2004 Toyota Camry Transmission Problems

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY LE EQUIPPED WITH THE 2AZ FE I4. AT FIRST I STARTED HEARING WATER SLOSHING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD EVERY TIME I STOPPED. ON 1/30/2014 WHILE STOPPING FOR A FEW MINUTES IN A PARKING LOT THE CARS TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED TO RISE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF, AND OPENED UP THE HOOD TO FIND COOLANT HAD BEEN PUSHED OUT THE OVERFLOW CONTAINER, THEN I SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE MECHANIC GOT BACK TO ME, TELLING ME THE HEAD BOLTS HAD STRIPPED AND THE ENGINE WAS UNREPAIRABLE. I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IF IT GAVE AWAY WHEN GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS ISSUE THAT IS NOW BECOMING A VERY BIG PROBLEM. TOYOTA DID RELEASE A TSB FOR DEALERS ABOUT THIS BUT IT SAYS TO USE TIMESERTS OR REPLACE THE BLOCK. *TR

ON MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY LE, AT THE EXACT MOMENT I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT IDLE SPEED, THERE WAS AN EXTREMELY LOUD AND HIGH REVOLUTION RACING SOUND. THIS CONDITION WAS EXTREME. I CHANGED GEAR SELECTOR FROM "DRIVE" TO "PARK" AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN RACING SOUND OR NOISE LEVEL. HOWEVER, CAR DID NOT SURGE FORWARD AND NO ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE WAS REQUIRED. I TURNED ENGINE OFF AND CAR RESTARTED NORMALLY. A MECHANIC CHECKED OUT MY CAR AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. A SIMILAR INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS EARLIER WHILE BACKING UP AT IDLE SPEED. NOT SURE IF IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ENGINE TO DISENGAGE FROM TRANSMISSION, WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY CAR DID NOT SURGE FORWARD (AND BACKWARD RESPECTIVELY). THIS SAME CAR IN MARCH OF 2010 EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (PARKED UNDER A CELL TOWER) WHICH WAS MUCH WORSE THAN DESCRIBED ABOVE-I FILED A COMPLAINT IN 2010 FOR THIS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE GAS PETAL WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. GOT IT TOWED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS BROKEN AND IT WAS A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM FOR CAMRY'S. *TR

ON AUGUST 4, 2012, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL ON MY 2004 CAMRY BROKE. MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE AND SUDDEN STOP, WHICH I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE NOT BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AND MANY CARS WERE FORCED TO SWERVE AROUND ME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD WERE FLASHING. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT, THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE AT 10 MPH. MY MECHANIC CHECKED THE ENGINE CODE & FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR CONTROL. THE PRICE FOR THE PART WAS $900, NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM LIA TOYOTA OF NORTHAMPTON, WHOM I HAVE CONTACTED & THEY WILL NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURING OF NORTH AMERICA OFFICE IN KENTUCKY AND AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I TRIED TO PRESS ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, NOTHING HAPPENED, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOWLY SLOW DOWN. I PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTED. VEHICLE ACCELERATE FINE AFTER THAT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE TOYOTA DEALER CHECKED AND FOUND THROTTLE BODY FAILURE AND REPLACED IT. COST MORE THAN $1300. *KB

STARTED THE VEHICLE ON SATURDAY 10/29/2011, PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE STREET AND PUT IT ON DRIVE. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 30FEET AND STALLED OUT. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO STARTED AND IT WOULD NOT. AFTER I COMPLETELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, I WAS ABLE TO RESTARTED IT. I TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR STUCK ON THE CLOSED POSITION. I LOOKED IT UP ON LINE AND FOUND MANY, MANY INCIDENTS OF THE SAME NATURE. ON MONDAY, I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM AND IT'S NOT A RECALL. THE DEFECTIVE FACTORY INSTALLED PART COSTS $1000 PLUS ABOUT $300 FOR LABOR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA USA, BUT THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED ME, SO FAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS WE WERE CROSSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AND, I GUESS, THIS IS NOT A CONCERN FOR TOYOTA. *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 35,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STALLING WHEN ACCELERATED, I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE TO HAVE THEM CHECK WITH A COMPUTER WHICH IT SHOWED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTLE. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND, AS DAYS GOES BY THE PROBLEM HAS INCREASED, NOW THE GAS PEDAL DOESNT NEED TO BE PRESSED FOR THE CAR TO TAKE OFF, THE RPM GOES TO 1500 EVEN WITH THE BREAKS ON. I WORK 6 MILES FROM THE HOUSE AND I HAD TO START THE CAR 8 TIMES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO WORK. I REALLY THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE INSTEAD OF IGNORING PEOPLE WHEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR PRODUCTS. DOES THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED IN 2009 NEED TO HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE I GET A SOLUTION OR AN ANSWER TO MY QUESTIONS. BACK THEN TOYOTA KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND AS USUAL THEY SWEPT IT UNDER THE RUG. I OWE WAY TOO MUCH MONEY ON THAT CAR. DO I HAVE TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET IT FIX.? AS A CONSUMER DONT I DESERVE TO KNOW WHY THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM? I HAD AN ALTIMA & HAD TO TRADE IT IN FOR THIS CRAP OF SO CALLED CAR BECAUSE OF ECONOMICAL ISSUES, AND I REGRET IT 100%. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE GOT A TOYOTA AND ALL I'VE HAD ITS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND AS USUAL TOYOTA IGNORES EVERYTHING. I NEED A VEHICLE THAT IS RELIABLE AND THAT I CAN TRUST MY FAMILSY TO BE SAFE IN. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT, I CAN'T PUT THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AND JEOPARDIZE THE LIVE OF INOCENT PEOPLE. ALL I WANT IS TO HAVE A SAFE DRIVABLE VEHICLER. CAN SOMEBODY HELP BEFORE TRAGEDY HAPPENS. *TR

