2011 se auto shifting hesitation - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

AliSe · 02-01-2011, 05:52 PM

Hello everybody,
My name is Ali and I am new to Toyota Nation...I've had my 2011 toyota camry se 4 cyl for about 4 months now, however. One thing that I have noticed was the poor transmission in this car. Now maybe you guys don't have this similar issue..that would be a definite plus for me.

Here's my problem: I'm gentle on my gas and brake. When I accelerate, EACH AND EVERY gear change is felt and it jerks me a little bit. What's up with this????? Now, even worse...when I am approaching a red light and let the car ride out on its momentum, I can feel every down shift too! the worst has to be from second to first gear.....when i have people in the car w me they say it feels as if i hit the brake hard. When I'm braking, lets say from 30 mph down to 0, at about 5 mph the car still jerks forward as I am trying to stop the car.

Guys I am also a lexus es 300 owner. PROUD OWNER. I still have that car and its running strong. (220k) This trans shifts smoother than my camry.

I have called the dealership to ask about a possible recall on the transmission and they say no, just to bring it in. But they need the car over night and unlike lexus, toyota does not give out loaners so I've been in a hard situation for a little while....anyways.......HELP ME PLEASE?!?

aznlunatic206 · 02-01-2011, 06:42 PM

its rough because its a 4 cylinder engine, unlike your es300 which is a v6 which is always smoother.

eyezack87 · 02-01-2011, 06:57 PM

I had an ES300 as well and I don't have this issue in my i4. Should let them check it out just in case. If anything, take a video of what is happening and make sure they watch it for proof. It'll help get your case through I guess

tengiday · 02-01-2011, 07:38 PM

I haven't driven a Lexus yet, so I don't know how the ride feels. However, I'm sure its ride is better than the Camry (even Camry v6), for sure! For the transmission in the Camry, I feel the same thing to you (a little push forward when I let off the gas and the car is slowing down), but it's fine, or not noticeable, to me. Yours may be worse.
Did you notice the RPM and how it reacted in those cases?

camry2011 · 02-01-2011, 07:45 PM

I have a 2011 SE and have the same issue. Im also experiencing another issue with the tranny. When driving in tiptronic and take of in first and redlining, it hits the rev limiter about three to four times before shifting into second. Have you also experienced this?

***JohnGD*** · 02-01-2011, 08:02 PM

Yeah the U-series has a lot of complaints. The older ES300 uses the more reliable Aisin A-series transmission. In the last couple of years the U-series clunked in.

See if the dealer can do some reprogramming. new technical service bulletins (TSBs) should show up so you may have to go back again later.

AliSe · 02-01-2011, 08:41 PM

@aznlunatic206- I've never owned a 4 cyl before...I've had a v8 cadi and v6 lexus. People have told me that with such a heavy and big car, the 4 cyl may act like this...which i can understand to a certain degree....the fact that the car is still in its "fresh" period startles me tho...i can completely understand if I had 100k on it but I dont know man, if this is the case, im going to have to trade it in for a v6.

@eyezack87- good idea, i'll keep that in consideration

@tengiday- I've rented 2 camrys already for some trips..i believe both were 2010 models, though. They were fine to a typical every day driver but since I was trying to feel that jerk from the transmission i did feel it a little bit. so maybe thats what you're feeling in your ride...as far as the rpm is concerned I haven't really been watching it, but I am sure its not hesitating thru its intervals...i'll keep my eye out for it next time, thanks

@camry2011- I rarely drive in tip because I'm always on the highway bud...13k miles n counting....

@JohnGD..yes they said it may not necessarily be a tranny issue, but maybe something electronically is missing or needs to be reprogrammed as you suggested...I guess i'll just have to wait and see..

11LE · 02-01-2011, 09:13 PM

If you're sitting around, bored, disconnect your battery for 5 minutes and then reconnect. Your radio presets will need to be reset, and the computer will learn your driving style once again. Maybe your car was test driven several times and the computer is a bit confused as to how you want it to drive, because if you floor it and let off the gas just a tiny bit before redlining, the transmission will freeze at that rpm not knowing what to do for a little bit. After you connect the battery again, drive like you always drive and let the computer learn how you drive..

Just a thought. May not help at all, but better than staring at the car while you wait to take it to the dealer later on..

aznlunatic206 · 02-02-2011, 02:03 AM

^ you can do that also, so it can relearn how you drive and sometimes can make it smoother. Sport mode will lag so you have to shift like 500rpms before it hits the redline or it will, its not a sports car so you cant expect it to shift right that second.

Luna2 · 02-02-2011, 10:37 AM

Check this.....
T-SB-0287-10, ECM/TCM Calibration: Shift Feeling Enhancement, 2010-11, I4

MJZ · 02-02-2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliSe

Hello everybody,
My name is Ali and I am new to Toyota Nation...I've had my 2011 toyota camry se 4 cyl for about 4 months now, however. One thing that I have noticed was the poor transmission in this car. Now maybe you guys don't have this similar issue..that would be a definite plus for me.

Here's my problem: I'm gentle on my gas and brake. When I accelerate, EACH AND EVERY gear change is felt and it jerks me a little bit. What's up with this????? Now, even worse...when I am approaching a red light and let the car ride out on its momentum, I can feel every down shift too! the worst has to be from second to first gear.....when i have people in the car w me they say it feels as if i hit the brake hard. When I'm braking, lets say from 30 mph down to 0, at about 5 mph the car still jerks forward as I am trying to stop the car.

Guys I am also a lexus es 300 owner. PROUD OWNER. I still have that car and its running strong. (220k) This trans shifts smoother than my camry.

I have called the dealership to ask about a possible recall on the transmission and they say no, just to bring it in. But they need the car over night and unlike lexus, toyota does not give out loaners so I've been in a hard situation for a little while....anyways.......HELP ME PLEASE?!?

Toyota does give out loaners. It depends on the dealers you go to.

Something sounds terribly wrong with your car, but I will say even my V6 6-Auto is not the smoothest transmission on downshifts and is very rough when the car is cold. Once it warms up though, it is smooth going from 0 to any speed, but sometimes kicks down harder than I'd prefer.

11LE · 02-02-2011, 07:31 PM

I've gotten a loaner before.. I did have to show them some major discontent, but that's because they had be back for the 4th time trying to fix the paint on my car.

Just have to be in an exceptional scenario.

marioguevarra · 02-13-2011, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 11LE

If you're sitting around, bored, disconnect your battery for 5 minutes and then reconnect. Your radio presets will need to be reset, and the computer will learn your driving style once again. Maybe your car was test driven several times and the computer is a bit confused as to how you want it to drive, because if you floor it and let off the gas just a tiny bit before redlining, the transmission will freeze at that rpm not knowing what to do for a little bit. After you connect the battery again, drive like you always drive and let the computer learn how you drive..

Just a thought. May not help at all, but better than staring at the car while you wait to take it to the dealer later on..

This didn't worked for me. Still there is a tad in gear shifting. I feel dizzy & lightheaded after driving my 2011 Camry LE for the 1st 2 weeks. I'm used to driving a lowered Corolla and it was that stiff and nothing compares to Camry's cloud feel. Brought it back to dealer and they can't find any problem. The master technician admits that it doesn't really shift seamlessly because of the 6 speed transmission but I told him Toyota claims it does and it's on the brochure. He didn't respond. General Sales Mngr of Southeast Toyota drove it and he claims that I need to see my MD. Told him that I drove my mom's Accord and didn't felt the same. Should he be the one seeing a doctor?

He recommends me to trade in again a brand new Camry to another one or better yet get a Corolla. That is just plain STUPID!!!! He explained that there is a sensor besides the gas pedal for foot movement that also contributes to this shifting pattern combined with the 6 speed transmission. That is another STUPIDITY!!!! Who ever invented that sensor is DUMB!!!! Tonight I will cover that sensor and see if that would make any difference.

I only drove 2 miles on it during test drive and I was thinking that the car would probably adopt to my driving but I guess it should be me needing to adopt to this car. Other than the shifting problem, everything is great specially cruise control.

A month after, got used to the 'cloud feel' drive and symptoms never came back. A Chevrolet dealer states that there are other reason can cause it: glass gradient, smell of a new car because of the glue manufacturer used, seat height and others. Got myself car freshener and it helped. I even got paranoid thinking there is CO2 leak. Bought myself a detector and tested negative. Now the unit found a sweet spot in our house.

wreyes1989 · 02-13-2011, 10:17 PM

well, i have a V6 and i can always feel the jerk when the gear shift, i dont mine it, i like it as a matter of fact, and my friends V6 does the same thing but whats crazy is you feeling the down shift, thats that normal. i hope its something they can fix, because as i said the down shifting is not normal,

marioguevarra · 02-14-2011, 04:50 AM

That's normal to you? Hmmmm....... I have driven Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda CRV, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Highlander, Dodge Charger, Pontiac G6, GMC Terrain, Nissan Sentra, Jeep Grand Cherokee, BMW 353 and BMW X3 in my life and never had experienced the same thing with my Camry.