2007 Toyota Camry transmission issues?

[mustang84]

Straight from Toyota Nation...the whole transmission had to be replaced, and it sounded like a couple other posters were having the same issue.

Hello Everyone,

Well, I picked up my car today from the dealership. My last post I wrote that I was going to pick up the car the same day that was last wednesday. Well, I did call the dealership before I went there to make sure the car was ready and sure so they said it was. So I went to drop of the rental car at enterprise, got them to give me a ride back to the dealership and as soon as I got there my service rep told me that the car would be almost done there where in the middle of programming to computer in the car that should take like 30 minutes. I was ok with it as long as I knew I was getting it back the same day. After 15 minutes, my service rep came out of the office and told me that there was a big issue but he needed more time before he could tell me and all of sudden I saw the same rental car that I had just dropped of coming back to the dealership. Well then after another 5 minutes or so, my service called me over and started to apologize that the car wasnt going to be ready because they couldnt program the computer and the techsupport staff had already left around 20 minutes ago. So they put me back in the rental and let me take that one up to PA cause that is where I spent my last couple of days. I returned yesterday and went this morning to pick up my car. They had to replace the whole transmission with a new one. I did as if it was rebuild and he said that since it is a new car, there are new rebuild ones yet and that this one is either brand new or the worst that the took it out of another 07 camry that was never used but he was 95% sure it was brand new. Well guys, I can tell you that the last couple of weeks were the worst experience that I had with toyota and I wish that everyone that bought a new car of any kind does not have to go through what I did. Thank you again for all the supports and if anyone has any questions for me, please feel free to ask.

Thanks again everyone

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128303

[Guest Josh]

So wait let me get this right. You take your car to the dealership, they first f@#k it up, know they f@#ked it up then tried to pull the wool over your eyes and say "hey, we'll pay for your taxi cab ride back home" then when you go to pick up your car a weekend later......find out they f@#ked it up so bad they have to replace your transmission with a rebuilt one or "partially rebuilt one"

Are you kidding me?

[Ravenfreak13]

HAHAHA toyota!

[Paolino]

I don't buy it.

He was "95% sure it was a new one"? C'mon... it's either new or it isn't. And how old could it be? This is the first 6-speed auto to go into FWD Toyota. I'd go with new.

But still, something doesn't add up.

[Ravenfreak13]

Sounds like they are trying to cut some corners so they can produce more and sell them to old people, tisk tisk toyota!

[Intrepidation]

Meanwhile my 17 year old automatic keeps on going without a problem

[VenSeattle]

I think everyone forgets that Toyota had to recall and replace the Lexus LS430's 6-sp auto when it first came out. 'Six' just isn't a lucky number for Toyota. Maybe "Eight" will do better

Make / Models :           Model/Build Years:     

     LEXUS / LS 430       2004

Type:  PASSENGER CAR 

Recall Number:  04V317000 

Summary:  

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM. 

Consequence:  

THIS MAY CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. 

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

[regfootball]

Sounds like they are trying to cut some corners so they can produce more and sell them to old people, tisk tisk toyota!

my 80+ year old father in law and 65 year old dad (both LIFETIME GM diehards) were both commenting oddly enough this past weekend about 'how nice those new toyotas are'. My dad was oogling a four year old LAVALON in his parking garage, and he's got some bitter revenge against GM because it will cost him a lot to replace the four struts in his 92 yes 1992 Seville (we expect em to last forever you know). The seville with only 75,000 miles on it.

When the old midwesterners start getting wood for toyota, and they start to eat trannies, i guess i would have to say maybe the times they are a changing muh friend.

Edited April 18, 2006 by regfootball

[mustang84]

my 80+ year old father in law and 65 year old dad (both LIFETIME GM diehards) were both commenting oddly enough this past weekend about 'how nice those new toyotas are'.  My dad was oogling a four year old LAVALON in his parking garage, and he's got some bitter revenge against GM because it will cost him a lot to replace the four struts in his 92 yes 1992 Seville (we expect em to last forever you know).  The seville with only 75,000 miles on it.

