NEW Toyota Tacoma rolls down hill when parked in gear

[femtnmax]

HAD a 2008 tacoma with the 2.7L 4 cylinder engine and 5 speed manual trany.  If you parked it on any amount of hill/grade it would slowly lurch thru the compression strokes of each cylinder and move along down the hill. 
So took it to the dealer we bought it at, they did leak down and compression test which matched the compression test I did before taking it to them.
At the dealer, with shop forman in the truck with me, we parked on a slight hill, and sure enough we started to lurch along slow but sure.  Then we parked at top of curb, let engine compression hold the truck or prevent it from moving too much off the top of the curb, instead the truck rolled off the curb and started across the parking lot lurching along thru the compression strokes.  The only way to avoid hitting the building 20 yards away was to put on the brakes.  We tried it with the truck in 1st and reverse gear, same result.   We tested a new tacoma off the dealer lot, same engine/trany, had no problems.
End result was the leakage/compression figures were in the lowest 10% of the "acceptable" range".  Toyota's response was "within factory specs" and they included the tidbit from the owners manual that says to "always use the parking brake when vehicle is left unattended".    Maybe factory specs but I consider the truck a lemon.
I have a old beat up Nissan Sentra with 302,000 miles on the car, and 110,000 miles on a cheapie rebuild (rings, valve job w/o new guides, rod bearings, and timing chain)  that does not move when parked on a hill in gear with no park brake.

So I sold the truck, had only 19,000 miles on it, and won't buy another one.  MY wife says no more toyotas.
I always buy manual trany,  guess I have to park all new cars on slight hills from now on to see if the engine compression is any good.   Never expected it to come to this.

[A383Wing]

Truck didn't have a parking brake from the factory?

[bull]

I wasn't in love with Toyota before all these quality control issues came to light and now, well, I'm even less interested.

[1969chargerrtse]

Interesting that the other truck holds but not yours?  I like Toyota, but they worked real hard to steal the big truck market from the US makers and that kinda pissed me off. You can play with cars but the big trucks are USA made only in my mind. They spent millions on commercials and then the economy tanked and so did Toyota truck sales.   Sorry, I don't normally have old school thinking but when I think big trucks I think USA, Detroit made trucks, that's all I think. No foreign stuff allowed.

[Ghoste]

The only thing that has been surprising to me is the way the public has been turning a blind eye to it all.  If one of the domestics had this going on a scale like this there would be an entire specialty channel created on cable and dish to scream about it day and night and provide you with numbers to contact lawyers.

[1969chargerrtse]

The only thing that has been surprising to me is the way the public has been turning a blind eye to it all.  If one of the domestic had this going on on a scale like this there would be an entire specialty channel created on cable and dish to scream about it day and night and provide you with numbers to contact lawyers.

I know, very true. . Toyota claims sales are up?  Wa?

[Khyron]

The only thing that has been surprising to me is the way the public has been turning a blind eye to it all.  If one of the domestics had this going on a scale like this there would be an entire specialty channel created on cable and dish to scream about it day and night and provide you with numbers to contact lawyers.

the sad part is you're not even kidding about this..... it is sad.

[bobs66440]

The only thing that has been surprising to me is the way the public has been turning a blind eye to it all.  If one of the domestics had this going on a scale like this there would be an entire specialty channel created on cable and dish to scream about it day and night and provide you with numbers to contact lawyers.

I think reason the public is so forgiving is that Toyota has had a very good reputation for customer service where I've heard the domestics have had a less than stellar attitude toward it (I don't have much experience with domestic dealers myself). I've heard many stories about how the domestic dealers gave customers a hard time. You hear very little negative about Toyota. I'm not defending Toyota or bashing the domestics, just going by my experience. I recently bought (before all this happened) a 1989 Toyota pickup and found out there was a recall on the steering center link. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the center link as well as the tie rod ends...no charge! On a 20 year old truck! Also, they recently had a buy-back program for 2000-2005 (?) pickups for the frames rusting prematurely. My friend brought her clapped-out, worthless truck to the dealer and they gave her $12,000 for it! I've heard many similar stories. Granted, it was their fault to begin with, and all manufacturers have issues with their products but I've never heard of such a program.
Again, I'm not defending Toyota, (I wouldn't buy one) they obviously created their own problems and they should make good on all the trouble they caused, but I think this is why the public is so so forgiving.  

[Ghoste]

Exactly.  Toyota didn't care or even make any better product than the domestics, they just had a WAAAAAAAAAAY better publicity machine.

[Troy]

I've had 2 Toyota stick shift trucks - one a V6 and the other a 22R. Neither would roll on a small hill but I always used the parking brake. Why wouldn't you? Almost every car I've ever owned has/had a manual transmission. The engine compression *may* hold but that's no guarantee on any vehicle. My driveway is moderately steep (maybe 50' with a 5' rise) and I wouldn't trust any car with a manual trans to stay put (I even use the parking brake on my automatics to keep from loading up the parking pawl mechanism). The manufacturer is right by saying it's within spec and they won't cover it. Go ask Dodge, Ford, or Chevy if they would. Did the truck have any other problems besides this one? It can't really be considered a lemon with one flaw that isn't technically a valid one.



