53 of the
1,108 complaints filed about the Toyota Camry Solara
are about the steering —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
The "VSC" continues to come on which in turn causes the ck engine light to come on. There needs to be a recall on this issue. I have been researching it, and finding it a problem for so so many customers.
NHTSA complaint #11418205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT ABOUT 62000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE RAC AND PINION NOW AGAIN AT ABOUT 130000 MILES IT NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. MY 2001 CAMARY HAS 200000 MILES AND IS STILL ON THE ORGINAL RAC. THE RACS TOYOTA IS PUTING IN THE 2008 CAMERY ARE DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11144098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL. ON AUGUST 2017 I WAS IN A ACCIDENT I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE AND IT FLEW ME BACK AND FORWARD FAST. MY LEG WAS BROKEN AND MOUTH BUSTED.. THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I WAS THROWN TO A BRICK WALL
NHTSA complaint #11044450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON MARCH 6, 2016, MOVING WEST ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT ABOUT 20 MPH 10:45 P.M., LESS THAN 500' FROM HOME. CRYSTAL CLEAR NIGHT. CAR FREEZES, STEERING & BRAKES LOCK, CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND KEEPS MUCH HIGHER SPEED. WITH BOTH ARMS, I PULLED CAR FROM HEAD-ON WITH UTILITY POLE TO VERY HIGH PALM TREE. HEAD-ON ITH TREE, AIRBAG RELEASES, WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. I TURNED CAR OFF, TOOK KEYS, CAR ENGINE CONTINUES AS DID HORN BLOWING & WHITE SMOKE. IT TOOK THREE AAA TRUCKS TO REMOVE CAR FROM TREE TRUNK, WITH STEERING AND BRAKES STILL LOCKED. CAR WAS ALONE ON A NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD MOVING WEST, DRIVER ALONE, VERY RESIDENTIAL WITH PEOPLE WALKING DOGS, PILOTS AND STEWS RUNNING, JOGGERS AND PUPS AND CATS PROWLING. NO ONE WAS AROUND. A GUARD FROM A GATED COMMUNITY ON THE STREET'S NORTH SIDE WAS THE 1ST TO APPEAR. EVENTUALLY 4 POLOCE OFFICERS WERE THERE, ONE TALKED TO ME OFTEN.
NHTSA complaint #10979427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED BY A DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
NHTSA complaint #10891672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CASHED INTO A PALM TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,100.
NHTSA complaint #10862842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR HAS 70100 MILES. NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES LOW CLICKS WHEN TURNING AND THERE IS A SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAILURE OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY SAID NO RECALLS WERE ON THIS VEHICLE. ASKED TOYOTA VIA EMAIL ON 2/19 IF THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN RE-DESIGNED AND REQUESTED THE CORRECT PART NUMBER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. CAR IS SITTING AWAITING AN UPDATE FROM TOYOTA AND REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10837081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
YESTERDAY, JULY 26, 2015, I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL A SECOND LETTER FROM TOYOTA MOTOR SALES CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM - ZE6 CONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STICKY DASHBOARD OF SOME MAKE AND MODEL. MINE IS A 2006 TOYOTA SOLARA. IT'S RIDICULOUS WHY THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT IS ONLY FOR THE STICKY DASHBOARD WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND INSIDE DOOR PANELS ARE MADE OF THE EXACT SAME MATERIAL. THESE PARTS MUST BE COVERED AS WELL ESPECIALLY WE TOUCH THESE PARTS EVERY SINGLE TIME WE USE THE VEHICLE. ON MINE, I NOTICED THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE MATERIAL SINCE LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS WIPE CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF MY SOLARA. THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT MUST BE EXTENDED TO FIX THE MATERIAL ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND DOOR PANELS. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS BECAUSE I READ BLOGS AND THERE ARE OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE EVEN ON LEXUS 2006. YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS BECAUSE WE PAY A LOT IN PURCHASING OUR VEHICLES AND WE DESERVE OUR MONEY'S WORTH.
NHTSA complaint #10743811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I BROUGHT IN MY 2007 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA CONVERTIBLE FOR A FAULTY LOW TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR, ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS DETECTED. I ASKED TO SEE THE ISSUE WHILE THE CAR WAS UP ON THE LIFT. I COULD OBSERVE WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SHREDDING/DAMAGED RACK AND PINION POWER STEERING BOOT WITH FLUID VISIBLE. THE FIRST DEALER WRITTEN ESTIMATE SAYS "REPLACE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION (FOUND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING INTO BOOT OF RACK AND PINION)" FOR $1354.88, PLUS 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT FOR $160.95. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED REPLACING ONE RACK AND PINION BOOT AND THAT POWER STEERING FLUID GASKET, FOR $594.58 PLUS A $99 ALIGNMENT, WHICH I DID. THE DEALER CHECKED AND THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT I CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME/SIMILAR ISSUE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY POWER STEERING SYSTEM, WHETHER THE OTHER GASKET WILL LEAK OR THE SYSTEM FAIL WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10716606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT ABOUT 25MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY BUT THEY CAR STILL IMPACTED, THEN CONTINUED OVER THE CURB. THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED FOR A WHILE AFTER THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AND THEN FINALLY RELEASED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ONLY WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND PARKED, ALTHOUGH IT REMAINED LOCKED STUBBORNLY EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS PUT IN DRIVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR LOCKED UP WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WAS IN MOTION.
