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2007 Toyota Camry Transmission Gear Snap Ring Issue: TMSUSA Responds - READ ONLY

233 messages,  Last post on May 05, 2006 at 12:59 PM

You are in the Toyota Camry Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Transmission, Sedan



This Discussion is Limited to the 2007 Toyota Camry V6 6-spd Automatic Transmission Issue.
 
Need Help Now? See Your Local Toyota Dealer or Call the Customer Experience Center at

800-331-4331

TMSUSA is Part of the Executive Management of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.

Messages Page 21 of 24

#194 of 233 Re: Half-percent only? [supergoop] by glanwin

May 03, 2006 (10:00 am)

Replying to: supergoop (May 03, 2006 5:14 am)
I do not agree with you about the Toyota service. They handle this situation quickly because it is a new design. My Toyota dealer refused to work on any warranty job on Saturday. They claimed Toyota HQ is not opened so they can not approve any warranty work.
 
Do you think the dealer should do the warranty job if you find the problem, which is showing on your car, on the TSB and dealer acknowledge it. It is the wind noise problem on my 05 HL LTD. Of course, it has not been fixed yet because my Toyota dealer refuse to work on any no-profit warranty works at all.

#195 of 233 Numbers & Dates by tmsusa

May 03, 2006 (10:01 am)

We're getting hung up on production dates and numbers again, and tmsusa is unable to sort all of that out via this forum. The 160 number was used by the media in some of the stories about the Camry, and it actually was calculated technically incorrectly by one of our spokespersons. But we did not retract that number, because it is close to what we know is out there, perhaps a little high.
 
Vehicle production dates are not necessarily what we're using to track the affected vehicles. We've worked hand-in-hand with our supplier in Japan and are using the build date and identification of the transmission to more accurately pinpoint and estimate the impacted vehicles.
 
Finally, if a voluntary service campaign would ultimately result in a higher level of customer satisfaction to our owners, we would not hesitate to put that in place. We've done that many times. But given the small number of vehicles involved, the proactive outreach to affected customers, our ability to know which vehicles are prone to the issue and when and the widespread needless concern and inconvenience that would be brought upon such a large number of our customers--well, we think this is a much more satisfactory approach.

#196 of 233 Re: Numbers & Dates [tmsusa] by alpha01

May 03, 2006 (11:01 am)

Replying to: tmsusa (May 03, 2006 10:01 am)
Tmsusa- Knowing that I'm an advocate of yours and understanding I am not trying to put you on the spot, but I think the general sentiment is that if, as you state:
 
"We've worked hand-in-hand with our supplier in Japan and are using the build date and identification of the transmission to more accurately pinpoint and estimate the impacted vehicles."
 
Once this process is complete, why not issue a recall of these impacted vehicles, which at this point, it seems number about 160? Replace their transmissions, end of story, the rest of the owners have the peace of mind knowing they're alright.
 
That hardly seems like enough folks to qualify as widespread, or enough to invoke needless concern and inconvenience.
 
I respect what Toyota feels to be the 'much more satisfactory approach'. But is that approach the much more satisfactory method in the consumer's shoes? At this point, I wonder.
 
Its clear Toyota is taking strong measures toward customer satisfaction for those who ALREADY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED by the tranny issue.
 
My thinking is just that it might be much better from a PR standpoint, if the number is really as small as 160, to pinpoint the affected vehicles, contact the owners, replace the transmissions, end the dang issue, and have Toyota escape this lapse in quality assurance potentially unscathed (except for the costs associated with the replacement of transmissions... which would be a drop in the bucket for this, the most profitable of all auto companies).
 
~alpha

#197 of 233 "NEEDLESS" ??? by so40

May 03, 2006 (12:43 pm)

from tmsusa:
 
"and the widespread needless concern and inconvenience that would be brought upon such a large number of our customers--well,"
 
I guess it depends on how you define needless. It certainly is not needless to the owners of the "earlier" cars you keep talking about. Mine was made in January of 06, that is pretty darn early.
 
Mike

#198 of 233 Re: "NEEDLESS" ??? [so40] by supergoop

May 03, 2006 (1:08 pm)

Replying to: so40 (May 03, 2006 12:43 pm)
Correct me if wrong, but I think the tranny issue affected only U.S. productions. so40, I think you have a Japanese built, so you should be fine.
 
Your point however, is still very valid. I gathered from the media there were ~5,800 US built V6 before the problem was discovered (sometime in April, 2006 - exact date unknown to the public).
 