When the old midwesterners start getting wood for toyota, and they start to eat trannies, i guess i would have to say maybe the times they are a changing muh friend.

Funny thing, but my similar experience. A couple summers ago my boss, who has bought Cadillacs pretty much all his life, was talking to me about how nice those Honda Odysseys are. I was being nice and just nodding my head, but in my mind I was thinking "you dolt, you drive an STS...why are you even looking at Odysseys?" Well, it turns out the Odyssey was what his son was considering since they had a kid on the way, but being a life-long GMer in the conservative Midwest and talking about how nice those Hondas are, it worries me that GM is losing a lot of traditional customer base.

On the other hand, in my hometown at least, everyone that drives a brand new Honda or Toyota is a blue hair. Even here in Ames, a good many of the people I see in Camrys are the upper tier of the baby boomers who are now in their 50s pushing 60. It seems like Toyota is wooing the older generations, but the younger generations are still a mixed bag between imports and domestics. That's why GM really needs to concentrate on attracting the young market...because while they may not have the money now for a purchase, they will eventually.

[Ravenfreak13]

The 2 newer camrys on my block (04 and 05) and a 92-94? camrys are owned by people 55+...and my neighbors who have the 0 camry, had an 88 caddy b4 that.

[Paolino]

I've been seeing a lot of people in their 40's and 50's driving the 2007 Camry's on the road.

[grandmarquis]

geez, the AOD in my workbeater 91 grand marquis has 230k on it, with nothing more than a fluid change (thats right, just ONE fluid change in 16 yrs) and it's still shifting fine. all i can say about toyota's trans issues is....... FREAKING AWESOME!!!!!

[grandmarquis]

oh, and it's abotu time these arogant bastards get their comeuppance. couldn't happen to a nicer bunch.

[dirtyvega]

My father is 73 and is considering an 07 Camry XLE to replace his 98 Buick LeSabre Limited. I want him to consider a Lucerne but he just doesn't like it much.

Even if I show him this thread he probably won't change his mind. I left an Impala brochure at his house but he won't even look at it. That is sad, my dad was a lifelong GM customer and the last car he will probably drive will be a Toyota.

[Paolino]

My father is 73 and is considering an 07 Camry XLE to replace his 98 Buick LeSabre Limited.  I want him to consider a Lucerne but he just doesn't like it much.

Even if I show him this thread he probably won't change his mind.  I left an Impala brochure at his house but he won't even look at it. That is sad, my dad was a lifelong GM customer and the last car he will probably drive will be a Toyota.

You must continue to fight him! Throw yourself down on the dealer's desk before he signs papers!

[carman21]

Toyota & Honda are attracting the same demographic that brought Olds and Buick to great heights just to see the greatest declines in auto history. If history repeats itself that would be great because, Toyota will be as stodgy as Buick was and Honda would be as fogey as Olds was. I just see that this growth can't last forever. Buick, Saturn, Mercury, Chrysler, & Hyundai will really start to hit the Japanese hard over the next 10 years.

[Ravenfreak13]

Toyota & Honda are attracting the same demographic that brought Olds and Buick to great heights just to see the greatest declines in auto history. If history repeats itself that would be great because, Toyota will be as stodgy as Buick was and Honda would be as fogey as Olds was. I just see that this growth can't last forever. Buick, Saturn, Mercury, Chrysler, & Hyundai will really start to hit the Japanese hard over the next 10 years.

DOWN WITH TOYOTA!!!!

[CARBIZ]

Carman's right: Oldsmobile peaked in 1987, the year the Legend debuted - then it was downhill every year after that. Obviously, GM lent a helping hand in Olds and Buick's demise, but the same people who would have bought an Olds 25 years ago are now buying Hondas.

I personally believe the cycle will come full circle: The old cliche about becoming a victim of your own success. I see a lot of 60 and 70 year old customers, who normally would buy GM being badgered into Toyotas and Hondas by their spawn.

Our company owns a couple Toyota stores and Chevrolet. As I say to prospects all the time: the Toyota store has a much bigger service area and it is never empty!

