2018 Toyota Camry Power Train

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FAULTY TRANSMISSION RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED

* My transmission failed. * The transmission started to slip when on the highway. * I called Toyota and told them about it. I had it serviced at the Toyota Dealership and was told that the transmission had internal problems and needed to be replaced. * No, I actually just got it service a week prior and everything was fine.

My son was driving down Interstate 71 at approx 65 mph in our 2018 Toyota Camry when it lost power. He was able to pull off to the side of the road and turned the car off. Once the car was restarted, he was able to drive it (at a maximum speed of 35 mph) to the closest exit where he pulled into a gas station. While trying to back it into a parking spot, the car would not go into reverse. We had the car towed back to the dealership that we purchased it new from (Kings Toyota). Approximately 3 days later we received word that the transmission needed to be replaced at the cost of 8200.00.

The automatic transmission has failed. The vehicle exhibits slipping, hard or delayed shifting, intermittent loss of drive, and most critically, the car completely shut off while I was driving on the highway, creating an immediate risk of a serious accident. Hard shifting and gear slipping began approximately 11/04/2025. The transmission warning light hasn't even come on. Sudden hesitation during acceleration or gear changes became increasingly frequent. The most severe symptom occurred when the car completely shut off on the highway which is very dangerous. Toyota Dealer verified the issue and informed me that the has DTCs for Torque Converter failure. Replaced Transmission at a cost of $10,150. . I respectfully request that Toyota consider offering a goodwill reimbursement for the repair of the transmission for my vehicle. Provide guidance to owners of similar vehicles to prevent accidents or injuries. I am very disappointed to have a major transmission failure at this mileage especially with proper care and no signs of abuse and neglect. I strongly believe this should not occur under normal driving conditions and proper maintenance. My check engine light did NOT COME ON

My vehicle has always been jerky, lagging to accelerate, limp, giving the shift solenoid code error.

Transmission, hesitant, wouldn’t shift, whining noise, jerking from stop to go

In short: I had a whining noise coming from under my hood, my car was changing gears roughly. When I was driving on I-95 N and my car lost power/ the ability to accelerate on the highway. I had to make my way to the far-right lane and exit the highway. My safety was at risk at this point (no warning lights came on my dashboard). My car lost the ability to drive. I had my car towed to the Toyota dealership. The mechanic recorded a video of my car giving details of the issue (I have the video). My transmission needs to be replaced (internal failure noted by the mechanic), and my car has yet to reach 65,000 miles! This is ridiculous. I seen many complaints on the NHTSA site regarding this vehicle and the transmission. A class action lawsuit needs to take place, and Toyota needs to pay 100% of these repairs. I can be reached at [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Dear Toyota Customer Experience Team, I am writing to report a serious and potentially widespread safety issue with my 2018 Toyota Camry XSE. The automatic transmission has failed. The vehicle exhibits slipping, hard or delayed shifting, intermittent loss of drive, and most critically, the car completely shut off while I was driving on the highway, creating an immediate risk of a serious accident. The transmission is available for inspection upon request. These failures pose a direct safety hazard. The unexpected shutdown on the highway, combined with gear engagement problems, could easily lead to loss of control, collisions, or injury to myself, passengers, and other road users. The transmission failure has been confirmed by a certified independent transmission specialist, who stated that the transmission requires either a complete rebuild or replacement. The vehicle has been maintained according to Toyota’s recommended schedule. The vehicle has not been inspected by Toyota representatives. It has been inspected by the independent specialist for diagnostic purposes. Hard shifting and gear slipping began approximately 11/08/2025. The transmission warning light hasn't even come on. Sudden hesitation during acceleration or gear changes became increasingly frequent. The most severe symptom occurred when the car completely shut off on the highway which is super dangerous. Based on my observations and the independent specialist’s evaluation, I believe this failure may be related to known issues affecting 2018 Toyota Camry XSE transmissions, potentially involving internal clutches or valve body components. I respectfully request that Toyota consider offering a goodwill repair or replacement of the transmission for my vehicle. Provide guidance to owners of similar vehicles to prevent accidents or injuries.

Transmission has not been right since purchase, complaints were left unaddressed until the complete failure of the transmission, of course out of warranty. This is a safety hazard, as well as Toyota offering no type of assistance.

Transmission suddenly began slipping, whining leading to a loss of power, which resulted in being stuck in a busy intersection.

the transmission has been slipping for a month . I consulted with a Toyota dealer and they said the fluid was "lifetime." then without any check engine warning the Auto brake system, other systems tied to torque converter failed and check engine light came on ..... then Toyota Tustin CA performed a diagnostic test and declared car needed a replacement transmission at just 88k miles --suburban/ highway driving

Whining noise coming from the transmission when under acceleration believed to be overly common with Camrys of this model year.

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,500. The VIN was unavailable.

Vehicle has 92,499 miles. All maintenance performed on time. Vehicle did not exhibit any issues beforehand. Vehicle judders upon acceleration and does not shift gears smoothly. The following error codes show up on the dashboard screen "Secondary collision brake system malfunction" "ICS malfunction" (Intelligent Clearance Sonar) "Pre-collision system malfunction" "Parking brake malfunction" "Check engine" Went to dealer and they recommended "replacing transmission due to multiple solenoids codes when checked is causing the lights and hard shifts when driving so recommend replacing and reprogram new transmission."

It started to make whining noise while accelerating. The noise is coming from transmission. Also, periodic erratic gear changes have started to occur. Mechanic says it is a known problem with 2018 and 2019 Camry that transmission fails and makes noises prior to failing.