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. UPDATED 09/23/11 *KB

1. THERE WAS NO EVENT THE CAR WENT INTO A IDLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY FOUND A BAD "THROTTLE BODY". I'M FINDING OUT THIS IS A COMING PROBLEM FOR 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY'S AND WHAT'S AMAZING, THE TOYOTA PARTS MANAGER SAID THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. PLEASE NOTE THIS ITEM COSTS OVER $1000 TO REPLACE!! THIS IS UNCALLED-FOR!! THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON LINE ARE COMPLAINING. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. 2. THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAPPEN ONCE (FEB. 22ND, 2011) 3. TOYOTA REPAIRED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY. (DEALER NAME: BERNARDI TOYOTA IN FRAMINGHAM, MA 508-766-2463). *TR

MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM THE REAR PART OF THE TRANSMISSION WHERE THE TWO HALVES OF THE HOUSING ARE BOLTED TOGETHER. TWO MECHANICS, INCLUDING ONE WHOSE EXPERTISE IS IN TRANSMISSION REPAIR, INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION'S SEAL APPARENTLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT, AND STAYS INDOORS EXCEPT FOR A 12-MILE ROUND-TRIP COMMUTE BETWEEN MY HOME AND THE LOCAL INDOOR PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE. BOTH ESTIMATES FOR REPAIR WERE AT LEAST $1,500 BECAUSE THE DESIGN OF THE CAMRY DOES NOT ALLOW EASY ACCESS TO THE TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING THE MECHANIC TO DROP THE ENTIRE FRAME TO ACCESS THE TRANSMISSION. THE FLUID LEAK IS SMALL, LIKELY NO MORE THAN A HALF MILLILITER EVERY 10 DAYS, SO THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN DONE. BOTH MECHANICS STATED THAT IT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A VEHICLE LIKE THIS TO BEGIN LEAKING FROM BETWEEN THE HALVES OF THE HOUSING AND, BASED ON THERE BEING NO OTHER PHYSICAL DAMAGE OR WEAR TO THE AREA, IT WAS THEIR OPINIONS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COLOR IS STILL TINGED WITH PINK AND DIFFUSES WELL ON BLOTTER PAPER, AND THE MECHANICAL FUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS FINE. *TR

MOVED VEHICLE FORWARD TO POSITION IT TO BACK IT INTO THE GARAGE; WHEN READY TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO ENGAGE THE REVERSE, HEARD A "CLICK" UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED, APPLIED BRAKE, CAR WOULD NOT STOP, WENT INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S FRONT LAWN, DAMAGED THE GRASS AND CRACKED THE FRONT BUMPER IN THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURER CONTRACTED AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE CAR AND THE ENGINEER PRONOUNCED THE CAR SAFE AND SOUND. *TR

