Toyota Camry Solara Complaints

866 consumer complaints on file.

#10461903June 15, 2012
AIR BAGS
I AM THE MANAGER AT RENTY CAR RENTAL. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR TOYOTA'S CLOCK SPRING. THIS PART HAS BEEN GOING DEFECTIVE AND TURNING THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH 3 OF OUR TOYOTA'S. IT HAS BECOME QUITE AN ISSUE. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE PARTS TO REPLACE, AND WE MUST REPLACE THEM AS SOON AS WE FIND THE PROBLEM. WE ARE VERY SCARED THAT THIS ITEM MIGHT FAIL AND THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461168June 11, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS SEVERELY CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459565May 24, 2012
SEAT BELTS
THE SEAT BELT STAYS AT FAR EXTENSION AND WILL NOT RETRACT, SO IT WILL NOT FUNCTION. I WENT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR COMPANY AND THEY SAID IT COULD NOT BE FIXED AND MUST BE REPLACED. I FIRST NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF THIS ON MAY 21, 2012 BY SPEAKING WITH THE "CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER". [XXX] SAID SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 1 BUSINESS DAY. 2 BUSINESS DAYS LATER LATE PM I RECEIVED A CALL FROM [XXX] WHO TOLD ME TO GO TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT & GET AN ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT. I ASKED IF IT COULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE, SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT MALFUNCTION. SHE SAID GET THE ESTIMATE FIRST AND THEN CALL HER. I WENT THE FOLLOWING DAY (5/22) AND RECEIVED THE ESTIMATE. ON THE MORNING OF MAY 22 I CALLED [XXX] NUMBER & LEFT A MESSAGE. ON THE AFTERNOON OF 5/22 I CALLED AGAIN. SHE AGAIN WAS NOT THERE, SO I HELD ON FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP ME. [XXX] SAID [XXX] WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I TOLD HER I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEATBELT, AND ASKED IF SHE OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HELP ME. SHE SAID I CAN ONLY SPEAK WITH MY "CASE MANAGER" [XXX]. I INSISTED ON SPEAKING WITH HER MANAGER. SHE TOLD ME THE MANAGER WENT HOME. I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH ANOTHER MANAGER. SHE SAID I COULD ONLY SPEAK WITH [XXX] WHO WOULD ABSOLUTELY CALL ME BACK WITH 24 HOURS. 24 HOURS LATER [XXX] HAD NOT CALLED. I CALLED HER AND SHE DID NOT ANSWER, BUT I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE ALSO IN HER DEPARTMENT WHO AGAIN SAID NEITHER HE ("[XXX]")NOR ANYONE ELSE COULD HELP ME THAT DAY. HE SAID A MANAGER WOULD CALL ME BACK WITHIN 24 HOURS. I TOLD HIM I AM DRIVING AROUND FOR DAYS WITHOUT A SEATBELT WAITING FOR THEM, AND INSISTED ON SPEAKING WITH HIS MANAGER'S MANAGER. HE SAID " A MANAGER WILL CALL YOU BACK IN 1 BUSINESS DAY". INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459599May 24, 2012
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
3 OUT OF THE 4 PIRELLA TIRES I BOUGHT WERE DEFECTIVE, TREAD SEPARATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456459April 25, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN A CRACK WAS NOTICED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,460 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,560.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454026April 3, 2012
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BUTTONS SUDDENLY BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING HOME. THE FIRE BURNT A HOLE IN THE CONSOLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449353February 26, 2012
SEATS, VISIBILITY
THERE'S A DESIGN FLAW IN TOYOTA SOLARA MODELS 1999-2003 (THE MODEL CHANGED IN 2004), AND IT'S THIS: AT THE VERY TOP OF THE BACK OF THE BACK SEAT, WHERE THE SEAT FABRIC IS TUCKED INTO THE PLASTIC BACK, THIS BACKING HAS A 'LIP' THAT STICKS OUT AND CATCHES ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP EACH TIME IT'S LOWERED OR RAISED, USUALLY SNAGGING THE TOP OF THE BACK WINDOW. THIS CONSTANT SNAGGING OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP ON THIS HARD PLASTIC LIP CAUSES TWO ISSUES: 1) THE PLASTIC 'LIP' ITSELF IS WEAKENED, LOSES INTEGRITY, SUFFERS A FATIGUE CRACK, AND BREAKS. 