Troy

[bobs66440]

I wouldn't trust just the engine compression to hold a vehicle on a hill.

[Old Moparz]

I use the parking brake on my truck & it's an automatic. When I leave it in park & don't use the brake, I can feel resistance on the shift lever when I go to put it in drive from park. That tells me the weight of the vehicle is resting on transmission parts. I never priced either, but I'd be willing to bet e-brake parts are cheaper to replace than trans parts.   

[PocketThunder]

I've had 2 Toyota stick shift trucks - one a V6 and the other a 22R. Neither would roll on a small hill but I always used the parking brake. Why wouldn't you? Almost every car I've ever owned has/had a manual transmission. The engine compression *may* hold but that's no guarantee on any vehicle. My driveway is moderately steep (maybe 50' with a 5' rise) and I wouldn't trust any car with a manual trans to stay put (I even use the parking brake on my automatics to keep from loading up the parking pawl mechanism). The manufacturer is right by saying it's within spec and they won't cover it. Go ask Dodge, Ford, or Chevy if they would. Did the truck have any other problems besides this one? It can't really be considered a lemon with one flaw that isn't technically a valid one.



Troy

This is Troys driveway....   

[Charger74]

I've had 2 Toyota stick shift trucks - one a V6 and the other a 22R. Neither would roll on a small hill but I always used the parking brake. Why wouldn't you? Almost every car I've ever owned has/had a manual transmission. The engine compression *may* hold but that's no guarantee on any vehicle. My driveway is moderately steep (maybe 50' with a 5' rise) and I wouldn't trust any car with a manual trans to stay put (I even use the parking brake on my automatics to keep from loading up the parking pawl mechanism). The manufacturer is right by saying it's within spec and they won't cover it. Go ask Dodge, Ford, or Chevy if they would. Did the truck have any other problems besides this one? It can't really be considered a lemon with one flaw that isn't technically a valid one.



Troy

This is Troys driveway....   

OMFG!!!!!   I really hope that isn't really.  You would need a 4x4 just to get into there.

[Highbanked Hauler]

 AH, the wonder of photo shop!!

[bobs66440]

OMG!! that's hilarious!!

[LaOtto70Charger]

For the general safety of any one in the vicinity of where you park please start using the vehicles parking brakes instead of the engine to hold your unattended vehicle in place.  The engine is most likely not designed to hold the vehicle stationary.  Also take into consideration the potential lawsuits you will face if your vehicle rolls into traffic and you cause an accident.  They will not go after the OEM if your parking brake is not set.

[bordin34]

I have always used the parking brake on any manual car whenever I park it regardless of if its on a hill or not. The engine isn't supposed to stop the car from rolling its more of a backup. Its second nature for me to automatically grab the parking brake on any manual car.

[451-74Charger]

Let me see.... PARKING brake, you have it USE it !!
I know the Highway code (England) states that you MUST apply the parking brake when parking. like duh... they have seen issues like this on all cars for years, its not just a TOYota thing

[bordin34]

Let me see.... PARKING brake, you have it USE it !!
, its not just a TOYota thing

I agree, my 1997 3.8L Mustang bought new by my family doesn't hold the car on a hill with just the trans and it only has 45,000 miles on it.

[1969chargerrtse]

I think it's safe and obvious to use a parking brake on a standard vehicle.  But the point is missed that the truck easily rolls through compression while a newer or same type truck doesn't?

[Troy]

I think it's safe and obvious to use a parking brake on a standard vehicle.  But the point is missed that the truck easily rolls through compression while a newer or same type truck doesn't?

I didn't miss that point. The factory has a standard for compression but there's no standard for the incline before a truck overcomes compression and rolls while in gear. Maybe the new truck has high compression (but still within spec), different gearing, or weighs less. A new truck will be "tighter" no matter what. The main issue of contention is that the vehicle owner expects something that has never been promised by any manufacturer on the planet. Sure, some vehicles will stay in place on even steep inclines but that's probably not the norm (my Mustang has 11.5:1 compression so it's tough to move it).

Troy

[Silver R/T]

Japs trying to screw America once again. I really hate all this crap they're pulling at work with "lean manufacturing" and Kaizen, etc. Why should America copy Japanese? Is it just cause Americans are too lazy anymore and don't work efficiently enough, maybe other reason?
You can only "lean" something so much before it blows up...

[Rolling_Thunder]

The only thing that has been surprising to me is the way the public has been turning a blind eye to it all.  If one of the domestics had this going on a scale like this there would be an entire specialty channel created on cable and dish to scream about it day and night and provide you with numbers to contact lawyers.

doubtful ---   how long did the firestone tire thing last ?     how many recalls are done silently by GM, Ford and Chrysler....        tons...   just like Toyota...     I find it more convenient that these things all happened AFTER the government payed big money to GM and Chrysler...     

[Ghoste]

That is kind of what I'm trying to say though.  For years and years Toyota has been doing this kind of crap and people bought into the media hype that they were the greatest car company in the entire history of automobiles.  Now the truth is out and the apologists are all turning a blind eye (that may be the part we aren't in agreement on) because they don't want to believe that their precious Toyota is no better or worse than the domestics.