2003 Toyota Camry Solara problems

AIR BAGS

AIR BAD LIGH IS ON ALL THE TIME

NHTSA complaint #10946249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE V6. I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR, WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY, BUT WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES THE SPEEDOMETER WILL GO TO ZERO FOR 1-3 SECONDS, OTHER TIMES IT WILL STAY THERE FOR 10 MINUTES. I HAVE ALSO HAD TIMES WHERE THE CAR STOPS ACCELERATING. I WILL BE DRIVING 65 ON THE FREEWAY, THEN THE SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO, AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR STARTS LOSING SPEED EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT IS PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND RPM'S ARE UP TO 4,000. SOMETIMES IT WILL SNAP OUT OF ITS "FUNK" AND REGAIN SPEED, OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART MY CAR TO GET IT MOVING AGAIN. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING OCCASIONALLY OVER THE PAST YEAR (SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR), BUT WITHIN THE LAST MONTH IT HAS CONSTANTLY BEEN HAPPENING (EVERY TIME I DRIVE) AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE MECHANIC 3 TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH. I'M GETTING EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE.

NHTSA complaint #10618853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000.

NHTSA complaint #10515515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10449353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

NHTSA complaint #10449353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

IN JULY OF 2007 OR 2008 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK MY 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA IN A KOHL'S LOT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE MY HEAD TO BE THROWN BACK BUT I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO CHECK THE ODOMETER FOR THE REGISTERED SPEED. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL WITH ONE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND A CAR ON EITHER SIDE OF ME. I STOMPED ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD AND WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHIN AN INCH OR TWO FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS WAS PROBABLY THE SCARIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME IN AN AUTOMOBILE. I CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT OTHER OWNERS OF SOLARAS HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH THEIR AUTOS AND HAD BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. I FILED A REPORT AND SPOKE WITH A WOMAN FROM NHTSA WHO CALLED ME BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AGAIN. I BROUGHT MY SOLARA TO THE DEALER WHERE I HAD PURCHASED IT AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG OTHER THAN THE FLOOR MAT WAS PUSHED FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AND OFF WHEN I'VE BEEN BRAKING TO TURN LEFT OR AM SLOWLY COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND ALWAYS WHEN I HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. IT FEELS AS IF I'VE HIT AN OIL SLICK IN THE ROAD AND THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS PRESS VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR FROM GOING FORWARD. NONE OF THESE INCIDENTS HAS EVER BEEN AS SCARY AS WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS PARKING BUT THEY'VE ALL OCCURRED WHEN I WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10316935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

MY TOYOTA SOLARA LSE, 2003, WITH 125,000 MILES HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND BROKEN MOUNT AND STRUTS PROBLEMS. 1. MY REAR MOUNT AND STRUTS BROKE AND I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTO MECHANIC IT MAY CAUSE A SERIOUSE ACCIDENT IF NOT REPAIRED. AS SOON AS I REPAIRED THE PROBLEM IN THE REAR, IMMEDIATLY THE FOLLOWING DAY FRONT MOUNT AND STRUTS BROKE. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. 2. MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT MONTHLY AND I CANNOT TELL MY LIGHTS ARE NOT ON BECAUSE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE OUT AND SOME WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON AND AUTOMECHANICS CAN'T GET THEM OFF (ALTHOUGH THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOT LINKED TO ANY ACTUAL PROBLEMS); 3. MY DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AS WELL. I LIVE IN CHICAGO AND CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOWN IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10307104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

MY TOYOTA SOLARA LSE, 2003, WITH 125,000 MILES HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND BROKEN MOUNT AND STRUTS PROBLEMS. 1. MY REAR MOUNT AND STRUTS BROKE AND I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTO MECHANIC IT MAY CAUSE A SERIOUSE ACCIDENT IF NOT REPAIRED. AS SOON AS I REPAIRED THE PROBLEM IN THE REAR, IMMEDIATLY THE FOLLOWING DAY FRONT MOUNT AND STRUTS BROKE. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. 2. MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT MONTHLY AND I CANNOT TELL MY LIGHTS ARE NOT ON BECAUSE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE OUT AND SOME WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON AND AUTOMECHANICS CAN'T GET THEM OFF (ALTHOUGH THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOT LINKED TO ANY ACTUAL PROBLEMS); 3. MY DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AS WELL. I LIVE IN CHICAGO AND CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOWN IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10307104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY TOYOTA SOLARA LSE, 2003, WITH 125,000 MILES HAS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND BROKEN MOUNT AND STRUTS PROBLEMS. 1. MY REAR MOUNT AND STRUTS BROKE AND I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTO MECHANIC IT MAY CAUSE A SERIOUSE ACCIDENT IF NOT REPAIRED. AS SOON AS I REPAIRED THE PROBLEM IN THE REAR, IMMEDIATLY THE FOLLOWING DAY FRONT MOUNT AND STRUTS BROKE. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. 2. MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT MONTHLY AND I CANNOT TELL MY LIGHTS ARE NOT ON BECAUSE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE OUT AND SOME WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON AND AUTOMECHANICS CAN'T GET THEM OFF (ALTHOUGH THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOT LINKED TO ANY ACTUAL PROBLEMS); 3. MY DEFROSTER IS NOT WORKING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AS WELL. I LIVE IN CHICAGO AND CANNOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOWN IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10307104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE ALL WEATHER FLOOR MATS INTERFERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HER RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH WAS INCREASED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 11/3/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN WHEN THE FLOOR MAT WAS ATTACHED, IT ALWAYS BECAME DETACHED MANEUVERING ITSELF UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FLOOR MAT HAS NEVER STAYED IN PLACE SINCE THE CONSUMER OWNED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/05/09.

NHTSA complaint #10285775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. MY SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK UP ON ME ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HAVE TO WORK AT IT TO LOOSEN IT FROM MY NECK.- THIS HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS SO BAD I HAD TO MANUALLY ROLL THE SEAT BELT BACK INTO THE HOLDER EVERY TIME I GOT OUT OF THE CAR FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. FINALLY THE OTHER DAY IT JUST WOULDN'T ROLL BACK IN AT ALL, SO IT WAS PULLED OUT ALL THE WAY AND WOULD NOT ROLL IN. I HAD TO TAKE GET AN ENTIRE NEW MECHANISM AND SET BELT INSTALLED. THIS COST IS OVER $400.00 TO REPLACE I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. I HAD A CHRYSLER FOR OVER 13 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A SEAT BELT, IN FACT I ALSO HAVE A 1992 GM AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA complaint #10206141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. ON JUNE 21, 2007, THE VEHICLE SURGED WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SO QUICKLY THAT IT WHIPPED THE CONTACT'S HEAD BACK AND LEFT SKID MARKS ON THE GROUND. SHE HAD TO REMOVE HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION (# DTO6003 - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) THAT WAS CLOSED IN APRIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD TAKE HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA complaint #10193905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.