NHTSA complaint #10712768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND INTO THE WATER. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND NECK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND CRASH CAUSED BY THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #10653088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR FAILED VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF A STEERING RACK LEAK AND TORN RACK BOOT. ACCORDING TO THE TECHNICIAN, THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ABILITY TO STEER.......UPDATED 01/12/15*BF
NHTSA complaint #10644789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE ATTEMPTING A U-TURN AT VERY SLOW SPEED, CAR WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A VEHICLE GOING APPROX 30-40MPH. WHEN CAR CAME TO A REST, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BROKEN OFF THE STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #10640434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10556543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10, 5 MILES WEST OF CRESTVIEW FLORIDA. SHE WAS IN LEFT LANE, IN WET CONDITIONS. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING THE CAR TO FLIP AND OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING THE CAR TO CREATE A HAZARD AND RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS. PASSANGERS HAD TO CRAW OUT TO AVOID FURTHER INJURY. TOTAL LOSS OF CAR AND INJURED TWO PEOPLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS ISSUED A NHTSA WARNING- ID- 11V539000. NEVER RECEIVED THIS WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #10545590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS ITEM IS NOT A TOTAL FAILURE YET BUT IS HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION. THE POWER STEERING HOSE IS LEAKING FLUID WHERE IT JOINS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE FLUID ALL LEAKS OUT I WILL HAVE NO POWER ASSIST IN MY STEERING AND IT COULD COME AT ANY MOMENT. MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER ( DEL TOYOTA IN THORNDALE, PA) REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO ME WHILE THIS CAR WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED YET. A NEIGHBOR OF MINE TOLD ME THAT HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS TOYOTA AVALON WHICH WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS OLDER THAN MY CAR. I AM REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MAYBE TOYOTAS IN MY AGE REGION ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA IS NOT ADMITTING TO A COMPONENT WEAKNESS IN THE POWER STEERING AREA AND MIGHT EVENTUALLY AGREE TO FIX IT. I HAVE NOTICED RECALLS OF CARS UP TO AROUND 10-15 YEARS OLD WHERE THE PROBLEMS MANIFEST THEMSELVES OVER EXTENDED TIME PERIODS.
NHTSA complaint #10372948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 SOLARA CONVERTIBLE CONTINUALLY VEERS TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND PARTICULARLY WHEN BRAKING. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE AUGUST 2009 WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS OCCURRING EARLIER THAN THAT BUT I SUSPECT IT MAY HAVE BEEN. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES ALIGNED THREE TIMES AND THOSE ALIGNMENTS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT ALL. NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED; HOWEVER, IT IS DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO CONTINUALLY PULL THE CAR TO THE LEFT TO COMPENSATE. ALSO, THE CAR IS ON IT'S THIRD SET OF TIRES BECAUSE OF THIS STEERING DEFICIENCY AND IT HAS ONLY 65,000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10368722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING SHAFT BOLT SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. STEERING SHAFT WAS DISASSEMBLED, AND NEW SHAFT BOLT REPLACED FOR OLD RUSTED OUT SHAFT BOLT. TWO HOURS LABOR.
NHTSA complaint #10357352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'VE OWNED MY 2001 SOLARA SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN APRIL 2001. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY REAL PROBLEMS WITH IT (I'VE HAD ALL OF THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE, WEAR & TEAR STUFF DONE), UNTIL ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. MY WIFE & I WERE OUT OF TOWN AND WERE TURNING AROUND AT A STRIP MALL SHOPPING CENTER WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP. IT HAD JUST RAINED EXTREMELY HEAVILY AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SURFACE WATER ON THE ROAD. I JUST ASSUMED THAT PERHAPS THE POWER STEERING DRIVE BELT GOT WET AND WAS SLIPPING (ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T HEAR ANY SQUEALING). AFTER THAT THE STEERING SEEMED OK. THEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I STARTED NOTICING THE PROBLEM MORE REGULARLY, MOSTLY WHILE "UN-PARKING" THE CAR FROM A PARALLEL PARKING SPOT. I CAN BACK UP OK, BUT WHEN I STEER THE CAR TO BEGIN DRIVING, THE STEERING LOCKS UP & I HAVE TO STOP, BACK UP AGAIN, & "STEER OUT OF IT." ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS KIND OF STEERING PROBLEM? I HAVE 125,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I KNOW THAT TOYOTA HAS DONE A RECENT RECALL ON CRACKED STEERING BOXES ON CERTAIN MODELS. I HAD A '76 CELICA ONE TIME THAT DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CASTING AT ABOUT 80 OR 90,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10353534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.