THE KEY IN MY TOYOTA SPECIAL EDITION 2004 CAMRY IS DESIGNED TO BE REMOVED ONLY WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS IN THE PARK POSITION. HOWEVER, MINE CAN BE REMOVED REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION OF THE GEAR SHIFT. EX: ONCE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND SHUT OFF AND SHOULD IT STILL BE IN THE DRIVE POSITION, THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE.. AS A RESULT , I HAD AN ACCIDENT AS THE CAR ROLLED DOWN AN INCLINE AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE..NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME, BUT A CHILD COULD HAVE BEEN IN A CAR SEAT IN THE REAR AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. I T HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT PLACING THE CAR IN THE PARK POSITION BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE. DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL THE ACCIDENT THAT IT WAS NOT DESIGNED THAT WAY. NOTIFIED THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF TOYOTA AND THEY RESPONDED WITH THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY SAFETY PROBLEM. WORLD TOYOTA IN ATLANTA WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY $424.00, BUT I FEEL IT SHOULD BE TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY AND DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SEV6 SPORT- VEHICLE HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN TRAVELING AT "PARKING LOT SPEEDS" OR IN "STOP & GO TRAFFIC" , OR BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP - ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING AND WHEN BRAKES (ANTI-LOCK YET) ARE DEPRESSED, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RESISTANCE. VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP!! ENGINE SURGES. FLOOR MATS NO ISSUE. FIRST INCIDENT 2008 OR 09, I HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. VEHICLE SURGED, JUMPED A CURB & INTO A RAVINE. ENGINE WAS STILL SURGING (WHILE DOWN IN THE RAVINE!) UNTIL IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. 2 WEEKS AGO, DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC, (OVERCAST BUT DRY CONDITIONS APPROXIMATELY 1:00PM) I WAS THROWN BACK IN MY SEAT SUDDENLY. I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN REAR-ENDED INITIALLY DUE TO THE THRUST BACK, BUT NO ONE HAD IMPACTED THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. REALIZING THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. AGAIN, NO RESISTANCE, THEY WENT FLAT. MY VEHICLE REAR ENDED AND DROVE UNDER THE BACK END OF AN SUV. UPON IMPACT, MY KNEE SLAMMED INTO THE DASHBOARD, AND THE STEERING WHEEL BRUISED UP MY THIGH. SWELLING IN SHOULDER DUE TO BELT. NO INJURY TO PERSON IN OTHER VEHICLE. NO SKID MARKS ON ROADWAY. FILED CLAIM W/TOYOTA HOME OFFICE. THEY ARE INSPECTING THE CAR THIS WEEK @ DEALERSHIP. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN WALKING IN FRONT OF THIS CAR WHEN THESE INCIDENCES HAPPENED? THEY WOULD BE DEAD. THIS IS A SERIOUS & POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUE. I WILL NEVER GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THAT CAR EVER AGAIN. NOT FOR A MILLION DOLLARS! LIFE IS TOO PRECIOUS TO ME. AS A FORMERINVESTIGATOR/AGENT MYSELF, I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ASAP BEFORE THIS VEHICLE (OR OTHERS OF THE SAME) KILL SOMEONE. THIS CAR (2004 TOYOTA SOLARA {2 - DOOR CAMRY}) IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I AM NOW WITHOUT A CAR. I HAVE BEEN SPARED FROM BROKEN BONES, BUT I MAY NEED KNEE SURGERY. WAITING ON THE RESULTS OF AN MRI. PLEASE TAKE THESE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. SO THANKFUL MY CHILD WASN'T DRIVING OR IN THE CAR WITH ME. FILED A POLICE REPORT WITH THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES. *TR

FOLLOWING ARE THE DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE SAME VEHICLE: 1. VEHICLE, 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY V-6, ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN INTO A HEAD-IN PARKING SPACE. VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING, OVERSHOT PARKING SPACE, HIT AND PUNCHED HOLE IN BUILDING WALL APPROXIMATELY 6 FEET AHEAD OF PARKING SPACE. OVER $1,000 DOLLARS DAMAGE TO CAR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT TO BUILDING. 2. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE COASTING SLOWLY TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING, REAR-ENDED STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT. SIMILAR FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE TOYOTA AND SOME DAMAGE TO FORWARD VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY AND TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE A PLAN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS MODEL HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. ONE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN EARLY DECEMBER 2009 AND TH E LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 15, 2010.PLEASE HELP. THIS IS TOO DANGEROUS. I HAVE TRIED DESPERATELY TO AVOID ACCIDENTS AND DO NOT WANT TO HURT MYSELF OR OTHERS WHILE TOYOTA WAIT ON ENOUGH PROBLEMS TO RECALL THE 2004 CAMRY LE. PLEASE MANDATE THAT THEY REPAIR MY CAR AND OTHERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. *CN

