2002 Toyota Camry Solara

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 60 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the throttle and acceleration. No safety recall has been issued.

Not among the Toyota Camry Solara years to avoid. Which Toyota Camry Solara years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
70,000 milesMedian miles at failure

41 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 10,000–20,000 miles.

Most common 2002 Toyota Camry Solara problems

13 of the 60 complaints (22%) are about the throttle and acceleration.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration10
500
Air Bags · airbags8
200
Seat Belts6
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · brakes4
303
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal · throttle and acceleration3
301
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags3
304
Tires2
000
Steering2
000
Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission2
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Mar 25, 2024FL

Tire size P205 60R16 evolution tour series This is the second tire of the set of 4 that suddenly had a belt shift inside the tire and the steering wheel would violently shake , one of the tires when failed pulled to left into oncoming traffic (luckily I retained control)

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 8, 2019189,000 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING, AFTER THE VEHICLE GETS HOT, NOT OVERHEATED, THE BRAKES GO SOFT AND YOU CANT STOP! IF YOU SLAM THEM THEY WORK, IF YOU PRESS NORMALLY, NOTHING. WE REPLACED, MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE BOOSTER, BRAKE LINES, CALIPERS, AND ALL PADS, HAD A PRESSURE BLEED PERFORMED, NOTHING HELPS! IT'S THE SEAL ON THE FIRE WALL THAT IS DEFECTIVE!

Air Bags
Filed Feb 10, 201915 milesCA

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO ON. I'VE SPENT MANY DOLLARS TO GET IF FIXED, HOWEVER, NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY THE LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. IT SEEMS TO BE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE LIGHT GOES ON WHENEVER THE KEY IS ENGAGED.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 2, 2016TX

THE PASSENGER LIGHT WENT ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 70,000 ORIGINAL MILES. I NOTICED SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT. IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE?

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 19, 201675,000 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002, (75,000 MILES) BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AS NORMAL. IT WAS NECESSARY TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ABOUT 15 MINS LATER I NOTICED THE "BRAKE" DISPLAY LIT. I CALLED ARLINGTON TOYOTA WHERE I HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 20 YEARS AND ADVISED OF THEM OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT, BUT DECIDED TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE TO THE DEALER AFTER # CALLS. I LEARNED THAT BOTH MY BRAKE LINE AND FUEL LINES HAD RUSTED AND WERE LEAKING FLUID. I COMMENTED THAT I HAD MY CAR IN FOR BRAKE WORK MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR +. I SPOKE TO MY REGULAR ATTENDANT AT LEAST 4 TIMES ABOUT THE BRAKES. I HAD BRAKE WORK DONE, GLAZING AND OTHER TYPES OR BRAKE WORK. LONG STORY, AFTER MUCH SHOPPING AROUND, DECISION MAKING, . THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ASSIGNED TO DEAL WITH ME. ORIGINALLY $2100, THEN HE TONY NITTY BROUGHT IT TO $1600. FINALLY OFFERED PAYING $1,000 SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT LONG BEFORE MY BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT AS IT HAD BEEN IN SEVERAL TIME OVER THE PAST 2+ YEARS FOR BRAKES. I REJECTED THE OFFER AS TONY HAD TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO GET TOYOTA TO PICK UP THE ENTIRE $1600. I REJECTED THE OFFER AND HE WAS TO GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT AND TO CHECK BACK ON MON. I ACCEPTED THE OFFER AND IT ENDED UP COSTING ME $455.81 I QUESTIONED MY CAR BEING IN THERE 6 TIMES RE: BRAKE ISSUES) SINCE 10/2013 AND WAS TOLD IT WASN'T A PROBLEM UNTIL THERE IS A "LEAK". HERTZ DESK MANAGER. TOLD ME, IT THIS PBLM WAS KNOWN FOR YEARS. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH FRUSTRATED I BECAME FROM 6/7/2

