5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
I just took delivery of a 2010 Toyota Camry LE 4-cylinder. I am having transmission issues. The new 6 speed automatic transmission does NOT shift smoothly in low speed, stop and go type driving. The transmission constantly hunts and holds the lower gear when coming to a stop causing an annoying drag on the engine until it finally upshifts and smooths out. I have driven 2009 Camry's with the 5 speed tranny and they are very smooth. I am hoping that other 2010 owners will respond and let me know if this is unique to my car or is the how the new 6-speed transmission is designed...the dealer tells me its designed to downshift to slow you down but it is NOT at all a smooth process and VERY annoying when driving in town...its fine on the open road. Anybody have this issue or heard about it yet?
When I took it back to the dealer, they kept it overnight and told me the next day that they found it a qt low on transmission fluid from the factory...and also told me the downshifting when coming to a stop was "normal" in the new transmissions...they downshift to help you slow down...I hope this smooths out because its very irritating to drive around town...I have been reading a lot about "adaptive transmissions" which this car has...and it could take time for it to "learn" my driving behavior but I still think a Camry transmission should be extrememly smooth...
When I took it back to the dealer, they kept it overnight and told me the next day that they found it a qt low on transmission fluid from the factory...and also told me the downshifting when coming to a stop was "normal" in the new transmissions...they downshift to help you slow down...I hope this smooths out because its very irritating to drive around town...I have been reading a lot about "adaptive transmissions" which this car has...and it could take time for it to "learn" my driving behavior but I still think a Camry transmission should be extrememly smooth...
I would take a ride with the manager in a new car with the SAME transmission and drive it and see. If that car doesnt act the same as YOUR car I would demand that it be repaired. Period. I would also document EVERYTHING and what everyone there says and THEN also ask for their district manager if they dont respond properly. Maybe you could even take it to another stealership and see what they say.
Something aint working properly from what you say.
I would take a ride with the manager in a new car with the SAME transmission and drive it and see. If that car doesnt act the same as YOUR car I would demand that it be repaired. Period. I would also document EVERYTHING and what everyone there says and THEN also ask for their district manager if they dont respond properly. Maybe you could even take it to another stealership and see what they say.
Something aint working properly from what you say.
Wwait.did you say that the tranmission was 1 QUART LOW on tranny fluid? If the car was driven with that much fluid missing, it sure as hell would shift hard. Does it continue to do it even with the tranny fluid at the correct level? None the less, any damage to a brand new car should be covered especially since the 2010 has been out less than a month.
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'07 Honda Ruckus Big Bore TOTALED: '03 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4x4 5.4L, '96 Camry LE 5S May '10: '11 Sienna V6 XLE FWD 8-pass. July '10: '06 Matrix XR Auto FWD Oct. '09: '05 RAV-4 L 4WD
The transmission function has improved a lot as I have driven it more...maybe the "learning" thing is for real...I talked again with a mechanic at my local Toyota place and he told me that there are others who say the transmission can be a bit unruly at times but that its not a problem with the transmission overall...now and then it still hunts gears in stop and go driving but overall during normal acceleration, its very smooth...the car overall drives amazingly well and is incredibly smooth and quiet on the road..it even seems a bit quieter than my uncle's Toyota Avalon on the road... or even with the sunroof open...I'll keep monitoring the tranny...if anyone else buys a 2010 and has this same issue, keep this discussion going...I'd be curious to see if others have this same issue...
Should write to toyota, for refund of your car, as your dealer should check all fluid levels before delivery. That dealership doesnt deserve to be operational, what if the engine oil is less?
I am sure low transmission oil would lead to premature damage too. You should atleast get a new car.
The transmission function has improved a lot as I have driven it more...maybe the "learning" thing is for real...I talked again with a mechanic at my local Toyota place and he told me that there are others who say the transmission can be a bit unruly at times but that its not a problem with the transmission overall...now and then it still hunts gears in stop and go driving but overall during normal acceleration, its very smooth...the car overall drives amazingly well and is incredibly smooth and quiet on the road..it even seems a bit quieter than my uncle's Toyota Avalon on the road... or even with the sunroof open...I'll keep monitoring the tranny...if anyone else buys a 2010 and has this same issue, keep this discussion going...I'd be curious to see if others have this same issue...
