NHTSA Complaint #10585540 — 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY

CAR, SINCE NEW, HAS AN ISSUE WHERE IT SEEMS TO STALL WHILE ACCELERATING MODERATELY TO WOT FROM A SPEED RANGE BEGINNING AROUND 30-35MPH TO AROUND 50MPH BASED ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS. MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY OR TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE/PASS. THE POWER OUTPUT OF THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE PULLED BACK BY THE ECM (LIKE TOYOTA'S TRACTION CONTROL) AS IT DOES NOT SEEM TO LUG LIKE A MANUAL IN TOO HIGH A GEAR. THERE IS NO INITIAL SHIFT DOWN OF THE TRANSMISSION. IN JUST OVER A SECOND, THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY SHIFTS DOWN TO THE NEXT GEAR BUT IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH AS THE ENGINE OUT PUT IS LOW DUE TO THAT GEAR BEING TOO LOW IN THE POWERBAND. SUDDENLY, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN TO THE NEXT GEAR, BEING THE APPROPRIATE GEAR FOR THE ENGINE LOAD/SPEED, THE POWER ON THE ENGINE KICKS UP (265BHP) AND CAUSES THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. IF THE WHEEL IS TURNED AS IF TO TAKE A LANE OR PASS, THIS BECOMES NEAR VIOLENT, STARTLING THE DRIVER AND POSSIBLE MEANS TO LOOSE CONTROL IN LESS TRACTABLE CONDITIONS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HELD IN THE 60-100% RANGE. IF, WHEN THIS CONDITION ARISES, THE DRIVER TAKES THEIR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE POWERTRAIN SEEMS TO STALL AND STUTTER. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT 3 TIMES AS THE CAR NORMALLY HAS A LOT OF POWER (265BHP V6). TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE WAS INVOLVED BUT BASED THEIR DECISION ON DEALER THAT DID NOTHING. IT TOOK ME A LONG WHILE TO FINALLY FIGURE OUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES NEEDED TO MAKE THIS ISSUE REPEAT AS NEEDED. THE TCU PUTS THE TRANSMISSION INTO 6TH GEAR AT TOO LOW A SPEED 30-50MPH AND POSSIBLY INTO LOCK-UP. NEITHER SHOULD HAPPEN. THE ECU SEES THE ENGINE STRUGGLING WITH THE LOAD AND PULLS BACK THE POWER TO PREVENT OVER-TORQUING AND DAMAGING THE POWER TRAIN. ANALOGOUS WITH TRYING TO TAKEOFF FROM A STOP WITH A MANUAL TRANS IN 3RD OR 4TH GEAR. *JS