2020 Toyota Camry: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Aug 30, 2026 · Driver assistance · AZ

Camera / Radar component - yes Camera / Radar unit is available When it failed, the dash lit up with lots of errors: engine check light, anti-skid failure light (even though the system was turned off), rotating errors included: secondary brake system malfunction, pre-collission system malfunction, LDA system malfunction, check engine. I was driving up a 6% hill on a four lane road at 65 MPH with the cruise control active. Was in the left lane passing two slower trucks when the engine just seem to die and the dash lit up with lots of errors. By the time I was able to get to the right lane and off the freeway, I was doing less than 20 MPH. It turns out that when the radar / camera unit failed, the computer put copious confusing errors and put the engine in limp mode. Very dangerous and I'm lucky there wasn't more traffic. When the computer detected the failure should have automatically disabled the cruise control and put out an error message saying it was now disabled. The other junk errors just confused everything. The computer definitely should not have put the engine in limp mode. It was only after I pulled over and had time to digest the errors that I actually figured out what had happened and how to handle the situation. After I pulled off, the center display which had been saying there was a message that would display after I was safely stopped, now had an message indicating I should turn off the cruise control. Problem was I could not determine if the cruise control was active or not because the indicator was blocked by errors, however the engine was still definitely in limp mode. I finally turned the engine off and back on to make sure the cruise control was off. All the rotating errors and error lights were still on, but the engine was now out of limp mode and the car was again drivable.

Filed Aug 11, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA

The vehicle contains a known manufacturing defect where the engine coolant bypass valve cracks internally, leaking pressurized fluid directly into the main electrical connector (covered under Toyota CSP 24TE04). This fluid intrusion has caused active electrical short-circuits to the battery and ground networks. As a direct result of this progressive component failure, the vehicle is actively dropping into 'Limp Mode' and experiencing severe transmission shifting failures while being driven on public roads, creating an immediate safety and crash hazard. Furthermore, a franchised Toyota dealership actively turned away an attempted preventive repair under the 'Prior Sought Remedy' rule while the vehicle was under the 100,000-mile warranty threshold, stating the dashboard light had to be on first, which directly allowed this hazardous electrical degradation to progres

Filed Feb 9, 2026 · Fuel system · MS

Hesitant and sluggish acceleration caused check engine light and activated limp mode. Code P0087 - fuel rail/system pressure too low. My VIN isn’t included on the major fuel pump recall, but I’m experiencing issue and being told it’s going to cost thousands to repair.

Filed Dec 8, 2025 · Acceleration, Transmission · IL

Have whining from transmission. When trying to accelerate the car does not shift into gears correctly and there is hesitance and delay. Have issues merging on highway and regular traffic due to hesitance and delay. Car can jerk when accelerating. Had dealership inspect twice at different dates. The dealership said nothing was wrong and that the hesitance and delay was just how the car operates. Discovered that other Toyota Camry's had same issue under T-SB-0008-21. Would like for our model year Toyota Camry be added for repairs.

Filed Dec 5, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · FL

My 2020 Toyota Camry SE suffered a sudden and premature transmission failure at only 114,000 miles. I am a college student and I cannot afford a major repair like this on top of my monthly car payment. The car began showing hesitation and sluggish acceleration on cold starts for a few months, but then suddenly went into limp mode with the Check Engine and Traction Control lights on. The screen displayed a warning saying ‘Malfunction in the electronic control of the engine/throttle/transmission.’ The vehicle became unsafe to drive because it would barely accelerate. If this had happened while I was merging onto a highway, it could have caused an accident. Lakeland Toyota told me the transmission has ‘internal failure’ and quoted me over $8,000 for a replacement. They did not provide detailed diagnostic codes or open the transmission to confirm the mechanical failure — they just saw a code and declared it dead. As a student with limited income, this puts me in a terrible financial situation. I still owe monthly payments on this car and now cannot even drive it. After researching online, I learned that MANY 2018–2020 Camry owners are experiencing similar transmission problems (UA80/UA80E), including hesitation, shuddering, harsh shifting, and early failure. Some owners have reported full transmission failure under 100k miles. There is even a public petition documenting these issues. This appears to be a PATTERN, not an isolated case. A transmission should NOT fail this early on a Toyota, and this sudden loss of power poses a serious safety risk. The vehicle is currently at a transmission specialist for a second opinion, but this may become a widespread issue affecting thousands of Camry owners. I am asking the federal safety agency to investigate the 2018–2020 Camry transmission problems before more drivers experience unexpected failures in traffic

Filed Jan 21, 2025 · Transmission · FL

Driving normal about 60mph. Car seems to go into limp mode with no acceleration response. Toyota confirms the clutch actuator is failing causing the vehicle to not have acceleration pressure and that the transmission needs to be replaced. There are no indications or lights showing a malfunction and acceleration from a stop can be unresponsive. Turning the vehicle off and on will temporarily reset the car without issue. This problem is intermittent but increasing in frequency.