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Would you buy a current generation Camry?
Hi All,
I was almost decided on getting the 2007 Camry LE (4 cylinder), but then came upon the transmission problem with the 2007 Camry's. As I understand it, there are two problems that most owners are facing:
1. the 4 cylinder cars have a hesitation problem
2. the V6's have a gear shift problem
What I couldn't get from reading online is whether the problem has been fixed in recent builds of the 2007 Camry's and if owner's problems were resolved completely with the TSBs.
Did people with the 4 cylinder cars see the problem with the transmission that they were having go away after they applied the TSBs?
Which build date/VIN numbers should I look for when getting the Camry?
What do you recommend, 2007 Camry owners, is it a safe choice to get the 2007 Camry LE 4 cylinder considering all these transmission problems?
Sree
I was almost decided on getting the 2007 Camry LE (4 cylinder), but then came upon the transmission problem with the 2007 Camry's. As I understand it, there are two problems that most owners are facing:
1. the 4 cylinder cars have a hesitation problem
2. the V6's have a gear shift problem
What I couldn't get from reading online is whether the problem has been fixed in recent builds of the 2007 Camry's and if owner's problems were resolved completely with the TSBs.
Did people with the 4 cylinder cars see the problem with the transmission that they were having go away after they applied the TSBs?
Which build date/VIN numbers should I look for when getting the Camry?
What do you recommend, 2007 Camry owners, is it a safe choice to get the 2007 Camry LE 4 cylinder considering all these transmission problems?
Sree
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
I think my car functioned fine before the TSB.....the TSB was available.....so I had it performed. I noticed a slight improvement.
I believe some people "think" there is a problem because the Camry may be the first Toyota they have owned and they are not used to the new throttle system....If someone wants an immediate response they should get a Corvette, which will jump if you nudge the gas pedal a little bit. I do not expect this car to "take off" like my friends Corvette.
My last three cars have been Camrys......I have never experienced any hesitation......However, some owners say they are and I believe them.
Best regards. ----- Dwayne :shades:
Otherwise on paper and test drives this car seems right for me.
It's got all the goodies like steering wheel controls, air bags, 4-wheel disc brakes, option stability control, and of course a comfortable, quiet ride. it looks slick too.
I wish I wasn't so impatient or I probably should wait for the 08's.
I've always driven American cars, most recently a 4cyl 98 Dodge Stratus which I owned brand new. Its four banger and auto transmission was far from high performance but it has been very predictable. I'm accustomed to having it down shift with slight hesitation when asking for a lot of power (highway passing and slow down then speed up situations).
I guess I'm hoping to hear someone say the Camry 4cyl is not that bad. After all it's a 4 banger not a V6. It's very ironic because for years I've had to hear people trash American cars and praise Toyotas like there was not any comparison. Now I'm finally falling for a Toyota and to my huge surprise I'm hearing all of this negative stuff about the transmission.
But the thing I can't figure is how the professionals are not saying anything bad. Consumer Reports has given the Camry its best recommended rating and Motortrend named it 2007 Car of the Year. I have a hard time understanding this, especially when it seems they jump all over the American makes for anything. We are talking about possibly a faulty transmission, not just cheap dashboard materials.
If I don't buy a Camry, I'm probably going to get a Chevy Impala. Does anyone out there still think it's worth buying the 4cyl Toyota Camry?
Thanks for your help.
My family owns several Hondas, an '04 Accord, two '04 Elements, and an '06 Civic, in which none of them has a transmission problem. I'm the last one to stray away from the Hondas and I made a pretty bad decision. The looks of the new Camry will intrigue you, but don't judge a book by its cover.
Toyota says that the 4 cylinder Camry runs on a drive-by-wire system, which is the source of the transmission hesitation problems. The person who works at the dealership also purchased the '07 Camry and said that if he had known about the transmission problem, he would not have purchased it. Go American.
We visited several dealerships and drove a few.
We found that the V6 XLE was the only one that came with all the options she wanted.
Then we asked a dealership to find one for us.
They found one and said it would be in on the weekend.
Then closer to the weekend she called to schedule an early appointment to testdrive the car on the weekend. That’s when they told her that it wouldn’t be ready until the following Wednesday. They just had to put a new Transmission in it.
