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Camry 2011 transmission problem

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Comments

  • rdc3434rdc3434 Member Posts: 2
    Thanks for getting back on this. No,I did not touch the brake. I do not know anything about the brake light switch adj. Could you please expand on this The freeway is very stright,dry,not windy,light traffic. the hills were steep enough to make 6 speed shift to hold speed @ 65mph while in CC.Both uphill & downhill.In the last week,a new problem popped up.Driver side ele. window was approx. 2/3 down.touched toggle for up. Window went up and back down to orignal 2/3 position.Did this several times.same same. Toggled switch, up a inch ,it stayed so I inched the window closed. Hour or so later , put window down. Worked fine from all positions . Three days later, same problem,window goes up , then down.I have not talked to Toyota about window yet as I want to gather information on stall problem.Thank you for your input
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    I too own a brand new Camry - 2011 with 1300 miles on it
    the transmission jerks constantly when slowing down and the engine makes a "whiny noise" the entire time you are driving it also if the car sits for a while it has to be "warmed up" for a good 5 to 10 minutes or the rpm's are too high and the car will "drive itself" - Have been to the local dealership once already and have an appointment to take it back next week. Have placed a call to Toyota's Customer Experience Center as well, and they state that someone from Headquarters will call me back on Monday. Pretty bad when you pay so much money for a new vehicle and it is this unpleasant to drive, as a result you just dont feel safe. I will not rest until this is resolved. This car drives like an old tank ! ( I might add that I am historically a Toyota "girl" This is my 5th Toyota and by far my 2005 was awesome. This new one is not a pleasant driving experience at all
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    the rep at toyota stated i was the first complaint he had had concerning these issuses, so people need to start calling toyota h q
    their number is 1-800-331-4331
  • oscarlettoscarlett Member Posts: 7
    Hey Toyota girl, I am still driving my 96' Camry LE and was going to buy a 2011 Camry LE tomorrow..PLEASE reply asap as to which model you are speaking of!
    I may wait for the 2012 if I read anymore negatives....
  • oscarlettoscarlett Member Posts: 7
    edited November 2010
    Thanks everyone for your detailed input on driving experiences with the new 2011 Camry's...I cancelled my purchase of the 2010 LE and was hoping those transmission annoyances had been smoothed away...but it sounds like I better cancel my Saturday 2011 purchase once more and wait for the LE 2012 to arrive!? Can't believe they still produce our beloved Camry's with all this unresolved issues! My 1996 LE has been nothing but miraculous. The 122,000 miles and the color being black are my only complaints. Was looking forward to purchasing a nice new white Camry LE 2011, but it's not sounding like this is the year to buy once more. Any suggestions/comments are very much appreciated. My grandfather built Cadilac's and his son Chevy's...so maybe I should be looking elsewhere?
    These are strange manufacturing times we live in.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    What you are undoubtedly experiencing is the new, more extreme, coastdown engine fuel cut technique used for improving FE, made even worse due to the 6(9) speed transaxles now more common.

    When you release the gas pedal and as long as there is enough forward speed, momentum, to keep the engine from completely stalling out the transaxle will be sequentially downshifted in lockup mode as roadspeed declines. Once your speed has declined to the point that the fuel cut technique is no longer viable you will feel a bit of a "lurch" as the final shift will be an upshift, possibly just a lockup clutch release and a restoration of fuel flow.

    An additional aspect will often be a bit of a hesitation if you happen to reapply gas pedal pressure just as this final upshift begins. These transaxles do not downshift into 1st until the vehicle has come to a full and complete stop.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    You will have a L...o.......n.............g wait if you plan to hold out until these aspects of the newer transaxles are removed.

    Your only "out" currently is a hybrid Camry with the CVT/PSD.
  • acco20acco20 Member Posts: 211
    edited November 2010
    wwest....always value your opinions,and this is no exception. The camry hybrid is a gem. I realize it is a little more expensive, but it is worth every extra penny and then some.
  • motorcity6motorcity6 Member Posts: 427
    edited November 2010
    Thanks Camry owners and test drivers for the update on the 4-banger 2011 w/auto tranny..Price on an SE w/sunroof, mats, tinted glass and the Toyo policy stickered for $26,162, pricing quoted $20,816..Took my tradein for their review, left the dealership and saw this website on the Tranny issue, called them, cancelled any progress on the deal and told the dealer to go to Edmunds, and swallow the news..

