2004 Toyota Camry Power Train

MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY BEGAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM THE REAR PART OF THE TRANSMISSION WHERE THE TWO HALVES OF THE HOUSING ARE BOLTED TOGETHER. TWO MECHANICS, INCLUDING ONE WHOSE EXPERTISE IS IN TRANSMISSION REPAIR, INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION'S SEAL APPARENTLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT, AND STAYS INDOORS EXCEPT FOR A 12-MILE ROUND-TRIP COMMUTE BETWEEN MY HOME AND THE LOCAL INDOOR PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE. BOTH ESTIMATES FOR REPAIR WERE AT LEAST $1,500 BECAUSE THE DESIGN OF THE CAMRY DOES NOT ALLOW EASY ACCESS TO THE TRANSMISSION, REQUIRING THE MECHANIC TO DROP THE ENTIRE FRAME TO ACCESS THE TRANSMISSION. THE FLUID LEAK IS SMALL, LIKELY NO MORE THAN A HALF MILLILITER EVERY 10 DAYS, SO THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN DONE. BOTH MECHANICS STATED THAT IT IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A VEHICLE LIKE THIS TO BEGIN LEAKING FROM BETWEEN THE HALVES OF THE HOUSING AND, BASED ON THERE BEING NO OTHER PHYSICAL DAMAGE OR WEAR TO THE AREA, IT WAS THEIR OPINIONS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COLOR IS STILL TINGED WITH PINK AND DIFFUSES WELL ON BLOTTER PAPER, AND THE MECHANICAL FUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS FINE. *TR

STARTED THE VEHICLE ON SATURDAY 10/29/2011, PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY ONTO THE STREET AND PUT IT ON DRIVE. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD ABOUT 30FEET AND STALLED OUT. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO STARTED AND IT WOULD NOT. AFTER I COMPLETELY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, I WAS ABLE TO RESTARTED IT. I TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR STUCK ON THE CLOSED POSITION. I LOOKED IT UP ON LINE AND FOUND MANY, MANY INCIDENTS OF THE SAME NATURE. ON MONDAY, I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM AND IT'S NOT A RECALL. THE DEFECTIVE FACTORY INSTALLED PART COSTS $1000 PLUS ABOUT $300 FOR LABOR. I CONTACTED TOYOTA USA, BUT THEY HAVE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED ME, SO FAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN WE TOOK IT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT IT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS WE WERE CROSSING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AND, I GUESS, THIS IS NOT A CONCERN FOR TOYOTA. *TR

MOVED VEHICLE FORWARD TO POSITION IT TO BACK IT INTO THE GARAGE; WHEN READY TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO ENGAGE THE REVERSE, HEARD A "CLICK" UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED, APPLIED BRAKE, CAR WOULD NOT STOP, WENT INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S FRONT LAWN, DAMAGED THE GRASS AND CRACKED THE FRONT BUMPER IN THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURER CONTRACTED AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE CAR AND THE ENGINEER PRONOUNCED THE CAR SAFE AND SOUND. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY AND TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE A PLAN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS MODEL HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. ONE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN EARLY DECEMBER 2009 AND TH E LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 15, 2010.PLEASE HELP. THIS IS TOO DANGEROUS. I HAVE TRIED DESPERATELY TO AVOID ACCIDENTS AND DO NOT WANT TO HURT MYSELF OR OTHERS WHILE TOYOTA WAIT ON ENOUGH PROBLEMS TO RECALL THE 2004 CAMRY LE. PLEASE MANDATE THAT THEY REPAIR MY CAR AND OTHERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. *CN

FOLLOWING ARE THE DESCRIPTIONS OF TWO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE SAME VEHICLE: 1. VEHICLE, 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY V-6, ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN INTO A HEAD-IN PARKING SPACE. VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING, OVERSHOT PARKING SPACE, HIT AND PUNCHED HOLE IN BUILDING WALL APPROXIMATELY 6 FEET AHEAD OF PARKING SPACE. OVER $1,000 DOLLARS DAMAGE TO CAR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT TO BUILDING. 2. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE COASTING SLOWLY TO STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING, REAR-ENDED STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT. SIMILAR FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE TOYOTA AND SOME DAMAGE TO FORWARD VEHICLE. *TR