Of those, only a small percentage is affected (~90, 160, half-percent, 1.55%, 2.76%, whatever, depending on who you listen to and how you do the math).
 
The concern may be "needless", but I think it is also very real.

#199 of 233 Yes, But.... by so40

May 03, 2006 (3:09 pm)

supergoop, I agree with what you are saying. It appears that it is just the US made cars, BUT, Toyota has yet to state that. I asked that question several times in the early stages of this discussion on several boards.
 
I originally wondered that "IF" all the transmissions were made in Japan and the problem is "Internal" with a snap ring, HOW could where it was mounted to the rest of the engine assembly make a difference. I don't know. As I have stated several times, my car is doing fine and I love it. It is the "not knowing" that is the problem.
 
I admire what Toyota has done so far, however... if it is that small of a number and they have a "decent idea" of who got those cars, they should notify them and at the very least offer an extended warranty on those cars. I do not want anyone to touch mine "UNLESS" it does develop a problem. Again, all of this is based on the statement that only "160 or so" vehicles were affected.
 
Mike

#200 of 233 is toyo slipping? by emale

May 03, 2006 (5:25 pm)

sorry guys, i can't help but think that toyota (honda too) are slipping a little. look at the tundra ball joint issue...now the camry automatic and sludgy engines. toyota is showing some signs that they are slipping abit in their supposed search for perfection. heck, even the latest avalon is only rated average in CR...something is happening. and you heard it here first...

#201 of 233 Re: Numbers & Dates [alpha01] by tmsusa

May 03, 2006 (6:17 pm)

Replying to: alpha01 (May 03, 2006 11:01 am)
Hello New Jersey! Lived there for four years and loved it. We do appreciate your support alpha01 and that of so many on this forum, many of whom are our customers.
 
I do not work in the technical services area of our company and so could not offer a technically intelligent response to your very logical “thinking.” Plus, it really would not be appropriate here to delve into that.
 
I can tell you that the "costs" incurred to us for making a wrong situation right for our customers are not even part of the decision making process for this. And good PR is important to us, but secondary to doing what is right.
 
The #1 motivation for handling our Camry transmission problem the way we have is that it was the best course of action for our affected customers and enabled us to respond to them the fastest. The "non-affected" customers--those that will not have this problem but worry they will--are equally important to us, and I understand why there may be underlying trepidation.
 
But it is our hope that this level of open and honest communication direct from us to them--coupled with our reputation for standing behind the reliability of our products—will provide the kind of peace of mind Toyota customers have come to expect from their brand.

#202 of 233 07 Camry Problem by faldoc

May 03, 2006 (8:03 pm)

I got 2 calls from my rep at TMS in California today, and one from my dealer to give me an update on my car.
 
Thanks for keeping me updated as promised, TMS.
 
From TMS I understand that the transmission might be at my dealer by the end of this week, (no guarantees), so I might have my car a day or 2 after that, perhaps early next week. I am sure my dealer will want to get my car to me and their loaner back... I am putting 600 miles a week on the loaner...
 
TMS re-iterated the Toyota 7 yr/100000 mile $0 deductible Platinum warantee and 1st car payment incentives. All in all if the car is back to tiptop shape I think it will be a satisfactory solution to the issue.
 
More updates as I get them.

#203 of 233 Re: Numbers & Dates [tmsusa] by angela8

May 03, 2006 (9:06 pm)

Replying to: tmsusa (May 03, 2006 6:17 pm)
Hello TMSUSA...
 
I am one of the affected customers and initially I was very happy with the way Toyota was handling my case. Unfortunately, when I contacted Fabiola (your customer service rep)and inquired about what Toyota was doing to prevent any more of these units from being sold from dealer inventory, I was told the following:
"Is there some problem, we did offered to buy your car back."
My only point in making that call was to get some reassurance that no one else would be affected in the same manner that I was. I did so much research before taking the big plunge...I bought my dream car, I was so excited. I drove it so proudly with confidence for a whole 3 days and then suddenly at 351 miles the transmission started shifting erractly. I was told it would ready in 2 weeks only to find out that it would be a minimum of 4 weeks before it would be repaired.
The thought of a buy back and repurchase of another 2007 Camry XLE has crossed mind because of the substancial wait period of repair. Unfortunatly I have no confidence that the next one I get will be another one of the known problem units.
 
Rita aka Disappointed Camry owner in Texas

Messages Page 21 of 24

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