RoadVitals

1999 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.
15
Latest Mar 23, 2009
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.
3%
of 501 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 1999 Toyota Camry submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Mar 23, 2009

1999 TOYOTA CAMRY 4 CYLINDER WITH 83,500 MILES (ONE OWNER) BLEW A PISTON THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AS A RESULT OF ACCELERATING FROM ABOUT 69 TO 73 MPH ON A BUSY TURNPIKE, COMPLETELY DESTROYING THE ENGINE AND SENDING BLACK SMOKE AND OIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR HAD BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND THERE HAD NEVER BEEN ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS NOR WAS OIL GEL/SLUDGE EVER NOTICED AS AN ISSUE BY THE MECHANICS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262833
Incident
Jan 31, 2009
Mileage
83,500 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Apr 12, 2005

ON MARCH 2, THE ENGINE ON MY TOYOTA CAMRY THREW A ROD, AND RESULTED IN A TERMINAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT, SUPPOSEDLY "CERTIFIED USED" FROM ROSEVILLE TOYOTA, IN AUGUST 2002. I PLEADED WITH TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION FOR ASSISTANCE BUT THEY SAID THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. DUE TO EXTREME STRAINS ON MY TIME, I HAD THE ENGINE REBUILT FOR NEARLY $3700. UPON DRIVING THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 200 MILES AFTER HAVING THE ENGINE REBUILT, THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN ESTIMATED $1500. I DO NOT HAVE TIME OR MONEY TO CONTINUALLY REPAIR THIS CAR AND HAVE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM BOTH ROSEVILLE TOYOTA AND TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION BOTH. IT WAS RECENTLY BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE TOYOTA THAT I PURCHASED FROM ROSEVILLE TOYOTA WAS NEVER CERTIFIED TO BEGIN WITH. THEY MISLEADINGLY SOLD ME A CAR UNDER THE FALSE IMPRESSION THAT IT WAS CERTIFIED WHEN IT WAS NOT. I PLACE THE BLAME FOR THE RECENT FAILURES AND RESULTANT REPAIR FEES ON ROSEVILLE TOYOTA. IF I HAD KNOWN THAT THIS PARTICULAR CAR WAS NOT A CERTIFIED TOYOTA VEHICLE, I WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN IT OFF THE LOT AND CONSEQUENTIALLY EXPERIENCED ANY OF THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED ABOVE. HOWEVER, I WAS FALSELY MISLEAD TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS GETTING A CERTIFIED VEHICLE AND DROVE OFF HAPPILY. NONE OF THE PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED ARE AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10116823
Incident
Mar 2, 2005
Mileage
66,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 13, 2003

MY 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY NEEDED IT'S SECOND CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. THE FIRST WAS AT ABOUT 33K AND NOW ANOTHER AT 78K. WHY ARE THE CLUTCH GOING SO FAST. WE HAVE ANOTHER VECHICLE 1993 ACCLAIM WITH 170K. WE HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL ALL OUR LIFE WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTILL THIS TOYOTA. *AK

NHTSA ID
10026004
Incident
Jun 27, 2003
Mileage
33,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 11, 2003
Crash reported

AFTER PARKING MY CAR AND PLACING IT IN PARK, IT SUDDENLY LAUNCHED FORWARD CRASHING INTO A RESTAURANT. I AM CERTAIN THAT IT WAS IN PARK. ARE THERE SIMILAR REPORTED INCIDENTS? COULD THIS BE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 01V012000.*JB

NHTSA ID
10010281
Incident
Mar 9, 2003
Mileage
50,000 mi
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+4 more
Filed Aug 19, 2002

CONSUMER STATED BRAKES WOULD MAKE A GRINDING SOUND AND PULSATE AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CONCERNING THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, AS WELL AS FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, DUE TO THEM BEING WORN.*JB

NHTSA ID
567147
Incident
Jan 24, 2000
Heating & air conditioningEngineFuel system+3 more
Filed Aug 29, 2001

THIS CAR IS A LEMON. I HAVE HAD FIVE INTEGRATED RELAY'S REPLACED AND NOW IT IS OUT AGAIN. THE HEADLIGHT OR THE DASH LIGHTS WILL WORK, BUT NOT BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. TOYOTA SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD A NON-FACTORY ALARM INSTALLED. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM WITH A TOYOTA ALARM AND REPLACED THE RELAY AND IT BURNED OUT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS HAD A MUSTY SMELL SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY SPRAY THE VENTS WITH "FRIGI FRESH" AND IT'S FINE FOR A FEW DAYS AND THE SMELL RETURNS. THEY TOLD ME TO SPRAY SIMPLE GREEN IN THE AIR INTAKE ONCE A WEEK. THAT'S A PRETTY POOR REMEDY. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT HOLD ON ANY INCLINE. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL PULL INTO THE GARAGE BY IT SELF AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL ROLL INTO THE STREET. IT DEPENDS ON IT'S MOOD. THE CAR LACK POWER. SOME DAYS THE CAR IS PEPPY BUT MOST DAYS IT'S A OLD MULE. I WENT THROUGH ARBITRATION AND TOYOTA JUST KEEPS REPLACING PARTS INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE CAR. IT'S SITS IN THE GARAGE NOW BECAUSE IS NOT DEPENDABLE. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION AND RECALL OF THE 1999 CAMRY.*AK

NHTSA ID
751321
Incident
May 15, 2000
Transmission
Filed Aug 13, 2001

VEHICLE WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT CABLE RUNNING FROM GEAR SHIFT TO TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY IS EXPOSED TO ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
894168
Incident
Jul 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed Feb 1, 2001

WHILE GOING UP A HILL HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN VEHICLE WAS CHANGING GEARS. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. TECHNICIAN STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
879564
Body & structureExterior lightingSuspension+1 more
Filed Dec 5, 2000

THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE ROAD PROPERLY. THEY HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED BY THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. THE LIGHTS STILL DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD PROPERLY AND ARE A SAFETY CONCERN. FRONT SUSPENSION SHAKES AGGRESIVELY (OFTEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) MAKING DRIVING VERY DANGTEROUS. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT BY DEALER. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. ALL FOUR TIRES WORE COMPLETELY OUT IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. FRONT END PULLED STRONGLY TO RIGHT. DEALER TRIED TO CORRED SEVERAL TIMES. FRONT END NOW PULLS TO THE LEFT. REAR END "BANGS" AND "BOTTOMS OUT" OFTEN WHILE AT SPEED. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THIS SAFETY CONCERN IS "TYPICAL" OF THIS CAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO HOLD CAR WHILE ON AN INCLINE AT LEAST TWICE. WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE FOR DEALER. REAR DOOR HAS NEVER CLOSED PROPERLY. DEALER HAS ATTAMPTED SEVERAL REAPIRS. DOOR STILL "CREEKS AND POPS" WHEN OPENED.

NHTSA ID
737350
Incident
Apr 1, 1999
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Oct 31, 2000

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS AND FRONT ROTORS; AT 10,000 MILES DEALER HAD TO REPLACE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. CURRENTLY, AT 21,000 MILES, PROBLEM REOCCURRED. PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHT NOT ALIGNED. DEALER INFORMED THAT VEHICLE MET MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION AND NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. ALSO, WATER PUMP FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS BEING MADE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT GOOD AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO TEST THE FLUIDS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
874248
Incident
Jun 15, 1999
BrakesElectricalTransmission
Filed Oct 16, 2000

WE HAVE SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE CAR HESITATES WHEN YOU TAKE OFF. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD IT (THIS WILL MAKE) 5 TIMES SINCE MARCH 31,1999. THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR WEEKS AT A TIME. THE BRAKES MAKE NOISES WHEN THEY ARE APPLIED. THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE VENTS BUT WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM. WE STILL, AFTER ALL THOSE TIMES IN THE SHOP, HAVE THE SAME ORGINAL PROBLEMS AS BEFORE WE EVER WENT TO THE SHOP. WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAVE EVEN LIED TO US WHEN WE WERE BUYING THE CAR. THEY TOLD US IT WAS A LIMITED EDITION AND IT ISN'T. THEY WERE THE ORGINAL OWNERS, THEY WERE NOT. THEY WON'T GIVE US THE NAME OF THE ORGINAL OWNER. (FOUND THIS OUT DURING ARBITRATION) THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. AND CAN'T FIND ANY HELP ON THE SITUTATION. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ID
734461
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Jun 30, 2000
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, SHE APPLIED GAS PEDAL TO SPEED UP, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ROAR AND SLOWDOWN. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, BUT VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS HIT BY ONCOMING TRUCK. VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A MONTH AND A HALF. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT SHE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
864634
Incident
May 15, 2000
Heating & air conditioningTransmissionVisibility
Filed Nov 23, 1999

VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS ON ANY SORT OF INCLINE. THE TRANSMISSIONS WILL NOT HOLD THE CAR ON A HILL EVEN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE. DEALER STATED THIS WAS A "NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ZERO DRAG FOR BEST GAS MILEAGE AND IS NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD CAR WITHOUT THROTTLE PRESSURE." THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
715156
Incident
Jun 28, 1999
Transmission
Filed Oct 1, 1999

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND UNEXPECTEDLY ENGAGED CAUSING CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. YH

NHTSA ID
548843
Transmission
Filed Feb 11, 1999

INDICATOR FOR THE POSITION OF THE GEAR SHIFT IS LOCATED ON THE FLOOR AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO VIEW MOST OF THE TIME DUE TO ITS' SMALL SIZE AND IS INDISTINCT DUE TO REFLECTIONS IN THE PLEXIGLASS OCOVER ON THE CONSOLE.

NHTSA ID
543856

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 .