2007 Camry hesitation issues

[mustang84]

Check out this doozy of a post that can be found here. Not to mention the 55 page thread on slipping gears in 2007 Camry that can be found here.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING A 2007 CAMRY WITH A FOUR CYLINDER, 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND ARE EXPERIENCING SERIOUS HESITATION AND POWER LAG, PARTICULARLY FROM A STANDING START AND/OR AT LOWER SPEEDS, I URGE YOU TO READ THIS POST CAREFULLY, AND TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY BY CALLING TOYOTA AT THEIR TOLL-FREE NUMBER, AND FILE A COMPLAINT.

My wife and I are six-time Toyota owners. Five of the six Toyotas that we have purchased were Camrys, and all but one was brand new. All but one were purchased from the same dealership since 1986. Until now, we have not encountered a single problem with any of them. We recently purchased a gorgeous metallic red 2007 Camry SE (4 cylinder) with a 5-speed automatic, and the hesitation problems we are experiencing have been an extreme nuisance from day one. I believe that this problem is unique to the 2007 Camry, and that the problem may pose a considerable safety hazard. The car, put quite simply, cannot get out of its own way. I only had mine for a week when I realized that the hesitation problems could become dangerous. I took it back to the dealership before I had owned it a week, and the service department said they had not yet heard of any such problems, as the car is an entirely new model in its first year. That seemed reasonable enough, as we were one of the first to buy a 2007 CAMRY SE in our locality. My sales associate and I agreed that the car's computer system may still have been "learning" my driving habits, and that it would resolve the problem over time. But nothing changed over the next two weeks. I recently took it back to my dealership with around 1500 miles on it, after a couple of very frustrating and nerve wracking weeks.

Both my sales associate and the service manager offered to take a ride with me to witness and to assess the problem. I let the service manager do the driving on the first test run, and right away, he noticed both the "two-second lag" in performance shifting from first through third gear. Even though the car is running, it feels as though it just doesn't want to go. He also agreed that this lack of performance was both unacceptable and quite unusual. The car hits second gear, and then...nothing! It doesn't stall, but it falls flat on its face for about two full seconds before it gets up and goes. This is not a car that I would even think of calling a call a "Sports Edition" in its current state. After our little incident with the test ride, my sales associate, the service manager and I decided it would be wise to test drive another brand new Camry with the same engine and transmission for a "second opinion". Guess what??? Same exact problems and worse! We took it up my sister's steep paved driveway (as I did with my own the week before), and as before, the brand new test car could not get up the hill. But this time, it slowed to a crawl going up the drive, (with the pedal depressed to the floor) and then nearly stalled, rolling backwards! The brakes had to be thrown on to keep us from slipping right back down the driveway.

My wife and I believe that our 2007 Camry SE is a potentially dangerous vehicle. By potentially dangerous, I do not mean that the car is dangerous at all times, but that the EXTREME hesitation may present a hazard in traffic where snap decisions are unavoidable, and more aggressive acceleration is needed. If you drove this car just once, you would never dare to pull into traffic in a hurry. The car just dies when you try to accelerate. If you round a hard corner slowly enough for the car shift back into first gear, there will be nearly two seconds of "huh?" before it shifts up to second. If you have someone following close behind you, which you more than likely will, it is quite possible that you will get rear-ended. Rightly so, because no driver would ever anticipate your car slowing down after rounding a corner, or anticipate anything as ridiculous as a vehicle that slows down before it decides to pass a vehicle.

My service manager's hands are tied; there is not yet a fix for this problem. I have to wait until a fix becomes available. For all we know, there may not be one for the life of the car. We were, up until now, a big Toyota Camry family. That all may change real soon, depending on whether or not Toyota recognizes the danger and finds a fix. I called the toll-free number at Toyota and they were very polite and acted quickly to get me a case number. But there is no fix available as of the writing of this post, nor has Toyota acknowledged that this is in fact a problem at all.

THERE IS A PROBLEM HERE, A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU DIFFERENT.

I cannot believe that we may actually have to drive this car in its current state until "X" amount of similar complaints are filed by Camry owners. And even then, will Toyota find a quick fix, a computer re-map, or issue a recall? Will someone get broad-sided in an intersection before we see a fix?

