My 2021 Toyota Camry Se at 79,000 miles threw a PO705 code, neutral safety switch. I replaced it with a new part and it worked for about 10 minutes and then proceeded to throw code again and slip in the transmission
2021 Toyota Camry powertrain problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
1injury
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple 2021 Camry owners report serious powertrain defects including unintended acceleration while braking, transmission loss of power on highways, delayed shifting, and high-cost transmission failures starting around 67k miles—some outside warranty coverage. Get any used 2021 Camry pre-purchase inspected for transmission history and test-drive for shift quality and response.
Owners of 2021 Camrys describe powertrain problems ranging from catastrophic to chronic. Two separate incidents of sudden unintended acceleration while the driver's foot is on the brake—one during parking, one while backing—both result in multi-vehicle collisions and property damage. In both cases, the driver cannot stop the vehicle despite full brake pressure. One owner loses forward drive entirely at 65 mph on an interstate and coasts to safety; the dealer confirms transmission replacement is needed but warranty covers it.
Shifting quality issues are common: intermittent lag and stuttering from 1st to 2nd gear, transmission holding too-high gears at low speeds (causing shudder), and delayed upshifts during highway cruising. One owner at 79k miles gets a P0705 neutral safety switch code; replacement fails within ten minutes and the transmission starts slipping. Another reports transmission whining beginning at 67k miles—Toyota quotes $12,000 for replacement, well outside the 60k-mile warranty window. A 24k-mile example throws a P268115 code for engine coolant bypass valve failure, with the dealer declining warranty coverage. Across these complaints, the transmission emerges as the weak point, with costs and reliability concerns that extend well past Toyota's standard coverage window.
Same Toyota Camry powertrain reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Sudden unintended acceleration with brake override failure
Vehicle accelerates without driver input, pedal fully depressed cannot stop it. Multiple shift attempts (D, R, D) do not arrest acceleration. Vehicle continues lurching forward until hitting stationary objects.
When: 21,000 miles; ~August 2021 purchase, incident during parking maneuver
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lurches forward without warning despite brake pedal depressed; Continues accelerating in reverse gear; Brake pedal unresponsive at full depression; Multiple collisions result (two gates, two vehicles)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not yet towed or diagnosed at time of complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case filed with manufacturer; no repairs performed
Loss of forward drive / transmission failure on highway
Vehicle loses power to accelerate while traveling at highway speed. Engine appears to run but transmission does not engage, causing vehicle to coast and lose road placement.
When: 51,808 miles; approximately 3 years post-purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle would not accelerate forward at highway speed; Vehicle coasted after loss of power; Driver forced to emergency stop in highway median
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota dealer diagnosis: transmission replacement required; covered under manufacturer warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Transmission replacement covered under warranty
Delayed or hesitant 1st-to-2nd gear shift
Transmission exhibits intermittent lag and hesitation when upshifting from 1st to 2nd. Driver feels car stutter and lose smooth acceleration progression. Distinct from normal shift feel.
When: No specific mileage; owner has had car 'a couple of years'
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear; Intermittent lag in shift engagement; Car stutters into 1st and 2nd gear; Also experienced as delayed upshift during highway cruising
Repairs/costs cited: Owner planned to take to Toyota dealer for diagnosis
Unintended reverse acceleration during backing
Vehicle lurches forward in reverse without driver input while backing out of driveway. Driver states routine maneuver performed hundreds of times before. Collision results.
When: 24,000 miles; several years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lurches in reverse without command; Continues accelerating in reverse despite brake input; Unplanned collision with parked vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Collision damage estimate obtained
Transmission slipping and neutral safety switch failure
Neutral safety switch throws diagnostic code, replacement part fails within 10 minutes and switch code returns. Transmission then exhibits slipping.
When: 79,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: P0705 neutral safety switch code; Repeated code after replacement; Transmission slip after switch replacement
Codes mentioned: P0705
Repairs/costs cited: Neutral safety switch replaced with new part; failure recurred within 10 minutes
Delayed 1st-to-2nd gear shift with stuttering
Transmission does not shift smoothly from 1st to 2nd when accelerating. Produces vehicle shudder and requires excessive throttle to downshift or engage proper gear.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed shifting between 1st and 2nd gears during acceleration; Vehicle shudders; Must apply significant throttle to force downshift
High-gear low-speed holding with stuttering
Transmission stays in too-high a gear at low speeds, causing vehicle shudder and forcing driver to apply heavy throttle to achieve downshift.
When: No specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission holds high gear at low speeds; Vehicle shudders; Requires heavy throttle input to force downshift
Transmission whining noise
High-pitched whining from transmission that begins around 20 mph and increases in volume with speed. Indicates internal wear or pump cavitation.
When: 67,000 miles; began after 3-4 years of ownership, outside 60k mile warranty
Symptoms owners cite: Whining noise starting at approximately 20 mph; Noise increases in volume with vehicle speed
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota Vacaville quoted $12,000 for complete transmission replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty expired at 60k miles; repair costs not covered
Engine coolant bypass valve failure
Engine maintenance light triggered by engine coolant bypass valve diagnostic code. Dealer advises replacement required. Owner disputes whether warranty covers defect.
When: 24,000 miles; 3 years old
Symptoms owners cite: Engine maintenance required light illuminated
Codes mentioned: P268115
Repairs/costs cited: Engine coolant bypass valve replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer states warranty does not cover; owner disputes, believes manufacturing defect
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2021 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 2021 Toyota Camry?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 21,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2021/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.