Maybe I am crazy, will you all help sort me out. I have a 2023 Camry with 23,000 miles. When I purchased this car I knew about early model years having transmission problems, I thought those issues were resolved. I am now seeing more and more complaints even up through the 24 model year of the 8 speed failing. I do get an occasional hesitation from 3rd to 4th or 4th to 5th when shifting. Not sure if that's just a fluke or an indication of a future problem. At any rate it has me considering getting out of this one and into a 26 SE (Hybrid) with the eCVT, supposedly more reliable than the 8 speed. What would you all do? Keep changing the fluid every 20K on this one and hope for the best or go ahead and get into the Hybrid? Original plan was to replace my wife's 2021 Jetta in 3-5 years but if it would be better to get out of this 8 speed Camry before we have an issue I'll consider that.
Advice needed on 2023 Toyota Camry transmission
- Thread starter gregk24
- Start date
JHZR2
Staff member
Toyota is a quality car supposedly. Can it be made less risky with more fluid changes?
What is the nature of the failures?
Good news is if you want out it probably hasn’t depreciated much.
What is the nature of the failures?
Good news is if you want out it probably hasn’t depreciated much.
Some of them whine before failing, some have the torque converter go out, some give no warning signs at all then fail seemingly at random. Some have failed even with maintenance. Seems like a coin toss.
You're worried about the transmission on a brand new car failing at 23k miles and plan to buy the same thing? I've driven the newest Camry with eCVT, it didn't inspire confidence as something I would trust long term. Also couldn't find a comfortable seating position. I'd ride what you have out or buy another Jetta or something else.
No, worried about it failing in the future, and considering replacing it with the hybrid which uses the more reliable eCVT that Toyota has used for decades.You're worried about the transmission on a brand new car failing at 23k miles and plan to buy the same thing? I've driven the newest Camry with eCVT, it didn't inspire confidence as something I would trust long term. Also couldn't find a comfortable seating position. I'd ride what you have out or buy another Jetta or something else.
If it was me, I’d ride it out through 95% of the powertrain warranty and sell it then…unless you’ve got a good offer of or sale/trade on it now. I’ve never regretted dumping a car I didn’t trust.
I'd recommend renting one for a weekend. The one I had I drove from JFK to Brooklyn and back multiple times over the week I had it. The powertrain made all kinds of strange "decisions" while driving in city traffic that really made me question it's longevity. If you're sensitive to NVH, it might not be the one for you, all kinds of abrupt engine start ups and weird jerkiness.
Ok. I was floored how smooth the powertrain was on this one, of course it was on a short test drive.
I’m considering this too. They are taking $4,000 off MSRP on the new one and giving me about $2000 more on the trade than KBB, so that’s why I’m considering trading now. Seems like a good offer.
Is that 8 speed related to the 8 speed in the later years of the Gen 3 Sienna? Because I know that one also had its issues.
That was the UA80, this is the UB80. Very similar. Both have issues.
Have you searched for TSBs related to this car?
Ask your dealer about TSBs?
When you drain / fill the transmission, is there a magnetic drain plug?
Ask your dealer about TSBs?
When you drain / fill the transmission, is there a magnetic drain plug?
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AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Thinking you traded out of a newish car for some cosmetic issues not long ago, concerns for the transmission life along with some strangeness going on kinda surprised you didn't pull the trigger already. Or am I remembering something wrong?
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As dirt simple as the eCVT is, there's no reason to think that it wouldn't last for an extremely long time. There's just not a lot in there that can go wrong. Driving dynamics aside.
I would get the 26 Toyota Hybird. I don't worry at all about Toyota eCVT transmissions they are very reliable. I've had no issues with my 2025 Toyota hybird. My sister's 2011 toyota hybird is still doing fine.
I wouldn't hesitate to go with the eCVT. The 8 speed fwd/awd Toyota offerings are/were solely a price point play by Toyota imo.
Toyota’s eCVT is infinitely more reliable and refined than their 8-speed auto.
That said, as with anything mechanical, misassembly issues can occur. There was a small batch of 25-26 Corolla Cross Hybrids and Camry Hybrids that had a bolt that wasn’t torqued properly. They’ve been identified and Toyota is correcting the issues.
https://www.autoevolution.com/pdf/n...verter-bolt-263178.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Other than that little blip. ChatGPT found no significant examples of Toyota eCVT failures within the last five model years. It notes significant issues with the 8-speed auto in various applications with various failure modes.
That said, as with anything mechanical, misassembly issues can occur. There was a small batch of 25-26 Corolla Cross Hybrids and Camry Hybrids that had a bolt that wasn’t torqued properly. They’ve been identified and Toyota is correcting the issues.
https://www.autoevolution.com/pdf/n...verter-bolt-263178.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Other than that little blip. ChatGPT found no significant examples of Toyota eCVT failures within the last five model years. It notes significant issues with the 8-speed auto in various applications with various failure modes.