I cannot imagine what winter is going to be like in this car...we live in New Hampshire, where life is a hill, and the winters are brutal to say the least. I'm guessing the hesitation will more than likely cause severe traction problems and possibly loss of control. I'm not talking about a a noisy door panel, a loose body side molding, or a dashboard rattle. This is a serious and dangerous flaw that has been overlooked by Toyota, and I for one, refuse to become a statistic just to get Toyota to find, or NOT find a fix for this horrific problem. This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of; a car that can't even make it up a driveway without slowing to a stop and rolling backwards. It is intolerable, and I aim to take the steps necessary to change it before it either drives us out of our minds or gets SOMEONE KILLED.

LET ME END BY SAYING THAT OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN COURTEOUS, HELPFUL, AND RESPONSIVE TO OUR COMPLAINTS THUS FAR. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE OUT OF THEIR HANDS UNTIL A FIX IS FOUND, OR A PROBLEM RECOGNIZED BY TOYOTA.

BEFORE A FIX CAN BE FOUND, PEOPLE NEED TO MAKE THEIR PROBLEMS KNOWN.

WE ARE DISAPPOINTED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS NEW VEHICLE, AND APPREHENSIVE EVERY TIME WE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL. IT REALLY FEELS AWFUL GETTING INTO AN ATTRACTIVE, SPORTY CAR LIKE THIS, KNOWING THAT IT JUST DOESN'T PERFORM. IF YOU ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH YOUR 2007 CAMRY, GET TO YOUR DEALER AND CALL TOYOTA NOW, PLEASE!!!!

I have the same problem with my 07 LE 4 cyl. From a start or low speeds, there is a hesitation with the throttle. I go thru the tolls here in NH using EZ pass and you gotta pass thru them going no more than 25 MPH. Once I go thru, I step on the gas and there's nothing! I'm afraid one of these days someone's gonna rear end me! I'm pretty sure I nearly floored it to get moving, but then that's not good doing that. I swear there's no middle ground with the accelerater, either you are crawling or you gotta floor it. Cruise control, forget it, I hit a small incline and the car drops a gear and I'm at 3600-4200 PRM. My wife's 2001 Hyundai Elantra performs better than my car. I never should have traded in my 03 Tundra for the Camry, but a growing family and rising gas prices left me no choice!

Poor fit and finish:

I just bought a 2007 Camry and don't know if any of you that bought a 2007 Camry also notice the front bumpers, particularly on the corners do not align very symetrical. In words, one side there is a gap while the other side there is not. Car is brand new, absolutely never been tapped or hit. also, the headlights had to be adusted because one was higher than the other, making a crooked line when turned on at night. Another thing I had to do was get my car aligned. From the factory it was not aligned properly. It was a hair off but still. then my latest beef is the front suspension, the control arm and the rest of the parts are so thin and cheap. No wonder it probably doesn't take much to throw taht out of alignment. I am not that pleased wtih teh workmanship. car runs great but suspension parts seem cheap.

And last, but not least, rattles...

I've got the following noises after 1 week, 700km on the car:

1.

Problem: When the car is extremely hot, and the A/C is turned on, for the first 5 minutes, there is crackling noise from the centre console, plastics. This happens at almost all speeds.

Solution: None so far

2.

Problem: Driving with the sunroof open, the sunroof resonates/rattels in the roof. Almost as if it's too flimsy, and Not solid. This happens when the car is moving at approximately 60-120 km/hr (35-70mph),

Solution: None so far - have an appt with service next week.

3.

Problem: There is a rattle from the rear deck/seats area when the car is moving at approximately 60-100 km/hr (35-70mph).

Solution: None so far - have an appt with service next week.

4.

Problem: There is a rattle in the driver's side door, near the seatbelt pillar. This happens when the car is moving at approximatley 80-100 km/hr (45-60mph),

Solution: When the door panel is pushed lightly against the door, the rattle stops.

All these responses came from the owners on a Toyota board.

I doubt this car will be receiving any customer satisfaction awards anytime soon.

[siegen]

This is not a car that I would even think of calling a call a "Sports Edition" in its current state.

