NHTSA complaint #11625302

Owner complaint summary

The issue with the 2019 Toyota Camry SE appears to be a malfunction of the vehicle's transmission system, specifically related to the 8-speed automatic transmission, which is known to have a recurring issue. Around one month ago, the vehicle began to produce a whining noise coming from the transmission, which progressively worsened over time. Despite the absence of warning lights or messages, the noise raised concerns regarding the transmission's performance. The vehicle was subsequently taken to a Toyota service station, where the transmission was serviced, but the issue remained unresolved. Upon inspection, the dealership confirmed the presence of the whining noise and noted in their service receipt that a new transmission would be required. This suggests a significant failure within the transmission system that was not addressed through the initial service. The 8-speed automatic transmission in these Camry models has been reported to have consistent problems, which should not have occurred at this mileage (158,000 miles) under normal conditions. At this point, it is reasonable to believe that this issue is tied to a known defect with the 8-speed automatic transmission and may require a recall for affected vehicles. The safety of the driver and others could be at risk if the transmission fails completely, especially if it leads to an unexpected loss of power or control over the vehicle. However, no formal inspection by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives has been mentioned as of yet. In summary, the problem has not only been acknowledged by the Toyota service station, but also seems to be part of a wider, systemic issue with this model's transmission. As such, a recall should be considered, and further investigation into this known issue is warranted to prevent further safety risks.