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Asked: Jan 06, 2009 - 05:59 PM

Status: Closed

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bill217

2009 Toyota Camry LE transmission shifting normally?

This past August I purchased a new 2009 Camry LE, which currently has 4175 miles on it. Since taking ownership, I've noticed that when driving on regular city streets, especially in moderate hilly areas, the transmission seems to downshift quite frequently as I encounter slight changes in the road grade. Sometimes it seems like when going down a slight hill, I've put the brakes on, but apparently it's the transmission having shifted into a lower gear. Of all the cars I've owned with automatic transmissions, this one appears to do it more noticeably. Is this normal for this year, make, and model?

In Maintenance & Repair > Transmission > Automatic
In Makes & Models > Toyota > Camry
In Maintenance & Repair > Transmission > Shifting
3 answers - 323 days ago

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mcdawgg

Date: Jan 07, 2009
Time: 12:20 PM

One thing to have checked is to make sure your car has the updated software. Tell your dealer what you are experiencing, and tell them to do TSB 068-08. This will only take the dealer 25 minutes. I don't know when your car was made, but after a certain date all new Camrys came with the new software already loaded.

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zaken1

Date: Jan 06, 2009
Time: 09:24 PM

There have been several reports on this site from Camry owners asking about this type of shifting. My sense is that Toyota has designed this feature into the transmission; in order to improve vehicle safety and reduce brake wear. As idle speeds become faster (due to emission control requirements) new cars with automatic transmissions do not slow down as much as older ones used to do when the accelerator pedal is released. This has led many owners to complain; and some to feel very uncomfortable about driving the car. I believe this is Toyota's answer; and I think it is a good one.

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canddmeyer

Date: Jan 07, 2009
Time: 05:11 AM

In hilly areas, if the vehicle is shifting too often then select a lower gear. As far as gaining speed going downhill, this is normal. Once again, select a lower gear as the transmission will select the highest gear.

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mcdawgg

Date: Jan 07, 2009
Time: 12:20 PM

One thing to have checked is to make sure your car has the updated software. Tell your dealer what you are experiencing, and tell them to do TSB 068-08. This will only take the dealer 25 minutes. I don't know when your car was made, but after a certain date all new Camrys came with the new software already loaded.

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