SE doesn't stand for Sports Edition, it stands for Slug Edition, duh. It's not Toyota's fault, they just purchased the super environmentally friendly version with a 1.0L engine.

[ocnblu]

That's our boy siegen: deflect, deflect, deflect...

[siegen]

Well all the Camry's were supposed to get imported from Japan with 2.4L engines like they announced. But due to some strange conversion screw up (inches to pounds) at the Japan engine factory, they got sent with 1.0L engines instead. So I guess it is Toyota's fault.

Haha, the funny thing is I know some of my friends I could tell that to and they'd believe me

[76ChevyTrucker]

Now this is something I've heard from the local Toyota dealership tech that comes into my store when he needs parts for his own toys (none of which are from Toyota). There is apparently a C-clip at the end of the transmission clutch assembly shaft that will break, causing you, the driver, to lose 2nd and 5th.

[sciguy_0504]

So who wants to post a thread on every little issue GM vehicles have had?

[regfootball]

my 500 does the same thing. Try to make a right on a red light. Its pretty much 50/50 if the car will rev/downshift/accelerate as you would expect it to. I might die someday from side impact, just trying to make a right turn. You pretty much take your life into your own hands anytime you try a semi aggressive (read: normal pre-2006) driving maneuver.

what we have here, everyone, is the advent of the electronic throttle and assholes who work in the engineering departments of the carmakers who program the throttle / tranny combos in insane and dumbass ways....i.e. 'protect the consumer from themsleves'. Its probably all tied to the legal department and lawyers somehow.

My 500 actually downshifted and took off today when i turned a corner at a stop. I just about crapped my pants. I didn't realize my car could do that. Pretty zippy! Now the damn thing won't do that again anytime soon.

Most cars as we know them downshift to 1 when you come to a full stop. Mine don't. It waits until you take off again, so the car stumbles and then the only way to get it to downshift is to literally floor it. Then the car jerks into gear and feels like its gonna break apart.

I assume this all due to electronic throttles and trying to program the trannies to either last longer, get better mpg, or save iditos from putting the car into the ditch.

I'd like to put my car into a ditch. the ditch outside my ford dealer.

I have a TSB available for a tranny reflash on my 500. I'll do that soon and see if the same problem is fixed. I totally bet the Camry is having the exact same issues.

TSB

05-24-5 HARSH/ERRATIC/SLOW DOWNSHIFTS OR TIP-IN HESITATION - 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE - VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 10/17/2005

Publication Date: November 22, 2005

FORD: 2005-2006 Five Hundred

MERCURY: 2005-2006 Montego

ISSUE:

Some 2005-2006 Five Hundred/Montego vehicles built before 10/17/2005, equipped with the 6 speed automatic transmission, may exhibit harsh/erratic/slow downshifts or tip-in hesitation.

ACTION:

Reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) and the transmission control module (TCM) to the latest calibration using WDS release B39.14 and higher or B40.2 and higher. This new calibration is not included in the B40 CD. Calibration files may also be obtained at www.motorcraft.com.

To reprogram the TCM, first identify the vehicle with the WDS, select module programming and press tic, select PCM and press tic, and follow all screen prompts.

WARRANTY STATUS:

Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage

OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME

052405A 2005-2006 Five Hundred/Montego 3.0L Engine With AWF-21 Transmission: Check Diagnostic Trouble Codes, Reprogram The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) And The Transmission Control Module (Do Not Use With 12650D, 12650D84) 0.6 Hr.

DEALER CODING

BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE

14C337 04

TSB

05-11-8 HESITATION ON ACCELERATION DURING 3-1 COASTING DOWN SHIFT AFTER COLD START - 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 4/22/2005

Publication Date: May 24, 2005

FORD: 2005 Five Hundred

MERCURY: 2005 Montego

ISSUE:

Some 2005 Five Hundred/Montego vehicles built before 4/22/2005 and equipped with a 6 speed automatic transmission, may exhibit a hesitation on acceleration during 3-1 coast down after cold start.

ACTION:

Reprogram the powertrain control module (PCM) and transmission control module (TCM) to the latest calibration using WDS release B37.4 or higher. Calibration files may also be obtained at www.motorcraft.com.