2004 CAMRY 4-CYL. FAILS TO ACCELERATE (DELAY OF ABOUT 1 SECOND) WHEN GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, IN THIS SITUATION: YOU HAVE EITHER JUST ROUNDED A CORNER AT SLOW SPEED, OR YOU HAVE STARTED TO MOVE FROM STOP, GAINED SPEED TO ABOUT 10MPH, THEN ENGINE REVS UP TO AROUND 3000 RPM, BUT DOES NOT DELIVER POWER TO WHEELS. DANGER OF GETTING HIT BECAUSE YOUR CAR DOES NOT MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH THROUGH A TRAFFIC SITUATION THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY PROGRESS THROUGH FASTER. YOU MIGHT ALSO BE PREVENTED FROM AVERTING A CRASH SITUATION DUE TO LACK OF ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT CAN OCCUR 1-3 TIMES IN A DAY, OR POSSIBLY NOT AT ALL, BUT IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR AT LEAST 10,000 MILES NOW. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS JUST THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WORKS. BUT IT CAN LEAD TO INJURY DUE TO CRASHING. DEALER CLAIMED THAT FOR SOME YEARS/LOTS OF VEHICLES, THERE WAS A SERVICE PERFORMED TO RE-PROGRAM AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. BUT HE ALSO SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD TEND TO COME BACK AFTER THE SERVICE WAS APPLIED. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE INJURIES OCCUR. *TR

MY CAR IS TOYOTA 2004 CAMRY SHOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT I DIDN'T PASS THE AIR CARE EMISSION TEST,SO THEY SAY IS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM THEY SAY IS A FEDERAL ISSUE. *TR

JUST HAD TO COMPLETELY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION IN MY TOYOTA CAMRY 04. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY OTHERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE SINCE THE 2002 CAMRY. HAVING TO PAY $3000 FOR A SUPPOSEDLY #1 CAR THAT I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD FOR FOUR YEARS IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL IF IT IS THAT COMMON AN OCCURRENCE! DANIEL J MULLIGAN *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WAS IN REVERSE ON THE MORNING OF 12/22/06 AT 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO IN REVERSE AND WOULDN'T STOP. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING IN REVERSE THERE WAS A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. IT HIT A CURB AND TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK WHILE IT WAS STILL GOING IN REVERSE TO STOP IT. THERE WERE WITNESSES, AND THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SOUND THAT THE GEARS WERE STUCK. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS PUSHED UNDER THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT INSISTED THAT COULDN'T BE TRUE BECAUSE OF THE NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME IT WAS GOING IN REVERSE AND COULD NOT BE STOPPED.*AK

SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V6 NEW IN NOVEMBER 2003, THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION AFTER COMING TO A YIELD. BASICALLY WHAT OCCURS IS I COME TO AN INTERSECTION OR A SITUATION WHERE I MUST YIELD AND WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR HESITATES FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR I THOUGHT THIS MAY BE NEW CAR JITTERS AND IT WOULD EVENTUALLY STRAIGHTEN OUT. HOWEVER, TWO YEARS LATER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THIS CAN POTENTIALLY BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR SEVERAL REASONS. IF YOU MAKE THE DECISION TO GO AND THERE IS ONCOMING TRAFFIC BUT THE CAR HESITATES A WRECK COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN. SO TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING, I WILL PRESS THE GAS PEDAL MORE THAN NECESSARY TO OVER-COMPENSATE FOR THE HESITATION AND THEN WHEN THE CAR DOES GO IT JETS OUT INTO TRAFFIC FASTER THAN I ANTICIPATE. I VOICED MY CONCERN TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN COLUMBIA, MISSOURI AND THEIR FIRST RESPONSE WAS "OH, THAT'S JUST NORMAL V6 HESITATION." I EXPRESSED THERE WAS NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT IT AND I WANTED TO TALK TO THE MANAGER. THE MANAGER CALLED IN THE REGIONAL REP AND WE ALL WENT FOR A RIDE IN ONE OF THE 2004 XLE V6 SO THEY COULD SHOW ME THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL THE V6'S. THE REGIONAL REP AGREED THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO FIX IT. HE DID SAY THAT WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW. SO FAR NO PHONE CALL. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE GEAR WAS IN REVERSE WHILE THE DRIVER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE WITH NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE WITH A DOOR OPEN. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.*AK THE CONSUMER DIDN'T REALIZE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE WHEN HE EXITED. THE LEFT DOOR HIT THE CONSUMER AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN TO THE GROUND. THEN THE DOOR PINNED HIM AGAINST THE GARAGE WALL. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. UPDATED 12/12/06. *JB