Air Bags
Filed Apr 12, 2016VA

MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GOING OFF FOR YEARS DEPENDING ON HOW THE PASSENGER SEAT IS POSITIONED BUT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL. AFTER REVIEWING THE SITE AND OTHER COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AS MY VEHICLE I'M WONDERING WHY THIS ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I GOT IT FIXED LAST YEAR THEY SAID IT WAS THE PINS. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 22, 201648,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AFTER THE CRASH, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE DASHBOARD EXPERIENCED CRACKING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 25, 201569,000 milesNY

THIS REPORT IS NOT IN REFERENCE TO THE VEHICLE, IT IS AN ISSUE WITH TIRES. I PUT ON A SET OF MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 205/60R16 92H IN FEBURARY OF 2012, AND AFTER THE SECOND YEAR FOUND THE MATERIAL HARDENING AND WITH LOW TRACTION, WET OR DRY (WORSE WET OF COURSE) AND WHEN I CONTACTED MICHELIN ABOUT THIS WAS TOLD NO WARRANTY EXISTS IN REGARDS TO TRACTION. I FOUND UNCOMFORTABLE WITH CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND CHANGED THE TIRES. SERIAL NUMBERS ON THE TIRES WERE: HN7RPK1X4911, HN7RPK1X01122, HN7RPK1X4611, HN7RPK1X5111 I AM NO LONGER IN POSSESSION OF THE TIRES, THEY WERE LEFT WITH COSTCO IN MELVILLE, NY. I WANT TO REPORT THIS IN CASE THESE TIRES ARE IN QUESTION IN ANY OTHER INCIDENT.

Tires
Filed Jun 25, 2015NY

TIRES SHOWED SIDEWALL DRYROT WHICH WAS DISMISSED AS 'OZONE CRACKING' AND EXTREMELY REDUCED TRACTION AFTER 2 YEARS, 25,000 MILES. MICHELIN WOULD NOT MAKE GOOD ON COMPLAINT. ENTIRE SET HN7RPK1X4911, HN7RPK1X01122, HN7RPK1X4611, HN7RPK1X5111

Air Bags
Filed Jun 2, 2015FL

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'LL COST $500 TO FIX BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT BECAUSE OF IT THEY SAY NONE OF THE AIR BAGS WILL WORK IN A CRASH. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 22, 2014CA

2002 TOYOTA SOLARA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *SMD

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 4, 2014LA

THIS VEHICLE (AND MANY OTHER SOLARA'S) SEEMS TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE ACCELERATION. AT TIMES, THE CAR ACCELERATES A LITTLE BIT BY ITSELF. IT HAS NEVER CAUSED ME TO CRASH OR ANYTHING MAJOR, BUT I'VE HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES REAL HARD BECAUSE ITS TAKEN ME BY SURPRISE. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M NOT MOVING, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I'M WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. THE CAR MAKES NOISES THAT TECHNICIANS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE. I AM THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS 2002 TOYOTA SOLARA AND I HAVE A REPORT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER DATING BACK TO 2002. THIS OWNER DESCRIBES WEIRD NOISES COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUT THAT TOYOTA WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AS IT SEEMS, THIS CAR HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH UNEXPLAINABLE NOISES SINCE ITS DAY OF MANUFACTURE. I'VE BEEN REPLACING MANY THINGS ON THE CAR THINKING BECAUSE OF AGE IT IS MAKING SUCH NOISES, BUT NOISES PERSIST. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 16, 2014147,200 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HE HAD TO CLICK THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO ENGAGE. EVENTUALLY THE SEAT BELT BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147.200.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 11, 2013117,275 milesNC

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS LIT WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Apr 11, 2013117,275 milesNC

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT...THE SEATBELT LIGHT STAYS ON WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I HAD THE LIGHT DIAGNOSED FOR $91 BUT THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. REGARDLESS, THE SEATBELT STILL DOES NOT RETRACT. *TR

Engine
Filed Dec 12, 2012112,000 milesKY

STRIPPED HEADBOLTS CAUSING COOLANT LEAKAGE WHICH RESULTS IN OVER HEATING ENGINE. FROM ALL OF THE INFO I HAVE READ ONLINE THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND FEEL THAT TOYOTA SHOULD DO A RECALL. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 24, 2011130,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE STRIPPING AND THE FAILURE WAS A RECURRING ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jun 8, 201182,600 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND A SUDDEN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AFTER REPEATEDLY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL AS A RESULT TO CRASHING INTO A BUILDING. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE AND TAKEN TO AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR BODY DAMAGE AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,600.

