2001 Toyota Camry Solara Problems

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYING ON (STATIONARY AND IN MOTION)

MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON, ON MY DASH FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW. I SEE NO RECALLS, BUT RESEARCHED IT. LOOKS LIKE MY AIRBAGS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY.

I WAS EXCITING A FREEWAY. AS I USUALLY DO, I DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH EXPECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO ALSO DISENGAGE AND COAST TO THE STOP SIGN WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MY BRAKE. INSTEAD, AS SOON AS I DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH, THE CAR ACCELERATED AS IF SOMEONE HAD PUT THEIR FOOT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE HAD NO IMPACT TO SLOW THE ACCELERATION. I TURNED THE KEY OFF, HOPING THAT WOULD HELP - BUT THE MOMENTUM CARRIED ME FORWARD AT A GREAT SPEED. I MANAGED TO DODGE SOME CARS AND HEADED (AND LANDED) IN A DITCH ACROSS FROM THE STOP AT THE END OF THE EXIT.. THE ONLY POSSIBLE WARNING THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS MIGHT HAPPEN IS THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED SOME TROUBLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL GOING OFF COMPLETELY - AND HAVING TO RE-SET WHILE DRIVING. I HAD NO EXPERIENCE WITH ACCELERATION PROBLEMS.

ON 5/10/2006 WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 CAMRY SOLARA ON A RURAL ROAD I COULDN'T SLOW THE CAR DOWN, BRAKING DIDN'T HELP. I KEPT BEARING TO THE RIGHT OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE CAR, CAR WANTED TO GO TOWARDS THE CARS TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. FINALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, CAR SPUN OUT IN GRAVEL THAT WAS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR DID AT LEAST TWO FULL CIRCLES THAN POPPED SOME 10 FEET WHERE CAR HIT TELEPHONE POLE ON ITS DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THIS WAS A GREAT IMPACT ON MY SHOULDERS. AT THE TIME ALL I KNEW WAS THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T SLOWDOWN EVEN WHEN BRAKING. I KNOW NOW AND HAVE FOR SOME YEARS THAT THE EXCELERATOR STUCK ON THIS VEHICLE. SURE ENOUGH NOT UNTIL A COUPLE YEARS AFTER MY ACCIDENT TOYOTA CAME OUT WITH THERE EXCELERATOR PROBLEMS. SO I JUST THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE KNOWN THAT TOYOTA HAD THESE PROBLEMS ON THERE 2001 CAMRY'S ALSO BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO ME. I SAVED SOME DOCUMENTION FROM THIS ACCIDENT BUT I REALIZE IT'S BEEN SOME YEARS AGO.

MY NAME IS [XXX] I DIDN'T BACK UP MY CAR AT ALL. CITY THAT THE ACCIDENT TOKEN PLACE WAS OAKLAND CALIFORNIA. LOCAL REPORT NUMBER, [XXX]. THIS, ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN ALAMEDA COUNTY ON THE TIME FRAME OF MONDAY. 300 FEET WEST OF MCAURTHUR BLV. I DID NEVER BACK UP MY CAR HITTING V2 OR P2. MY V1 AND P1 CAR, WAS LEAVING AFTER PREVIOUSLY CHECKING FOR DAMAGES, THEN ABOUT COUPLE MINS COLLISION. HOWEVER, I'M LUCKY MY AIR BAGS DIDNT GO OUT PLUS MORE. I STILL HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. MY CAR WAS LEAVING MCAURTHER BLV WHEN ANOTHER PERSON SECOND PARTY HIT MY CAR FROM BEHIND WHILE MY 2001 TOYOTA SOLOR AKA CAMERY WAS LEAVING THE JUNKTION. DUE, TO THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAD MADE A FULL STOP PREVIOUSLY WITHOUT ANY DAMAGES WARNING ANOTHER DRIVER AND OTHER WITNESS PRIVOUSLY. FOR EXAMPLE, MY 2001 TOYOTA SOLAR WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE RIGHT SIDE SLOW LANE THAT, YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO SIGNAL FOR WORKERS OR OTHER DRIVERS YET THAT IS GOING FASTER. TO INCLUDE, WHO MAY BE AT A RUSH. ALSO MOST OF THE TIME THE LEFT LANE IS FOR LIKE, CARPOOL AND SUCH ON. [XXX] WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED THAT WAS UNCONTROLLABLE PLUS THAT'S OVIOUSLY THAT CAUSED THE COLLIONS. THEN, [XXX] DIDN'T WANT TO EXCHANGE ANY INFORMATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL THE CHP OFFICIERS ARRIVED. WHEN THE CHP INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

