Full marks to trusty Toyota

I Purchased a 2005 Toyota Verso in September 2009 from a dealership in Durban. A year later, in October 2010, the "multi-mode transmission" warning light suddenly came on, the car changed to neutral on its own, then went lifeless.

I had the car towed to a Toyota dealer for a checkup, and was told that it was the clutch position that had to be calibrated. After a road test the car was given the OK and I could pick it up. Two weeks later the same problem occurred. The car was towed back to the same dealer to be inspected. The problem was identified, and I was asked to take the car to McCarthy Toyota in Durban North where the clutch had been replaced in December 2008, and again in February 2009, prior to me purchasing it. The car was there for four days, whereafter I was asked to come and fetch it, as the problem had been resolved.

But a fortnight later the same problem occurred. I am now afraid to drive the car as it stops in the middle of traffic of its own accord and my life is placed in danger. - Thandiwe

We are talking here of a Verso equipped with Toyota's MMT (multi-mode manual transmission). It's not the usual automatic transmission with a torque converter and planetary gears, etc. Instead, it uses a clutch and traditional gearbox, as you would find on a car with manual transmission, but the clutch is electrically operated, thus relieving the driver of the chore of constantly disengaging and engaging the clutch in stop-start traffic.

In principle this is an excellent idea - you have all the advantages of an automatic transmission without the fuel consumption penalty which can never be entirely avoided in city traffic. Not surprisingly, several manufacturers have come up with variations on the theme in the past. It is often referred to as semi-automatic transmission , but each manufacturer had its own name for its version.

Years ago already Auto Union had their Saxomat, which used a centrifugal clutch in conjunction with a vacuum-operated servo clutch. When Toyota tried their hand at a clutchless transmission, they took advantage of the opportunities offered by electronic engine management to make it a truly multi-mode system.

The MMT gave the driver the option of selecting either full electronic control or manual mode. In E mode the engine computer decides when to shift up or down; shifting is done automatically.

In M mode the gearbox operates like the sequential gearbox on a motorcycle, the driver initiating gearshifts by tapping the shift lever up or down, or by means of paddles on the steering column, while the clutch action is taken care of electronically. This was the transmission fitted to Thandiwe's 2005 Verso.

Unfortunately for her and many other Verso owners, it soon became apparent that there were unexpected snags with this transmission. Worldwide, evidence mounted of exactly the sort of problems that she experienced with the MMT.

We will probably never know how this happened, but the long and short of it is that Toyota put a transmission on the market before it was fully sorted.

It was not the first time, nor will it be the last, that this happens to a respected manufacturer. A motorcar is a complex mechanism; the pressures on the decision-makers can only be imagined.

In a tacit admission of failure, Toyota has since dropped the MMT option from their model line-up in South Africa.

The true test of integrity is: How does the manufacturer react when faced with this realisation? And this time Toyota passes the test with distinction. We forwarded Thandiwe's letter to Toyota SA, and very promptly received a reply from Ferdi de Vos, General Manager, Corporate PR, in which he stated: "In response to customer concerns regarding the MMT gearbox, Toyota has developed software upgrade packages to alleviate this ... The software packages have been developed over time and relate to the electronic management of the gearbox functions. earbox malfunctions normally occur due to electronic glitches and are usually not mechanical by nature. We therefore strongly suggest that owners who experience trouble with the gearbox contact their closest dealer so that we can ensure their vehicles receive the latest software upgrade available."

At the same time Thandiwe informed us that McCarthy Toyota Durban North had contacted her with a very generous offer regarding her problematic Verso. She accepted this offer, and writes: "McCarthy Toyota Durban North contacted me four times in the last two weeks to ask me if there were any problems ... proving that they actually do have good customer relations albeit if you make a noise."

Way to go, Toyota SA! No ducking, diving, or denying the obvious, you are taking it straight on the chin and sorting it out as best you can.