RoadVitals

1997 Toyota Camry Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
29
Latest Jan 6, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 555 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Toyota Camry submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

Body & structureElectricalSeat belts+1 more
Filed Jan 6, 2005
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING, THE MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHICH SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE FRONT. WHEN THE CONSUMER STOPPED AND THE APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMERS RADIO WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PASSENGER SEAT BELT STICKS. VEHICLE TRUNK LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. THE DRIVER SIDE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE DOES NOT WORK. THE RUBBER ON THE MOTOR MOUNT DOES NOT LAST AND BREAKS. THE VEHICLE JERKS REPEATEDLY. *TC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CURRENTLY HAS A PERMANENT BACK PROBLEM DUE TO THE ADJUSTABLE HANDLE NOT WORKING. *SC

NHTSA ID
10092351
Incident
Sep 15, 2004
SuspensionTransmission
Filed May 6, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THERE WAS SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END ALSO, HAD PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10072233
Incident
May 6, 2004
Transmission
Filed Jan 5, 2004

THE CONSUMER CAN START THE IGNITION WHEN TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTED IN ANY POSITION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10053325
Incident
Dec 22, 2003
Mileage
81,826 mi
Transmission
Filed May 12, 2003

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED BY PIECES OF METAL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10019600
Incident
May 10, 2003
Mileage
150,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 27, 2001

UPON CHANGING GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE GEAR AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO NEUTRAL, PLEASE PROVIDE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, AND FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
899502
Transmission
Filed Aug 31, 2001

THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT THE LEVER BEING IN PARK BUT NEUTRAL, THE DRIVER DID NOT REALIZE THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN DRIVEWAY AND HIT A PARKED TRUCK DAMAGING THE BACK OF THE CAR AND DAMAGING THE TRUCK. NLM

NHTSA ID
785506
Incident
Aug 13, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jun 6, 2001

AS CONSUMER TRIED TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. DEALER FOUND SHIFTER CABLE HAD STRETCHED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
889902
Incident
Jun 4, 2001
Transmission
Filed May 30, 2001

WHEN TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE IT HESITATES AND THEN BACKS SLOWLY. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO STERLING MCCALL TOYOTA IN HOUSTON TEXAS FOR ALL THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE MILAGE INTERVALS. ON ONE OF THE INVOICES I HAVE IT SHOWS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLUSHED WHEN I TOOK IT THE 60,000 SERVICE MAINTAINENCE. I HAVE PAID FOR SEVERAL MAJOR TRANSMISSION SERVICE VISITS AND THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON MY CAR STILL EXIST. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALERSHIP ,ON BEHALF OF THEIR NEGLIANCE , INSPITE OF ALL MY SERVICE VISITS, MY TRANSMISSION HAS WORSENED. PLEASE HELP! INVESTIGATE AND ARBITRATION. IF YOU NEED FURTHER DETAILS, YOU MAY CONTACT ME ANYTIME HOME OR WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID
746158
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed May 9, 2001

TRANSMISSION MAKES A NOISE WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE OR PLACED IN DRIVE AND THE ENGINE DIES LEADING TO BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
745119
Incident
May 8, 2001
Body & structureBrakesEngine+7 more
Filed Oct 2, 2000

WHEN FIVE PEOPLE WERE IN THE VEHICLE, THE TIRES SCRAPED REAR WHEEL WELLS AND UNDERCARRIAGE SCRAPED PAVEMENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555305
Transmission
Filed Apr 19, 2000

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR REGULAR PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, SUCH AS 60,000 MILES SERVICE CHECK UP IN APR19 99. IN AUGUST, 19 99 FLUID WAS DIRTY. CONSUMER FELT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKED IN APR 1999. ON 01-APR-2000, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WOULD PAY HALF OF THE $4000. *AK THE TRANSMISSION REMAINING SLUGGISH AND WITHOUT REVERSE ACTION. THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE IS ASKING THE DEALER TO PAY ALL THE COST OF REPAIR. *YH

NHTSA ID
860582
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Mar 29, 2000

VEHICLE CAN BE PLACED INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING THE SHIFT RELEASE BUTTON. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CNOTACTED. AK

