Mine died at 90K. I bought the car at 78K, and didn't notice the noise until AFTER I bought it. Seeing as I got a good deal, and it was only on Craigslist for an hour, I doubt it would have made any difference in my decision anyway. Sounded like bearing noise to me.
I picked up a used tranny last summer, $400 (maybe $450?), supposed to have ~50K miles. Two weeks ago, I was surprised it made it home. Ungodly noises. i put the used one in, along with new clutch, pressure plate, and axle seals, and this time I used Redline MT90. The car is even funner than before. It is quieter, clutch is so easy that it almost feels like the clutch broke (maybe the little grease on the shaft so the throwout bearing slides easier?). It shifts like butter!
I may have made the transmission die sooner. When I initially heard the noise, I went and changed the fluid. I used 50% GL5, 50% Valvoline gear lube. Now I know better than to use GL5.
Others also claim that amsoil is a good lube too. Do your research- don't be like me and do it too late.
I hope to to a post mortem on my transmission, and I'll report on that if/when that happens.
I don't know if this can be blamed on Toyota. I'd give the PO a C- at best for maintenance, and then I added GL5.
UPDATE: I started to disassemble the transmission. I did find a few shards in the case cover (step 8 in the manual, pg 826), but I cannot get the distorted nut off the end of the shaft. I will most likely scrap the tranny with no official diagnosis.
