Toyota Camry Solara seat problems

SEATS

THE DRIVER SEAT HAS A TEAR IN IT AND THERE ARE ONLY 120,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT TORN ON A CRACK IN THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT. ALSO - THE DASH HAS CRACKS ALL THROUGH IT BUT WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. IS THAT TRUE? THE DASH SURFACE IS STICKY AND HARD TO CLEAN.

NHTSA complaint #11342826 — 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.

SEATS

DRIVER'S SEAT SLIDES WHEN I ACCELERATE OR STOP. IT OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO CHECKERED FLAG TOYOTA IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACK THE SEAT SITS ON. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISER HOW HEAVY I WAS (I WEIGH 135LBS) AND TOLD HER THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED, THE ENTIRE SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CHECKERED FLAG WILL NOT RESPOND TO MY SERVICE REQUESTS.

NHTSA complaint #10409362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

NHTSA complaint #10339708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

1.TWICE WITHIN 1ST YEAR: THE CAR ACCELERATED QUICKLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD; IT WAS HARD TO STOP. I THOUGHT THE FLOOR MAT WAS UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. LATER, THE CAR SUDDENLY REVVED UP AND ACCELERATED AS I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT. AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS, IT KEPT INCREASING SPEED. NOTHING WAS IN THE WAY OF THE PEDAL THAT TIME. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. (THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME THE EXPERIENCE I RELAYED TO HIM WAS NOT POSSIBLE.) STILL, THE CAR ACCELERATES BY ITSELF, MOST RECENTLY THREE DAYS AGO. I HAD IT SET AT 60 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL. IT WOULDN'T STAY AT 60. I HAD TO DECREASE THE CRUISE SPEED 3 OR 4 TIMES. I ROUTINELY HAVE TO MANUALLY REDUCE THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED BY BUMPING THE LEVER DOWN. I HAVE BECOME USED TO THIS MALFUNCTION. TOYOTA EMPLOYEES DENIED A DEFECT AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE FAULTY PARTS. DURING THE FIRST 18 MONTHS, I TOOK MY CAR IN APPROXIMATELY 20 TIMES. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. 2.RAIN ENTERS ABOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. ODI ID NUMBER:10242104 HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BECAUSE OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. 3.THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE DURING THE FIRST 6 MONTHS I HAD THE CAR BECAUSE THE TIRES IN THAT POSITION DAMAGED QUICKLY FOR NO LEGITIMATE CAUSE. I HAD TO BUY A WHOLE SET OF TIRES BEFORE THE CAR HAD 18,000 MILES ON IT BECAUSE THEY WERE WEARING SO BADLY THAT THEY WERE UNSAFE. THIS COINCIDES WITH ODI ID NUMBER:10269039 CITING THE SAME PROBLEMS ON ANOTHER 07 SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. 4.THE SOFT TOP HAS UNRAVELED IN TWO PLACES ABOVE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AT THE SEAM WHERE IT IS SEWN TOGETHER. TOYOTA'S RESPONSE HAS VARIED FROM: NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, I MUST HAVE DAMAGED IT, AND IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. 5.THE ELECTRONIC SEAT STUCK. IT WAS LEFT IN A FORWARD POSITION (AS IF TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE BACK SEAT). THE TECH SAID THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE POWER SEAT FUNCTIONS. I TOLD HIM I'D PAID FOR ONE ON MY ITEMIZED BILL AND I'D BEEN USING IT. UNREPAIRED, IT RESUMED WORKING BY ITSELF WEEKS LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10308193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10227694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10224937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10224937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT HEADRESTS RESTRICT VISIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THAT IS HOW THE SEAT WAS DESIGNED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND A VALID VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.

NHTSA complaint #10196163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

TL*- THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING OUT OF THE 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA'S REARVIEW MIRROR BECAUSE THE HEAD RESTRAINT WAS BLOCKING THE VIEW. THE CONTACT CALLED MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY COULD INSTALL THE HEAD RESTRAINT THAT WAS ON THE 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA WHICH WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE HEADREST SHE HAD IN HER VEHICLE, BUT MANUFACTURER STATED THEY COULD NOT DO THAT. THE ONLY OPTION THE MANUFACTURER GAVE HER WASTO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2600.

