Toyota Camry Solara Complaints (2008)

83 consumer complaints on file.

#10442060January 2, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WAS REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN MY 2008 SOLARA AND WHEN I WENT TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, THE CAR LURCHED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN ACCELERATED. WHEN THE CAR TOOK OFF, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT ACCELERATING USING THE BRAKES. A PASSENGER PULLED UP ON THE PARKING BRAKE, LAUNCHING US INTO A SERIES OF TIGHT SPINS AND COLLIDING WITH CONCRETE BUMPERS IN THE LOT. WE WERE ABOUT TO HEAD OUT INTO A MAJOR ROADWAY WHEN THEY DID SO. ONCE OUT OF THE SPINS, THE CAR HAD COME TO ENOUGH OF A HALT THAT I COULD SHIFT INTO PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF. IT WAS ONLY WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF THAT THE FRONT WHEELS (FWD) STOPPED TRYING TO TURN. WHEN WE EXAMINED THE CAR, THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK IN A DEPRESSED POSITION. THE WEATHER HAS BEEN FINE AND DRY FOR SEVERAL DAYS PREVIOUSLY, SO THE PAVEMENT WAS NOT WET. AS THE INCIDENT HAPPENED OVER ~15 SECONDS, WE CANNOT GIVE AN APPROXIMATE MPH THAT THE CAR SPED UP TO, BUT IT WAS AT LEAST 30MPH. AMAZINGLY, MY PASSENGERS AND I WALKED AWAY WITHOUT A SCRATCH AND SO DID EVERYONE ELSE IN THE PARKING LOT. HOWEVER, THE SOLARA NEEDS EXTENSIVE BODY WORK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS ACCELERATOR ISSUE DUE TO THE COLLUSIONS. TOYOTA HAS SENT AN ENGINEER OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR, BUT HAS NOT GIVEN ANY SUPPORT OTHERWISE. THE ENGINEER INFORMED ME THAT HE FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, BUT HE DID NOT EXAMINE THE POWERTRAIN IN DETAIL. TOYOTA HAS INFORMED ME THAT IT WILL BE 30 DAYS BEFORE THEY GIVE ME AN OFFICIAL REPORT. WHILE THE SOLARAS WERE NOT INITIALLY INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS FOR THE ACCELERATOR ISSUE, 2008 CAMRYS WERE AND A SOLARA IS BASICALLY A 2-DOOR CAMRY. THE RECALL SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FOR THE SOLARAS AS WELL. I DO NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING A CAR THAT CAN ENDANGER ME OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. THIS INCIDENT, AS FRIGHTENING AS IT WAS, LUCKILY TOOK PLACE WHEN I WAS NOT ALREADY AT A HIGHER SPEED AND WAS IN A PARKING LOT. IT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE MUCH WORSE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10400460May 12, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
2008 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH REAR DEFROSTER *TGW THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROOF. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN LOOKED OUT THE REAR WINDOW, THE UPPER PORTION OF THE GLASS WAS DISTORTED, WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE BEFORE THE ROOF WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALL THE VEHICLES EXHIBITED THE SAME CONDITION AND IT WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397125April 22, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON APRIL 2011 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT MY TOYOTA SOLARA 2008 STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE MY SPEED WAS 45 MPH AND THE VEHICLE THAT I HIT WAS AT A FULL STOP. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY MY SEAT BELT WAS FASTENED AND PREVENTED SERIOUS INJURY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390142March 14, 2011
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
HANKOOK VENTUS V4 ES 215/55/ZR17 INSTALLED ON A 2008 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE CONVERTIBLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES EXHIBITED A LARGE BUBBLE IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE. BEFORE COMPLAINANT WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE TIRE, THE TIRE BLEW OUT AT THE SIDEWALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344724July 22, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIRES WERE ROTATED. AFTER ROTATING THE TIRES THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN PULL TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE ONE OF THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND SHE HAD TO ROTATE THE TIRES VERY OFTEN BECAUSE THEY WERE BEGINNING TO WEAR RAPIDLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343236July 14, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWO TIMES IN THE SAME DAY. DEALER WENT OVER CAR SAID NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER SAID TO PUT FLOORMATS IN TO TRUNK. NO OTHER ACTION TAKEN. NECK STRAIN RESULTED FROM INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10342696July 12, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT A VERY LOW SPEED THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARDS RESULTING IN A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOW DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,800.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10339708June 23, 2010
SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS RECLINED AND WILL NOT ADJUST DUE TO A MECHANICAL DEFECT. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2008 AND IT HAS 47,000. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY CHARGED WOULD BE $2,000 TO FIX THE SEAT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION THROUGH THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THE SEATS FRAME IS HARD TO PURCHASE USED BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329552May 5, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW
2008 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER, MAP LIGHT AND JERKING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR WIDOW DEFOGGER WAS NOT WORKING AND WOULD NOT CLEAR FOG OR FROST FROM THE REAR WINDOW. ALSO, THE MAP LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT AND WOULD NOT ALWAYS COME ON WHEN OPENING THE DOOR LOCKS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER STATED THE REAR DEFOGGER WAS INSPECTED AND CHECK AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THEY ALSO STATED THE DEFOGGER WAS DESIGNED ONLY TO REMOVE FOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW AND NOT FROST OR SNOW FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THE ENTIRE ROOF WOULD HAVE TO REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEFOGGER. AFTER THE ROOF WAS REPLACED THE PROBLEM WITH THE REAR DEFOGGER HAD BEEN RESOLVED, REGARDING THE JERKING PROBLEM, THE DEALER STATED THAT TOYOTA TRANSMISSION WERE RECENTLY MODIFIED AND THE JERKING AT SLOW SPEEDS. WAS NORMAL. *JB UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318840March 11, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT TO USE CRUISE CONTROL - I HAVE E-MAILS WHERE THEY PROMISED RESPONSE FROM LIAISON BY YESTERDAY CUSTOMER ([XXX] ) 03/02/2010 09:43 AM I ORIGINALLY SENT MY E-MAIL TO YOU ON FEBRUARY 24TH. TODAY IS MARCH 2ND. PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH YOUR RESPONSE PROVIDING A SOLUTION ASAP. [XXX] CUSTOMER ([XXX] ) 02/24/2010 05:39 AM MY 2008 SOLARA DOES NOT DRIVE WELL IN CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE AND WHEN I MENTION THIS THEY JUST TELL ME IT'S HOW THE COMPUTERS IN THEM WORK NOW. I FIND IT VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE WHILE I AM DRIVING FROM MOBILE, ALABAMA TO NASHVILLE, TN AND TRY TO USE ON THE INTERSTATE, THE THING GOES WAY INTO THE RED ZONE AT EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE, AND EVEN ON MORE LEVEL HIGHWAY, IT TRIES TO SPEED UP AND THE ENGINE REVS TOO HIGH. I JUST TURN IT OFF, BUT IT IS AN ABSOLUTE BUMMER NOT TO BE ABLE TO USE IT. DRIVING 7 HOURS WITH FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR MAKES MY LEG HURT. MY 2003 SOLARA HAD AN OUTSTANDING CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. NOW WITH ALL THE RECALLS ON TOYOTAS, I AM CONSIDERING GOING WITH ANOTHER BRAND, BUT I HAVE DRIVEN TOYOTAS FOR SO MANY YEARS AND ALWAYS TRUSTED THEM. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF MY VEHICLE IS PART OF THE CURRENT RECALL, BUT I DO KNOW THAT CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK AND EVEN NOT USING IT, SOMETIMES MY CAR ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF, ALTHOUGH TO DATE, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO STOP MY VEHICLE AND OTHER THAN NUMEROUS BLIND SPOTS WHEN TRYING TO BACK IT UP, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCE TROUBLE. BUT I HATE, HATE, HATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I WANT A NEW CAR NOW, JUST NOT SURE IT SHOULD BE A TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315518March 2, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH WITH THE SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATED. THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE FORCE APPLIED TWICE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL; AND DEACTIVATION OF THE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306654February 5, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING IN AT A PARKING LOT, DRIVEN AT 5 NOT EVEN 10 MPH THE CAR - CAMRY SOLARA CONVERTIBLE 2008, TOUCH THE BRAKE TO PARK AND IN 20 FEET OF DISTANCE THE CAR SPEED BY ITSELF CRASHING IN PARKING BAR. THE AIR BAGS EXPLODE AND I GOT INJURIES ON MY SHOULDERS AFTER THE IMPACT WITH THE SEAT BELT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10304725February 3, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WAS TOLD A ROCK PUT HOLE IN CONDENSER CAUSING UNIT TO EXPEL ANTIFREEZE. REPAIR ESTIMATE >800. THIS IS HAPPENING FAR TO OFTEN FOR OTHERS AS WELL. THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT ENCOMPASSES MANY MODELS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292294November 16, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HELLO, I HAVE A 2008 SOLARA. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. I HAD REPORTED SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION. TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME THEY RECEIVED NO COMPLAINTS AND THAT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM AND MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T JUST PUSH THE PEDAL TO HARD IN OTHER WORDS HE SAID DON'T GUN IT. THIS ALL HAPPENED BEFORE ANY RECALL WAS DONE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR UNLESS I CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I DRIVE IN WASHINGTON DC AND WHEN YOU STOP AND GO AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT GOES IT PICKS UP ACCELERATION AND I HAVE TO KEEP HITTING MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR HIT FOR A HARD STOP. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN ALOT BUT STILL I HAVE CONCERNS, SINCE AT ONE POINT THERE USED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO FLOOR MATS AND AS I STATED THIS WAS WELL BEFORE RECALL. NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT AND NOW I HAVE TO KEEP A GREAT DISTANCE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME SINCE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL KICK IN. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MY CAR. THE DATE I AM CLICKING ON BELOW IS A GUESS SINCE I AM WORKING AND HAVE MY PAPERS AT HOME. THE DATE BELOW ALSO IS THE BEGINNING OF ALL THIS. *TR THANK YOU
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290834November 3, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SOLARA. WHILE RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENTION. AS A CONSEQUENCE HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO THE NEUTRAL GEAR, AND THEN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11900. UPDATED 12/07/09. *LJ UPDATED 12/08/09
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272894June 4, 2009
SEATS, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PADDING IN THE FRONT ARM REST OF THE VEHICLE. HE EXPERIENCED EXTREME DISCOMFORT. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS DIM IN LOW-LIGHT SITUATIONS. HE CANNOT MANUALLY ADJUST THE COMPONENT. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE MIRRORS AUTO-DIMMED. VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO A DEALER. THE FAILURES HAVE NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238379August 15, 2008
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL CONSISTENTLY DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY REALIGNED THE VEHICLE TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DRIFTING WAS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC FOR THE CAMRY AND SOLARA. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,208 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,308. UPDATED 09/15/09. *JB UPDATED 10/15/08 *BF UPDATED 10/21/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232855June 26, 2008
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
2008 TOYOTA SOLARA DEFECTIVE DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DIMMING MIRROR WILL GO IN AND OUT OF DIMMING. THE HEADLIGHTS FROM THE CARS BEHIND ARE VERY BRIGHT THROUGH THE MIRROR AND HE HAD TO COVER THE MIRROR WITH HIS HAND. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER PERFORMING A SERIES OF TESTS, HE CONCLUDED THAT THE AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229708June 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR EIGHT HOURS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE LAUNDRY ROOM, THE GARAGE, AND THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE CAUSED $200,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE HOME. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. THE INVESTIGATORS STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE DASHBOARD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,500. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219277February 27, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED A NEW 2008 TOYOTA SOLARA FROM COLEMAN TOYOTA IN BETHESDA, MD. ON 1/19/08. FROM DAY 1, TRANSMISSION IS JERKY, HESITATES, HAS NOT POWER WHEN NEEDED. CAR STALLS WHEN WAITING TO TURN AND FLOODS. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 2X. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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