Page 2 of 2 · complaints 51–83 of 83

2008 Toyota Camry Solara complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2008 record →

Structure
Filed Jul 24, 201440,000 milesFL

THIS PAST YEAR THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO GET VERY STICKY AND STARTED CRACKING IN VARIOUS AREAS. I TOOK THE CAR TO EARL STEWART TOYOTA IN LAKE PARK, FL. AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY INITIALLY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AS IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO THE LOCAL MEDIA TV NEWS TO COMPLAIN, THEY IMMEDIATELY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PART, BUT NOT THE LABOR. I DID AGREE AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT EARL STEWART TOYOTA AND PAID THE TOTAL OF $1795.27. I SUBMITTED THE BILL TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AND THEY REFUNDED ME $1268.65 FOR THE PART AND I PAID THE $425 FOR THE LABOR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE BRIGHT REFLECTION OF THE SUN ONTO THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE STICKY DASH. THANK YOU. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jul 18, 201423,646 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SLOWLY ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO MULTIPLE BUSHES, SIDE SWEPT A TREE AND THEN LANDED ON A SIDE ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE EVENT DATA RECORDER WAS REMOVED BY TOYOTA AND THE RESULTS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE WITHIN 30 DAYS. UPDATED 12/3/2014 *JS

Structure › Body
Filed Apr 14, 2014125,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION WERE FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 10, 201444,000 milesTN

THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS AM I STARTED THE CAR, PUT IN REVERSE, STARTED TO BACK OUT AND AS I STRAIGHTENED THE CAR IT LURCHED FORWARD BEFORE I PUT IN FORWARD GEAR..... I'VE HAD THE CAR "JUMP IN TRAFFIC A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT SO QUICKLY I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. NOW I'M SEEING A PATTERN THAT IS WORSENING. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2011 FROM CARMAX IN TN. THE CAR ORIGINATED IN IL. WITH 16,000 MILES. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT TURNING THE ENGINE ON AND IT BEING LOUDER THAN NORMAL. BY THE TIME I DRIVE TO THE BEAMANS OR CARMAX FOR SERVICE NO ONE CAN HEAR IT. SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE QUALIFIED TO LOOK AT AND KNOW IF THIS IS SAFE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

Electrical SystemFire1 injured
Filed Mar 24, 201472,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE, COMPLETELY DESTROYING BOTH THE VEHICLE AND THE RESIDENCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT TWO WITNESSES SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE SEATING AREA OF THE VEHICLE DURING THE INCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SMOKE INHALATION DURING THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Structure › BodyCrash
Filed Jan 8, 201431,650 milesFL

DECEMBER 21, 2013. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING PLACE FROM A LARGE PARKING LOT, FOOT ON THE BRAKE ALMOST STOPPED; ENGINE ROARED AND I CATAPULTED OVER THE PARKING CURB INTO AND THROUGH SOME BUSHES AND OUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUSHES ANGLING RIGHT AND INTO THE STREET. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP AND PARK AT THE CURB APPROXIMATELY 20-30 FEET DOWN THE STREET. NO INJURY TO MYSELF OR ANY OTHER PERSON. OVER $5,000 DAMAGE TO CAR EXTERIOR EXTENSIVE SCRATCHES, BACK BUMPER CAME OFF; SOME UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE, DETAILS UNKNOWN TO ME. STILL IN BODY SHOP AS OF THE AFTERNOON OF JANUARY 8, 2014. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 30, 20138,985 milesCA

OUR 2008 SOLARA CONVERTIBLE HAS HAD 2 A/C CONDENSER REPLACEMENTS IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND 32,000 MILES. IN JULY 2010 ( UNDER WARRANTY ) AND AGAIN IN JULY 2013. WE HAD NO COLD AIR BLOWING FROM A/C UNIT,( VERY IMPORTANT IN THE SOUTHWEST DESERT DURING THE SUMMER WHERE THE TEMP CAN REACH 110 AND OVER ). BOTH TIMES THE CONDENSER WAS REPLACED, AND BOTH TIMES BY THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER IN INDIO CA. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 5, 2013PA