2) THE STITCHING OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP AT THE TOP OF THE BACK WINDOW LOSES ITS INTEGRITY, AND THE BACK WINDOW BECOMES SEPARATED FROM THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THIS RESULTS IN A GAP BETWEEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND THE TOP OF THE BACK WINDOW, WHICH CAN (AND DID, IN MY CASE) RESULT IN THE WINDOW CATCHING ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT AND COMPLETELY SHATTERING. WHEN MY WINDOW SHATTERED, I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE PERSON THERE TOLD ME HE HAS FREQUENTLY SEEN THIS ISSUE WITH MY MODEL OF SOLARA (UP TO YEAR 2003) SOLELY DUE TO THE LIP AT THE TOP OF THE SEAT BACK ITS ALWAYS SNAGGING THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF WITH EACH OPENING OR CLOSING. HE TOLD ME THAT THIS DESIGN FLAW WAS CORRECTED IN THE REDESIGNED TOYOTA SOLARA THAT WAS RELEASED IN 2004, AND ALL SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS. FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE COVERAGE, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. FOR THOSE, LIKE ME, WHO HAVE COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE COVERAGE, THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO PAY FOR. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS A CONSUMER, AND FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM -- AT NO CHARGE -- OF ALL EFFECTED MODELS. THE REPAIR IS SIMPLE: THEY NEED ONLY CUT AWAY THE LIP FROM THE SEAT BACK, AS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE BACK SEAT, ITSELF, AS SHOWN BY ITS DISAPPEARANCE IN THE LATER MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443552January 12, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS STARTING TO CRACK AND THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND A CASE WAS OPENED, BUT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,700. UPDATED 02/15/12*BF UPDATED 02/28/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443591January 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON JAN. 5, 2012 AROUND 10:00 A.M. I WAS ACCELERATING UP HILL AT THE SPEED OF 50 MPG. WHEN I LET UP ON THE GAS PEDAL MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKES BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. AS THE CAR KEPT GOING FASTER I WENT INTO A PANIC MODE APPLYING THE BRAKES, PULLING BACK ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AS FAR AS I COULD, AND TRYING TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR PARK OR ANYTHING TO GET MY CAR TO STOP. I WENT OFF THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME I GOT IT INTO PARK. STOPPING ABRUPTLY I JUMPED FROM THE CAR THE WHEELS STILL SPINNING AND SMOKE POURING FORM THE WHEEL WELLS. I WAS PRETTY HYSTERICAL FROM MY ORDEAL BUT HAD THE SENSE TO REACH IN AND TURN OFF THE KEY. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND SAT DOWN AND CRIED UNTIL HE GOT THERE. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOYOTA IN NAPA CA. AND YESTERDAY (JAN. 11, 2011) THEY CALLED TO SAY THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND WE CAN PICK UP THE CAR ANYTIME WE WANT. PLEASE HELP ME !!!! THIS WASN'T JUST A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION. IT HAPPENED FOR SOME REASON. DO THEY REALLY THINK I EVER WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN??? I FEEL VERY GRATEFUL TO WALK AWAY WITH MY LIFE. IF THERE HAD BEEN MORE TRAFFIC OR NO PLACE TO GO OFF THE ROAD OR IN A WORSE CASE SCENARIO DRIVING THE 10 MILE MOUNTAIN ROAD FROM TOWN TO MY HOUSE I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE. I FEEL THE NEED TO TELL AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN TO SAVE SOME ONE ELSE FROM THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443506January 11, 2012
STRUCTURE, AIR BAGS
DASH IS CRACKING AND APPEARS THE DASH MATERIAL MAY NOT ALLOW AIR BAG TO FUNCTION --- HAS MULPTILY CRACKS IN ALL DIFFERENT LOCATION IN FRONT OF DRIVER AND PASSANGER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442777January 7, 2012
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
DASHBOARD CRACKING LEADING TO POSSIBLE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10439837December 13, 2011
STRUCTURE
THE DASH IN THE CAR HAS EXTREMELY LONG LARGE CRACKS IN IT. ALL OVER IT INCLUDING AROUND THE INFORMATION BEZELS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A COMMON MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IT HAD BEEN TALKED ABOUT AND COMMENTED ON TOYOTA FORUMS THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND ALSO INCLUDES OTHER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY TOYOTA . THE RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA IS "TOO BAD". RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436494November 20, 2011
VISIBILITY
