Ask the Car People.SM


2007 Toyota Camry Problems and Repairs

5628 messages,  Last post on Jan 22, 2013 at 9:37 PM

You are in the Toyota Camry Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Sedan

Messages Page 112 of 563

#1108 of 5628 Re: Drifts to the left - SEV6 [eddiecruz] by p100

Aug 11, 2006 (11:52 am)

Replying to: eddiecruz (Aug 11, 2006 8:23 am)
I had a slight drift problem with my '99 Mazda 626 V6 when I bought the car new in 1999. The alignment checked out OK. The problem, it turns out was the passenger side right tire, which was causing the drift. Replacing the tire took care of the problem for good. Hard to believe, but quality of tires has gone down drastically in he last few years. these tiers were Bridgestone Potenza RE92.
 
I am surprized how many problems people have with the new Toyotas. A new Camry was on my list of vehicles to seriously consider, but no more.

#1109 of 5628 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [faldoc] by p100

Aug 11, 2006 (11:56 am)

Replying to: faldoc (Aug 11, 2006 7:39 am)
The fact that they had to put in two transmissions in a new car tells me they have a serious probelm on their hands. Well, at least they are doing the right thing and refuncing the money.

#1110 of 5628 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [ray_h1] by jetjockg

Aug 11, 2006 (12:26 pm)

Replying to: ray_h1 (Aug 11, 2006 8:26 am)
Ref: ray h1
 You've pretty much got the idea. If the driving duties aren't divided equally, the TCM will skew its shift characteristics proportionately toward the principle driver's habits. Does the transmission eventually correct the design error of Toyota? Since I got my license in the early 1950s I know what you mean about transmission band ajustments. I do not believe they have done that for 20 or 30 years.The 1989 Maxima that I gave to my grandson never had the bands adjusted and it still runs great. Maybe if I talk to him nicely he will trade me even for my 2007 Camry!! I don't think I will though because I want him to remain my friend.

#1111 of 5628 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [jetjockg] by ray_h1

Aug 11, 2006 (12:50 pm)

Replying to: jetjockg (Aug 11, 2006 12:26 pm)
"Does the transmission eventually correct the design error of Toyota?"
 
Too many other variables to answer concisely. (and I'm no programmable transmission computer control expert) If the problem's truly a mechanical design consideration, "learning" might eventually be able compensate if the amount of compensation is within the mechanical parameters of the transmission to adjust. On the other hand, if the problem is merely an unforeseen software glitch, a firmware revision download into the TCM might be the remedy - though there conceivably could be some "relearning" time involved to fully realize the new programming's shift quality and general performance improvements.

#1112 of 5628 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [faldoc] by concertkey

Aug 11, 2006 (2:12 pm)

Replying to: faldoc (Aug 11, 2006 7:39 am)
I am glad to hear that Toyota took great care of you and had consideration for your time. That has not been my experience so far. As of next Wednesday, it will have been 12 weeks since I put down a deposit on my SE-V6. This was not a custom order. As of today, I still do not have a build date! In the meantime, the state sales tax has increased and Toyota is implementing the second price increase on the Camry this year. According to my dealer, I will be liable for an additional $600.00 over the price of my sales contract. I have chronicled my "woes" over in the Prices Paid and Buying Experience forum.

#1113 of 5628 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [faldoc] by chacha426

Aug 11, 2006 (5:01 pm)

Replying to: faldoc (Aug 11, 2006 7:39 am)
Got my 07 XLE June 1 and after 2200 miles my transmission and torque converter are being replaced. Called the 800# found on this site and TMUSA has been great. My local dealer got on my car right away to order the new trans (not the lot that I currently have), gave me a rental, will pay 1 months payment and extended my warranty to 7yr/100K. This is the option I chose over them giving me my money back or replacing with a new car. I really love the Nav loaded XLE and hopefully the new trans works out and if not, then will look at the other option they gave. TMUSA is calling me frequently and is working closely with my local service department. Should take 7-10 days. Yes, I'm bothered that this happened, but the TMUSA and my dealership have been great and will feel better with the extended warranty.

#1114 of 5628 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [concertkey] by chacha426

Aug 11, 2006 (5:08 pm)

Replying to: concertkey (Aug 11, 2006 2:12 pm)
You have a signed contract with a price, so they can't increase. Seems like the same would apply for the sales tax since the contract is signed/dated. I'd sure check into this because I don't think they can do this. If they placed your order then tell them you want your PO# and by this number your vehicle can be tracked. I learned this when I ordered the new 06 Honda Civic Coupe SI from a local dealership and they sold it out from under them. I complained to the FTC, Honda Corp and Better Business Bureau. Of course cancelled the order and got my money back. If your dealership doesn't give you a PO# t hen they may have sold it as Toyota will have a PO for the car order (whether special order or not). Learned alot from my Honda experience...won't own another due to their shady dealings.

#1115 of 5628 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [jetjockg] by nissanron

Aug 11, 2006 (9:26 pm)

Replying to: jetjockg (Aug 11, 2006 12:26 pm)
There haven't been any bands to adjust in automatic transmissions (to my knowledge) for many years. You are showing your age! I bet most Toyota engineers who worked on the 2007 Camry have never heard of adjusting bands in an automatic transmission. That is the problem with most car companies today. To cut costs, they fired or retired way too many senior employees, i.e., the true "car guys".
 
When young engineers are designing their very first automatic transmission, you have to expect problems! Everything today is designed on a computer using computer programs. The young engineers do not have the knowledge or understanding to design any other way. They are no longer mechanical engineers in the true sense, who were trained in engineering theory, logic, common sense, and trial and error. The true car guys worked on their own cars as did a lot of car owners.
 
