2017 Toyota Tacoma transmission and drivetrain problems
68 of the 239 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Toyota Tacoma name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 33 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 68 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 3 · 2017: 27 · 2018: 15 · 2019: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 1
Half of the 52 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 1,000 and 15,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
239 complaints in all about the 2017 Toyota Tacoma, 1 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Toyota Tacoma transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
H0g / 17v285 recall. Rear differential leak. 66 days waiting on remedy with no definite end in sight. Not one person in the world of Toyota can or will give an answer
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear differential was leaking. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v285000 (power train); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable.
The current recall affecting 2016/2017 Toyota Tacoma rear end differentials does not include the off road models. My differential is leaking as well as many others as evidenced by Toyota Tacoma forums. Why is this? We are at the same risk of potential catastrophic failed as the non offroads models
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Tacoma. While driving 55 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal whining sound without warning. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (fred anderson Toyota located at 777 brevard rd asheville, n.c 28806) where it was diagnosed that the rear differential failed and needed to be replaced.
Transmission has jerky shifting and low at fluid. Purchased 4x2 automatic on feb 2017 with 20 miles on it. Within 2 days of driving it I felt the hard jerks of the transmission at the start of the day. Once it runs for more than 7 minutes the hard shifting of gears stops.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 17V285000 HighApr 27, 2017 · 227,732 vehicles
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Tacoma vehicles. Oil may leak from the area where the rear differential carrier is assembled to rear axle housing.
33 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2017 Toyota Tacoma?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 68 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (28% of everything owners filed about it), and 33 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2017 Toyota Tacoma?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 17V285000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2017 Toyota Tacoma?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 6,500 miles; half of them between 1,000 and 15,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.