[dchobo]

My Highlander was manufactured in January and it's prefix (5TDD) is not listed amongst those affected...

I think some posters here have prefix not listed on TSB also but got their HL updated anyways because the manufacturer date was before March 2017

 

[FFXDAVE]

Has anyone WITHOUT an affected serial number received the update from their dealer? My Highlander was manufactured in January and it's prefix (5TDD) is not listed amongst those affected.

My HLDR VIN is also 5TDD. As far as I can understand the T-SB-0194-17.

This bulletin applies to vehicles produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown below.

AWD Y 5TDJZRFH#HS395528

Is 5TDD before 5TDJ? YES!!!

Our 5TDDs are due for update. I got a reply from Toyota HQ stated if I could not get the proper update from the dealership, and I am welcome to contact different dealerships to get my require service done.

 

[inm101]

Has anyone WITHOUT an affected serial number received the update from their dealer? My Highlander was manufactured in January and it's prefix (5TDD) is not listed amongst those affected.

My HLDR VIN is also 5TDD. As far as I can understand the T-SB-0194-17.

This bulletin applies to vehicles produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown below.

AWD Y 5TDJZRFH#HS395528

Is 5TDD before 5TDJ? YES!!!

Our 5TDDs are due for update. I got a reply from Toyota HQ stated if I could not get the proper update from the dealership, and I am welcome to contact different dealerships to get my require service done.

I'm heading into the dealer Saturday to get the update. Fingers crossed that they will apply it and I'll have a happy Highlander.

 

[Highly]

Am I part of this tsb? Vin 5tdkzrfh4hs509890 .

 

[Redbelly]

The numbers that you are concerned with are at the end of the VIN - these are the serial numbers of that particular vehicle. See link.

https://parts.olathetoyota.com/blog/4585/how-to-decode-toyota-vin

 

[dchobo]

Am I part of this tsb? Vin 5tdkzrfh4hs509890 .

Yes.

 

[ERoberge17LP]

My VIN 5TDDZRFH7HS443439 is built after the TMMI WEST plant vins but before the TMMI east plant vins, how do you know if the car was west or east?

 

[FFXDAVE]

My HLDR VIN is also 5TDD. As far as I can understand the T-SB-0194-17.

This bulletin applies to vehicles produced BEFORE the Production Change Effective VINs shown below.

AWD Y 5TDJZRFH#HS395528

Is 5TDD before 5TDJ? YES!!!

Our 5TDDs are due for update. I got a reply from Toyota HQ stated if I could not get the proper update from the dealership, and I am welcome to contact different dealerships to get my require service done.

Sorry! I was wrong about the VIN look up after redbelly's useful VIN look up link.

Thank you, Redbelly!!

My Highlander is in 380000 and it is before effective VIN and it is from TMMI West plant.

Now, I have more understanding the Highlander VIN.

For example 5TDDZRFH7HS432100

5 - Country of Origin (USA)
T - Manufacturer (Toyota)
D - Vehicle Type (Passenger Car)
D J B K Z - Body (B/D : Full Size Frame, J : 5DR Van AWD, K : 4DR Wagon 2WD, Z : 5DR Wagon 2WD)
Z - Engine 3.5L 2GR-FKS V6 (278 hp)
R - Series
F - Restraint (Manual Belts w/2 Airbags, Side Airbags, and Knee Airbag)
H - Model (Highlander)
7 - Check digit
H - Model year (2017)
S - Plant (TMMI, Princeton, IN, US)
The factory is split into two different plants, "West" and "East." West plant being the original factory, and east being added on to handle the demand for Toyota vehicles. Large expansions have recently been added onto both plants to support the high demand for the Highlander. East plant will start producing MY17 Highlanders in June 2016 due to the high success in the world market.

432100 - Production Number

 

[inm101]

Got the update on my 5TDD today. I'm pleased as punch. Got them to activate putting down the windows with extended unlock too.

 

[Eastrider85]

I've done mine a week ago. Noticed a difference right away. I've put 1000 km on it since ECU was flashed, mpg noticeably have been improved, car feels a lot more responsive.
Had no issues with a dealer, they didn't even take for a test drive when I showed them TSB. Took like 30 minutes for them to fix it, I didn't even finish my coffee

 

[dchobo]

2 months after the TSB update, I still feel hesitation in some situations, especially when accelerating from slowing down (but not complete stop). It's the same whether in ECO or PWR mode. It's like .5 to 1 second of pause while the ECU trying to figure out the right gear. Anyone feels the same after the TSB update?

 

[FFXDAVE]

Finally got mine updated. I feel little more respond but sometime still lack of power. However, it does run better than before.

BTW, 5TDD is limited model.

 

[heyyrold]

Hi folks, I've been following this thread but as of the last time I checked, my 2017 Highlander VIN is not on the TCU update list. I only have 3k miles on it, so the transmission may still be "learning" my driving style, and I feel like its behavior has started to make more sense the more miles I put on it. The only thing that bothers me lately is when I accelerate from a stop and turn at the same time; it shifts up to 2nd or 3rd at the point that I'm in the middle of the turn, then when I accelerate out of the turn it needs to downshift. I wish it would just stay in the lower gear until I'm out of the turn completely...

Has anyone else noticed this, and does the TCU update help with it?

Thanks.

 

[Craig3277]

While the update helped mine a lot, I still feel hesitations now and then. NEVER had any hesitations in my 08 rav4 with a V6 and 5 speed, why should we be putting up with this? dchoboIi feel the same thing you do, and that's after the update. Power mode seems to help, I still don't understand any hesitation in a transmission ever. I'm thinking we got a crappy transmission design.

 

[callmeq]

While the update helped mine a lot, I still feel hesitations now and then. NEVER had any hesitations in my 08 rav4 with a V6 and 5 speed, why should we be putting up with this? dchoboIi feel the same thing you do, and that's after the update. Power mode seems to help, I still don't understand any hesitation in a transmission ever. I'm thinking we got a crappy transmission design.

My $0.02 is that it is simply a transmission programming issue. My guess is that to squeeze every mile out of the EPA rating the transmission is programmed to upshift sooner than some of us prefer.

Have you tried sport mode? I've only driven our Highlander once since it so so new, but I assume that is what is called.

 

[Craig3277]

I've tried `power' mode, and it's a little better there, but I still sense some strange hunting of the transmission at times. So it's intermittent.

 

[HankSwat]

Bad low speed shift decision!

Even with only 1400 miles on my 2017 AWD Highlander, I notice especially when making a left-hand turn at a light from a standstill; I accelerate to the midpoint of the turn, then coast a bit, then upon re-applying gas, it first balks, then accelerates with the tach. going to 2800 rpm and then quickly upshifts whereupon the tach comes down to where it is supposed to be. This appears to be the T-SB-0194-17 cited problem.

My s/n is 426395. It falls within the TMMI East effective problem vehicles. I cannot tell however if it was built in the East plant.

I took the Highlander today to a Toyota dealer (where I bought it) and the service coordinator said the tech. found my calibration ID to be the newest as listed on the T-SB. Therefore, I'm left on a lurch, did they tell me the truth or is what I have as good as it gets. My wife has a 2008 V-6 Solara. It shifts great in comparison to my Highlander.

Does anyone agree that I have the problem and any suggestions on what to do?
Hank

 

[Bobbolew]

As I said in a previous post, I've had mine done and it made a world of difference. However, it is still not perfect but here's my opinion on that. My last 2 vehicles before this Highlander were a 2004 Honda Odyssey and my current Honda Accord (2013 with CVT). Over on the Accord forum there are constant debates about how good the CVT is. In my last contribution to the debate I said I love mine and I compared it to the 8-speed in my Highlander (pre-TSB). I said it is a dream compared to the Highlander because, while I think the Highlander shifts are smooth, it often doesn't shift when I want it to as in the examples given in the previous few posts. Since my 5-speed automatic in the Odyssey, I have found ATs in general have trouble with 90 degree turns off of highways. They often don't downshift soon enough or low enough and when they finally do it feels awkward, more so if the road you are turning onto is an upslope. IMO the TSB did not change that a whole lot but it definitely made a pleasant difference on a standard acceleration from a standstill. Much peppier.

Now my only remaining problem with it is when going up steep hills at highway speed. It downshifts 2 or 3 gears and the revs go up to 4-5000, but they don't go down at the crest of the hill. The trans remains in screaming mode until a good 10-20 seconds pass. It doesn't seem logical to me, and I will bring it up at my 10,000-mile service.

 

[BUFFO]

Now my only remaining problem with it is when going up steep hills at highway speed. It downshifts 2 or 3 gears and the revs go up to 4-5000, but they don't go down at the crest of the hill. The trans remains in screaming mode until a good 10-20 seconds pass. It doesn't seem logical to me, and I will bring it up at my 10,000-mile service.

Dosen't sound normal to me. Know yours 8spd, just thinking my "6 spd" dosen't do that. Might need to try & pre arrange a test drive with tech? Ask svc. mgr. Got some local steep hills just in case?

 

[dchobo]

Did you let off the gas pedal at top of the hill? Is the HL still thinking that you want to accelerate?