2018 Toyota Camry · symptom sheet
Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear
- 58owner reports
- 10,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
58 of the 91 reports of transmission shudder on the 2018 Camry describe jerking or hard shifts.
Part of Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard (91 reports) · also: hesitation when accelerating
Tick what matches of 58 reports
Jerking or hard shifts on other Camry years
No other Camry model year has enough reports of jerking or hard shifts for a sheet of its own. See every Camry year.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside transmission shudder for shifts that jerk, lurch or bang. Where the wider sheet also takes in slipping and vibration, these reports are about a shift that arrives too hard: the car lunges forward, or a clunk comes through the floor as it drops into gear.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (3 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 25,000 miles, from the 30 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Transmission began jerking and sputtering which caused the vehicle to lose acceleration ability while traveling at highway speeds. Transmission was confirmed to have failed by an independent shop and required a complete rebuild. No warning lamps or notifications prior to failure”
Filed Jun 29, 2026
“The transmission on the 2018 Toyota Camrys are the worst. Ever since I got my car it has had loss of power with acceleration it jerks randomly when driving and itâs very unpredictable. It makes me nervous every day I drive it & it gives me anxiety that at any second my transmission will just completely fail. I did research and soooo many people are having the same issue. This needs to be fixed.”
Filed May 30, 2026
“Poor acceleration and lose of transmission control â¦.complete safety hazard and the car has a failure to lose power while drivingâ¦..a humming noise and the car jerks while shifting gears”
Filed Feb 9, 2026
“My vehicle has always been jerky, lagging to accelerate, limp, giving the shift solenoid code error.”
Filed Dec 13, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 58 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