07 Toyota Camry Transmission NHTSA Report (merged threads)
 

Yup, it's officially a KILLER!

Lookup #10173766 at the following link

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...in/results.cfm

"EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED 3RD-4TH GEAR SHIFT FLARE WHEN COLD DAILY AFTER NEW CAR PUT INTO SERVICE. DEALER REPAIRED BY REPLACING TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY PER MFGR TSB. FAILURE: AFTER VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT, TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED NEW PROBLEM (AND ORIGINAL SHIFT FLARE PROBLEM PERSISTED). AFTER DECELERATING FROM 30 MPH TO 10 MPH AND COASTING, MADE RIGHT TURN AT INTERSECTION AND THEN DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR ABOUT 20% DOWN. POWERTRAIN DID NOT ENGAGE - VEHICLE WAS ESSENTIALLY IN NEUTRAL, AND BEGAN SLOWING DOWN. DISENGAGED CONDITION PERSISTED 2-3 SECONDS. THEN, A THUNK WAS HEARD, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED, AND THE VEHICLE HARSHLY JOLTED FORWARD. THIS DEFECT IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE LOSS OF POWER FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF IT OCCURS DURING LANE CHANGES, AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS, ETC. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT FAILURE: NO ACTION YET TAKEN. WILL RETURN TO DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. *NM"

I can say this much, when it happens getting into traffic it does scare the you know what out of you, but at least in my experiences with former ES350 and this newer ES350 the gear always ends up catching but I would not assume that risk for anyone else but myself and could not guarantee it would always catch, just so far always has for me.

I can see where they would be concerned about it.

Can you report a death the NHTSA if it didn't really happen?

I'm more familiar with FAA incident/accident reporting than cars.

It looks like the agent who wrote the report expressed what we ourselves with this issue allow ourselves to briefly entertain having experienced it when pulling out into or across traffic. Quite a few on here have expressed concern like that.

Not sure how they verify a death, but the way it is worded is as if the agent themself had driven one and had it happen when you see the scenarios listed in the report where it could be dangerous.

07 Toyota Camry Transmission has now caused a death.
 

http://www.acuraclubsa.com/russ/nhtsa.gif

From NHTSA website at:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...in/results.cfm

Lookup #10173766 at the following link

I'm guessing the agent worded it the way the complainant reported it.

I don't understand this. The complaint sounds like it's coming from the person who experienced the trans problem, but 1 death is indicated. So who's writing up the complaint? Am I missing something?

NHTSA only puts complaints up after verifying the situation on the website and file. It then will do a further investigation into it from this point on. It has to be pretty serious usually to get on the website/reported.

It is kind of confusing. Who will take the car back to the dealer for additional repairs if there was a death involved? I'm assuming there was an accident causing the death.

Class action time on behalf of Camry/ES350 owners if the tranny problems persist.

I just read this 4 times. Seems there was a tranny issue. We do NOT know if it is what CAUSED the accident. That is what a TRIAL is for.

This is NOT A TRIAL, Toyota has NOT been found at fault.

This should be forwarded to Toyota.

How was there 1 death without a crash??

Heart attack ?? :uh:

Toyota was not found at fault with this. It is just a report. When toyota is found at fault, then you can say "TOYOTA TRANNY CAUSES DEATH".

Otherwise, stating it without knowing all the facts, is borderline libel.

Exactly, we don't know what really happened. This is a REPORT. It is not a conclusion to an official investigation.

Russ is so ready for Toyota to fail he jumped the gun. It still funny seeing we KNOW how Acura trannies have caused accidents by reading their forums and seeing the pictures. A couple even bought a Lexus and joined here.:)

It is very sad someone did indeed die, though not sure of the entire cause of death. Police report????