If the Toyota Tacoma becomes stuck in mud, loose dirt, sand, or snow and the drive wheels begin spinning without moving the vehicle, use the following recovery procedure carefully to regain traction.
Recovering procedure
1. Stop the engine, apply the parking brake securely, and move the shift lever to P on vehicles with an automatic transmission or N on vehicles with a manual transmission.
After selecting P on an automatic transmission, do not press the shift release button, as the shift position should remain securely engaged during preparation for recovery.
2. Clear away as much mud, snow, sand, or other loose material as possible from around the rear wheels, especially in the direction the vehicle needs to move.
3. Place suitable material such as wood, stones, or another firm traction aid beneath the rear wheels to improve tire grip and provide a more stable surface for the Toyota Tacoma to move onto.
4. Restart the engine once the area around the wheels has been cleared and the traction material is positioned securely.
5. Select D or R on vehicles with an automatic transmission, or 1 or R on vehicles with a manual transmission, depending on the direction required to free the vehicle. Release the parking brake and then apply the accelerator gradually and carefully, using only the amount of throttle necessary to obtain traction.
When it is difficult to free the vehicle
If the vehicle cannot be released using the basic procedure above, one or more of the following functions may help improve traction or vehicle control, depending on the equipment installed:
- Turn TRAC off when appropriate so wheel-spin control does not prevent the tires from obtaining the traction needed for recovery.
- Use the rear differential lock* when additional traction between the rear wheels is required.
- Change the front-wheel drive control switch setting* as appropriate for the surface and recovery situation.
- Use Crawl Control* when its operating conditions are suitable for freeing the vehicle.
- Select an appropriate Multi-terrain Select* mode for the type of loose or slippery surface beneath the Toyota Tacoma.
*: If equipped
WARNING
When attempting to free a stuck vehicle
If you attempt to move the vehicle repeatedly forward and backward to free it, first make sure the surrounding area is clear of people, other vehicles, and fixed objects. When traction is suddenly restored, the vehicle may move sharply forward or backward with little warning.
Use extreme caution throughout the recovery attempt and be prepared for sudden vehicle movement as the tires regain grip.
When shifting the shift lever (Vehicles with an automatic transmission)
Do not move the shift lever between positions while the accelerator pedal is depressed.
Shifting while applying throttle may cause the Toyota Tacoma to accelerate suddenly and unexpectedly. This loss of controlled movement could result in a collision, death, or serious injury.
NOTICE
- Use the recovery procedure carefully to reduce the possibility of damaging the transmission, driveline, tires, and other vehicle components.
- Avoid excessive rear-wheel spinning and do not depress the accelerator pedal harder or longer than necessary, as continued wheel spin can place additional stress on the vehicle.
- If the vehicle remains stuck after the described recovery methods have been attempted, do not continue forcing it free. Towing or other professional recovery assistance may be required.