    Went out and the hugged the 2006 Pontiac GPGT which was on the chopping block for tradein and apologized to it for even thinking about getting rid of it..The 2010 Mustang GT also was reassured of permanent residency..The Supercharged V-6 Grand Prix only has 50k miles on it and no issues..Also have a 2002 Camry XLE, 4 banger w/82k mi in the garage and it is no sports car but is smooth..

    I feel sorry for any Camry owner shelling out hard earned $$$$$ and complaining to deaf ears of the Toyota hierarchy about ill shifting Camrys..Like pushing a pile up a steep hill..Ah-so..

    Thanks again for the input for I now have things under control again and at my elevated age that is an accomplishment..

    Now why would anyone that got fed up with a 2011 Camry would think that a Hyundai would be any better, sounds like burning money to me.
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    it is the 2011 Camry LE - I had an appt yesterday and the dealership cancelled the appt. and have not called me back yet so here I sit waiting to see if this issue will ever be resolved
  • motorcity6motorcity6 Member Posts: 427
    I wish you lots of luck and don't get discouraged..After I cancelled my deal on the basis of this forum, and told the sales person to go to this website, instead their Service Mgr said I was not correct and they had never heard of such a problem..

    Okay, been down this road before and GM repurchased my 1998 Olds Intrigue w/26k miles, a check for the full purchase price less $600..This was done w/o a lawyer, no yelling or screaming..Guess what I handed the check to the dealership's
    Gm Mgr and walked out with a new 1999 Olds Intrigue and later traded it on a 2002 Intrigue.. Owned 53 cars in my long life, so I have a little knowledge of dealerships and the auto industry..Spent 33 yrs selling parts to the auto guys and their major suppliers, however never ask for any supplier discounts in purchasing cars..Had a hobby of buying and selling boats, got burned once on a new twin engined 26 ft hi-performance, took 3 yrs to resolve, profitable outcome, the factory picked the boat up 4 times for repairs and the last time they removed the engines which had only 33 hrs of running time total and installed them in a new hull..Outcome was great, I sold the boat without ever running it again for a nice profit..

    So, keep after the people where you bought the car for factories love to stonewall, hoping one loses interest or trades the problem away..

    Myself I am out of the car-buying mood, I really didn't want to write out a check again, and I really can't think of a good reason to buy any foreign name..or GM and not Chrysler..I will take the 2002 Camry XLE in for an oil change next week, same dealer, and the service dept will try to replace filters, belts or whatever comes to their mind...and of course my answer is No..
  • ntassistantntassistant Member Posts: 64
    I realize this thread/discussion is for the 2011 Camry, but since we're talking about transmissions and the coastdown fuel cut technique, I have a question about the 2011 Corolla transmission. This is supposedly new for the 2011 Corolla as it is recently refreshed. This description is cut and pasted right from Toyota's official site:

    "The 1.8-liter engine is paired with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission (ECT) on the base Corolla, while the LE model features the four-speed automatic standard. The four-speed automatic uses a torque converter with flex lockup for increased fuel efficiency, as well as uphill/downhill shift control".

    Even though Toyota is still using a four-speed, will this "torque converter with flex lockup" produce the hesitation-like feel similar to the current Toyota 6-speed auto. transmissions? Also, I don't understand how this is going to improve fuel ecomomy as the EPA ratings are the same for 2011 as they were for the 2010 Corollas with automatic transmission. Thank you for your help, you seem to know a lot about this technology!
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    The re-acceleration hesitation design "flaw" has now spread throughout the asian and US automotive industry. The fuel cut technique, nor "dithering", continuous up/down shifting to get the most optimal gear ratio for a give road condition, will not be as noticeable on a 4(6) speed automatic.
  • ntassistantntassistant Member Posts: 64
    Do the current 6-speed automatic transmissions have a design flaw, or are they made to perform as is, with the hesitation? I haven't driven any other automobile brand besides Toyota with the 6-speed auto. I have the 2010 Avalon and drove the 2011 Camry as a rental. I've had my Avalon for one year now and still am trying to get accustomed to its transmission while city driving. I wish I was aware prior to making this large purchase!
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    The only one of the three symptoms/problems that I would consider a design flaw would be the (mostly unpredictable) 1-2 second re-acceleration downshift delay.

    The coastdown fuel cut technique is discomforting at first but easily and quickly adjusted to.

    I haven't driven a new car with the "shiftiness" long enough to know if I would adapt and it would become virtually un-noticeable like happened with the fuel cut technique. The little bit I have driven one seemed bothersome and I kept trying to find a way to alleviate it, using cruise control abated the effect somewhat but it was still too noticeable IMMHO.
  • vikinggonevikinggone Member Posts: 2
    I have the same problem with my 2011 SE the noise is so hard to pinpoint but I feel for the price I paid for the car I should't have to hear it. I notice it when I hit uneven road or if I' pulling into or backing out my driveway Im going so slow I'm not even on the gas.
  • vikinggonevikinggone Member Posts: 2
    I have the same problem on my 2011 SE Its just enough to be anoying Im in NJ and the colder weather seems to be making it more noticeable.
    Doug
    vikinggone@gmail.com
  • sjm10sjm10 Member Posts: 1
    I kow a bit of time has passed by, but was wondering how you made out with the 2011 Camry and the dealer ?
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    the dealership had the car for two days and according to them they cannot recreate my issues. therefore they state there is nothing wrong with the car and what i am experiencing is normal !! the problem has gotten somewhat better but is still noticeable, in particular the WHINY noise the car makes when accelerating. at this point I dont know what to do
    I think Toyota is hoping we all believe their b.s. that it is "normal" or it needs to be "broken in" or "it is how you drive the car" etc etc. -
    I have never owned a car with this transmission issue nor have i had a car with this WHINY noise - additionally I have never had a car that has to be WARMED up for five minutes before the idle is normal. Again, I think Toyota is hoping we either trade them or live with it. I now have a little over 2000 miles on mine and feel STUCK after paying for this car. I have gone to other dealerships for trade in value on it and of course I will lose a lot of cash if I trade it in, and then again have no idea what I would trade for since most cars (after muc researching) have their own set of issues.
    In other words I am in a quandry over this. Anyone out there have any ideas what we can do about it ?? Toyota headquarters gives the same responses as well. Also, in doing research I have read that this issue has plagued many since the 2006 came out. My old one was a 2005 and I had never had even one minute of issues with that car !! Sure do miss my 2005
    Sorry to ramble on but I am sick of spending most of my free time researching this issue - I had even taken pages of internet material to the service dept. all of which was ignored or excuses made for it
  • rich27514rich27514 Member Posts: 41
    My experience is the same as yours. Toyota's stock response is that it is normal. The 2005's and 2006's were the best Camry. I owned one and am sorry I no longer have it. This model has had a host of troubles ever since it came out for MY 2007.

    I also have a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, and it too has issues. But my experience with Hyundai has been very different from Toyota. Hyundai actually seems to want to fix the car, and I never get the "It's normal" routine. The different dealer response makes it lot easier to deal with the problems, much less frustrating as they acknowledge you have a problem. I have been to many Toyota dealers over the year and it's always the same response, so I assume it comes from corporate. I like Toyotas but have little respect for the corporation's policies and practices.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    "..jerks constantly..slowing down..." SOP. Coastdown Cut Technique used to extend FE.

    "..warmed up.." SOP. Just bringing the catalyst back up to its ~800F operational temperature, Fed. emissions requirement. Why ide, just...drive.
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    because if i dont let it warm up the rpms stay high and the car will drive itself at about 7 to 10 mph and it is annoying
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    also - can you explain why the car makes a whiny noise when driving it
    sounds like a "sick computer"
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Mine may well be the same way I just don't have occassion to start out driving much below20-25MPH.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Have you pulled the radio fuses to ascertion the sound isn't coming from there..."

    Modern day cars are making LOTs of use of PWM (Pulse Width Moduation) for circuit control, HVCA blower speed control, etc.

    A ground somewhere not fully tightened and you end up with a high frequency whine.
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    no have not done that, and would not do that myself
    also, it is when the radio is not on if that matters at all but will note your comments and talk to the dealership about the PWM but it seems to occur when you are between 5 mph and 40 mph and it comes from the front driver side of the car
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    thanks for your input
  • purupuru Member Posts: 11
    Delbar,
    I am having the exact the same problems that you have described. I got a 2011 Camry LE in Oct and it has about 2000 miles on it currently.

    I have major issues with transmission. I can clearly feel the gear changing and the car like pause a little bit, especially at low speed. At times, it almost feels like my car is going to stall when I release my foot from the accelerator.

    Have been to a couple of dealers and they act like "dumb asses". Their attitude , even before they see the car is "its a new car, it cannot have such problems"..what jerks.

    Like you, I too have spend too much time researching this issue and it is heading no where...Infact I have been kicking myself all these months on buying this model ( My first choice was Accord).

    What is the trade in value like, if you don't mind telling me coz I have been considering this option too.

    As far as ideas goes to deal with this, file a complaint with NHTSA.
    You obviously don't feel safe driving this one.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    I think you're going to find that almsot all new cars share you compaints.
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    i went to one dealership and was given a 15K trade in value and 17K at another
    considering I paid 22,582 for this one - I guess I am stuck for a while
    have you filed a complaint with the NHTSA? I will do so as well
    thanks
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    unreal - isn't it ? never had a minutes problems with any car I have ever owned, just this one
  • purupuru Member Posts: 11
    Yup, I hear you. I really don't know what to tell you, its a terrible feeling isn't it ?
    I am going to file a complaint with NHTSA pretty soon.

    In last 3 years I have driven a lot of new cars, since I do a lot of consulting work in different states,I rent cars almost every week.
    I have never seen this kind of an issue with any of the cars...infact I rented a Camry SE 2011 couple of weeks back and it was fine, that is why i feel all the more bad.
    Its high time Toyota starts taking these complaints seriously..common guys be professional, take ownership of the issues and fix it.
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    I agree and I have said from the get go that Toyota just needs to admit the issue, fix it and move on!!! Funny you should say the SE did not have the problem because during one of my many trips to the dealership one of the sale people suggested I trade my LE for the SE so I am thinking they all know of the issue but their hands are tied as well !! who the hell knows at this point
    anyway let me know when you file complaint I will follow suit.
    thanks
  • ntassistantntassistant Member Posts: 64
    I own a 2010 Avalon and also share the 6-speed auto. transmission issue. It is the most annoying thing to live with. At low speeds, when foot is released from accelerator, car feels like it will stall immediately. I miss the old technology (smooth, coasting transmissions) so very much. Never once drove any car like this before. Like everyone else with Toyota's 6-speed automatics, we are unhappy owners stuck with this frustration. Almost feel trapped and scammed by purchasing such an automobile that is so annoying to drive. A recall is 100% needed on this issue.
  • rg1986rg1986 Member Posts: 1
    I have been having the same issue. I have a 2011 Camry SE, I have to tell you it's the most annoying thing to go through. I've taken the car to the service center, spoke with several managers and all I get is a "Are you sure ?" Or "Did you hit/run over something?" I've called corporate, you name it, I've done it. My car only has 2,000k and has been with me for 3 months now. As for what to do next ? I have no idea but I'll say this much I will not stay with the car.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    "...I will not stay with the car.."

    Outside of switching to a manual transmission you're not very likely to find an improvement, not a modern day one anyway.

    All new cars with automatics have and use the coastdown fuel cut technique to extend FE, which is what you are likely experiencing. Since FE is involved no recall can be of help. The technique actually goes back to ~'01, but with the old 3-4 speed transaxles wasn't nearly as noticeable (bothersome??) as with the newer 6(10) speed transaxles.
  • typesixtypesix Member Posts: 321
    I can tell you that it's just as noticeable with the 4 spd auto tranny on my 2004 Highlander which has the same 2.4 engine as the Camry, that along with the torque converter lockup in place till about 20-25 mph.
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Right after I bought our new '01 RX300 F/awd I definitely noticed the "awkward" coastdown fuel cut "lurches" but soon forgot about them and now have to take special notice to "feel" them.
  • purupuru Member Posts: 11
    WWest,
    Can you please elaborate on the fuel cut technique to extend fuel efficiency ?

    Here's what I experience with my new Camry.
    As soon as I take my foot off the gas pedal, I feel the car will stall. I experience a kind of resistance where the car will not move smoothly till I give it more gas. This happens may be 6 out of 10 times, which is all the more bothersome.

    I have changed my driving style a little bit...I NEVER take foot off the gas pedal unless I have to apply breaks. Even when the car doesn't need gas, I still keep my feet on the accelerator without applying pressure.
    I don't know whether this is a right way of doing it, but it has helped me to overcome the stalling issue t some extent.

    Is this how the "drive by wire" technology is suppose to function ?
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    It used to be, with automatic transmissions, that when you lifted your foot from the gas pedal and the car was still in motion, "coastdown" mode, the engine was prevented from stalling via, primarily, feeding it just enough gas to keep it running well into the idle range. The early torque converter's often did not provide enough "back-torque", compression braking, to keep the engine turning fast enough not to stall out.

    That has now changed with the advent of more "robust", heavier duty, torque converter lockup clutches. Nowadays the engine/transaxle controlling ECU can engage the lockup clutch, eliminating the torque converter "slippage", and then sequentually downshift the transaxle as roadspeed declines. That serves to keep the engine turning over at or above idle. So when fuel feed is restored the engine simply "restarts". Once roadspeed declines enough, too much, the lockup clutch is disengaged, fuel feed is restored, and in some instances the transaxle is even upshifted. That's most typically when you get that forward "lurch" seat of the pants feeling.

    So yes, you now have more effective engine compression braking during coastdown periods. But for FWD vehicles not so much as to really threaten directional control loss due to tire slip/skid in most instances. For FWD and F/awd vehicles the coastdown fuel cut technique shift pattern, "downshift" pattern, becomes a bit more aggressive if the driver applies the brakes during the coastdown fuel cut technique period of use.

    The driver's use of the brakes "implies" knowledge that the roadbed traction is sufficient to support the more aggressive engine braking downshift pattern.

    With all these variables it's easy to see why one only notices the effect 6 out of ten times.

    So go ahead and save gas by fully lifting the pressure on the gas pedal and trust that the computer will prevent the engine from fully stalling....it will.
  • purupuru Member Posts: 11
    Thank you ! You seem to know a lot about the engineering of cars.
    From your previous posts, you have mentioned about "Auto Braking" during coast-down, what is that ?

    I have also observed that with this Camry, I can clearly feel the gear changing and the car like pause a little bit, especially at low speed.
    I don't know whether it has anything to do with the new 6 speed auto transmission or is it just the cold weather.
    Is this very common pattern that people are observing/ complaining about ?
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    Without looking backwards my guess would that "auto-braking" refers to the more aggressive coastdown fuel cut technique that activates once YOU use the brakes.

    And yes, the "lurch" from downshifting is much more noticeable as you reach lower speeds. Shifting, up or down, is much more noticeable, slightly more discomforting, with the new 6(10) speed transmission than was the old 3-4 speed transaxles.
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    it is not the cold weather - trust me - I live in florida and have this issue daily !!
    is there a car on the market that does not have these issues !!!!???
  • jl1688jl1688 Member Posts: 2
    I got a 2011 Camry SE V4 less then 2 weeks of usage with approximately 400 mileage. When the car is parked and when I start to drive it again, once the first gear disengages there's a slight clicking noise to it and it was better when the car warm up but still hear the clicking nois. I went back to the dealer "Roseville Toyota" the tech test drive it and he said that is standard on the Camry SE. he print out the info about it that last modify on 12-08-10 and they knew about it but I got my car 5 weeks later and the sales didn't let me know the noise and I went back to the sales team and they test other cars and only SE V4 has the noice and V6 didn't and they ask me to pick a diff car. I go for the V6 but they ask me to pay $4500 more because the care cost more, I agree to gv $2000 more and they are not able to it for me and I talk to the "General Sales Manager" and he kick me out of his office. if you want to buy a Toyota, buy it at other dealer, don't go to "Roseville Toyota". they don't tell you the truth about the car and they just want to make the sales.
  • luckysevenluckyseven Member Posts: 134
    Slight clicking noise that you're hearing is most likely ABS self test that's done automatically when you start driving your car after it was parked and it is perfectly normal.
  • jl1688jl1688 Member Posts: 2
    since you know a lot of info about the Camry transmission. now my car has about 600 miles and I think the clicking noise is getting louder. do you have any suggestion what can I do since dealer not to fix it for me?
  • luckysevenluckyseven Member Posts: 134
    I'm trying to tell you this is that most likely not a transmission noise and there is nothing to fix.
  • delbardelbar Member Posts: 32
    http://www.toyotacomplaint.com/ is a website that may be helpful to us all

    also, I have been shopping around for a different car, and am thinking of trading in this camry for a Ford Escape or a Honda CR-V
    anyone have any input as to these having the same issues with the tranny
  • wwestwwest Member Posts: 10,706
    2012 Ford Escape is to have a completely new restyled body. Escape hybrid uses a CVT (PSD) so not likely to have tranny problems.

    On the other hand ANY newer(***) automatic transmission is likely to have the same "problems" as the Camry.

    ***
    A) ~2000, Abolition of the ATF line pressure accumulator and constant pressure relief valve/spring.

    B) Adoption of the FE coastdown fuel cut technique.

    C) More robust lockup cutch and 6(10) speed transmissions.
  • bj02176bj02176 Member Posts: 115
    You better hold off on that Escape, I just got rid of my 2010. The transmission seemed odd, it would slam back and forth violently trying to find the right gear when the gas pedal was floored.

    It had a transmisiion recall, they said it was fixed, not!

    Rear drum brakes made a clicking sound, electric steering squeeked in the summer time.

    Noises from the front while braking on a right hand turn

    Do a search on leaking and transmission problems.

    Maybe I just had a lemon.
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