I think the best thing is if you trade vehicles with me so I can help Toyota find the problem, THUS helping Toyota and THUS helping the economy.
The transmission function has improved a lot as I have driven it more...maybe the "learning" thing is for real...I talked again with a mechanic at my local Toyota place and he told me that there are others who say the transmission can be a bit unruly at times but that its not a problem with the transmission overall...now and then it still hunts gears in stop and go driving but overall during normal acceleration, its very smooth...the car overall drives amazingly well and is incredibly smooth and quiet on the road..it even seems a bit quieter than my uncle's Toyota Avalon on the road... or even with the sunroof open...I'll keep monitoring the tranny...if anyone else buys a 2010 and has this same issue, keep this discussion going...I'd be curious to see if others have this same issue...
I am having the EXACT same problem, which is what led me to find this thread. I picked up my car (an LE 4-cylinder) two days ago and have driven about 500 miles so far. I noticed the same annoying, awful downshifting and hunting for gears while in stop-and-go traffic, and I can see why you find it frustrating. Other than this issue, I love the car and I'm hoping it will smooth out. Also, I drove a 2009 for about 1,000 miles and didn't notice anything like this at all. Just curious--how many miles did it take for your car to start getting better?
my transmission has calmed down a lot...I have about 1500 miles on it now....I took it on its first road trip this week and I didn't seem to notice it much at all...either its calmed down or I am getting used to it! On the open road/interstate it handles/drives like a dream...quiet and very smooth all the way...it sill hunts a little in stop and go driving but it doesnt seem as harsh...I'd still report it to Toyota both your dealer and the national hotline thats on the toyota.com website...they need to know that there is a small issue...I let both know about my issue...they said they "opened a ticket" on the issue...many have told me that Toyota will probably come up with a software update for the tranny if enough people complain...overall I am still very pleased with it...the mpg is great and the satellite radio with bluetooth rocks! I'm keepint my eye on it though....in case it flares up again...
Great--thanks so much for your advice. I told my dealer what was going on and he said to let him know if it was still doing it in 1,000 miles or so, so I'm going to give it a little time. The shifting already doesn't seem to be as abrupt as it was the first day, so I'm optimistic. I read in the manual's "break-in tips" that you shouldn't drive continuously in the low gears for the first 1,000 miles...maybe this is to prevent the transmission issue? Also, I got 34mpg on my first tank of gas, which I'm really happy about. The car is definitely an upgrade from my old '98, which I put 227,000 miles on and is still going strong. Again, thanks for the advice, and enjoy the new car!
Well, after seeming to smooth out, today it started the harsh downshifting when coming to a stop and erratic shifting in stop and go driving...I dont know if I can stand this for 5 years till its paid off :-(
I even considered today trying to trade it on a 2007 Honda Accord V6 with very low mileage I found at a local Honda Dealership...that generation of Honda Accord's (before they changed it radically in 2008) was a sweet ride as I remember...probably still lose my shirt even though the dealers around here are really aching to deal and probably could make me a deal I could live with on a used Accord.
Aww bummer! Mine is driving okay, although I do still notice the downshifting in traffic. Usually I'm about to hit the brakes anyways, so it's not a big deal, but other times (when I don't need to stop) it'll shift back up to a good coasting gear, where I wish it had stayed in the first place! My '98 never did anything like this. I was looking at the '06 Accords before I bought the Camry (I like the coupe version) but I had heard from my local, very trustworthy mechanic that he had seen more than a few of them in the shop with a cracked engine block, making me edge back towards the Camry. I know that Honda didn't do a whole lot in between '06 and '07, so I didn't want to take my chances with an '07. I'm going to give it a couple thousand miles before I get too worried. Thanks for keeping us all updated on what's going on with your Camry, and I hope everything works out for you.
I drove to work this morning and it was smooth as silk....I can't figure it...just going to have to deal with it...otherwise, the car really is nice....smoothest, quietest car I have ever owned...
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