harsh/delayed shifting, acceleration hesitation, and, total transmission failure

- Parlier, CA, USA

The vehicle experienced a complete transmission failure following a period of abnormal operation. The component that failed is the automatic transmission (8-speed). Prior to total failure, the vehicle began exhibiting multiple symptoms, including delayed engagement when shifting into drive and reverse, hesitation during acceleration, and inconsistent power delivery at low speeds. At times, the engine RPM would increase without corresponding acceleration, followed by sudden jerking or surging once the transmission engaged. These issues created unsafe driving conditions, particularly when attempting to merge into traffic or accelerate from a stop, as the vehicle did not respond predictably or immediately to driver input. This posed a safety risk to both the driver and surrounding vehicles. The symptoms progressed over time and ultimately resulted in a complete transmission failure, rendering the vehicle undrivable. The problem has been confirmed by a dealership, which diagnosed the vehicle as requiring a full transmission replacement. The transmission is available for inspection upon request. There were no prior warning lights or dashboard indicators before the onset of symptoms. The initial symptoms appeared suddenly and worsened over a short period of time. The vehicle has been regularly maintained according to recommended service schedules, with no known gaps in maintenance. Based on the nature of the failure and similar reports of transmission issues in comparable vehicles, this appears to be a premature component failure rather than normal wear and tear. This issue appears consistent with broader reports of transmission malfunction in similar model vehicles, raising concerns about reliability and safety.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the contact was informed that there was a transmission leak and ball joint failure. The vehicle was repaired. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

- Washington, DC, USA

A loud winding noise coming from transmission only while foot is on the gas. Sound goes away when foot is not in the accelerator. This is a severe issue that can cause the transmission to go out while driving.

- Orlando, FL, USA

On March 19, 2026, I was driving to work when traffic began to slow, and I reduced my speed accordingly. As traffic started to return to normal speed, I pressed the accelerator; however, although the engine revved, the vehicle did not accelerate beyond approximately 15 mph. I safely moved to the side of the road and turned the car off. After restarting the vehicle, shifting into drive, and pressing the accelerator, the same issue occurred. I subsequently took the car to two separate mechanics, both of whom reported that the transmission needs to be replaced. This is unexpected, as the vehicle has fewer than 100,000 miles and has received regular maintenance.

- Missouri City, TX, USA

Automatic transmission. Whining noise from transmission only while accelerator is pressed, goes away when let off the accelerator pedal.Transmission can quit working unexpectedly. 8 speed transmission that there are a lot of complaints on internet about this problem.

- Pinson, AL, USA

My transmission is slipping / hesitating / delay shifting. I have always had it serviced on time and taken very good care of it. I even went and had the fluid flushed & refreshed and it is still happening. It makes driving unpredictable and makes me feel extremely unsafe in my car. There aren-??t any lights on, on my dashboard. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance.

- Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

I began noticing louder noises coming from my Camry over the last couple months. The car started jerking forward more, stalling and hesitating to pick up speed, and I became increasingly concerned about my ability to control the car. Took the car in on Tuesday February 24th for a routine oil change at suburban Toyota of Troy and I informed them of the issue. Completed oil changed and They informed me that transmission fluid looked good, we just flushed it last year, and there was nothing they could notice right away wrong. They said they initially could not detect a problem but eventually noticed hesitation and jerking of the car when testing it. The dealer informed that a software update might help the jerking. I was told there was no guarantee that the update would help. There were also no warning lights on the dash at any time. I was not told that I should do the update right away and so I planned to bring the car back. Two days later, on 2/27/26, upon driving my car for five mins, it began jerking, making very loud sounds, and failed to accelerate. I had never experienced this issue to this degree and It was very scary and dangerous to experience this during rush hour traffic. The car then completely gave out, stopped driving altogether and the car began smelling like something was burning. I had it towed back to the dealer. the dealer told me that the transmission is a complete failure. The car is in otherwise good condition. This is extremely disappointing because I just paid this vehicle off and now I have to pay Toyota 8900 for a new transmission or get a new car.

