Hard shift 2nd to 3rd and ammonia smell

[Pitman2026]

Since I bought my 2025, TRD Sport Pro in December it has hard shifted every day whether it is hot, cold or mild weather from 2nd to 3rd gear. It only happens on the first drive of the day and then it’s fine. Is anyone else experiencing this problem? I took it to Toyota and they said they didn’t notice it. I am scheduling a ride along with a technician.

also, I’ve noticed an ammonia smell at random times when I drive after the car has been sitting. I thought it was just something in the air in my neighborhood the first few times but now I’ve smelled it in different locations and my car seems to be the common denominator.

Sponsored

 

[Archer]

Can't say I've noticed the shifting issue but I definitely get random ammonia (smells like cat urine) for a bit after the car has been sitting for over a day. After 10 or so minutes it disappears. Quite embarrassing if you have a passenger for the first time and that smell smacks them in the face.



.

 

[Pitman2026]

Can't say I've noticed the shifting issue but I definitely get random ammonia (smells like cat urine) for a bit after the car has been sitting for over a day. After 10 or so minutes it disappears. Quite embarrassing if you have a passenger for the first time and that smell smacks them in the face.



.

Wait - that's so interesting. The ammonia smell is external. But I have the cat urine smell inside too. I was thinking I had spilled something that I can't find inside.

 

[spyder40]

Can't say I've noticed the shifting issue but I definitely get random ammonia (smells like cat urine) for a bit after the car has been sitting for over a day. After 10 or so minutes it disappears. Quite embarrassing if you have a passenger for the first time and that smell smacks them in the face.



.

Interesting, I thought the smell was from something I put in my truck after one of my hikes. Does smell like some kind of urine. Started a couple months ago randomly but got my truck July 2025. So maybe it's not me

Mine has one rough shift 1st to 2nd first drive of the morning probably 50%+ of the time

 

[MTN Dew]

Yeah I have the harsh shift. Seems as tho it tied to throttle input. If I drive off at moderate or less throttle input I get the hard shift. But more throttle input seems to shift ok.

 

[rosnaby]

Interesting, I thought the smell was from something I put in my truck after one of my hikes. Does smell like some kind of urine. Started a couple months ago randomly but got my truck July 2025. So maybe it's not me

Mine has one rough shift 1st to 2nd first drive of the morning probably 50%+ of the time

Exactly my experience on the smell, and shifting.
Tbh recently I just leave my back window, sunroof and side windows cracked if I know the chance of rain is 0, and between that and driving it more often I dont really smell much. I noticed it most back in may when I picked up my car from the long term parking lot at the airport which Im doing again this week I think so we shall see next if It smells again

 

[rosnaby]

Since I bought my 2025, TRD Sport Pro in December it has hard shifted every day whether it is hot, cold or mild weather from 2nd to 3rd gear. It only happens on the first drive of the day and then it’s fine. Is anyone else experiencing this problem? I took it to Toyota and they said they didn’t notice it. I am scheduling a ride along with a technician.

also, I’ve noticed an ammonia smell at random times when I drive after the car has been sitting. I thought it was just something in the air in my neighborhood the first few times but now I’ve smelled it in different locations and my car seems to be the common denominator.

So i should’ve said before. op are you sure its not 1st to 2nd? Because everyone is experiencing this almost to some degree…. 2nd to 3rd I haven’t heard yet

 

[JJJB]

I had harsh shifting in my 2024 LC as well and now own a 2026 4R ORP and it does it as well. It goes away after warming up by driving a short distance. I know there has been software issues that are transmission/shifting related.

 

[Briosauce]

The ammonia smell is coming from the exhaust. My gas only 4Runner does this sometimes. I also had a hybrid Tacoma for a short time and it did it as well.

 

[NotApplicable]

I’ve never smelled ammonia but mine is gas only

 

[spyder40]

The ammonia smell is coming from the exhaust. My gas only 4Runner does this sometimes. I also had a hybrid Tacoma for a short time and it did it as well.

Interesting. Wonder how it gets in and why it just happened recently. Still the best gen 4Runner I've had and this is the 4th one

 

[Briosauce]

Mine doesn't do it all the time, but when it does and I'm walking by the tailpipe, it's pretty strong. Normally on a cold start. I made the mistake of bending over and taking a sniff when I first got the truck, not knowing what was going on, and it almost knocked my on my ass.

One time with the 4Runner I left a parking lot with the back window cracked and it brought all that right into the cab. It was pretty nasty.

With how strong it is I'm surprised that it doesn't trip some emissions test. But I'm not super familiar with all the stuff those look for. We don't do that here in Michigan.

 

[jcash25]

Interesting, I thought the smell was from something I put in my truck after one of my hikes. Does smell like some kind of urine. Started a couple months ago randomly but got my truck July 2025. So maybe it's not me

Mine has one rough shift 1st to 2nd first drive of the morning probably 50%+ of the time

I found this from 2025 and Ammonia smell in vents. Recirculation mode.. Time to get a Toyota AC refresher kit


All, I had that smell as well.

Toyota's in general get that when you have the right conditions met.

Meaning if you drive around with "recirculation on"
And if it's particularly hot and humid outside but that is not necessarily A driving Factor.

Then you park the car with the windows rolled up in a garage.

What happens is your venting system does not air out and dry properly.
The trick to getting rid of that smell is turn off the recirculation mode before you get home and let the air circulate through it and then when you park in a garage or outside leave the windows cracked, so it can air out properly.
The recirculation mode seals the system and traps any condensation, this turns to odor and in extreme cases mold and very bad stuff.
Hope this helps.

 

[NotApplicable]

I found this from 2025 and Ammonia smell in vents. Recirculation mode.. Time to get a Toyota AC refresher kit


All, I had that smell as well.

Toyota's in general get that when you have the right conditions met.

Meaning if you drive around with "recirculation on"
And if it's particularly hot and humid outside but that is not necessarily A driving Factor.

Then you park the car with the windows rolled up in a garage.

What happens is your venting system does not air out and dry properly.
The trick to getting rid of that smell is turn off the recirculation mode before you get home and let the air circulate through it and then when you park in a garage or outside leave the windows cracked, so it can air out properly.
The recirculation mode seals the system and traps any condensation, this turns to odor and in extreme cases mold and very bad stuff.
Hope this helps.

Everyone says it’s coming from the tailpipe and isn’t dirty sock smell, so this is a different thing

 

[Archer]

I found this from 2025 and Ammonia smell in vents. Recirculation mode.. Time to get a Toyota AC refresher kit


All, I had that smell as well.

Toyota's in general get that when you have the right conditions met.

Meaning if you drive around with "recirculation on"
And if it's particularly hot and humid outside but that is not necessarily A driving Factor.

Then you park the car with the windows rolled up in a garage.

What happens is your venting system does not air out and dry properly.
The trick to getting rid of that smell is turn off the recirculation mode before you get home and let the air circulate through it and then when you park in a garage or outside leave the windows cracked, so it can air out properly.
The recirculation mode seals the system and traps any condensation, this turns to odor and in extreme cases mold and very bad stuff.
Hope this helps.

Interesting and plausable. I'll definiteoy give this a try.

I did notice that the recirculater seems to turn on randomly or maybe automatically when you fire it up, I'll definitely be more mindful of it in the future. I try and have it turned off as I don't like the stale air smell.

Sponsored