kept my Tacoma and provided a loaner vehicle. Toyota reported at this time the remedy would be available by the end of 4th quarter (December). As of today, February 21, 2026 -- there is still no remedy for the issue, my Tacoma is still sitting at the dealer, and I do not have my truck. Toyota reports a remedy will be available during the 1st quarter of the year but nothing yet. I called brand engagement recently and asked them to extend my warranty, Toyota care, and other free trials that were included with my purchase. …

Driving up the 15 freeway from Diamond bar CA to Victorville CA the car gave me a warning that the transmission is overheating and to pull over to cool it down keep in mind I was on a paved freeway with no trailer and nothing in the bed of the truck so no unusual weight so with the car being brand new (only 1500 miles) I played it safe and pulled to the side of the freeway for about 15 minutes to allow for cooling then the sign went away and it was driving normal. A few days later I took the car into the shop for transmission, hard shift issue and I had them look at the overheating as well and they found an overheating was caused from "harsh acceleration" i've had many cars and no car has ever had a transmission overheating light come on unless if I was on the track or off roading I went up to Victorville again the following weekend and the overheating light came on again but the …

Vehicle was set in tow/haul mode. Tow/haul mode provides higher acceleration by changing the operation of transmission. Vehicle was towing 2500lb cargo trailer on interstate. Driver stopped at rest area and turned off engine and left vehicle. Driver returned to vehicle 5 minutes later. Driver started engine and proceeded to leave the rest area. Driver was on highway entrance ramp. Entrance ramp merges with right lanr Driver attempted to accelerate to enter highway in such a way that there would be safe distance between end of trailer and car on highway approaching end of trailer. Vehicle would not accelerate as quickly as it was accelerating for the past 2 hours. Driver was surprised and distracted. Margin of safety between rear end of trailer and car on highway was greatly reduced. …

2025 Toyota Tacoma SR5, 8-speed automatic transmission. Harsh, hard shifts - primarily 1st-to-2nd and 2nd-to-3rd - on cold starts. The transmission slams into gear with a noticeable jolt/lurch of the vehicle. Occurs when the powertrain is cold; diminishes as it warms up. No warning lights and no diagnostic trouble codes stored. Reported to Kenny Kent Toyota (Evansville, IN) twice. First visit: dealer could not replicate. Second visit (09-17-2026): vehicle left overnight for cold-start diagnosis; dealer acknowledged the hard shifting but stated it is "operating as designed" because another Tacoma on the lot behaves the same way, and declined warranty repair absent a manufacturer bulletin. The unexpected lurch on engagement is a safety concern, particularly in parking lots and stop-and-go traffic. …

My 2025 Toyota Tacoma Trailhunter consistently experiences a severe loss of engine power while driving in rainy conditions. During precipitation, the vehicle suddenly loses acceleration capability, sputters, and becomes highly unresponsive, creating an immediate highway hazard as it cannot maintain traffic speeds. I suspect water ingress through the high-mount air intake (snorkel) system or factory airbox is affecting the engine's airflow sensors or electrical connectors. This happens every time I drive in heavy rain. I have brought it to 2 dealerships immediately after this has happened and both times I was told to just keep driving it until im stranded on the roadside because that's what roadside assistance is for. One time I had a car full of kids and they still told me to drive it until im stranded. Both times they didn't even scan the truck to see what happened.

In October of 2025 I was notified of a safety based recall for my 2025 Tacoma related to the front axle shafts possibly breaking which could cause loss of steering control should an incident occur. The recall is listed as 25TA11, (Interim notice 25TB11) and is attached to NHTSA ID 25V656. As of May 6th, Toyota lists this situation as still preparing the remedy. If the situation is truly a safety concern, I believe the length of time Toyota is taking to provide the remedy is unacceptable. I would like to politely suggest that Toyota have pressure put on them to provide the proper remedy in an actual timely manner for something that can cause loss of control or a rolling vehicle in the 'Limited' trim models.

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V656000 (Power Train); however, parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and a case was opened for a potential buyback option. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The vehicle was being operated in 4-wheel-drive, mode 4H, and when turning to the left at low speed, there was a grinding noise from the front of the vehicle and it would not proceed. The vehicle had to be put back in 2-wheel-drive, mode 2H, put in reverse, backed up a short distance, and then put back in drive, and then it was able to proceed. This is likely the CV joint issue reported in other 2024 and 2025 Toyota Tacomas. The dealer has been notified, and the vehicle will be taken in for service.

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V656000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it remained since October 2025, while the contact drove a rental vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Tacoma. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V656000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Related recalls

Transmission complaints in other Tacoma years