Uhh, wait a minute, isn’t this a new car? She asked.
They explained that there was a known issue and they were gonna correct it before it went out.
That’s when we started looking at all the different forums.
We discovered that there were many forums discussing this issue.
It seems that the transmission surges and hesitates. Toyota has released a Service Bulletin, but not a recall.
There are many Camry owners who haven’t had this problem. However, the ones who have had the problem, most all claim the problem is never completely fixed, or the car is now noisier than before, or the Dash isn’t seated correctly any more, the car is in the shop all the time,
Again, it appears that most of the problems we’ve heard about, have been with the V6. There have been some with the 4cyl, but fewer.
We don’t want to take the chance that we might get one of these vehicles with this “known issue”. We wanted to get a new, reliable, car, but this one doesn’t sound like it’s the one. Unfortunately we’ll have to look at something else.
As far as other vehicles. Some of my friends and coworkers have accords, fusions, fords, and pontiacs and they are ALL experiencing similar (and different) issues/problems with their vehicles. Even with a Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes, some people experience problems....
.....I don't know what to say. Is there any car that doesn't have problems?
I can't wait to get the new body styled Camry I think it looks sharp! BUT UNTIL MY 1997 Camry clonks out completely and I mean completely I won't purchase. I LOVE MY CAMRY. It's 4cy,I keep the inside as well as the outside clean. I've got a whopping 244,542 miles. NO MISPRINT.
I've even considered trying to get a job within the Toyota organization. No major repairs at all. I keep waiting at least for my muffler to fall of but until then I won't look for nothing to go wrong. Just my minor up-keeps. :P :shades:
Is new TSB for hestitation on May 8th 2007 or 2006?
the old TSB don't include my VIN, though I feel that my car do have some transmission issues. also my MPG is much lower than what they estimate. my is between 24-25MPG mostly freeway.
Please share the new TSB if you have it
Thank you
I need to purchase a new car I like the camry a lot but I am concern about the transmission problems on the Camry V6 so I am looking at the Honda Accord. Current camry users how do you feel about your camry 07 V6 will you purchase another one. Any one with a Honda Accord experience.
I have never own a Honda before
Thanks
jdelgado89
I would'nt buy the Camry
I plan on keeping this car for 6-8 years, so this will be a major purchase for me. At this point, it is probably between an entry level Infinity G35 and a loaded Camry. If I get the G35, I won't be able to afford as many bells and whistles as if I get the Camry. Long story short, the Camry is better in my price range, but I don't want to get into something that is going to cause me problems. Thanks for any imput and advice.
Thanks
I am between the Honda Accord and the Camry but with all the comments about the camry I am leaning for the Accord. I have never own an Honda I have been always a Toyota (Corolla, Camry, RAV4 and a 4Runner) so it is difficult to understand all this issues when my experience with my previous cars has been excellent.
Thanks
jdelgado
well the transmission problem i would like to say don't exist but it does... but its not really that noticeable... :P but if u hav a choice of G35 i would get that i wanted the G35 but didn't hav the budget :P
I've been perfectly happy with my '04 and '05 Camry 4-cylinders (drivetrain in the '05 model is essentially the same as that in the 4-cylinder '07 model).
The G35 has been getting a lot of complaints and there are a bunch of TSB's out for it right now.
Still, even on the '07 Camry, my sense is that the V6 transmission has had more problems than the 4-cylinder, especially when you consider something like 75-80% of all Camrys sold have the 4-cylinder. My dime: I'd buy the 4-cylinder but wait on the V6.
I really enjoyed reading your stories back in the now-closed "Inconsiderate Buyers" thread.
And it is indeed good to have him back in all of his usual places!
Some of you that want a Camry but are concerned about 4 cyl hesitation or V6 transmissions (neither of which I think are particularly warranted, at this point, btw)--why not consider the Camry Hybrid?
Pricing and features are comparable--the TCH is equipped more similarly to an XLE than anything else (standard auto duo climate control, 6 disc JBL sound system, etc). Acceleration wise, the TCH absolutely smokes the standard 4 cyl because of the additional battery boost (RT had it a 7.7 secs to 60). It gets 36-39 mpg routinely (I get 37 or so driving aggressively) and you are literally giving nothing up except for a little bit of trunk space.