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Dec 27, 2010125,000 milesGA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE PARKED IN FRONT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR COSMETIC DAMAGES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

Steering
Filed Dec 13, 2010TX

2002 SOLARA HAS THE FREQUENT PULL TO THE LEFT DESPITE 4 NEW TIRES, BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT. I CALLED TOYOTA BUT THEIR SERVICE DEPT WAS NO HELP. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 16, 201099,300 milesFL

IN MY 2002 TOYOTA SOLARA THE HYDRAULIC POWER BOOSTER ACTUALLY PUSHES BACK THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE DRIVER ACCELERATES. THE GAS PEDAL OVERRIDES THE BRAKES AND WILL PUSH THE DRIVERS FOOT OFF OF THE PEDAL IF PRESSED AT THE SAME TIME. IN REAL WORLD SCENARIOS, SUCH AS A DRIVER ACCELERATING TO PASS A VEHICLE AND THEN NEEDING TO QUICKLY APPLY THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES BECOME DIFFICULT TO PUSH DOWN ON. THE BRAKE WILL NOT PRESS DOWN PAST A CERTAIN POINT AND THE CAR WILL NOT SLOW DOWN, A FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS PREDICAMENT. AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT BECOMES NORMAL, BUT YOU LOSE THE SPACE TO SLOW DOWN DURING THOSE SECONDS. *TR

Steering
Filed Aug 2, 201073,900 milesIL

2002 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED CONVERTIBLE. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS VIBRATION THAT IS NOT RELATED TO SPEED. ALL TIRES AND BOTH FRONT AXLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. A FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AS WELL. I HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS STEERING PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO OTHER RECALLS ISSUED BY TOYOTA MOTORS. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jun 27, 201065,000 milesFL

I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA 2002 SOLARA INTO THE PARKING LOT ON 6-27-10 TO THE POST OFFICE. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT ALONG SIDE OF THE POST OFFICE BUILDING, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ACCELERATION STARTED TO INCREASE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR JUMPED THE PARKING STOP AND THEN THE SIDE WALK INTO THE WALL OF THE BUILDING. THE TWO AIR BAGS EXPLODED, THEN TRYING TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK THE CAR WENT INTO REVERSE BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT. THEN FINALLY THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF. I CALLED 911 AND THEN WENT THE HOSPITAL FOR X-RAYS. THIS IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THESE CARS AND THE FLOORMAT DIDN'T GET STUCK ON THE GAS PEDAL. IS THIS A PROBLEMATIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH TOYOTA CARS? IS THERE A WAY TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM? IS THERE ANY COMPUTER IN THE CAR THAT WILL STORE THIS INFORMATION WHAT HAPPEN? I'M AM SO SHOOK UP THAT I DON'T THINK I CAN EVER DRIVE ANOTHER VEHICLE AGAIN. PLEASE KEEP ME INFORMED WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS AND WHO DO I CAN SUE WHAT HAPPEN TO ME. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingCrash1 killed
Filed Mar 15, 2010NC

2002 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE STALLED ON RAILROAD TRACKS IN RALEIGH, NC. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED SECONDS AFTER WHEN AN AMTRAK TRAIN COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE. A MECHANICAL DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN RULED OUT. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DECEDANTS WIDOW. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 11, 201030,100 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO BACK INTO HER DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE, AND REMOVING HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AGAIN. SHE SHIFTED INTO REVERSE A SECOND TIME AND AGAIN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE SUCCESSFULLY AND SHE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE DIAGNOSED AND ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE A RESULT OF DRIVER ERROR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND SHE WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,100.