[sciguy_0504]

Working at a toyota dealership we have seen about 3 new v6 camrys come in with new transmission problems. Today rumors are that they have fixed the problem. About 2 weeks ago it seems toyota held back the second round of 2007 camrys for about 2 weeks in the compound in Toronto. I am wondering if they fixed the tranny issues because it seams that the very first camrys are suffering from this problem.

Torque Converter seems to be problem in the 2007 camry acting up. So they end up placing the whole tranny. It also seems that Lexus has delayed the launch of the ES 350 due to the tranmission problem which is built in Japan. But i think toyota has fixed the problem with the second batch of camry. We have been deliverying them for about 2 weeks and no tranmission problems to date.

There are bound to be bugs in the first cars of a redesign but there really is no excuse for it. The problems to have been worked out beforehand.

[Intrepidation]

There are bound to be bugs in the first cars of a redesign but there really is no excuse for it.  The problems to have been worked out beforehand.

Yes, someone should have told GM that aboutthe Saturn Ion

[enzl]

With all due respect, anectodal reports is not evidence...I haven't heard of any tranny problems on the first 50 out the door...

[Polish_Kris]

Toyota=Maker of great cars, however, the worst dealerships in North America!

[Polish_Kris]

HAHAHA toyota!

Sounds like they are trying to cut some corners so they can produce more and sell them to old people, tisk tisk toyota!

DOWN WITH TOYOTA!!!!

How old are you?

[sciguy_0504]

With all due respect, anectodal reports is not evidence...I haven't heard of any tranny problems on the first 50 out the door...

The reports of new Camrys being held up at the Toronto compound so the problem could be fixed were from a reliable source.

[ponchoman49]

Check out Edmunds consumer writeups on the 07 Camry and Avalon. Lots of people in there complaining about ruff shifting trannys and even a couple of failures.

[Cortazzo]

But their interiors are so nice! :-P My folks each had a lexus from 01-04, my moms, an RX was of surprisingly poor quality. Neither of them cared for the dealer experience and have gotten different brands of cars now. Toyota isn't beyond reproach, you notice they are actively advertising their quality REPUTATION, where they didn't 3-4+ years ago. They have to advertise reputation because their quality scores for the toyota brand aren't out of the park anymore. They are on the peak of their rise, and will probably level off or decline as people realize that other cars of both import and domestic persuasion are just as reliable if not more so.

[Mr.Krinkle]

great, more moving parts...these are all untested waters with regards to tranns with 6 or eight gears. thats a lot of parts. wouldnt it be funny if everyone starts clammoring for the 4 speed.

what they call poetic justice.

8 gears--even six--in a "family" car (mover). they get what they deserve i guess.

where we all going anyway we need 12 gears. $h!, the supermarkets 3 or 4 blocks away...ok maybe a mile or two depending where you live.

im more than pleased with my smooth shifteing four. everone else, let me know how the six and eights are.

gm got lambasted for getting to ahead of themselves. 468 rin a bell?

this is getting more interesting every day now.

[I hope GMRULES again]

great, more moving parts...these are all untested waters with regards to tranns with 6 or eight gears.  thats a lot of parts.  wouldnt it be funny if everyone starts clammoring for the 4 speed.

what they call poetic justice.

8 gears--even six--in a "family" car (mover).  they get what they deserve i guess.

where we all going anyway we need 12 gears.  $h!,  the supermarkets 3 or 4 blocks away...ok maybe a mile or two depending where you live.

im more than pleased with my smooth shifteing four.  everone else, let me know how the six and eights are.

gm got lambasted for getting to ahead of themselves.  468 rin a bell? 

this is getting more interesting every day now.

So true. Sooner or later the HP and transmision gear war has to end. Who would of thought we'd have cars with more gears than cylinders.

[Ravenfreak13]

So true. Sooner or later the HP and transmision gear war has to end. Who would of thought we'd have cars with more gears than cylinders.

you are so right...how many slopy hills are people going to go up in a camry....gimme a break...lose all the gears...it just costs more when you have to fix it.

[Intrepidation]

I think 5 gears a la Chrysler/Dodge is a good number too have. Is it true that the Bently Arnage has a 4-speed?

