TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to 2019 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles. ? The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections have been updated. October 30, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2018 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0012-13. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0012-13 is obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. Flash reprogramming allows the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software to be updated
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Toyota Camry powertrain problems
severe 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
5crashes
3fires
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 41 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TSB: This bulletin includes basic procedures for inspecting and adjusting World Standard (WS) Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) level at normal vehicle operating temperature. Note: The following adjustment procedures are for U660E/F and U760E/F transmissions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been interrupted.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: World Standard (WS) Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) was introduced to reduce maintenance costs and increase the mileage between scheduled maintenance checks. Here are some important tips when working with ATF-WS in Toyota vehicles requiring it's use.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or transmission damage. Use the information in this bulletin when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2008 Camry owners describe a pattern of transmission problems starting almost immediately after purchase. The most dangerous complaints involve unintended acceleration where the engine races without driver input—brakes don't stop the vehicle, and in at least one case a woman fractured ribs when the car accelerated during reverse, went up steps, then down them into a stone wall. Another owner's transmission slipped during highway merge, causing a near-miss; a third experienced sudden acceleration in a parking lot that forced them over a curb and damaged the vehicle.
Transmission hesitation is widespread. Owners report 2–4 second delays before the car responds to the accelerator, jerking and lurching in stop-and-go traffic, and refusal to downshift when needed—all reported from as few as 16 miles. Severe vibration at 40 mph in overdrive is so common dealers blame "modified transmissions" and claim it's normal. One owner had their throttle body replaced three times; vibration persisted.
Secondary failures include engine fires—one under the shifter at 35,000 miles, another involving a battery wire at 135,000 miles. A leaking water pump sprayed coolant onto electrical wiring; an exhaust heat shield fell off due to dissimilar metal fasteners corroding. The keyless ignition allows the engine to shut off while in gear, enabling at least one vehicle to roll across a parking lot into a tree near a school.
Dealers consistently report no fault codes and cannot reproduce issues. Toyota has refused buybacks, repair coverage, and further investigation, claiming conditions are normal or result from driver error.
Same Toyota Camry powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission slipping and loss of power
Transmission loses drive or slips under acceleration, with engine racing but vehicle not accelerating or moving forward. Occurs intermittently and unpredictably, sometimes in heavy traffic or at highway speeds.
When: As early as 750 miles; occurs at various speeds (30–50 mph, highway speeds); some cases at 85,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine races, car will not accelerate; Transmission slips or loses engagement; Sudden loss of power in upper gears on freeway; Transmission fails to downshift/accelerate when throttle depressed
Codes mentioned: No codes stored (dealer unable to detect), Transmission crank sensor operating intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement ($); dealer reports no fault found; manufacturer paid half of one transmission repair cost at 135,000 miles; crank sensor replacement (hard to obtain, Toyota cannot keep in stock)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota claims condition is normal for recently modified transmissions; no defect found; manufacturer offered to pay half of repair costs in some cases; refused further evaluation in rollaway case
Transmission hesitation and jerking
Transmission hesitates when shifting gears, delays response to accelerator input, jerks or lurches during acceleration, and feels sluggish. Often occurs during low-speed driving, stop-and-go traffic, or when attempting to change lanes or merge.
When: Reported from 16 miles to 120 miles; some cases persist after recall service; occurs at 40–50 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when shifting to higher gears; Delay in acceleration response (2–4 seconds from dead stop); Transmission jerks or lurches forward; Transmission feels like it does not want to switch gears; Car vibrates severely at 40 mph in overdrive; Sluggish feel in 5th gear, recovers after time
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to reproduce; one owner installed new throttle body but vibration persisted; roof replacement resolved defogger issue in one case but jerking continued
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claims jerking at slow speeds is normal for modified transmissions; service bulletin promised but not issued; dealer states computer is adjusting to driver's style; claimed to be software limitation that would be solved (but was not)
Unintended acceleration and sudden engine racing
Engine races unexpectedly, vehicle accelerates without driver input or with minimal throttle input. Brakes may not be effective in stopping vehicle. Occurs when shifting gears or when stopped in traffic.
