Steering wheel shake on new Tacoma. Really?

Well, I've got under 200 miles on the tuck since taking delivery and I'm getting steering wheel shake around 55-75 mph. Kinda ridiculous for a brand new truck. I don't think I'm knit picking this either. I don't expect 4runner smooth ride (I bought a truck) but having shake/vibrations on the highway can't be right. Otherwise, I'm still hyped on the truck!!

I suspect it's the torque on the lug nuts and/or the tire balance. Heading to the dealer on Friday to get it checked.

How often do new trucks come off production with something simple like this out of spec?

 

I would imagine that sort of production defect to be rare. Did you not notice it on the test drive?

 

Mine did not have this issue, so with a sample size of 2, 50% at most.

 

Didn't notice because there wasn't a long test drive. I allocated and put a deposit down.... came in for delivery and literally just drove the truck around the block. FWIW, I test drove two other Tacomas (one new & one used) and they didn't have this shake.

 

More often than you'd think. You likely just slung a wheel weight off at some point in your 200 miles of driving.

 

This seems like the most logical explanation.

 

I'd check inflation too - seems dealers like to overinflate tires which would cause a bouncier ride ( ie: shake ).

 

Take it back to the dealership and have them check alignment and wheel / tire balance. If it's too far or inconvenient to go back swap front and rear tires to see if it goes away. If it does then tire balance is likely your problem.

 

Normal characteristic of the Tacoma...

 

I'm skeptical. I test two other Tacomas and no vibration like I'm getting.

 

Yeah, take it back to the dealer if convenient and have them check the easy stuff like tire balance, alignment, etc. Probably not a big deal at all so don't get too down on your new Yota. Shit happens brother!

 

That was the area rep's report after driving my truck. Heck, anywhere around 57mph and above will numb my driving hand...

 

Mine came with the 20mph vibrations and loud as hell gear whine I believe from the rear end, amongst a few other small gripes. I test drove a 2018 with 75k on it and I loved it. I thought a brand new one could only be better haha.

It really bummed me out at first, but Ive started to get over it. I intend on fixing them at some point, but I agree these trucks shouldn't be having these issues. I've driven beaters my whole life that didn't vibrate or whine as bad as my Tacoma does.

 

Most likely a weight came off, or there is excessive road force. We have had a few new Tacoma's and 4Runners that had excessive road force. Just a defect in the tire production. Dealer should take care of it.

 

here in cali its hard to tell if its the tires or the shitty roads. we have freeways with siped concrete, so if the receding slabs of cement don't create potholes for you to hit, the lines will grab your wheels and try to push you into other lanes. there are times where i think i'm riding bias ply and its just the warped road.

 

Update: Went back to the dealer and did a test drive with the tech. No shake on a smooth section of highway... def got the shake back on rougher roads. Maybe I'm a noob and it is what it is.

 

Your not alone. Mine was supposedly tires last year, got way better except a weird shimmy in the mornings, very mild as so as I jumped on the highway.
Now the shake comes and goes. Not a vibration, but steering wheel visibly shakes. Fighting with the problem as we speak. Balanced tires last week, seemed to be better, then back with a vengeance this morning. Rotating tires later today. Next up is alignment again. Just cancelled a camping trip this weekend because I can't trust my truck especially towing our pop-up.

 

Thisss.

Probably lost a wheel weight. If you haven't modified it let the dealer fix it.

 

Sometimes tires develop flat spots from sitting on the same spot for a while and will give you steering wheel shakes. More common with meatier (truck/SUV) tires. I get that most of the times too since I don't drive my truck that often. Takes about 15-20min of driving to get rid of it. Make sure your tires are inflated properly. Underinflated tires are more prone to develop flat spots.

 

Do you have a Sport or Off-Road? If it is a Sport, I found the shocks to be quite firm and over rough roads they could be overly harsh at times. On a smooth highway though, damn they were nice!