Edited April 19, 2006 by Dodgefan

[sciguy_0504]

I think the Bentley used to, Dodgefan. I am not sure if it has been updated.

[boblutzfan]

I'm not going to bash Toyota over their new six-speed until the GM six-speed hits the market and is trouble free.

[Mr.Krinkle]

they say thats what people want but as long as they offer a choice of tranns i know id rather have a 4 or even 5. for now anyway.

i just cant see shifting so many times just to stop at the next red light.

[Cremazie]

they say thats what people want but as long as they offer a choice of tranns i know id rather have a 4 or even 5.  for now anyway.

i just cant see shifting so many times just to stop at the next red light.

I agree, as long as a car has a good gear ratio down low and a tall gear for highway I am good with it.

[76ChevyTrucker]

You know, part of me thinks that the people designing transmissions in today's cars and trucks were all OTR (over-the-road) truck drivers at some point.....I mean you don't EVER need 6-gears for a family car, unless its a highly stripped, very powerful, higly modified family car. Think of it, asside from your local Frieghtliner, Peterbuilt, or Kenworth, what else needs a ba-jillion gears to get it moving?

[Paolino]

I'm not going to bash Toyota over their new six-speed until the GM six-speed hits the market and is trouble free.

I'm just wondering what the media will do at the first sign of a problem with GM's 6-speed... if there is one.

[Drew Dowdell]

All it means when you have a transmission with 6 speeds is that you have a car with a crappy torque curve.

A 1957 Buick with a Dynaflow 1-speed transmission and no overdrive could do 0-60 in the mid-7s.

[boblutzfan]

All it means when you have a transmission with 6 speeds is that you have a car with a crappy torque curve.

A 1957 Buick with a Dynaflow 1-speed transmission and no overdrive could do  0-60 in the mid-7s.

I wonder what the gas mileage was on that car? Also, what was top speed? Don't make too many blanket statements... I think the Corvette has a six speed and its torque curve is great... That CTS - V in your signature also has a six speed. In fact there is a long list of cars that offer six speeds that have great torque curves. If more gears will help achieve better economy and not sacrifice performance then I am all for them. Some cars to dispell your notion of six speeds = "crappy torque curves":

Lexus LS430

Cadillac STS V

Cadillac CTS V

Cadillac XLR V

Corvette

Corvette ZO6

Cadillac Escalade

GMC Denali

Mercedes S Class

BMW 7 series

Dodge Viper

Toyota Avalon

We all know that these cars would perform better (both economy and acceleration) if they had more forward gears:

Buick Lacrosse

Buick Lucerne

Cadillac DTS

Chevy Impala SS

Chevy Tahoe

Chrysler 300 STR-8

Pontiac G6

Pontiac GP

Edited April 19, 2006 by boblutzfan

[Drew Dowdell]

I wonder what the gas mileage was on that car?  Also, what was top speed?  Don't make too many blanket statements... I think the Corvette has a six speed and its torque curve is great...  That CTS - V in your signature also has a six speed.

Not too sure of the top speed was but the top speed was Chassy/tire limited rather then drive train limited. Ever try to drive a car with Bias ply tires over 65 miles an hour? Any cop that didn't know better would pull you over for drunk driving.

As far as the mileage, I don't know about new, but in 2004 we clocked 23mpg on a trip from Pittsburgh, PA to Richmond VA and back. We both felt that was remarkable for a nearly 50 year old car.

The Corvette and CTS-V are performance cars and need every bit of speed advantage they can get. You'll notice that both of them have that skip shift feature to help them with fuel efficiency, effectively turning them into 4-speeds under normal driving.

What we're talking about here is excessive number of speeds for a pair of sedate family sedans. I highly doubt that either the Camry's or Avalon's performance would suffer that greatly by having a 5-speed rather then a 6-speed.

The transmission war above 5-speeds is just a penis wagging contest.