2004 CAMRY 4-CYL. FAILS TO ACCELERATE (DELAY OF ABOUT 1 SECOND) WHEN GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, IN THIS SITUATION: YOU HAVE EITHER JUST ROUNDED A CORNER AT SLOW SPEED, OR YOU HAVE STARTED TO MOVE FROM STOP, GAINED SPEED TO ABOUT 10MPH, THEN ENGINE REVS UP TO AROUND 3000 RPM, BUT DOES NOT DELIVER POWER TO WHEELS. DANGER OF GETTING HIT BECAUSE YOUR CAR DOES NOT MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH THROUGH A TRAFFIC SITUATION THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY PROGRESS THROUGH FASTER. YOU MIGHT ALSO BE PREVENTED FROM AVERTING A CRASH SITUATION DUE TO LACK OF ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT CAN OCCUR 1-3 TIMES IN A DAY, OR POSSIBLY NOT AT ALL, BUT IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR AT LEAST 10,000 MILES NOW. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS JUST THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WORKS. BUT IT CAN LEAD TO INJURY DUE TO CRASHING. DEALER CLAIMED THAT FOR SOME YEARS/LOTS OF VEHICLES, THERE WAS A SERVICE PERFORMED TO RE-PROGRAM AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. BUT HE ALSO SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD TEND TO COME BACK AFTER THE SERVICE WAS APPLIED. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE INJURIES OCCUR. *TR

MY CAR IS TOYOTA 2004 CAMRY SHOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT I DIDN'T PASS THE AIR CARE EMISSION TEST,SO THEY SAY IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM THEY SAY IS A FEDERAL ISSUE. *TR

2002-2005 TOYOTA THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY FAILURE. FAILS AT VARIOUS MILEAGE. NO WARNING - JUST DIES. NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. ONE DEALER ADMITS THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE AND HAVE REDESIGNED PART. TOPIX.COM HAS BLOG REPORTS MANY INSTANCES, BUT NOT RECALL OR CAMPAIGNS. REPAIR IS $1K-$1.5K. OWNERS FEEL THIS TO BE A RECALL ITEM AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. PLEASE HELP. CORPORATE OFFICE IS NO HELP AND WILL NOT REPORT ANY WEB MATERIAL - WILL ONLY MOTOR PHONE CALLS. PLEASE HELP. IF THIS PART FAILS ON HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENT OR WORSE. *TR

JUST HAD TO COMPLETELY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION IN MY TOYOTA CAMRY 04. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OTHERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE SINCE THE 2002 CAMRY. HAVING TO PAY $3000 FOR A SUPPOSEDLY #1 CAR THAT I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD FOR FOUR YEARS IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL IF IT IS THAT COMMON AN OCCURRENCE! DANIEL J MULLIGAN *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN A/C BUTTON STARTED FLASHING AND ALL WINDOWS FOGGED UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3-31-07, THEY PERFORMED DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACED A/C MAGNETIC CLUTCH RELAY. NEXT HEAVY RAIN ON APRIL 14, 2007, THE AC/BUTTON STARTED FLASHING AND ALL WINDOWS FOGGED UP. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY SHORTING WHEN WET. REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. IN AUGUST, DURING A HEAVY RAIN, THE A/C BUTTON STARTED FLASHING AND ALL WINDOWS FOGGED UP. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE A/C BELT WAS NOT TIGHT. THEY TIGHTEN THE A/C BELT AND SAID IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. TODAY, OCTOBER 15, 2007, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY CAN FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WAS IN REVERSE ON THE MORNING OF 12/22/06 AT 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO IN REVERSE AND WOULDN'T STOP. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING IN REVERSE THERE WAS A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. IT HIT A CURB AND TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE IT WAS STILL GOING IN REVERSE TO STOP IT. THERE WERE WITNESSES, AND THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SOUND THAT THE GEARS WERE STUCK. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS PUSHED UNDER THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT INSISTED THAT COULDN'T BE TRUE BECAUSE OF THE NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME IT WAS GOING IN REVERSE AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR WAS IN REVERSE WHILE THE DRIVER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE WITH NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE WITH A DOOR OPEN. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.*AK THE CONSUMER DIDN'T REALIZE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE WHEN HE EXITED. THE LEFT DOOR HIT THE CONSUMER AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN TO THE GROUND. THEN THE DOOR PINNED HIM AGAINST THE GARAGE WALL. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. UPDATED 12/12/06. *JB

THROTTLE LAG AT LOW SPEED AND FROM STOP IS INCONSISTANT AND HAS BEEN THE CAUSE FOR SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED; DEALER INVESTIGATED; STATES THIS IS NORMAL AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE, THAT LAG IS "ACCEPTABLE". SOME INSTANCES HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ACTUAL THROTTLE RESPONSE. DRIVER HAS TO USE HARDER ACCELERATION TO COMPENSATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF BUT DECLINES TO ADMIT IT IS A PROBLEM. DRIVER IS VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE WILL BE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. *NM