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Feb 18, 201064,275 milesCA

ENTERING A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT DRIVE THROUGH LANE, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT. FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY CAR: 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 5, 201059,000 milesCA

MY TOYOTA SOLARA, CRASHED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. AAA INSURANCE PAID,BUT I DIDN'T AGREE TO SETTLEMENT BECAUSE I THINK THE CAUSE WAS FAILURE OF ACCELERATOR, AS BRAKING DID NOT STOP THE CAR -- GAS PEDAL DID NOT RELEASE. CAR REAR ENDED CAR AHEAD WHICH STOPPED AS ANOTHER CAR STOPPED SHORT AHEAD OF HIM. I HAD TIME TO STOP BUT WAS UNABLE TO. I REPORTED THIS TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 3, 2010106,000 milesVA

I HAVE A TOYOTA SOLARA 2002, AND SINCE I OWNED IT BACK IN 2006, I'VE BEEN FIXING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS (ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES), AND IT NEVER ENDS. RECENTLY, I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL, IT GOT STUCK AND I HIT A WALL IN THE GARAGE PARKING, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID SINCE THIS IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALLS, THEY WON'T FIX IT, AND THEY WON'T EVEN CHECK IT. PLEASE HAVE 2002 CAMRYS AND SOLARAS INVESTIGATED, I BELIEVE THEY HAVE A LOT OF SAFETY ISSUES AS WELL. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Jan 10, 201070,008 milesGA

2002 TOYOTA SOLARA PASSENGER FRONT SEATBELT FAILS TO RETRACT. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Jan 10, 201081,700 milesGA

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATBELT WON'T RETRACT AGAIN AFTER A 2ND SEATBELT WAS INSTALLED. *TR

Equipment Adaptive/MobilityCrash
Filed Nov 27, 200941,000 milesVA

MY WIFE HIT THE BRAKE AS SHE WAS PARKING IN FRONT OF A STRIP MALL AND THE CAR ACCELERATED INTO A STORE FRONT CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO BOTH THE STORE AND THE CAR. THE FLOOR MAT HAD BUNCHED UP UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ABOVE THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR IS A 2002 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. I AM REPORTING THE INCIDENT NOW BECAUSE THIS YEAR AND MODEL ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOYOTA RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND THEY THANKED ME FOR THE INPUT. *TR

Tires
Filed Oct 21, 2009CA

TIRE BLOW OUT. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 20, 2009119,732 milesMD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE FLOOR-MATS ARE SHIFTING UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE MATS WERE EXCHANGED TWICE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND A TECHNICIAN ADVISED HER TO REMOVE THE DRIVER-SIDE FLOOR-MAT. HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOYOTA FLOOR-MAT RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,732.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 22, 200995,900 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS LEAKAGE FROM THE ENGINE GASKETS DUE TO STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS. HE THEN ADDED THAT HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR FREE REMEDY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,900. UPDATED 10/21/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/20/09.*JB

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 12, 200978,000 milesFL

MY CAMRY SOLARA 2004 SUDDENLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY DUE TO A THROTTLE BODY FAILURE, THANKS GOD I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE ON TIME AND BE ABLE TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT, AFTER AN EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TOYOTA MOTORS SO FAR HAS IGNORED THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 13, 2008FL

THIS COMPLAINT IS THE SAME WITH CASE #10243192 - DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT AND BACK SEAT BELT,DO NOT RETRACT SOMETIMES. IM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE MILEAGE IS CLOSE TO 95000. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 23, 200894,000 milesOH

ON MY 2002 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. I WAS TOLD BY A TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SPRINGS HAVE WEAKENED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND THEY SAY BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING THE PROBLEM FIXED. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS SEAT BELTS SHOULD BRAKE ON A CAR. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS 94,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS A ONE OWNER CAR WHEN I BOUGHT IT 2 WEEKS AGO. THE MSRP FOR THE PARTS ARE OVER $200 FOR EACH SEAT BELT. I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A SAFETY HAZARD ON THESE CARS. *TR