THESE BODY STYLE OF THIS CAR PRODUCES SEVERAL BLIND SPOTS FOR THE DRIVER. SPECIFICALLY, THE ISSUE IS THE ELEVATED POSTERIOR WINDOWS THAT MAKE BACKING UP/DRIVING IN REVERSE AS WELL AS CHANGING LANES DIFFICULT. I HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS SINCE ACQUIRING THIS CAR IN 2009. EACH INCIDENT INVOLVED THE CORNERS OF THE REAR BUMPER AND RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436426November 19, 2011
STRUCTURE, AIR BAGS
CRACKS IN THE VINYL DASHBOARD HAVE STARTED ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR AND ARE CONTINUING TO GET BIGGER. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKS ALONG THE FRONT OF THE DASH COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE AIRBAGS FROM DEPLOYING OR CAUSE THEM TO DEPLOY UNNECESSARILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436257November 17, 2011
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:INTEGRATED JACK/LEVELER/STABILIZER
I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT DEALING WITH THIS MECHANICAL SCISSOR JACK. THE CASE HAS GONE TO TRIAL AND BEEN RESOLVED. AS A PART OF MY INVESTIGATION, I DETERMINED THAT THE BASE OF THE JACK IS OUT OF SPECIFICATION, AND WOBBLES. THE BASE IS MEANT TO BE FLAT, YET ALL FOUR "FEET" OF THE BASE DO NOT TOUCH WHEN THE JACK IS RESTED ON A FLAT SURFACE. BASED ON TESTIMONY BY THE MANUFACTURER, THE BASE DEFORMS DURING THE FINAL ASSEMBLY, AND THIS WOBBLE IS ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE CHECKED A 2007 CAMRY, 2005 COROLLA, AND 2011 CAMRY, AND THESE CARS ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE BASE. DURING MY INSPECTIONS, THE JACK WILL ROLL INBOARD DURING NORMAL JACKING, PLACING ALL THE WEIGHT ONTO THE TWO INSIDE "FEET", USING ONLY ABOUT 20% OF THE BASE. IF THE BASE IS FLAT AS INTENDED, MORE OF THE BASE IF NOT ALL WOULD BE USED PROVIDING A GREATER LEVEL OF STABILITY DURING EMERGENCY JACKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435721November 15, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
2006 SOLARA WAS DRIVEN BY MY SON WHO WAS FOUND DEAD IN A CANAL ON 1/28/08 BY A PASSERBY. THE CAR HAD THE TENDENCY TO HAVE THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE RIDE UP, WHICH I WAS USED TO AS IT WAS MY CAR. THEREFORE, I SUSPECT THE FLOOR MAT RODE UP ONTO ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING CAR TO BE UNABLE TO STOP WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS FOUND UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE CAR IN PARK WITH THE KEYS REMOVED IN 4' OF WATER WITH MY ONLY CHILD LAYING FACE DOWN IN THE WATER DEAD. SINCE THE RECALL CAME AFTER HIS DEATH, THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN SALVAGED AND NOT ABLE TO HAVE PROOF TO DETERMINE CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10435589November 14, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE HEADLIGHTS RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE BULB AND COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE DEALER SUGGESTED REPLACING THE BULB AND THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435022November 9, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE A GARAGE KEPT CONVERTIBLE AND RECENTLY THE ENTIRE DASH HAS CRACKED ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL (FROM LEFT SIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT SIDE). ALSO ABOVE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT IT IS CRACKED. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON GOOGLE.COM (I ENTERED SOLARA CRACKED DASH). I TOOK IT IN TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID "NO RECALL ON THIS ITEM AND THEY HANDED ME A REPAIR ESTIMATE OF APPROX. $2200". NEXT I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA AND THEIR ANSWER WAS "THERE IS NO RECALL AND NO ASSISTANCE ON THE REPAIR WILL BE GIVEN AT THIS TIME". I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT TAKE SOME ACTION ON THIS VEHICLE DEFECT. ALSO PLEASE TELL ME IF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED THAT I CAN JOIN. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434281November 4, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HIGH-INTENSITY DISCHARGE (HID) HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. TURNING THEM OFF AND BACK ON TEMPORARILY ''FIXES'' THE PROBLEM, BUT ONE OR THE OTHER WILL GO OUT AGAIN AFTER DRIVING MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES. OCCASIONALLY BOTH GO OUT DURING THE SAME TRIP WHICH CAN BE A BIT OF A SHOCK WHEN IT IS DARK AND THE ROAD CURVES. ONLINE RESEARCH SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON SOLARA & PRIUS. REPLACEMENT BULBS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND MANY CUSTOMERS STATE THEY DON'T ALWAYS FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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