2021 Tacoma TRD Off-Road Review - Constructive Criticism for Toyota

Hi all,

I purchased a 2021 Tacoma TRD Off-Road earlier this year. There are lots of things I like about it, but I'd like to use this post to cite a few things that I think Toyota could do better. Please follow up with your opinions on my suggestions and anything else you would like to see improved!

1. External warning beeper/siren. Very annoying. I knew that had to go the first time I launched a boat and had to listen to the beeper siren telling me I walked away from the running truck with the keys in my pocket the entire time I was working on the trailer. I removed the external beeper entirely. With that change I also lost the door lock/unlock external beep, but that is fine. I suggest adding an option to disable the warning for those who don't want to lose the door lock/unlock beep.
2. Door ajar beeper. Very annoying. I suggest adding an option to disable this warning.
3. No factory option for off-road tires on the "off-road" truck package. Sigh. Facepalm.
4. Rear parking beepers go crazy when backing up with a trailer. Minor annoyance. Have to manually disable rear parking sensors when trailering.
5. Exhaust is routed awkwardly on the undercarriage and forms the lowest point with the exception of the rear differential. Very vulnerable to snagging a rock or stump and getting damaged. I suggest routing the exhaust differently. I will probably fix this in the aftermarket.
6. Front bumper is very thin, flexible plastic, but is misleadingly designed to look like a bump pad. The first deer impact will cause serious damage to the OEM bumper. Will need to upgrade to an aftermarket powdercoated steel bumper.
7. Cannot fit 285/75R16 or similar 33" tires without chopping the cab mount. Suggest redesign to make this popular aftermarket upgrade easier.
8. Transmission "seeks" gears on mildly hilly terrain. I have started running ECT power on hilly terrain even when I am not hauling or trailering to prevent this minor annoyance.
9. No native/integrated navigation platform exists. It is a minor annoyance to have to hardwire my phone with Android Auto in order to use vehicle navigation. Toyota should have a native mapping platform.
10. Toyota should offer an electronic locking front differential (in addition to rear) to keep up with Jeep and Chevy Colorado.
11. USB chargers and cigarette lighter 12V supply are disabled when vehicle ignition is off. Cannot charge phones and similar devices overnight when camping. Will hardwire one of the ports to battery in the aftermarket to fix this issue.
12. Truck bed 110 VAC outlet is not useful. 400W is not enough power to run most power tools. It also does not work when the engine isn't running, so I cannot use it to charge batteries or laptops because I don't want to leave the truck running the whole time a drill battery or laptop is charging.

 

1. The beeping when the keys are not in the vehicle is not the whole time. 5 quick beeps is the factory setting (for 2021). Can easily be changed in Techstream
2. Can also easily be changed in Techstream
3. I got the "upgraded" off-road tires. Probably depends on region.
4. That's exactly why there's a button to turn it off. That and for those who don't care to use it.
5. Somewhat common mod already.
6. Don't go cheap
7. If you don't do heavy off roading and aren't flexing the suspension completely, especially when locked to one side, sometimes you're lucky.
8. Tune
9. I have maps and navigation in my HU
10. I think air should be offered for both. Electronic is gimmicky.
11. Someone has already made a mod, by soldering a wire to a relay. Don't swap out the USB below the HU, unless you won't use AA or car play.
12. There are plenty of uses. People use it to power lights, or even appliances like refrigerators. Just make sure the power draw isn't above 400W.

 

Shoulda bought a Ridgeline.

 

We cant have Tacomas rolling around with all this uncontrolled beeping and no 285s!

Someone send this list to Mike Sweers ASAP!!

Also, these trucks do come with integrated navigation

 

1. I'll concede. This was a while ago. I just remember it was annoying. You are probably right that it was not the entire time. I will ask my dealer about Techstream.
2. I'll ask my dealer about Techstream. I'm new to this. A quick Google search indicates it is a professional-grade scan tool, which I'm assuming my dealer would have?
3. I asked about off-road tires when I was ordering. My dealer said no.
4. Point taken. First world problems, I know.
5. Perfect. I'll Google it. Should be some good info out there. Thanks.
6. 10-4. Thanks.
7. I'll probably go with 265/75R16 BFG KO2's when I upgrade to be on the safe side.
8. 10-4. Thanks.
9. How did you get maps and navigation on your HU? My dealer told me that for 2020 and newer the Entune App Suite and Scout GPS Link are no longer supported. See my post on this here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/entune-vin-issue.586815/page-2#post-26119567
10. 10-4.
11. Is there a post or link on this? I would like to see it. 10-4 on the USB under HU. Good advice. I will probably just hardwire the cigarette lighter and use a USB adapter for charging.
12. 10-4. So far I have never used it. I've wanted to several times, but my use has always been outside the scope of application.

 

Are you using Entune or GPS Scout Link?

 

I can't speak for WZ00R2, but mine has maps built into entune

 

Me, three.
I have the 2021 TRD Off Road with build-in GPS Navigation on Entune from factory, it is on the Premium package.

 

That's what all the TW mods are for

 

There is the answer I have been looking for! I don't have the premium package. Now it makes more sense. The whole thing about discontinuing support of the Entune Suite didn't make sense when the dealer said it, but I believed it.

 

The Entune app was retired, replaced by the Toyota app. That app is not required to use navigation though. So your dealer was correct.

 

Had to check the calendar. Was starting to think it was Friday.