THROTTLE LAG AT LOW SPEED AND FROM STOP IS INCONSISTENT AND HAS BEEN THE CAUSE FOR SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED; DEALER INVESTIGATED; RELOADED SOFTWARE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TOYOTA STATES THIS IS NORMAL AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE." SOME INSTANCES HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ACTUAL THROTTLE RESPONSE. DRIVER HAS TO USE HARDER ACCELERATION TO COMPENSATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF BUT DECLINES TO ADMIT IT IS A PROBLEM. DRIVER IS VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE WILL BE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. EVERY TIME CAR IS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP PROBLEM IS RE-ADDRESSES BUT NO FIX HAS BEEN MADE. *NM

I HAVE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE WAY MY CAR CONSISTENTLY LAGS BEFORE ACCELERATING. THIS HESITATION HAS BEEN CONSISTENT FROM DAY ONE OF MY OWNERSHIP (PURCHASED DEALER NEW). WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, OR AT A STOP, ANY TYPE OF IMMEDIATE PUSH OF THE GAS PEDAL WILL RESULT IN A DELAYED/SLOW RESPONSE TO PICK UP SPEED. THIS DELAY HAS NEARLY CAUSED (2)TWO ACCIDENTS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS: (1)ACCELERATING TO GET ONTO FREEWAY. (2)ACCELERATING TO AVOID AN ERRANT LANE CHANGE FROM A NEARBY CAR. *JB

SEVERE HESITATION WHEN DEPRESSING THROTTLE TO FULL-THROTTLE. EX: WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OVER TAKE A VEHICLE ENGINE APPEARS TO REMAIN AT IDLE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. NO DOWN SHIFTING OCCURS ALONG WITH NO ENGINE RPM INCREASE. AFTER 2-4 SECONDS ENGINE THEN RESPONDS. IF THROTTLE IS GRADUALLY DEPRESSED TO FULL-THROTTLE THERE IS NO SYMPTOMS, ENGINE DOES RESPOND PROPERLY. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE A PROBLEM IN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION TCM. *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND VIBRATES WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC. *JB

SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V6 NEW IN NOVEMBER 2003, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION AFTER COMING TO A YIELD. BASICALLY WHAT OCCURS IS I COME TO AN INTERSECTION OR A SITUATION WHERE I MUST YIELD AND WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR HESITATES FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR I THOUGHT THIS MAY BE NEW CAR JITTERS AND IT WOULD EVENTUALLY STRAIGHTEN OUT. HOWEVER, TWO YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS CAN POTENTIALLY BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR SEVERAL REASONS. IF YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO GO AND THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT THE CAR HESITATES A WRECK COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN. SO TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING, I WILL PRESS THE GAS PEDAL MORE THAN NECESSARY TO OVER-COMPENSATE FOR THE HESITATION AND THEN WHEN THE CAR DOES GO IT JETS OUT INTO TRAFFIC FASTER THAN I ANTICIPATE. I VOICED MY CONCERN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN COLUMBIA, MISSOURI AND THEIR FIRST RESPONSE WAS "OH, THAT'S JUST NORMAL V6 HESITATION." I EXPRESSED THERE WAS NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT IT AND I WANTED TO TALK TO THE MANAGER. THE MANAGER CALLED IN THE REGIONAL REP AND WE ALL WENT FOR A RIDE IN ONE OF THE 2004 XLE V6 SO THEY COULD SHOW ME THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL THE V6'S. THE REGIONAL REP AGREED THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO FIX IT. HE DID SAY THAT WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW. SO FAR NO PHONE CALL. *JB

MY 2004 CAMRY, V6 HAS HAD A HESITATION SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED IT. THE HESITATION HAPPENS AFTER STOPPING A SIGNS OR WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. TWICE I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE BRAIN THAT SENDS INFORMATION FROM THROTTLE SENSOR TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE TECH STATED THAT IT WAS JUST THE V6'S AND THE 2004 CARS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, UNTIL MORE PEOPLE COMPLAIN NO REPAIRS OR RECALLS WILL BE MADE. *NM

EXTREME HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP OR FROM LOW SPEED. *NM

INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE/TRANSMISSION HESITATION AND SHIFTS IN SPEEDS LOWER THAN 40 MPH. PROBLEMS NOTICED FROM TIME CAR WAS PURCHASE TO CURRENT. DEALER HAS CHECKED THE CAR FOUR TIMES AND DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CHANGES GEARS SEVERAL TIMES WHEN DRIVING AT 25 MPH. ORIGINALLY THE SHIFTING PROBLEMS LURCHED,JERKED, AS IF SOMEONE WAS HITTING FROM BEHIND. TSB 00505 WAS APPLIED ON JULY 28, 2005 BY THE DEALER. IT CHANGED THE SHIFTING PROBLEM SO THAT IT ISN'T A JERK BUT SOUNDS LIKE A BUMP FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, ALSO CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DELAY WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STOP AND THEN ACCELERATED. MANY INSTANCES MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT SAFETY: PULLING OUT WHEN THERE'S A BREAK IN TRAFFIC, HESITATION HAPPENS SIGNIFICANTLY LONG ENOUGH FOR THERE NOT TO BE A BREAK ANYMORE; COMING TO FOUR WAY STOP, WHEN ITS MY TURN TO GO, HESITATION CREATES CONFUSION TO OTHER DRIVERS. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO DISTRACTING WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE DRIVER IS TRYING TO SECOND GUESS THE VEHICLE TO ALTER THE PROBLEM. *JB

DT: 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY. ON THREE OCCASIONS AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE ROARED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY LURCHED FORWARD WHEN THIS HAPPENED.THE CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION HE TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND IT WENT INTO REVERSE. *AK *JB

PROBLEM: 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SHIFT GEAR FROM OVERDRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT PRESSING GEAR BUTTON. OVER THE WEEKEND, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR GOING UPHILL WITH LEFT TURN, THE PASSENGER AT FRONT WAS TRYING TO REACH NAPKIN BOX AT THE BACK SEAT, HE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GEAR WITH HIS ELBOW, EVEN THOUGH VERY LIGHTLY, THE SHIFT GEAR SUDDENLY SHIFTED FROM OVERDRIVE TO NEUTRAL GEAR WHILE I WAS MAKING LEFT TURN UPHILL AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I HAVE FORD TAURUS THAT DOES NOT HAVE SUCH PROBLEM. IT ALWAYS REQUIRES PRESSING THE GEAR BUTTON TO SHIFT GEAR. I SINCERELY REQUEST TOYOTA MANUFACTURER TO FIX CURRENT DESIGN FLAW TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE V6 FROM SUPERSTITIONS SPRINGS TOYOTA IN ARIZONA JUST OVER 24 HOURS AGO. WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT YESTERDAY I ALMOST GOT IN A BAD ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SOMEONE STARTED TO PULL OVER ON ME. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND WENT NOWHERE FOR AT LEAST 1-2 SECONDS. THANK GOD THE GUY HEARD MY HORN. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID 'THEY COULD FEEL IT TOO' BUT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAD READ A CUSTOMER COMMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM JUST ONCE AND THERE WAS A REPLY THAT SAID THERE WAS SOME DOWNLOAD FOR IT. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED AND THERE WERE NO DOWNLOADS FOR IT. TOLD ME THAT IT WAS OPERATING AS IT SHOULD AND THERE WOULD BE SOME HESITATION, THEN STARTED IN ON SOME ENGINEERING EXPLANATION, AND SAID THEY HAVE SOME SPECIALIST COME IN ONCE A MONTH FROM TOYOTA AND HE WOULD ASK HIM ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I TRIED TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED NOW, BUT GOT NO DIFFERENT REPLY. I HAD NOTED SOME SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN I WAS TEST DRIVING IT, BUT REALLY DIDN'T NOTICE ANY APPRECIABLE HESITATION WHEN I VERY BRIEFLY HAD IT ON EXPRESSWAY DRIVE (ONLY ALLOWED ABOUT A 1/2 MILE THEN TOLD TO TURN OFF). HOWEVER YESTERDAY WHEN I FINALLY DROVE IT, I STARTED TO FEEL LIKE I WAS GETTING WHIPLASH FROM THE HESITATION, LUNGING AND JERKING AROUND, AND THEN I ALMOST GOT IN A BAD ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING AND HAVE A HUGE LOAN HANGING OVER MY HEAD TO BOOT. I GUESS I WILL JUST DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE SO I DON'T GET KILLED DUE TO AN 'ENGINEERING PROBLEM' AND THEN GET RID OF IT AS SOON AS I CAN. I WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA AGAIN. BIG MISTAKE. PLEASE ALSO REFERENCE THIS WEB SITE WITH MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.AUTOBLOG.COM/ENTRY/1234000920023135 AND THIS WEB SITE WITH ONE ENTRY AND A REPLY STATING THERE IS A FIX: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_76023.HTML