NOTE: TO REPROGRAM THE TCM, FIRST IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE WITH WDS, SELECT MODULE PROGRAMMING-SELECT TIC, MODULE REPRGRAMMING-SELECT TCM, PRESS TIC AND FOLLOW ALL SCREEN PROMPTS.

WARRANTY STATUS:

Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage

OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME

051108A 2005 Five Hundred/Montego: Check For Diagnostic Trouble Codes, Reprogram Powertrain Control Module (PCM) And Transmission Control Module (TCM) (Do Not Use With 12650D, 12650D84) 0.6 Hr.

DEALER CODING

BASIC PART NO. CONDITION CODE

RECAL 04

My 05 would ocassionally have very rough downshifts among other transmission related problems. The local Merc dealer was kind enough to reprogram both the transmission module and the engine module. Now all shifts up or down are flawless; nicest transmission I've ever had in any car. The improvement in engine performance with reprogramming was even greater than that in the transmission. The engine is so much quieter and smoother and more responsive to the throttle that even my wife noticed the differences.

Quote:

tip-in hesitation

What is that?

That's the delay between when you press the gas pedal and when the engine actually responds. Sometimes when hitting the gas from crawl speed (ie, rolling stop at a stop sign, for example) it seems like you can time this delay with a calendar. It sounds to me like this TSB addresses this.

Edited August 10, 2006 by regfootball

[Drew Dowdell]

So who wants to post a thread on every little issue GM vehicles have had?

178118[/snapback]

This is a a small problem?

How many GMs have a problem similar to this at all?

[CARBIZ]

This has been my major point about GM's lack of a 5 spd or 6 spd auto: GM's 5 spd WORKS. It is smooth. It is reliable. It can be programmed either for great fuel economy (Malibu) or into a bit of a rocket (G6). You can reliably go 150k+ miles without wondering if it will blow up.

Whenever I rent something else, like a Camry, the shifts are noticeable and often harsh. I hope GM makes the newer trannies as reliable and smooth as the 4 spd because GM can't afford to have these same horror stories that are coming out of Toyota these days.

The media won't cut GM the same slack, that is for sure.

[regfootball]

This has been my major point about GM's lack of a 5 spd or 6 spd auto: GM's 5 spd WORKS.  It is smooth.  It is reliable.  It can be programmed either for great fuel economy (Malibu) or into a bit of a rocket (G6).  You can reliably go 150k+ miles without wondering if it will blow up.

  Whenever I rent something else, like a Camry, the shifts are noticeable and often harsh.  I hope GM makes the newer trannies as reliable and smooth as the 4 spd because GM can't afford to have these same horror stories that are coming out of Toyota these days.

  The media won't cut GM the same slack, that is for sure.

178180[/snapback]

you mean GM's 4 speed.........

still just because something works is no reason to not continuously improve and refine.

GM ought ot be able to make a 5 and 6 speed auto just as good as the 4 speeds.

this is more of an electronic throttle and transmission programming issue more than anything.

I'm telling you there is nothing more bizarre and frustrating than mashing the throttle and having nothing happen for 2,3,4,5 seconds.....or going part way with the throttle, expecting a downshift and watching the revs go up smoothly....and instead...NOTHING

Edited August 10, 2006 by regfootball

[regfootball]

I cannot imagine what winter is going to be like in this car...we live in New Hampshire, where life is a hill, and the winters are brutal to say the least. I'm guessing the hesitation will more than likely cause severe traction problems and possibly loss of control.

LOL, if you wanted traction, get an AWD Subaru, Ford, Volvo, Mazda, lol........not TOYOTA.

Once I go thru, I step on the gas and there's nothing! I'm afraid one of these days someone's gonna rear end me! I'm pretty sure I nearly floored it to get moving, but then that's not good doing that. I swear there's no middle ground with the accelerater, either you are crawling or you gotta floor it.

lol.......right. no middle ground.

didn't the 07 camry have tranny issues though.? like losing 2nd or 6th gear?

Edited August 10, 2006 by regfootball

[Drew Dowdell]

GM ought ot be able to make a 5 and 6 speed auto just as good as the 4 speeds.G

178225[/snapback]

They already do. The 5-speed in the CTS is awsome, now they just need to extend that to other vehicles.

[chevelle454]

what we have here, everyone, is the advent of the electronic throttle and assholes who work in the engineering departments of the carmakers who program the throttle / tranny combos in insane and dumbass ways....i.e. 'protect the consumer from themsleves'.  Its probably all tied to the legal department and lawyers somehow.

178158[/snapback]

I know someone who used to work at Ford, he said Ford engineers had absolutly no idea how an electonic throttle worked.

[Guest YellowJacket894]

The Camry's a Pinto, folks. How much you want to bet if you strike the bumper with a piece of flint the gas tank will explode?

Bye bye, Toyota. Fare-the-well. See ya later.

Georgetown isn't what I'd call a "hicktown," but I wonder what the drinking ratio is? Scott County is a wet county, after all.

Guess the employees there a bunch of lush, mash-drinkin guys who have shook hands with old Mr. Walker and his friends Black and Red.

Wonder if the new Tundra will have problems, too?

Edited August 11, 2006 by YellowJacket894

[DetroitNut90]

Maybe this is why all the Camrys around here move so slowly when they merge onto the Beltway...

But I agree, this is a very dangerous problem. Getting on any freeway around here requires you to move into the flow of traffic very quickly. The drivers drive too fast and are too inattentive for a car to hesitate that long while making this manuever. It's a hazard to you and the motorists behind you.

[regfootball]

They already do. The 5-speed in the CTS is awsome, now they just need to extend that to other vehicles.

178235[/snapback]

I am sure they plan to do this by 2018........

the LaCrosse was Buick's first sedan with an overhead cam v6 I think. they do take their time.

[regfootball]

I know someone who used to work at Ford, he said Ford engineers had absolutly no idea how an electonic throttle worked.

178650[/snapback]

THAT makes me feel safe with my kid in the back of my 500!

[sciguy_0504]

This is a a small problem?

How many GMs have a problem similar to this at all?

178161[/snapback]

Please do not put words in my mouth. I never said the hesitation issue was a small problem. Actually, if people learned how to deal with the problem and timed themselves better, it would be a small problem. What was posted in the first thread did not solely deal with the hesitation issue. I bet we could make a 1,000,000 page thread on every issue, big and small, every car sold in the past 3 years has had. Cars are not perfect, everyone knows it.

The new Camry a Pinto? You forgot about all the Ford vehicles with exploding cruise control switches.

[Drew Dowdell]

I am sure they plan to do this by 2018........

the LaCrosse was Buick's first sedan with an overhead cam v6 I think.  they do take their time.

178996[/snapback]

I hope you aren't implying that OHC is new technology....

[Drew Dowdell]

Please do not put words in my mouth.  I never said the hesitation issue was a small problem.  Actually, if people learned how to deal with the problem and timed themselves better, it would be a small problem.    What was posted in the first thread did not solely deal with the hesitation issue.  I bet we could make a 1,000,000 page thread on every issue, big and small, every car sold in the past 3 years has had.  Cars are not perfect, everyone knows it.

The new Camry a Pinto?    You forgot about all the Ford vehicles with exploding cruise control switches.

179001[/snapback]

the point is, you're deflecting. Address the issue of the thread, Camry hesitation issues, not ford cruise control switches.

[torobud]

TOYOTA ought ot be able to make a 5 and 6 speed auto just as good as the 4 speeds.

I fixed that one for you

This is not a car that I would even think of calling a call a "Sports Edition" in its current state.

Camry doesn't ever qualify for a Sports Edition as far as I am concernted... Edited August 11, 2006 by torobud

[regfootball]

I hope you aren't implying that OHC is new technology....

179007[/snapback]

nope, just better, proven that that's what a majority of the market wants.

until anyone builds a pushrod v6 that is superior....which GM will never commit to doing.

[ponchoman49]

The perfect car for old people: Toyota Camry. And that is supported by the sheer number of older ladies I see driving these ugly lumps!

[Intrepidation]

There's no excuse for that, Toyota's quality has really been going to $h! lately. It also means there's no safe way to buy a Camry, either egine/autobox combo will get you a $h!ty tansmission, hah. That guy should consider trading it for an Aura or new Sebring.

[Guest tuma]

any permanent fix to the hesitation problem on 2007 camry se?