Transmission Not Engage Problems of Toyota Yaris

After waiting in traffic, having come to a stop or inching forward, as in waiting to make a left turn, the car dies when gas is applied to move forward. More difficult if on an incline. Feels as if the car might die. Backing up on an incline when going slowly trying not to run into for instance the garage, frequently stalls or dies completely. Cannot predict when this will happen, but happens two to three times per week. No accident has occurred, but could because of need to move quickly in traffic. I have taken the car to two different dealers to see if they could adjust the idle or the clutch. They said that everything was factory adjusted and that to check the clutch would require considerable labor to get at it and the warranty might not cover it if nothing was found. Basically the dealerships said that is the way the car is, that the range for clutch engagement or not engagement was very small and that it was a matter of coordinating the clutch and gas. I thought perhaps this was it at first, but I have had the car for 11 months, and I haven't been able to figure out how to avoid this situation predictably. The car also died when a friend drove it. I have driven stick shift most of my life and that is about 40 years. I don't feel that I can count on this car to move quickly or move at all when in first gear. This has occurred 3 or 4 times every week since buying the car in oct of 2007. I don't drive the car every day. Currently there is less than 10,000 miles on the car.

See all problems of the 2008 Toyota Yaris 🔎.