CONTACT STATES: MANUAL TRANSMISSION, GOING 50 MPH WITH NO POWER. SPEED DROPS AND THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. LAST A COUPLE OF SECONDS ANYWHERE 10 TO 30 SECONDS IT PICKS BACK UP. NOTICED ABOUT A WEEK AGO. NORMAL DRIVE HAPPENING ANYTIME. HAVEN'T NOTICED IT BEFORE 50 MPH. SPEED DROPS BUT HASN'T CHANGED SPEED WITH ACCELERATOR WITH STILL APPLYING PRESSURE ON ACCELERATOR. NOTICED THIS HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A WEEK. *AK

SEVERE HESITATION ON ACCELLERATION. THE CAR REMINDS ME OF A 1970'S VOLKSWAGEN I HAD THAT WOULD STALL WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IT CAN BE SCARY ACCELERATING ACROSS AN INTERCECTION WITH CARS COMING OR PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY.*AK

2004 TOYOTA SOLARA WITH V6 AND AUTO TRANS. HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE NEW AND HAVE A HESITATION PROBLEM THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. EXTRA CAUTION IS NEEDED TO ENTER HWYS SAFELY. I AM ALSO UNABLE TO ACCELERATE COMING OUT OF TURNS WITHOUT FEELING THE CAR LURCH FORWARD MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. WHEN TAKEN TO SERVICE AT TOYOTA THEY ACT LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. I KNOW I AM NOT CRAZY BECAUSE ITS NOTICED BY ALL MY PASSENGERS. AND UPON MY PERSONAL INVESTIGATION HAVE UNCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE AND BY OWNERS OF LEXUS VEHICLES THAT USE SAME ENGINE AND TRANS. IN FACT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL CARS USING AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL FOR THE THROTTLE AS OPPOSED TO THE OLD LINKAGE SYSTEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF IT. I ALSO NOTICED QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE PERTAINING TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL HESITATE FOR A SECOND OR TWO. AT THE SAME TIME THE WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN WILL SHUDDER. THE HESITATION WILL HAPPEN JUST AS I PULL INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT TOYOTA SERVICE THREE TIMES, AND ALL THEY HAVE DONE IS TO CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO LEAK OIL. *JB

V6 ENGINE, 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION</A>'; RETURN TRUE;" ONMOUSEOUT="WINDOW.STATUS=''; RETURN TRUE;">AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION</A>'; RETURN TRUE;" ONMOUSEOUT="WINDOW.STATUS=''; RETURN TRUE;">AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION</A>'; RETURN TRUE;" ONMOUSEOUT="WINDOW.STATUS=''; RETURN TRUE;">AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION</A>. VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED FOLLOWING A STOP. APPEARS TO HAPPEN AFTER A QUICK ROLLING STOP AND WHEN THE <A TRUE;">AIR CONDITIONER</A> HAVING TO WORK. CAR IS UNPREDICTABLE, IT WILL START MOVING AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF THROTTLE HESITATION. *JB CAR ALSO HUNTS FOR GEARS AT SLOWER SPEEDS CAUSING UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE AS THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEALER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL THE V6 CAMRY'S WHICH THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX. I WAS ASKED TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR FURTHER TESTING, WHICH I DID, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *JB THE VEHICLE JERKED THE CONSUMER AROUND AS GEARS WHERE SHIFTED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEARCHES FOR THE RIGHT GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. *TC *JB

I HAVE A 2004 V6 CAMRY. THE CAR HAS NO CLUES AS TO WHICH GEAR IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN. HALF OF THE TIME YOU CAN PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS AND IT WILL GO AND HALF THE TIME IT WILL NOT. I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES CHANGING LANES OR PULLING OUT DUE TO THE CAR BEING STUCK IN GEARS. THE SHIFTING BETWEEN 2 AND 3 WILL JERK YOUR NECK. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIPS OVER FOUR TIMES AND EVERYTIME I AM TOLD THAT THIS IS A CHARTERISTIC OF THE CAR. I WENT LAST WEEK...THE GENERAL MANAGER TOLD ME HE FELT THE JERKS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND PROCEEDED TO CALL TOYOTA TO FIND OUT HOW TO FIX IT.30 MINUTES LATER I WAS TOLD THAT I AM ON MY OWN WITH IT. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TOYOTA HAS HAD THEM REPLACING 02 SENSORS AND MANY OTHER USELESS IDEAS TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE IS ON EVERY SINGLE COMPLAINT WEBSITE (INCLUDING THIS ONE) AND I WANT TO KNOW IF SOMEONE HAS TO BE KILLED BEFORE TOYOTA IS MADE TO CORRECT THEIR MISTAKES? THE BRAKES ARE THE SECOND ISSUE...THEY DO NOT WORK!! THEY HAVE BEEN REPORTED OVER AND OVER AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I HAVE CAME WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE BRAKES BEING SMASHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR JUST NOT STOPPING.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION HESITATED WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. THERE WAS A 3 TO 4 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH THEN REDUCING SPEED DUE TO TRAFFIC OR TO TURN THERE IS A MARKED DELAY IN THROTTLE AND TRANSMISSION RESPONSE ON RE-ACCELERATION, DANGEROUSLY SLOW WHEN CHANGING LANES ON THE FREEWAY. WHEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FINALLY DUE KICK IN, THE TACHOMETER JUMPS TO RED LINE AND THE CAR ROCKETS FORWARD! *JB

