Is the Camry 8AT stable?
3 Answers
Relatively stable. Below is the relevant introduction: Camry: The Camry is a model under GAC Toyota. For 37 years, each generation of the Camry has consistently led the way, earning the trust of 20 million car owners worldwide. Exterior: In terms of exterior design, the eighth-generation Camry features dual styling designs—Luxury and Sport—both derived from Toyota's latest "Keen Look" design language. The Luxury version adopts a large trapezoidal horizontal grille, with a streamlined body posture, lower waistline, and an extended rear roof to increase rear headroom. Configuration: In terms of configuration, the eighth-generation Camry is equipped with Toyota's latest Toyota Safety Sense, including the PCS pre-collision safety system, LDA lane departure alert system, AHB automatic high beam system, and DRCC dynamic radar cruise control system, providing safer driving assistance. Additionally, 12 various devices monitor the driving environment, such as the BSM blind spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, and PVM panoramic monitoring system.
I've been driving my Camry Hybrid with this 8AT transmission for nearly three years now. With daily city commutes and weekend highway trips, the most noticeable feature is how incredibly smooth the gear shifts are – you can barely feel any jerking. Toyota's powertrain tuning leans conservative, which pays off in reliability and durability. I know several ride-hailing drivers whose vehicles have clocked over 200,000 kilometers with transmissions still performing perfectly. Regular maintenance is crucial though – I'd recommend changing the transmission fluid every 40,000 km. If there's a minor drawback, it's that the downshift response during sudden acceleration isn't as quick as a dual-clutch transmission. But for a family car, this hassle-free performance is exactly what you want. It's never left me stranded all these years.
As an automotive repair technician, I've handled many Camry transmissions. This 8AT has a well-designed structure using proven planetary gear sets, which are far more reliable than some brands' overly complex multi-clutch systems. Common failure points mainly involve solenoid valve sticking, but the occurrence rate is below industry average. One well-executed detail is the reasonable cooling oil circuit layout that prevents overheating during prolonged traffic congestion. I'd advise owners on two things: 1) Avoid heavy throttle immediately after cold starts - wait for oil temperature to rise; 2) Schedule regular transmission adaptive learning, a quick 10-minute procedure at dealerships. Overall, its failure rate is even lower than the previous 6AT model.