NHTSA complaint #10183620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

2004 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE DESIGN FLAW. REAR SEAT BACKS ARE TOO HIGH AND BLOCK VISION OUT OF REAR WINDOW. VERY DIFFICULT WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP OR CHANGE LANES. 2007 MODEL YEAR HAS REDESIGNED THE BACK SEATS TO ALLOW GREATER VISION.

NHTSA complaint #10181541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SEAT ASSEMBLY HEADRESTS OBSTRUCTED THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR WHILE DRIVING AND LOOKING TO PASS A VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS A NORMAL DESIGN AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO USE THE REARVIEW AND SIDE MIRRORS FOR VIEWING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 10/18/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10169525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH REAR HEAD REST IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED WHO EXPLAINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 7/13/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10160808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

THE HEAD REST IN THE BACK TOTALLY BLOCK THE VISION WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. THERE IS A DEFINITE BLIND SPOT THAT IS NOT DIMINISHED BY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 1 MONTH AND HAVE HAD 3 "CLOSE CALLS" WITH PEDESTRIANS APPEARING AS IF FROM NOWHERE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM IN ANY OTHER AUTOMOBILE.

NHTSA complaint #10159275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

DT: ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE SEAT HEAD REST WERE CLEARLY IN THE WAY, WHICH LEFT THE CONSUMER NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE . THE ONLY VISIBILITY WHEN LOOKING BACK WAS BY LOOKING BETWEEN THE HEAD RESTS. THE HEAD RESTS WERE SO BIG THEY OBSTRUCTED THE CONSUMERS VIEW. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO OTHER SEATS AND IT WASN'T POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE HEADRESTS. THE OWNER NOTICED THAT THERE WERE NEW HEADRESTS AVAILABLE ON 2006 SOLARA, BUT SINCE TOYOTA DID NOT PUBLISH THIS INFORMATION THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THIS. OWNER WOULD LIKE TO LOCATE ALTERNATE HEAD RESTS FOR VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10129898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO THE DESIGN, RATHER THAN A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE 2006 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE HAS A SMALLISH REAR WINDOW BUILT INTO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP (AS MOST CONVERTIBLES DO). HOWEVER, TOYOTA TAKES THIS TO THE EXTREME BY HAVING TWO LARGE HEADRESTS ON THE REAR SEAT THAT BLOCKS OVER HALF OF THE VISIBILITY TO THE REAR WINDOW. THESE HEADRESTS ARE FIXED, AND SO THE DRIVER HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO LIVE WITH A VERY NARROW VIEW OUT THE REAR WINDOW. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE HEADRESTS CONTAIN ROLLBARS TO PROTECT PASSENGERS, BUT THE DESIGN COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN MORE OPEN SO AS TO ALLOW VISIBILITY. THERE WERE REPORTS IN THE PRESS THAT THE 2006 MODEL WAS GOING TO SWITCH TO A 'HOOP-STYLE' HEADREST, BUT MY VEHICLE IS EVIDENCE THAT THEY DID NOT. I DO NOT KNOW THAT THERE ARE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO REAR VISIBILITY. IT SURPRISES ME THAT A MANUFACTURER IS ALLOWED TO PRODUCE A CAR WITH SUCH POOR VISIBILITY. BUT I DO KNOW THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY INEVITABLE THAT THERE WILL BE NUMEROUS VEHICLE COLLISIONS OR WORSE - PERSONAL INJURIES CAUSED BY A DRIVER BACKING UP THE TOYOTA SOLARA WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE VIEW OF WHAT LIES BEHIND HIM. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #10129448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

WHILE DRIVING THE HEAD REST CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. THE HEAD REST CAN NOT BE REMOVED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE HEAD REST ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM *SC

NHTSA complaint #10119031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.