ON 5/10/2006 WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 CAMRY SOLARA ON A RURAL ROAD I COULDN'T SLOW THE CAR DOWN, BRAKING DIDN'T HELP. I KEPT BEARING TO THE RIGHT OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME CONTROLLING THE CAR, CAR WANTED TO GO TOWARDS THE CARS TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. FINALLY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD, CAR SPUN OUT IN GRAVEL THAT WAS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CAR DID AT LEAST TWO FULL CIRCLES THAN POPPED SOME 10 FEET WHERE CAR HIT TELEPHONE POLE ON ITS DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THIS WAS A GREAT IMPACT ON MY SHOULDERS. AT THE TIME ALL I KNEW WAS THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T SLOWDOWN EVEN WHEN BRAKING. I KNOW NOW AND HAVE FOR SOME YEARS THAT THE EXCELERATOR STUCK ON THIS VEHICLE. SURE ENOUGH NOT UNTIL A COUPLE YEARS AFTER MY ACCIDENT TOYOTA CAME OUT WITH THERE EXCELERATOR PROBLEMS. SO I JUST THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE KNOWN THAT TOYOTA HAD THESE PROBLEMS ON THERE 2001 CAMRY'S ALSO BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO ME. I SAVED SOME DOCUMENTION FROM THIS ACCIDENT BUT I REALIZE IT'S BEEN SOME YEARS AGO.

JUST WITHIN THE LAST MONTH, I HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING THE DRIVER SEAT BELT TO CLASP. IT TAKE A FEW TRIES, BUT FINALLY DOES. BUT, IT DOE NOT SEEM SECURE AND I AM AFRAID THAT IT MAY BECOME UNCLAPSED WHILE DRIVING. IN THE PAST IT ALWAYS WORKED FINE AND THE CLASP SEEMED MUCH MORE SECURE. I WAS WONDERING IF ANY OTHER DRIVER HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS. I SINCERELY APPRECIATE ANY HELP OR GUIDANCE YOU COULD GIVE ME. *TR THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RETRACTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL SLUDGE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

PASSENGER WAS DRIVING APPROX 50MPH AND COLLIDED WITH A DEER WITH THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER NEITHER THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

PASSENGER WAS DRIVING APPROX 50MPH AND COLLIDED WITH A DEER WITH THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER NEITHER THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

LTR FM TIMOTHY F. QUINN (NY) RE ALIGNMENT AND FRONT SUSPENSION DEFECTS FOR A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA, INQUIRING WHEN NHTSA WILL INITIATE DEFECT INVESTIGATION, REPLY TO NEW YORK, NY OFC. *PH THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO PULL THE LEFT AND INTO THE OPPOSING LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NINE OCCASION, HOWEVER THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CROWN IN THE ROAD. *JB *SC

MY NAME IS [XXX] I DIDN'T BACK UP MY CAR AT ALL. CITY THAT THE ACCIDENT TOKEN PLACE WAS OAKLAND CALIFORNIA. LOCAL REPORT NUMBER, [XXX]. THIS, ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN ALAMEDA COUNTY ON THE TIME FRAME OF MONDAY. 300 FEET WEST OF MCAURTHUR BLV. I DID NEVER BACK UP MY CAR HITTING V2 OR P2. MY V1 AND P1 CAR, WAS LEAVING AFTER PREVIOUSLY CHECKING FOR DAMAGES, THEN ABOUT COUPLE MINS COLLISION. HOWEVER, I'M LUCKY MY AIR BAGS DIDNT GO OUT PLUS MORE. I STILL HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. MY CAR WAS LEAVING MCAURTHER BLV WHEN ANOTHER PERSON SECOND PARTY HIT MY CAR FROM BEHIND WHILE MY 2001 TOYOTA SOLOR AKA CAMERY WAS LEAVING THE JUNKTION. DUE, TO THE FACT THAT MY CAR HAD MADE A FULL STOP PREVIOUSLY WITHOUT ANY DAMAGES WARNING ANOTHER DRIVER AND OTHER WITNESS PRIVOUSLY. FOR EXAMPLE, MY 2001 TOYOTA SOLAR WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE RIGHT SIDE SLOW LANE THAT, YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO SIGNAL FOR WORKERS OR OTHER DRIVERS YET THAT IS GOING FASTER. TO INCLUDE, WHO MAY BE AT A RUSH. ALSO MOST OF THE TIME THE LEFT LANE IS FOR LIKE, CARPOOL AND SUCH ON. [XXX] WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED THAT WAS UNCONTROLLABLE PLUS THAT'S OVIOUSLY THAT CAUSED THE COLLIONS. THEN, [XXX] DIDN'T WANT TO EXCHANGE ANY INFORMATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT SHE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL THE CHP OFFICIERS ARRIVED. WHEN THE CHP INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