2008 TOYOTA SOLARA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WATER PUMP LEAK. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS, SO SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THE NEXT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. A DAY LATER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE WATER PUMP.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jan 27, 201337,000 milesMN

THIS 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA, ~37K MILES, USES THE SAME HEADLIGHT BULB TYPES AS THE 2008 TOYOTA AVALON, 9011 FOR HIGH BEAMS AND I HAD BOTH HIGH BEAMS GO OUT ON A WINDING ROAD IN BACK COUNTRY OF WISCONSIN WITH MANY DEER AND OTHER MOVING NIGHT CREATURES. BOTH HIGH BEAM BULBS SHATTERED DURING THIS TRIP, LEAVING GLASS FRAGMENTS INSIDE THE LENS ASSEMBLY AND IT ALSO LEFT A WHITE DISCOLORATION (TUNGSTEN DEPOSITION?) ON THE INSIDE PLASTIC LENSES OF ONE HEADLIGHT, WHICH SEEMS TO REDUCE THE LOW BEAM VISIBILITY. NHTSA REFERENCE # 10037591 TSB REFERENCE # SB-0044-10 REV 1 DESCRIPTION: TOYOTA: ON SOME 2008-2010 AVALON VEHICLES, THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT BULBS MAY NOT WORK OR SHATTER. THIS 2008 SOLARA WAS PUT INTO SERVICE IN APRIL OF 2008 AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE 72K MILE, 5 YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION, JUST LIKE THE 2008 AVALON RECALL. HOW COME ONLY THE AVALON WAS COVERED? I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO THE 2008 SOLARA MODEL ALSO AS IT USES A VERY SIMILAR HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SUFFERS FROM THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Suspension › Rear
Filed Sep 28, 201230,124 milesAZ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, THE WHEEL ABNORMALLY STRUCK THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT END STRUTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE STRUTS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,124. UPDATED 11/14/12*LJ THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE STRUT. THE TWO REAR STRUTS HAVE SINCE FAILED.

Power TrainCrash
Filed Jan 2, 201227,750 milesTX

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 A

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Rear Window
Filed May 12, 2011NY

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

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Apr 22, 201117,000 milesGA

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

Tires
Filed Mar 14, 201157,750 milesOH

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

Steering
Filed Jul 22, 201010 milesAZ

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.

Electrical System1 injured
Filed Jul 14, 20104,335 milesOH

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

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 12, 20108,800 milesCA

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.

Seats
Filed Jun 23, 2010FL

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

Exterior Lighting
Filed May 5, 2010PA

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

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 11, 2010AL

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 VE

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 2, 20101,000 milesTX

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.

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 5, 201013,500 milesFL

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

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 3, 201024,000 milesFL

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

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Nov 16, 2009MD

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

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Nov 3, 200911,900 milesVA

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

SeatsCrash
Filed Jun 4, 2009100 milesPA

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.

Steering
Filed Aug 15, 20085,208 milesMD

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

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Interior
Filed Jun 26, 2008NC

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

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under DashFire
Filed Jun 3, 20083,500 milesTX

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

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Feb 27, 2008350 milesMD

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 27, 200810 milesMD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SOLARA. WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER 2-3 MINUTES. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN SURGE FORWARD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500.

Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars
Filed Jan 30, 20082,000 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS RETRACTED AND THE COVER IS PLACED OVER IT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCES DIFFICULTY SEEING OBJECTS BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE BLIND SPOT IS CAUSED BY THE ROOF COVER, ALSO KNOWN AS BOOT, AND MAKES VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OFFER A REPAIR, BUT STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 28, 2007FL

2008 TOYOTA SOLARA: THE VEHICLE FAILS TO DOWNSHIFT/ACCELERATE DANGEROUSLY WHEN THE THROTTLE IS DEPRESSED AT LOW RPM. FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE HESITATES/LAGS SEVERELY. *TR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2008 Toyota Camry Solara → · Every Camry Solara year → · How the figures are calculated →