When: Throughout ownership; as early as 16 miles; one case immediately after recall service
Symptoms owners cite: Car races unexpectedly and lurches forward in stop-and-go traffic; Engine races with RPM shooting to 6 when foot on brake; Unintended acceleration when shifting into drive; Brakes ineffective at stopping vehicle; Vehicle accelerates suddenly in parking lot
Codes mentioned: No codes
Repairs/costs cited: One incident: accelerator stuck in depressed position (floor mat slid forward); dealer provided hold-down clips; another case resulted in vehicle collision, totaled by insurance
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claims no manufacturing or design defect; Toyota claims condition is normal; told owner cannot prove transmission caused accident; refused warranty support or buyback
Engine stalling and loss of power
Engine suddenly loses power or stalls, especially when stopped or at low speed. Vehicle may struggle to idle or stall when waiting to turn.
When: Reported at 30 mph and when stopped
Symptoms owners cite: Car stalls when waiting to turn; Engine floods; Sudden loss of power while driving; Engine would not respond to acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives
Engine fire and electrical hazards
Vehicle caught fire or showed fire hazards. One fire reported under shifter area; another with smoke from under hood at low speed; leaking water pump sprays coolant onto electrical wires; exhaust heat shield fell off exposing fuel tank.
When: At 35,000 miles (fire under shifter); at 135,000 miles (battery wire fire); water pump leak and heat shield failure reported
Symptoms owners cite: Flames coming from under shifter; Smoke from under hood, then engulfed in flames; Water pump leaking and spraying coolant on orange electrical wires; Exhaust heat shield fell off due to corrosion electrolysis at fasteners
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed in both fire cases and towed; water pump requires replacement; heat shield fasteners made of dissimilar metal causing corrosion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer claimed fire started from cup holder, not defect; manufacturer and dealer opened investigation but found no defect; no acknowledgment of water pump or heat shield issues
Keyless ignition allows engine shut-off in gear, enabling rollaway
Engine can be turned off via push-button ignition while vehicle is still in gear (not in park), allowing vehicle to roll away if parked on incline or hill. Owner's manual states engine won't shut off unless in park, but this is not true.
When: From early ownership (40 miles, 1,900–2,005 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off while vehicle in gear other than park; Vehicle rolls away from driveway on multiple occasions; Vehicle rolled out of gas station parking, crossed lanes and median, ended up in tree near schoolyard
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated this failure was normal behavior; dealer stated engine will not shut off unless in park, but owner's manual contradicted actual vehicle behavior
Severe vibration at speed
Vehicle vibrates excessively at certain speeds (especially 40 mph) in overdrive or upper gears. Vibration extreme at low and high speeds, feels as if transmission is about to freeze.
When: From as early as 10–12 miles; reported at 40 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Extreme vibration at low or high speeds; Vehicle lunges and constantly vibrates and bounces at 40 mph; Vehicle vibrates severely when AC is on and brake depressed at traffic light; Vibration felt as if transmission about to freeze; Vibration worse when going up small hill
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to address until service bulletin issued; new throttle body installed in one case but vibration persisted despite three installation attempts and engine light fixes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer aware of failure but stated could do nothing until service bulletin issued; service manager claimed violent shaking normal past 40,000 miles and that vehicle needs to learn driver's habits
Gear shift selector can be moved without brake pedal depression
Transmission gear shift can be moved from one gear to another without depressing brake pedal, creating potential safety hazard.
When: At approximately 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shift able to be moved without depressing brake pedal
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2008 Toyota Camry?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Toyota Camry?
It's a meaningful issue. 41 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 27 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 13,279 and 81,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,279; a quarter make it past 81,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Toyota/Camry.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.