And, best part is--there have been zero issues with the TCH. My dealer has had intermittent vehicles come up with those two issues--though not much anymore--but hasn't had any Hybrid's come in for anything. Its a proven hybrid system (Prius).
I'm sorry to hear that. What else are you going to do? How are you going to escalate your problem?
If you have video, how can they not agree. I assume you've been dealing with Toyota Corporate too. I would threaten to go to major news channels with the info if they don't fix your car. Not that a threat is the best way, but it would likely work.
Let me know what you have planned.
Mackabee
I think the camry looks good though.
That vehicle looks almost exactly like the new lexus's that cam out over here in the US.
Another example, that someone told me, is that Japan's "Honda Accord" is the American Acura TSX.....interesting.
Have you previously owned a Toyota Camry or any other vehicle with that type of engine?
Yes, I have owned 3 other Toyota Camry LE with 4cyl/automatic txmsn. For the last 15 years, I have owned nothing but Toyota Camry LE's with this type engine (all bought when they were new).
I emailed you the TSB.
I own a 2007 XLE Camry with 19,500 + miles, and I have no problems with this vehicle. It will be one year old in January. I do a lot of highway driving, and the vehicle is serviced by the selling dealer every 2,500 miles. (My choice!)---- I have an appointment on December 3rd with the dealer to perform the 20,000 mile service, (oil and filter change, brake check and a brake fluid flush). ----- In January, I plan on having the trans fluid changed.---- (One year of my driving is like two years for the average person!) ----- Prior to the Summer, I will have the engine coolant replaced.
When I first purchased this vehicle and I started to read these boards, I was VERY concerned about the quality of my vehicle. But, after driving it for almost one year, I DO NOT have any issues to report, and I am very comfortable with owning the vehicle. ------- Does this mean that there are no problems with the Camry? ----"NO"! --- It just means that my vehicle seems to be "OK" at 19,500+ miles! ---- Will it stay that way in the future? ----I don't know, but I have a Toyota 6 year / 100,000 mile, (top-of-the-line), extended warranty to deal with any future issue. (This is the reason why I have the selling dealer perform all of the service!)
Prior to purchasing this vehicle, I owned a 2003 - 4 cylinder Honda Accord, (that was purchased used)! I switched to the Toyota because of the comfort of the seats.
On the road, I get at least 30mpg. I think that this is great for this vehicle size.
Before I purchased this vehicle, I looked at the Chevrolet Impala, Buick, Hyundai, and Nissan. The Chevrolet and Buick dealers could not get the trim package that I wanted in a "stock vehicle" in New Jersey. (I did not want to order a vehicle! Too many problems with this process, especially if the vehicle comes in with some cosmetic issues / mechanical issues.) The Toyota dealer had the vehicle in stock with all the equipment that I wanted, so I purchased the Camry.
I would have no problem purchasing a Camry in 2010, but I would take an extensive "test ride" with the vehicle that I was about to purchase. I would also look at a Chevrolet and a Buick. My next vehicle might be a Hybrid.
Best regards. ----------- Dwayne :shades:
I have 2 Camrys purchased new, both 4-cylinders, one a 2004 with 48K miles and the other a 2005 with 25K miles. I change the oil and filter myself on both every 6 months (about 4K miles), and I've drained and refilled the tranny fluid on the older car once so far. I rotate the tires every 7500 miles and have replaced the air filter once and cabin filter twice so far on the older car (but not yet on the newer one). The newer car has had absolutely NO problems and the older one only has a very minor "stiction" in the steering when I make a left turn at slower speeds. These cars don't need to be babied -- they're not Ferraris or even VWs for that matter.
Isn't that why it's called a blind spot :confuse:
I take long road trips with this vehicle, and I do not want issues on the road. (This is the reason for the Toyota Extended Warranty, and the 2,500 mile oil and filter changes.) As you can see from my postings, I accumulate the mileage very rapidly. Some of it is "stop-and-go-driving" and some is "highway driving". Since I am in sales, I cannot afford a problem on the road. (My vehicle is my office.) Through a little extra preventive maintenance, I am trying to prevent a potential problem.