Seats
Filed May 14, 200870,000 milesFL

MY COMPLAINT IS THE SAME WITH CASE #10224937. THE DRIVER SEAT ADJUSTER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. SINCE THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR, MOST OF THE TIME SHE'S REACHING HARD THE PEDALS. I DIDNT BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. FAILURE MILEAGE IS BETWEEN 70,000 - 80,000 MILES AND UNTIL NOW. PRESENT MILEAGE IS 90,400. *TR

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Apr 18, 200891,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. ON APRIL 14, 2008, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT ADJUSTER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THAT TYPE OF FAILURE. SHE CURRENTLY HAS TO USE PILLOWS TO REACH BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,010. UPDATED 05/13/08. *LJ

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash3 injured
Filed Nov 30, 200640,000 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 10 MPH THROUGH A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL BRAKING POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD MOTION STRIKING THREE NEARBY PEDESTRIANS WHO SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES, AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKING PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 10, 200684,000 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A DEER AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT INCURRED A MINOR HEAD INJURY DUE TO STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT PROCESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER.

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Aug 3, 200610,000 milesUT

SEAT BELTS CONTINUE TO FAIL ON '02 SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. THE SEAT BELTS FAIL TO RETRACT. HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE OUT OF WARRANTY AND DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE. IT IS A CONCERN BECAUSE MY CHILDREN RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT AND WITH A CONVERTIBLE...YOU NEED YOUR SEAT BELTS TO WORK CORRECTLY AT ALL TIMES. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 28, 2005AR

I BOUGHT A 2002 TOYOTA SOLORA IN MAY OF 2002. I HAVE HAD 3 NEW TRANSMISSIONS IN THE CAR. IT NEEDS ANOTHER. I WILL BE FILING LEMON LAW ON MY CAR.

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Jan 4, 2005AZ

THE SEAT RECLINER BROKE, AND COULD NOT BE RAISE UP SO THAT CONSUMER COULD OPERATE THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND WILL DO REPAIRS AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 14, 200414,000 milesTX

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND CAME WITHIN 6 INCHES OF A STOREFRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND INSPECTED BY A REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE. THE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 1, 200438,000 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN STERNUM. *AK

Power Train
Filed Jul 8, 2004NY

VEHICLE JUMPED INTO GEAR WHEN DRIVING .THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *LA *SC *JB

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash
Filed Apr 20, 200416,966 milesIL

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND IT LANDED ON THE HOOD OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT APPLYING THE BRAKES DIDN'T HELP STOP THE VEHICLE. *LA

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Torque Converter
Filed Mar 11, 200417,183 milesNY

AT JUST OVER 17,000 MILES ON THE SPEDOMETER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP, WHICH INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A SHIFT SOLENOID. UPON REPLACING THE SHIFT SOLENOID, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE TECHNICAL EXPERT WAS CONTACTING TOYOTA BECUASE HE COULD NOT DEFINITIVELY PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. I ENQUIRED WHETHER THE PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION OF THE THROTTLE VALVE ON 2002 SOLARA'S AND COULD NOT GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER. IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD BEEN TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE WHEN THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE THE SHIFT SOLENOID SO I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ASSURED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE PROBLEM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. UPON DISCOVERING THE PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION, THEY INSISTED ON KEEPING THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE BEEN "RUNNING TESTS" ON IT SINCE YESTERDAY, WITH STILL NO ANSWER AS TO THE EXACT PROBLEM. MEANWHLE, I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 10, 200419,101 milesGA

WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, ALTHOUGH NO INJURIES OR WRECKS HAVE STEMMED FROM ANY OF THIS INCIDENTS. ALSO WHEN I PUT THE CARE IN DRIVE FROM REVERSE SOMETIMES THE CAR SURGES FORWARD WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR.*AK

Complaints 1-50 of 60, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20091000Routine
200883220Routine
2007126210Routine
2006116251Fatalities reported
200592110Routine
2004161121Fatalities reported
200324000Routine
2002 — this page60001Fatalities reported
200153210Routine
200066301Fatalities reported
199984210Routine
19980100Routine

Compare every Camry Solara year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.