THROTTLE LAG AT LOW SPEED AND FROM STOP IS INCONSISTENT AND HAS BEEN THE CAUSE FOR SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED; DEALER INVESTIGATED; RELOADED SOFTWARE AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TOYOTA STATES THIS IS NORMAL AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE." SOME INSTANCES HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ACTUAL THROTTLE RESPONSE. DRIVER HAS TO USE HARDER ACCELERATION TO COMPENSATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF BUT DECLINES TO ADMIT IT IS A PROBLEM. DRIVER IS VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE WILL BE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. EVERY TIME CAR IS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP PROBLEM IS RE-ADDRESSES BUT NO FIX HAS BEEN MADE. *NM

SEVERE HESITATION WHEN DEPRESSING THROTTLE TO FULL-THROTTLE. EX: WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OVER TAKE A VEHICLE ENGINE APPEARS TO REMAIN AT IDLE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. NO DOWN SHIFTING OCCURS ALONG WITH NO ENGINE RPM INCREASE. AFTER 2-4 SECONDS ENGINE THEN RESPONDS. IF THROTTLE IS GRADUALLY DEPRESSED TO FULL-THROTTLE THERE IS NO SYMPTOMS, ENGINE DOES RESPOND PROPERLY. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE A PROBLEM IN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION TCM. *JB

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND VIBRATES WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC. *JB

I HAVE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE WAY MY CAR CONSISTENTLY LAGS BEFORE ACCELERATING. THIS HESITATION HAS BEEN CONSISTENT FROM DAY ONE OF MY OWNERSHIP (PURCHASED DEALER NEW). WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION, OR AT A STOP, ANY TYPE OF IMMEDIATE PUSH OF THE GAS PEDAL WILL RESULT IN A DELAYED/SLOW RESPONSE TO PICK UP SPEED. THIS DELAY HAS NEARLY CAUSED (2)TWO ACCIDENTS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS: (1)ACCELERATING TO GET ONTO FREEWAY. (2)ACCELERATING TO AVOID AN ERRANT LANE CHANGE FROM A NEARBY CAR. *JB

MY 2004 CAMRY, V6 HAS HAD A HESITATION SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED IT. THE HESITATION HAPPENS AFTER STOPPING A SIGNS OR WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. TWICE I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE BRAIN THAT SENDS INFORMATION FROM THROTTLE SENSOR TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE TECH STATED THAT IT WAS JUST THE V6'S AND THE 2004 CARS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, UNTIL MORE PEOPLE COMPLAIN NO REPAIRS OR RECALLS WILL BE MADE. *NM

2004 TOYOTA SOLARA WITH V6 AND AUTO TRANS. HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE NEW AND HAVE A HESITATION PROBLEM THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. EXTRA CAUTION IS NEEDED TO ENTER HWYS SAFELY. I AM ALSO UNABLE TO ACCELERATE COMING OUT OF TURNS WITHOUT FEELING THE CAR LURCH FORWARD MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. WHEN TAKEN TO SERVICE AT TOYOTA THEY ACT LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. I KNOW I AM NOT CRAZY BECAUSE ITS NOTICED BY ALL MY PASSENGERS. AND UPON MY PERSONAL INVESTIGATION HAVE UNCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE AND BY OWNERS OF LEXUS VEHICLES THAT USE SAME ENGINE AND TRANS. IN FACT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL CARS USING AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL FOR THE THROTTLE AS OPPOSED TO THE OLD LINKAGE SYSTEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF IT. I ALSO NOTICED QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE PERTAINING TO THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

EXTREME HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP OR FROM LOW SPEED. *NM