TRANSMISSION MAY DELAY GEAR SELECTION AND ACCELLERATION FOR UP TO 4 SECONDS PUTTING LIVES IN JEAPORDY WHEN WISHING TO ACCCELERATE OR PASS. TRANSMISSION KNOCKS AND SEARCHES WHEN CREAPING IN TRAFFIC BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. CLEARING AN INTERSECTION FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC MAY BE HAZARDOUS. PASSING DOWNSHIFTS ARE COMPLETELY DANGEROUS.....WOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO PASS ANYMORE IN THIS CAR! *AK

I OWN A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA AND HAVE SEVERE ACCELERATOR ISSUES. THE ACCELERATION HESITATES AT VARIOUS TIMES. SOMETIMES IT IS FROM A COMPLETE STOP, OTHER TIMES IT IS IN LOW GEAR. THIS HAS BECOME A HAZARD IN DRIVING AMONGST TRAFFIC. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY AT A NORMAL SPEED; AS I SAID, IT HESITATES, MAKING IT VERY UNSAFE WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO A ROAD, OR STARTING FROM A STOP. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES THAT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE REAR ENDED! THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA IS STATING THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED, WITHOUT ADMITTING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE..BUT THEN STATE THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN THE SHOP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASE IN APRIL. EACH TIME THEY TRY DIFFERENT THINGS...I.E., RESETTING THE COMPUTER, RUNNING TESTS, ETC. *JB

WHEN EVER THE VEHICLE WAS POSITIONED ON AN INCLINE AND THE CONSUMER MOVED HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL'. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB *TC

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR ONLY FROM A STOP, THERE IS A JERKY OR STUTTERING FEELING ON VARYING ROAD SURFACES. THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY 2 - 3 TIMES DAILY. THE CAR IS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES A DAY. THE CAR HAS BEEN TEST DRIVEN BY THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR'S COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED ON THE 3RD VISIT; HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE DEALER CONTACTED TOYOTA; HOWEVER, HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY CAN NOT AUTHORIZE ANY REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. *JB

DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THEN UPON SHIFTING INTO DRIVE THE CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY, WOULD NOT STOP, COLLIDED WITH A MOBILE HOME, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF ONE PASSENGER AND INJURY OF DRIVER *LA SEE ALSO VOQ 10171110. *DSY. UPDATED 03/05/10 *BF UPDATED IVOQ 08/23/10*JB UPDATED 9/21/2011*CW

CAR SHUDDERS, SOMETIMES QUITE VIOLENTLY, WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ENGAGES SECOND GEAR. NOTICED ON SECOND DAY OF OWNERSHIP FEB 18, PROBLEM CONTINUES. MY DEALER HAS MORE COMPLAINTS OF THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. *AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE TRAVELED UP AN INCLINE AND THE CONSUMER RELEASED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE MOVED BACKWARDS. *PH THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN GOING UP A HILL AND THE SMALLEST HILL. AS SOON AS THE DRIVER'S FOOT RELEASED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE MOVED BACKWARDS. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE AND THE SECOND ONE'S FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WENT FORWARD. THIS WAS EXPERIENCED A FEW TIMES A WEEK. *SC *JB

WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AT A FASTER ENGINE SPEED OF ABOUT 2,800 TO 3,000 RPM, THERE IS A ROUGH SPOT OR ROUGH NOISE. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AT LOWER ENGINE SPEEDS A NOISE IS NOT NOTICEABLE. FOR A LONG TIME I THOUGHT THE NOISE WAS FROM ROUGH SPOTS IN THE ROADWAY, BUT THE NOISE KEPT OCCURRING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT. THERE IS A DEFINITE DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

TRANSMISSION "SHUDDERS" WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AT RPM NEAR 3,000.*AK

WHEN I SHIFTED FROM PARKING TO BACK, MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WENT FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARD, WHICH REALLY SURPRISED ME. SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN 20 DAYS LATER.*AK