- Farmington Hills , MI, USA

My vehicles transmission suddenly failed on the highway and caused me to almost crash; I lost control of the vehicle but no damage was sustained to the car. the transmission failed without any incident or reason; further research indicates multiple class action lawsuits against toyota for knowingly selling malfunctioning UA80 Transmissions in many of there 2018-2024 models, including my 2018 Camry XSE. 7grand for a repair on a vehicle that I purchased for 30k and the vehicle was certified by toyota.

- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA

Transmission failure after 145k miles; confirmed by 3 independent service centers. ICS Malfunction appeared two days prior to car being sent to mechanic shop

- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA

Poor acceleration and lose of transmission control -??.complete safety hazard and the car has a failure to lose power while driving-??..a humming noise and the car jerks while shifting gears

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

I am reporting a complete" transmission failure on my 2018 Toyota Camry (2.5L Gas, UB80E 8-speed). The vehicle suddenly failed to engage 'Drive' or 'Reverse' properly. Even after a professional fluid service at a transmission is stuck in a 'limp mode' or high gear, requiring high RPMs just to move slowly. This is a well-documented issue among 2018 Camry owners involving harsh shifting and premature internal failure. Toyota refuses to provide a reasonable repair option, only offering a full replacement at an exorbitant cost ($5,000+), despite this being a known manufacturing defect in the UB80E units. This failure poses a significant safety risk, especially when the vehicle fails ".to accelerate in traffic

- Dearborn, MI, USA

While driving my 2018 Toyota Camry in active traffic, the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating despite pressing the accelerator pedal. The engine remained on, but the vehicle would not move when pressing accelerator pedal. This occurred without warning and created an immediate safety hazard because surrounding traffic was moving normally and I was unable to maintain speed or clear the roadway. The loss of acceleration occurred while the vehicle was already in motion, not during startup, and placed me at risk of being rear-ended. There were no dashboard warnings prior to the failure. The condition appeared intermittent and unpredictable. This issue is extremely dangerous because a driver cannot rely on the vehicle to accelerate when needed to avoid collisions or safely merge, cross intersections, or keep up with traffic flow. What Happened After the Failure The vehicle required pulling over / restarting / limping to safety due to inability to accelerate normally. This defect makes the vehicle unsafe to operate in normal traffic conditions. -?? Additional Safety Concerns I have discovered numerous consumer complaints and ongoing litigation involving 2018 Toyota Camry automatic transmission failures, including reports of hesitation, loss of power, and failure to accelerate. This suggests a systemic transmission defect, not normal wear and tear. This failure presents a serious risk of crash, injury, or death, especially in intersections, highways, or congested traffic. Requested Action I am requesting that NHTSA: -??Investigate this issue as a potential safety defect -??Review similar complaints involving 2018 Toyota Camry automatic transmissions -??Require corrective action, including recall or mandatory repair, if a defect is confirmed

- Valrico, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, while attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified on the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

- Gretna, LA, USA

i HAVE BEEN TAKING MY CAR TO TOYOTA FROM I HAD THE CAR, JUST NORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS. 2 WEEKS A GO NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR WHEN I TOOK IT TO NALLEY STONECREST IN GA, NO ONE SAID ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT ANYTHING FEELING AWAY OR NOTHING ABOUT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT( THAT'S WHEN I KNEW SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT). IN LESS THEN 2 DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND INSTANTLY THE CAR STARTED TO DRAG AND LOOSE ACCELERATION AND WOULDN'T GO IN TO GEAR WHILE I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WENT TO NALLEY TOYOTA OF STONE CREST WHICH I SHOULDN'T AND EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT HAPPEN. NOT EVEN LOOKING AT AT THE CAR THEY INSTANTLY SAID ITS A TRANSMISSION NEED TO REPLACE.( REMIND YOU THEY DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT YET CAUSE I HAVE NOT TOWED IT YET. THEY WONT CHECK IT TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE CAUSED OR ANYTHING, JUST QUICK TO SELL YOU A TRANSMISSION. SOMETHING NEED STO BE DONE CAUSE IF THIS MANY CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM SOMETHING NEED TO JUSTIFIED.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

The vehicle experienced a malfunction of the 8-speed automatic transmission(UB80E). The transmission began slipping unpredictably, jerking when accelerating from a stop, and shifting extremely harshly between first and second gear. These symptoms occurred randomly and worsened over a short period of time. The vehicle would hesitate or surge when attempting to move from a stop, creating a loss of control risk in traffic and at intersections. Warning indicators, including the check engine light, illuminated as the condition progressed. The issue was reproducible during normal driving and did not develop gradually over extended use. The vehicle became unsafe to operate and is currently undrivable. The transmission has been inspected by manufacturer-affiliated service personnel, who indicated that similar transmission behavior is commonly reported in other vehicle models equipped with the same 8-speed automatic transmission (UB80E), though fewer reports are currently associated with this specific model. This failure presents a safety concern due to unpredictable power delivery, delayed acceleration, and violent low-speed shifting. The vehicle and transmission are available for inspection upon request.

- Burke, VA, USA

I bought this car used with about 100k miles, took it for a test drive around the block at the local dealership and didn't hear anything at the time. When I took it on the freeway for the first time I heard the Whining noise. It only happens when there is a load on the transmission and gets louder as the speed increases. On top of that, it seems like it starts out in second or third gear sometimes I can't move until it downshifts which is extremely dangerous considering I've been sticking out in the street and other cars are coming! This apparently was a new design starting in 2018 and many people have been cursed by this transmission the more I keep reading up on this. I've owned many toyotas in the past and I've never had any issues, especially with the transmission. I've been quoted anywhere from $6k to $10k to replace the transmission and I cannot even remotely be able to afford that at this time. I feel like I'm driving a ticking time bomb, I need to listen to music to not drive me nuts and I can still hear the whine! If it weren't for this problem I couldn't really have any other complaints, but unfortunately this is a Very Big problem. The more I read this was a first year design and it looks like it failed miserably, I would call it a lemon. Every day I drive this car it slips while shifting gears, shifts too often or not enough. This thing should be replaced. Please, I am a loyal Toyota customer and hate that this has changed my mind. Please replace these faulty 8 speed transmissions.

- Greeley, CO, USA

While accelerating, the transmission is causing a whining sound that is consistent. Vehicle only has 94K miles on it. This is causing safety concerns with premature power train failure that could happen while a driver is in the road, which could lead to an accident. I have taken the vehicle to my local Toyota dealership and they did confirm that this is something they have been very often in the 8th Generation Toyota Camry's. They also confirmed that this is an issue with the transmission and is going into transmission failure. There has been no warning lights or indications for this matter except for the noise you hear while accelerating. After countless hours of research, Toyota has put out a TSB for this issue (TSB-0043-19). Unfortunately, this TSB has not fixed the issue with the power train. Currently, the UA80 8-speed automatic transmission is on a 60-90 day back order for how many transmissions are needing to be replaced for this issue. Not only is this a severe safety concern for the transmission to give out whilst driving in traffic, but it is a financial issue for many drivers having to pay up to $8,000 for this issue to be resolved.

- Midway, GA, USA

Faulty transmission resulted in loss of power while driving at high speed

- Clovis, CA, USA

My 2018 Toyota Camry with 132,000 started experiencing transmission issues in the last 10,000 miles or so - with hesitation in shifting. Now at 132,000 my transmission has officially fully failed. Upon bringing it to a reputable transmission repair shop, I learned that the repair would cost me over $8000 between parts (hard to find) and labor. This is wild as I expected a Toyota to last up and over 200k miles easily. This has absolutely tarnished my views on Toyota reliability! I even called corporate and they were absolutely no help!

- Coventry, CT, USA