PROBLEM: 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SHIFT GEAR FROM OVERDRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT PRESSING GEAR BUTTON. OVER THE WEEKEND, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR GOING UPHILL WITH LEFT TURN, THE PASSENGER AT FRONT WAS TRYING TO REACH NAPKIN BOX AT THE BACK SEAT, HE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GEAR WITH HIS ELBOW, EVEN THOUGH VERY LIGHTLY, THE SHIFT GEAR SUDDENLY SHIFTED FROM OVERDRIVE TO NEUTRAL GEAR WHILE I WAS MAKING LEFT TURN UPHILL AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I HAVE FORD TAURUS THAT DOES NOT HAVE SUCH PROBLEM. IT ALWAYS REQUIRES PRESSING THE GEAR BUTTON TO SHIFT GEAR. I SINCERELY REQUEST TOYOTA MANUFACTURER TO FIX CURRENT DESIGN FLAW TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE V6 FROM SUPERSTITIONS SPRINGS TOYOTA IN ARIZONA JUST OVER 24 HOURS AGO. WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE IT YESTERDAY I ALMOST GOT IN A BAD ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SOMEONE STARTED TO PULL OVER ON ME. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND WENT NOWHERE FOR AT LEAST 1-2 SECONDS. THANK GOD THE GUY HEARD MY HORN. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID 'THEY COULD FEEL IT TOO' BUT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I HAD READ A CUSTOMER COMMENT ABOUT THE PROBLEM JUST ONCE AND THERE WAS A REPLY THAT SAID THERE WAS SOME DOWNLOAD FOR IT. WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THEY SAID THEY CHECKED AND THERE WERE NO DOWNLOADS FOR IT. TOLD ME THAT IT WAS OPERATING AS IT SHOULD AND THERE WOULD BE SOME HESITATION, THEN STARTED IN ON SOME ENGINEERING EXPLANATION, AND SAID THEY HAVE SOME SPECIALIST COME IN ONCE A MONTH FROM TOYOTA AND HE WOULD ASK HIM ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I TRIED TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED NOW, BUT GOT NO DIFFERENT REPLY. I HAD NOTED SOME SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN I WAS TEST DRIVING IT, BUT REALLY DIDN'T NOTICE ANY APPRECIABLE HESITATION WHEN I VERY BRIEFLY HAD IT ON EXPRESSWAY DRIVE (ONLY ALLOWED ABOUT A 1/2 MILE THEN TOLD TO TURN OFF). HOWEVER YESTERDAY WHEN I FINALLY DROVE IT, I STARTED TO FEEL LIKE I WAS GETTING WHIPLASH FROM THE HESITATION, LUNGING AND JERKING AROUND, AND THEN I ALMOST GOT IN A BAD ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING AND HAVE A HUGE LOAN HANGING OVER MY HEAD TO BOOT. I GUESS I WILL JUST DRIVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE SO I DON'T GET KILLED DUE TO AN 'ENGINEERING PROBLEM' AND THEN GET RID OF IT AS SOON AS I CAN. I WILL NEVER BUY A TOYOTA AGAIN. BIG MISTAKE. PLEASE ALSO REFERENCE THIS WEB SITE WITH MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE: HTTP://WWW.AUTOBLOG.COM/ENTRY/1234000920023135 AND THIS WEB SITE WITH ONE ENTRY AND A REPLY STATING THERE IS A FIX: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_76023.HTML

CONTACT STATES: MANUAL TRANSMISSION, GOING 50 MPH WITH NO POWER. SPEED DROPS AND THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. LAST A COUPLE OF SECONDS ANYWHERE 10 TO 30 SECONDS IT PICKS BACK UP. NOTICED ABOUT A WEEK AGO. NORMAL DRIVE HAPPENING ANYTIME. HAVEN'T NOTICED IT BEFORE 50 MPH. SPEED DROPS BUT HASN'T CHANGED SPEED WITH ACCELERATOR WITH STILL APPLYING PRESSURE ON ACCELERATOR. NOTICED THIS HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A WEEK. *AK

SEVERE HESITATION ON ACCELLERATION. THE CAR REMINDS ME OF A 1970'S VOLKSWAGEN I HAD THAT WOULD STALL WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IT CAN BE SCARY ACCELERATING ACROSS AN INTERCECTION WITH CARS COMING OR PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE UNPREDICTABILITY.*AK

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL HESITATE FOR A SECOND OR TWO. AT THE SAME TIME THE WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN WILL SHUDDER. THE HESITATION WILL HAPPEN JUST AS I PULL INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT TOYOTA SERVICE THREE TIMES, AND ALL THEY HAVE DONE IS TO CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO LEAK OIL. *JB

WHEN I SHIFTED FROM PARKING TO BACK, MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY LE WENT FORWARD INSTEAD OF BACKWARD, WHICH REALLY SURPRISED ME. SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN 20 DAYS LATER.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION HESITATED WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. THERE WAS A 3 TO 4 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. *AK