BACK TO THE SUBJECT OF THE POSTING:
This vehicle is different than my 2003 Honda Accord. I think that the "drive by wire" accelerator control is responsible for some of the issues, (problems), that you see posted on these boards. I use a "very slow application of the accelerator" when entering a highway. The shift characteristics are very crisp and positive! When passing another vehicle, I press the accelerator slowly, the transmission shifts to a "passing gear," and once the action if taken, it "up-shifts" without a problem. I DO NOT jump between the brake and the accelerator as characterized by agressive / bumper to bumper high speed driving. (I would think that with a "drive by wire system," this type of driving would exaggerate the lag in the accelerator response, because the vehicle is getting two different commands in a short period of time. It is like a human being trying to do two things at once.) I think that some of the complaints with this vehicle, that you read on these boards, are "driver induced issues", (that is using out dated driving styles on vehicles with new technology.)
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to drive a 2004 Honda Civic. This vehicle does not have a "drive by wire system". The operational characteristics were totally different than my Camry.
YES, I would consider purchasing another Camry. I find nothing wrong with this vehicle, and it is more comfortable than my old 2003 Honda Accord. I have a great selling dealer, and the service is outstanding.
Have a "GREAT DAY"!
Best regards: ------------- Dwayne :shades:
P.S.
I DO NOT use a full Synthetic Oil! ---- I believe that the Toyota dealer is using an oil that is partly synthetic! ----- I will be on the road today, (a 6 hour round trip to Atlantic City). ----- Yes, I will stop at the "Wild West Buffet" at Ballys! I always mix "pleasure with business"! ----- Remember "life is TOO short" to drive a car that you don't like, and don't believe everything that you read in the "owners manual" of vehicles. Most of the maintence recommendations are formulated on "conjecture" about the longevity of lubricants and fluids. Today we are dealing with new technology, new operating characteristics, new materials and new lubricants and new fluids. Only time will tell, (in real world applications), if the recommendations are correct!
You have entered a freeway acceleration lane and as you glance back over your left shoulder you unconsciously, instinctively(??), lift the gas pedal slightly. You quite possibly do that 2 or 3 times before spotting an opening in the fast(er) moving upcoming traffic that you feel you can safely accelerate and merge into. But now when you apply the GO pedal what you get is 1-2 seconds of NO-GO. NOW its decision time, AGAIN! Can you still accelerate fast enough, quickly enough, to merge SAFELY...??
Each time you looked back over your left shoulder and unconsciously lifted the gas pedal the engine/transaxle ECU had to make a decision as to your true intent. As a general rule a lift throttle event will quickly result in an upshift, provided one is available, and the following gas pedal depression will, generally, result in a downshift.
Your transaxle does NOT have a hydraulic pressure accumulator/storage "tank", nor does it have an ATF pump with enough capacity with the engine at idle, to support two gear changes in quick sequence, succession.
The ATF pump was downsized beginning in about '98 to improve FE and after a few years of stumbling about trying to find a solution for failing(***) transaxles Toyota has settled on DBW to "protect the drive train", prevent the engine torque from rising in response to gas pedal depression until the transaxle shifting is complete.
*** '99 (and '00[??]) RX300's with "Camry/Avalon/ES300" transaxles. The AWD versions, more stress on the tranny, having even a higher premature failure rate.
I own a 2007 V6 XLE with 21,300+ miles. The vehicle is one year old, and I do not have any problems with the transmission. The vehicle is serviced only by the selling dealer, (every 2,500 miles / my choice). On the highway it gets 30mpg. I would highly recommend this vehicle. (No, I do not sell Toyotas.) ----- Does this mean that there are not any vehicles out there that have a problem? ------ No! ---- But I think that the true "problem vehicles" are a small percentage of the total production. In addition, I think that some of the operational issues, that you read about on these boards, are driver induced. Remember, this vehicle is a "drive by wire" operation. You cannot drive this vehicle like a "cable controlled throttle" vehicle! The throttel response is different! You will notice this fact when driving in the snow! YES, I would recommend this product.
Best regards. ---------- Dwayne ------- :shades: