2020 Toyota Corolla: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Sep 2, 2025 · Transmission · 64,000 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Corolla. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact became aware of an abnormal clunking sound, and that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the failure had occurred while driving on a busy road. The contact attempted to shift the gear shifter into different driving modes; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that several good Samaritans pushed the vehicle into a nearby driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

Filed Jan 25, 2020 · Engine · 10,000 miles · FL

On more than one occasion I was going between 5-10 miles an hour and the car sputtered and felt like it was going to shut off. I told the dealership when I took the car in for regular service and the told me the computer did not find anything wrong and they could not replicate the problem when driving it. Also when accelerating the car will make a clunking sound. Again the dealership denied a problem. These issues have happened multiple times

Filed Oct 29, 2019 · Transmission · 500 miles · OH

Between 10 and 20 MPH occasionally, not always, there is a hard shift that doesn't feel normal. It is usually under light acceleration and conditions. Even trying to mimic it under the same exact conditions, sometimes it will simply not do it.. Sometimes it will be a hard thump. Other times it will feel premature. (shifting before it should) I wanted to believe it is the transition from the launch gear to the CVT but the timing of the transition and the degree of the hard shift even under the same conditions tends to vary considerably.

Filed Oct 23, 2019 · Transmission · 1,500 miles · VA

Vehicle has a very hard shift out of launch "first gear" when low on fuel or the engine is cold. Dealership (sheehy toyota in fredericksburg va) and could experience the same feeling on light to moderate acceleration. I informed the dealership that the feeling they were experiencing is minor compared to what it usually feels like when driving. They experienced the same thing when driving another 2020 corolla off the lot with light to moderate acceleration. Then a day later they drove another 20202 corolla supposedly for another 30 minutes and could not duplicate the hard shift and noted that when driving both the customers car and a new car the shift feeling varied from time to time so there was nothing they would do. They also said they contacted the engineers at toyota who said that this hard shift feeling was normal. Looks like toyota is back at it with just deny everything and hope the problem goes away. Very unhappy with my experience especially with how toyota has handled this so far. I will not go away until they fix this problem.

Filed Oct 20, 2019 · Fuel system, Transmission · FL

2020 toyota corolla se -(vehicle purchased new) (CVT transmission) upon minimal to normal acceleration vehicle makes a hard shift feel like a bump kick in acceleration of speed between 8-9 MPH. Will feel more of a hard shift at times if coasting with minimal speed then to the normal acceleration (start and stop traffic type of conditions). Periodically once reaching to speed of 36 MPH seems like the transmission is starting to slip then continues with normal operation. While sedentary at stop light vehicle has had loss of power in and out near stalling out. Separate occasion without the air conditioner being on, a rough idol took place. At times if put in sports mode shifting is smooth without too much trouble; with exception of at higher speed open road removing off the gas pedal will make a whining high rev noise like the transmission went out and did not down shift even with pressure applied to the brake. Will then down shift after approximately 15-20 seconds. Lane departure indicators have gone off without there being a correct response for that action taking place. Vehicle has been owned for less than ninety days and appears to continually further in its defects.