NHTSA ID
859382
Transmission
Filed Oct 29, 1999

AS MY CAR CRESTED A SMALL HILL ON 7-15-99, THE ENGINE REVVED TO ABOUT 4000 RPM AND THERE WAS NO POWER. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR HAD SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED SHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE WHICH THEN WORKED. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT TWO BLOCKS LATER. I TOOK THE CAR TO WILKINS TOYOTA THE NEXT DAY. THEY REPLACED A SPEED SENSOR. THE CAR SEEMED OK BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED A FEW DAYS LATER. I RETURNED TO WILKINS TOYOTA 7-21. THEY REPLACED ANOTHER SPEED SENSOR, SAYING TOYOTA HAD A DEFECTIVE LOT. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON BUT LATER WENT BACK OFF. WILKINS SAID THE FAULT CODE WOULD BE STORED ANYWAY AND BRING IT BACK. I DID. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO FAULT CODE AND DECLINED TO DO ANYTHING. AT THIS TIME I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE ON THE INTERNET BUT NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY. THE CAR WAS THEN OK FOR A WHILE (I WAS OUT OF TOWN FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS) UNTIL THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON 10-27. I TOOK THE CAR TO WILKINS TOYOTA. THEY REPLACED YET ANOTHER SPEED SENSOR WHICH FAILED TONIGHT AFTER ONLY 15 MILES. THIS IS DANGEROUS. TWO OF THE FAILURES WERE ON THE FREEWAY, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND HAD TO USE 2ND GEAR AT IGH RPMS TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC UNTIL I COULD EXIT. THIS IS FOUR BAD SENSORS IN 3 MONTHS AND WITHIN 2500 MILES. I BELIEVE SOMETHING IN THE CAR IS CAUSING THE FAILURES BECAUSE TOYOTA COULDN'T HAVE SO MANY BAD ONES OR NO ONE'S CAR WOULD RUN. CAN YOU HELP?

NHTSA ID
714043
Incident
Jul 16, 1999
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Sep 30, 1999

THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESTITATE WHEN APPLYING THE GAS. WOULD GO SHORT DISTANCES AND MAKE CLANKING/SCRAPING NOISES. PULLED INTO GAS STATION & WAS INFORMED TO TOW VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. THOUGHT IT WAS DIFFERENTIAL. THERE WAS A LOT METAL INSIDE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
849633
Incident
Sep 7, 1999
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Sep 8, 1999

KEY INTERLOCK AND SOLENOID SAFETY.

NHTSA ID
609528
Transmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

KEY INTERLOCK SOLENOID FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID
607891
Incident
Jan 22, 1998
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

OIL PAN FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID
606960
BrakesTransmission
Filed Feb 1, 1999

BRAKES MAKE NOISE. YH

NHTSA ID
606118
Transmission
Filed Oct 8, 1998

MR. SALO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY QUITS PULLING WHEN THE GEAR SHOULD BE SHIFTED FROM THE SECOND GEAR TO THE THIRD. *AK

NHTSA ID
828742
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Transmission
Filed Oct 2, 1998

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY PULLS WHEN THE GEAR SHOULD BE SHIFTED FROM THE 2ND GEAR TO THE 3RD GEAR, CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN ENTERING BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID
780646
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Transmission
Filed May 12, 1998

TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION, RECALL NOTICE SENT AFTER ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID
535556
Incident
Oct 20, 1997
Transmission
Filed Apr 16, 1998

ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCURRENCES THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED. KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITON WHILE VEHICLE IS IN ANY GEAR. VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL FOR PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK

NHTSA ID
822501
Transmission
Filed Feb 17, 1998

RECALL WORK CAN NOT BE DONE ON THE KEY INTERLOCK (TRANSMISSION) DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

NHTSA ID
530556
Transmission
Filed Jan 6, 1998
Crash reported

TRANSMISSION LEFT IN DRIVE, ENGINE TURNED OFF AND KEYS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILED , CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS IN OFFICE PARKING LOT, HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE PRIOR TO RECALL (97V-213). *AK

NHTSA ID
819863
Incident
Nov 3, 1997
Transmission
Filed Dec 4, 1997

SOLENOID SHIFT INTERLOCK CONNECTOR FAILED, ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
525657
Incident
Sep 17, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .