2018 Toyota Camry · symptom sheet
Transmission hesitates when accelerating
- 37owner reports
- 10,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
37 of the 91 reports of transmission shudder on the 2018 Camry describe hesitation when accelerating.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (91 reports) · also: jerking or hard shifts
Tick what matches of 37 reports
Hesitation when accelerating on other Camry years
No other Camry model year has enough reports of hesitation when accelerating for a sheet of its own. See every Camry year.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside transmission shudder for a car that pauses before it goes. You press the gas, and for a beat nothing happens, or the engine revs and then the car catches up. What makes it distinct from the wider sheet is timing: the complaint isn't a rough shift at speed but a delay right when you need to move.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (28 reports) and the software (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Camry
Ignition interlock failure. Closed nov 28, 1997, led to recall 97V-213.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,000 and 17,000 miles, from the 13 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“My transmission is slipping / hesitating / delay shifting. I have always had it serviced on time and taken very good care of it. I even went and had the fluid flushed & refreshed and it is still happening. It makes driving unpredictable and makes me feel extremely unsafe in my car. There arenât any lights on, on my dashboard. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance.”
Filed Mar 16, 2026
“Transmission shifts absolutely terrible hunts for gears constantly. Itâll clunk going from drive to park. The vehicle hesitates for more than a couple seconds sometimes when merging on the freeway making it dangerous when trying to get on. Toyota needs to recall these transmission and put the ones they fixed in”
Filed Oct 30, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 37 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 164 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 78 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 41 reports
- Fuel pump failure 40 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 37 reports