I recall helping my dad install new transmission bands in his 1923 Model T Ford. And, my first driving experiences were in the Model T. There were 3 fabric bands, as I recall. One for low, one for high, and one for reverse. If the bands stretched too much, you didn't "go". The bands had to be tightened. If you slipped them too much, you burned them out and new bands had to be installed. Many farmers and laborers installed their own, using logic and common sense and some instructions from the parts person.
 
If today's "engineers" do not understand how a transmission works, how are they going to fix it? That is the problem facing not only Toyota, but all the car companies.

#1116 of 5628 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [nissanron] by user777

Aug 12, 2006 (5:08 am)

Replying to: nissanron (Aug 11, 2006 9:26 pm)
nissanron - excellent post!
 
not only is your prose appropos for the automotive industry, i suggest it extends to many other high-tech industries as well.
 
companies in their endless pursuit to make money for shareholders and the people at the top management ranks have allowed engineering to be dessimated, outsourced to low-cost countries while the experts that got them where they are retire.
 
the engineers who are left don't have the history or technical mentoring from those experts which are now gone, and the work outsourced is being done by those without proper training and even less access to that same critical expertise.
 
as if that weren't enough, many critical components and sub-systems are now designed and made not by the OEM, but by sourced firms. how does the OEM track and control the quality of something they did not design or build?
 
and those sourced firms, where is their labor and material comming from?
 
once upon a time, engineers were allowed to over-engineer a part such that lifing of that item was never a concern, even under the most demanding applications for the life of the product that contained it.
 
not anymore.
 
it's got some gingoistic name du jour that i can't seem to recall at the moment, but what has been de-valued in the automotive industry is being done so also in many high-tech / complex industries in the name of the almighty dollar.
 
and how does corporate management react when the output quality gulfs finally catch up to them? first they throw more managers at the problem... of course - someone has to track those defects and try to understand, then control processes that have gotten quite out of hand. then, they themselves move on to leave the mess to their successor.

#1117 of 5628 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [jetjockg] by tmsusa

Aug 12, 2006 (9:30 am)

Replying to: jetjockg (Aug 11, 2006 7:39 am)
#1093 of 1116 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [tmsusa] by gartmacd Aug 11, 2006 (6:56 am)
Replying to: tmsusa (Aug 11, 2006 4:09 am)
 
I just want to add my thanks and profound respect for your presence in discussions about problems some are having with their Toyotas. Don't be discouraged or dissuaded by some negative reactions to your input. I don't believe this is representative of the majority of those of us who are interested but not participative onlookers. I know of no other automaker doing the same thing, at least on these kinds of forums, and it takes guts and bags of integrity to do so. . .
 
Thank. Your comments are appreciated.
 
#1098 of 1116 Re: .02 on the Camry Transmission issues [tmsusa] by jetjockg Aug 11, 2006 (7:39 am)
Replying to: tmsusa (Aug 11, 2006 5:21 am)
 
tmsusa -- I have two comments about your poorly worded reply. My 2007 Camry LE 4cyl. Hesitates and downshifts when not needed.If everything is OK according to Toyota why doesn't tmsusa acknowledge it and tell it's customers how to deal with it. The second comment is--if your transmission learns, how does it know when I an aggressive driver is driving or my wife, a slow poky driver is driving? Does it set the transmission somewhere in the middle? Your 800-331 4331 people will not talk to me any more after telling me nothing. So much for customer relations. Haven't you learned that to admit a problem sooner is better than later?
 
Thank you. Your comments are appreciated also. And I will agree that sometimes in my anxiousness to be straightforward and transparent on the part of Toyota, tmsusa chooses words that might not convey the level of concern we truly do have for those customers that have legitimate performance issues with their cars. You are one of them, and I regret coming across as insensitive to your issue with your 2007 Camry LE 4-cyl.
 
I will be happy to go back and look at your case history to understand a little more about the origin of your hesitation issues and to consult with our folks in CR and the technical group to see why we evidently have reached an impasses with your particular concerns.
 
But the point of responding to your post and to the one above is to illustrate that we most certainly are being more attentive to listening to the real world experiences with our customers and taking action to address real technical issues sooner than we've been able to do in the past. I think we're not hesitant to go public with a problem and admit an error. We're doing several "recalls" this year--That's certainly no secret. But in all cases, we've chosen to be upfront about it--publicize them more expansively by going to the web and getting the info out to our customers and consumers ASAP. Does that then contribute to a bit of media frenzy over the question of a crack in Toyota's long held quality reputation? Of course. But far better to let the media play around with that all they want then alienate our customers and others who look to Toyota for sound information about our products and company.
 
The snap ring issue on the Camry V6 07s might be one example of something new for us--addressing an unexpected and vexing technical problem in a sophisticated transmission head-on by going to the internet and talking about it in consumer-generated forums like this. Actually, I don't ever recall in my 20+ years with this organization a time when we thought it better to not disclose a problem. Witness the October 1989 recall of our 45-day old in the marketplace new luxury flagship LS400. Then we just did not have the capability to harness the internet and its viral capacity to communicate to new owners and others nearly instantaneously as we do today--so instead each of us in the new division picked up the phone and started calling . . .
 
Listen, we're far from perfect, and I am serious about appreciating your candid posts. I learn how to write with a greater degree of sensitivity and Toyota, the company that I represent by virtue of the tmsusa screen name, can gather additional feedback re the issues you describe and take the appropriate action.

Messages Page 112 of 563

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement