Driveline Center Support Bearing Problems of Toyota Tacoma

Driveshaft and universal joint problem. Toyota has issued a "warranty enhancement - zh2" for this problem, but it should be a full recall, as the condition can lead to sudden driveshaft failure, loss of vehicle control, and death. The problem appears to also extend to the center bearing and possibly the driveshaft itself, as I took my truck in for service under warranty, and still have vibration issues even after the warrantied parts (and center support bearing at significant extra cost) were replaced. This vibration begins around 40 mph and increases through 60 mph. I am concerned that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and may sustain a sudden driveshaft failure from improper remediation of this issue under the zh2 campaign.

See all problems of the 2009 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

There is a drive shaft vibration on acceleration, 0-20 mph. This truck has a two piece drive shaft. The front shaft has a slip joint that slips into the trans, the other end of the front shaft is mounted to the body using a center support bearing. The rear shaft is a solid drive shaft that is mounted without a slip joint to compensate for movement between the rear end and the body. When the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating the rear drive shaft has no way to compensate for any movement. Checked on the web, there are blogs on this issue, along with drive shaft breakage.

See all problems of the 2013 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.

Tacoma 2012 trd 4x4 6spd since new @ 3 miles, truck shakes upon acceleration in 1st through 2nd gear from 3 to about 25mph (mostly uphill) and transmission grinds and won't engage all gears always. Suspect drive train will fail. 1. At 90 miles brought to dealer. Dealer found driveshaft center support bearing installed incorrectly (not aligned, crooked) and drive shaft contained no grease. Toyota USA acknowledged problem, Toyota USA instructed dealer how to attempt to remedy problem. Dealer inspected, removed & road tested with vehicle in 4x4 (without rear drive shaft installed) and vibration / shudder gone 100%. Dealer reinstalled and problem returned. Toyota advised dealer to tell me (buyer) to go away until 5000 miles and live with the problem. Other complaint was transmission grinding and often reluctant to go into 1st gear. 2. At 500 miles, I returned to dealer with problem still present and I refuse to live with it. Dealer told me Toyota USA instructed dealer to not document my visit and not inspect my truck. 3. At 4914 miles, I brought truck brought to larger dealer, for 1st service + same complaints: shaking still present, transmission grinding and reluctant to engage gears as well as popped out of 1st gear (worsening?). Toyota USA changed opinion saying " it's normal ". 4. At 5554 miles, brought vehicle back to same larger dealer with same complaints. Dealer wrote repair order with same problem. Toyota USA contacted by dealer due to history, Toyota USA told dealer not to write repair order again, problem already looked at. . . But that was 600 miles ago and transmission problem notably worse (popped out of gear 3x in san francisco traffic). This seems to be common problem with Tacoma's, on Tacomaworld and other places shows many folks with 2012's same problem. Toyota's avoiding an expensive fix: shaking drive trains and bad gear boxes is not normal.

See all problems of the 2012 Toyota Tacoma 🔎.