High mileage runners - what's your transmission life?

[43jeep]

Guys - shout out your mileage and whether or not you've replaced or rebuilt your automatic transmission?

In my shopping for good 3rd Gen I have completely ignored anything over 175,000 miles for fear that Id be buying into a tran rebuild soon after...but I've been shopping for over 9 months now and I'm kind of getting tired of simply not driving a 4runner.

So I'm starting to wonder if I should consider higher mileage vehicles and not be afraid of the transmission failing?

How often has anyone here had to replace or rebuild their transmission?

 

[98WhiteT4R]

Not that high at 212k but still going strong... Others will chime in with insane high mileage I'm sure.

 

[ajonesnv]

227,XXX no sign of issues.

 

[cashmoney]

218k here. Knock on wood so far so good.

 

[jhuerta22]

268k with no issues. Been up in the Rockies 4 times since I bought it, and it had 231k when I picked it up. Just do the routine maintenance and it will take care of you.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Been through two of them... both were because I beat on them.

Swapped to a manual transmission and it has been through far worse, still doing great.

 

[T4R2014]

You'd might as well skip used vehicles if you are worried about a transmission going out. These are 13+ year old vehicles we are talking about. With that said, these are not known for having major automatic transmission issues.

FWIW, I just bought a 1996 with 195k. The original owner used it to tow his track car pretty often. With the car, trailer and tools he had, I would say he was pulling 4k+ pretty often. He did that time to time for the past 19 years. He took care of it and the transmission shifts totally fine.

 

[calimobber]

205k working great. tranny fluid changed at 155k, didnt clean the filter. i might do another with dyno fluid and wont touch the filter again.

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

212k and shifts and runs perfect..96 4cyl 2.7L Manuel 5spd 2wd

 

[Rock_Rat]

Original owner with an automatic and about 319,000 miles. Running a B& M tranny cooler through the radiator, with normal temps at about 156 and water temps at 184. I've seen the temps as high has 212 before with OD off and ECTon and water temps in the 190's off road. Anything can happen with a used vehicle. Even an original owner with meticulous maintenance records.

 

[Tyota89]

I bought mine with 235k has 240k now sounds like I need a diff rebuild. Everything else sounds strong and fluids looked clean. Original motor and trans. Buddy has 270k new steering rack everything else stock.

 

[riverview]

i just replaced mine 02 limited with `179000, on it. trans shifted fine but whined something terrible. i had changed fluid and filter 5 months ago and when i dropped the pan there was grit and metal on the magnets. nobody around here would rebuild it, they wanted to sell a reman for around 3k Toyota was the cheapest at 2400.

 

[USMC0351]

I'm at 254k, no problems with mine. I haven't changed the ATF since I bought the truck at 226k so that's coming up any time. I just drove from central TX to AL and back for the 4th. Trans shifted fine the whole way,

 

[CdaleR4000si]

322,000 on my '99. Running a B&M cooler. At this point, I do have a backup transmission in storage, just in case.
I did have a scare a few years ago, surging and some noises. Luckily that turned out to be a u-joint in need of lube and spark plug issue.

 

[Aelfwine]

200k kms on my 02 and my auto tranny is about to shit the bed. Loud grinding in 3rd gear. I have little info on the trucks previous years and what was done to it.

 

[Riders of Lohan]

176k

Trans rebuilt about 15k miles ago

 

[Neil_R]

270k and no issues so far. Just replaced my radiator with a Koyo A1998 so as to prevent prevent the milkshake. It's a little slow to shift into 3rd until it warms up but that seems somewhat normal for the A340F. Only transmission service I have record of was at 180k, long before I got it.

I've debated doing a drain and fill, but the fluid is pretty dark.

 

[Mooretoyx4]

240,xxx had a go round with strawberry milkshake and I thought the trans was done. Had everything flushed and filled, haven't had any issues and that's been a few thousand miles ago.

 

[RedRunner_87]

I am at 212K with no transmission issues

 

[traffic61]

245k and still rolling along, Hoping for a peaceful run to 300k.