NHTSA Complaint #10310167 — 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

I AM FILING THIS CLAIM TO REPORT A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2009 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. I BOUGHT MY 2009 4RUNNER NEW IN MAY OF 2009 AND FROM THE FIRST WEEK NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, AND IT IS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. IT HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY EACH TIME I SLOW DOWN (BUT DON'T STOP COMPLETELY) TO TURN CORNERS AND THEN CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE,. THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T RESPOND, THE CAR JUST SITS THERE, AND THE ENGINE GOES FROM 1500 RPMS TO UP TO 2500 RPMS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION CATCHES UP WITH THE ENGINE AGAIN AND THE CAR THEN MOVES. I AM CONCERNED EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS TRAFFIC FOLLOWING BEHIND ME IN THE TURN. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK IT OUT RIGHT AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD US THAT EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK. I HAD THE TECHNICIAN DRIVE IT, AND I WENT WITH HIM. HE SAID THAT HE COULDN'T FEEL WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, EVEN THOUGH I FELT IT WHEN HE SLOWED TO MAKE A TURN. HE THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE IT TOOK THE NEW ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION A FEW SECONDS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CAR'S COMPUTER. SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS GUESSING AT WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SINCE CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AT TOYOTA, AND RECEIVED A RESPONSE IN E-MAIL TELLING ME TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA, AND THAT TOYOTA HAD ALREADY DONE SO ON MY BEHALF. HE SAID IF I DIDN'T HEAR FROM THE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP BY FEB. 11, 2010, TO CONTACT TOYOTA AGAIN. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM MY DEALERSHIP AS OF FEB 13. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL, AND THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING, AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME RUNAROUND FROM THE COMPANY. *TR