[Drew Dowdell]

I wonder what the gas mileage was on that car?  Also, what was top speed?  Don't make too many blanket statements... I think the Corvette has a six speed and its torque curve is great...  That CTS - V in your signature also has a six speed.  In fact there is a long list of cars that offer six speeds that have great torque curves.  If more gears will help achieve better economy and not sacrifice performance then I am all for them.  Some cars to dispell your notion of six speeds = "crappy torque curves":

Lexus LS430

Cadillac STS V

Cadillac CTS V

Cadillac XLR V

Corvette

Corvette ZO6

Cadillac Escalade

GMC Denali

Mercedes S Class

BMW 7 series

Dodge Viper

Toyota Avalon

We all know that these cars would perform better (both economy and acceleration) if they had more forward gears:

Buick Lacrosse

Buick Lucerne

Cadillac DTS

Chevy Impala SS

Chevy Tahoe

Chrysler 300 STR-8

Pontiac G6

Pontiac GP

Oh geeze, they're mostly performance cars. All in the penis wagging segment. The fact that the Supercharged Riviera and Buick Roadmaster with the LT-1 are both sub 8 second cars with huge curbweights while using low<er> horsepower, high torque engines with 4-speeds proves that you can have great performance and still have a 4-speed. The Roadmaster and Riv were both good for about 27mpg. They were both designed in the early 90s.

A CVT is a tranmission with an infinate number of speeds. That makes them great for an engine with a poor torque curve. Remarkably they're also only cars with low torque because of durability issues.

[siegen]

I personally believe the cycle will come full circle:  The old cliche about becoming a victim of your own success.

Maybe for Toyota. Their aggressize marketting and growth, and the more common recalls that are popping up (at least when compared to older Toyota), might come around and bite them. Maybe not though, they're intellegent and know how to run business. And it definately won't happen anytime soon.

Honda on the other hand, has always grown slowly and evenly. There has never really been a spike or dull period for Honda. They definately are a much more conservative company than Toyota, at least in most areas. As long as Honda doesn't become overconfident they probably will never end up like GM.

[Cortazzo]

The beauty of these multi speed transmissions is that you can cruise at high speeds and still get great economy. most people don't drive 55/60 on the highway, they drive 70/75. That sixth gear can be high enough to give you 55 economy at 75. Or if a car doesn't have a huge torque band, the close ratio of gears can keep the engine 'on boil' in it's peak zone to deliver better performance. CVT is probably the best answer, but most people find them a little odd to drive. I personally wish I had an extra gear on my Tiburon, if I'm on a long hiway trip i'd rather cruise at 2k rpm as opposed to the 3k rpm i do if I'm cruising at 70 mph.

[76ChevyTrucker]

I definitely realize the idea of having an extra gear on long trips, but with the exception of a long trip and long endurance-type cruises, do you need six gears to drive 2.5 miles to the grocery store and then 2.5 miles back home? Or how about the 7.6 miles to work and back? I know I'm happy as hell with my 4T65E in my Impala, or even better, the THM350HD in my Custom Deluxe.

[The O.C.]

You know, part of me thinks that the people designing transmissions in today's cars and trucks were all OTR (over-the-road) truck drivers at some point.....I mean you don't EVER need 6-gears for a family car, unless its a highly stripped, very powerful, higly modified family car.  Think of it, asside from your local Frieghtliner, Peterbuilt, or Kenworth, what else needs a ba-jillion gears to get it moving?

6 gears = basically better performance and better fuel economy due to the fact that the gear ratios can be closer together, keeping the engine in the meat of the powerband upon acceleration....and having more gears allows you the opportunity to make 6th gear taller for quieter and more efficient crusing....and make 1st and 2nd gear shorter for more lively off-the-line acceleration.

[sciguy_0504]

Maybe for Toyota. Their aggressize marketting and growth, and the more common recalls that are popping up (at least when compared to older Toyota), might come around and bite them. Maybe not though, they're intellegent and know how to run business. And it definately won't happen anytime soon.

Honda on the other hand, has always grown slowly and evenly. There has never really been a spike or dull period for Honda. They definately are a much more conservative company than Toyota, at least in most areas. As long as Honda doesn't become overconfident they probably will never end up like GM.

No doubt Toyota's aggressive strategy is mainly the reason for all of their most recent problems. Hopefully management will notice and slow things down a bit as well as triple checking all new designs. The new Tundra has to have ZERO problems when it comes out or else there will be big problems. No ball joint issues there.

[The O.C.]

The Corvette and CTS-V are performance cars and need every bit of speed advantage they can get. You'll notice that both of them have that skip shift feature to help them with fuel efficiency, effectively turning them into 4-speeds under normal driving.

Skip shift is a piece of crap......

If I actually allow the skip shift to take me into 4th gear when it wanted to, even my very torquey Corvette can't comfortably accelerate. It bogs down and VERY slowly picks up speed. That can be even bad in heavy traffic. Dragging it from 1st to 4th at that low of engine speeds just drops the car into a hole.

I always bypass it unless I happen to not be paying attention. You can bypass it by either, shifting from 1st to 2nd at below about 2,000rpms, or accelerate in 1st to just past 2,300rpms, or wait to pull the shift lever back out of 1st until the skip shift indicator light goes out (a second or two.)

[Drew Dowdell]

The beauty of these multi speed transmissions is that you can cruise at high speeds and still get great economy.  most people don't drive 55/60 on the highway, they drive 70/75.  That sixth gear can be high enough to give you 55 economy at 75.  Or if a car doesn't have a huge torque  band, the close ratio of gears can keep the engine 'on boil' in it's peak zone to deliver better performance.  CVT is probably the best answer, but most people find them a little odd to drive.  I personally wish I had an extra gear on my Tiburon, if I'm on a long hiway trip i'd rather cruise at 2k rpm as opposed to the 3k rpm i do if I'm cruising at 70 mph.

If the 6th gear is a taller overdrive gear, then that'd be great. As it is the 5th gear is usually 1:1 and the 6th gear is a standard ratio overdrive somewhere around .79:1

[The O.C.]

The Roadmaster and Riv were both good for about 27mpg. They were both designed in the early 90s. 

The 4th gear on those 4-speeds was very tall....helping aid highway fuel economy. The problem is....that left huge chasms (relatively speaking) inbetween gears 1 and 4.

Passing acceleration can also be improved with a 5 or 6-speed auto because you have a wider choice of ratios to dip into for increased power depending on the driving/passing conditions.

Many times driving say a 4-speed auto, I find that you punch it to pull out to pass, and only get a downshift to 3rd gear because 2nd is geared to short to keep acceleration peppy from a stop....and therefore the tranny won't grab it.

[Drew Dowdell]

Skip shift is a piece of crap......

If I actually allow the skip shift to take me into 4th gear when it wanted to, even my very torquey Corvette can't comfortably accelerate.  It bogs down and VERY slowly picks up speed.  That can be even bad in heavy traffic.  Dragging it from 1st to 4th at that low of engine speeds just drops the car into a hole.

I always bypass it unless I happen to not be paying attention.  You can bypass it by either, shifting from 1st to 2nd at below about 2,000rpms, or accelerate in 1st to just past 2,300rpms, or wait to pull the shift lever back out of 1st until the skip shift indicator light goes out (a second or two.)

I agree that skip shift, as it's currently set up, isn't a really graceful solution. Would a 1-3-5-6 shift pattern work better do you think?

[Drew Dowdell]

The 4th gear on those 4-speeds was very tall....helping aid highway fuel economy.  The problem is....that left huge chasms (relatively speaking) inbetween gears 1 and 4.

Passing acceleration can also be improved with a 5 or 6-speed auto because you have a wider choice of ratios to dip into for increased power depending on the driving/passing conditions.

Many times driving say a 4-speed auto, I find that you punch it to pull out to pass, and only get a downshift to 3rd gear because 2nd is geared to short to keep acceleration peppy from a stop....and therefore the tranny won't grab it.

In my experience driving the Roadmaster over the mountians 345 ft/torque @ 3100 RPM means you don't need to downshift nearly as often. Remember, it's not a vette, it's an Avalon competitor. <in purpose it's purpose>

My point is, have a huge amount of torque, way down low in the RPM band, and the number of gears become less important.

23mpg out of a V8 1957 Buick with a 1 speed dynaflow is fairly impressive. I've often wondered what the result would be if someone developed a modern dynaflow since it is really just a CVT from the 50s.