PASSENGER WAS DRIVING APPROX 50MPH AND COLLIDED WITH A DEER WITH THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER NEITHER THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT HAS LOOSE TRACK AND ROCKS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER ATTEMPTED A QUICK FIX PER TSB TO NO AVAIL. TOYOTA REP ADVISED TOYOTA WOULD REPLACE THE SEAT TRACK, BUT DEALER STATED I WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE $350.00 LABOR CHARGE. I WAS ADVISED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON DEFECT, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR. IF THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT, MATERILAS AND LABOR SHOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF TOYOTA. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING POWER SEAT WOULD ROCK BACK AND FORTH OR SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE STEREO HAD A HISSING SOUND. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE REPLACED WITH A LATER MODEL, FULL REFUND OR A RENTAL VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED. *PH *NLM

EMISSIONS SYSTEM. OBD II CODE P0446 FAILED VENT VALVE (APPARENTLY THERE ARE 3 OF THESE, ONE NEXT TO THE AIR CLEANER HOUSING, AND TWO ON THE CHARCOAL CANISTER LOCATED UNDER THE CAR NEXT TO THE GAS TANK). THE SYSTEM IS INSTALLED TO MEET EPA REQUIREMENTS WHICH LIMIT HYDROCARBON EMISSIONS FROM THE ATMOSPHERE. THIS FAILURE ALONG WITH OTHERS REPRESENTED BY CODES P0440, P0441, P0442, ETC. HAVE BEEN REPORTED ESPECIALLY FOR TOYOTA MODELS BUILT FROM THE LATE 1990'S THROUGH EARLY TO MID 2000S AND HAVE PLAGUED MOTORIST FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS OR MORE. YET NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY EPA OR DOT TO REMEDY WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THIS SYSTEM IN THESE CARS AS REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES HERE AND IN OTHER PLACES ON THE INTERNET. WHY NOT? IF LIMITING EMISSIONS IS SO IMPORTANT WHY HAVEN'T YOU REQUIRED A RECALL OF AUTOMOBILES MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEMS? WHAT HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED BY OWNERS OF THESE AUTOMOBILES IS CONSISTENT MISDIAGNOSIS OF THIS FAILURE BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS COSTING DRIVERS HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN UNNECESSARY REPAIRS ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME CODE(S) REOCCUR A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS LATER. THE RESULT: FAILED STATE EMISSIONS TESTS, DRIVERS UNABLE TO USE THEIR AUTOMOBILES TO GET TO WORK, AND MORE COSTLY REPAIRS. NOT TO MENTION FOULED AIR. IF THIS SYSTEM IS SO COMPLEX THAT EVEN DEALERS CAN'T PROPERLY DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR IT, THAT IN ITSELF IS CAUSE TO RECALL IT, REPAIR IT PROPERLY AND GET THESE CARS BACK ON THE ROAD SAFELY. YOU STATE THAT COMPLAINT INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR AGENCY, YET YOU'VE DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE FOR THE MAJORITY OF MOTORISTS THAT HAVE REPORTED THIS FLAW TO YOU MANY TIMES OVER MANY YEARS. DON'T YOU THINK IT'S TIME YOU DID SO? SOME MAY CONCLUDE THAT YOUR FAILURE TO ACT INDICATES THAT THE MANUFACTURERS CONTROL YOUR AGENCY AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. *TR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

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. *TR

CAR STEERING DRIFTS LEFT, 8 TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND IT CANNOT BE FIXED (CASTER IS NOT ADJUSTABLE). WEB SEARCHES REVEAL THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PERVASIVE PROBLEM FOR YEARS WITH THE MANUFACTURER OFFERING NO RESOLUTION. *LA

ON 9/24/08 I WENT TO TOWN FAIR TIRE AND HAD FOUR TIRES REPLACED AT A COST OR $539.12. I WAS TOLD YOKOHAMA TIRES WERE THE BEST AND HAD THE BEST MILEAGE UP TO 80,000 MILES. AT THAT TIME I HAD THE FOUR TIRES REPLACED WITH THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR AT 74,000 MILES. ON 6/3/09 I BROUGHT MY CAR WHICH NOW HAD 81,000 MLS. ON IT WITH A BUBBLE ON MY TIRE AND HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A CA COST OF $134.51. FIVE MONTHS LATER ON 11/02/09 I WENT BACK TO TOWN FAIR TIRE WITH 83,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND ANOTHER BUBBLE ON MY TIRE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR FORTY TWO YEARS AND NEVER HAD A BUBBLE ON A TIRE AND IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND LESS THAN 10,000 MILES I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF THESE TIRES BECAUSE OF BUBBLES. TOWN FAIR TIRE SAYS ITS MY DRIVING, I SAY THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TIRES AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. I AM ON DISABILITY AND DO NOT DRIVE TO OFTEN BUT I LIKE TO FEEL SAFE WHEN I DO. I WOULD LIKE THESE TIRES INVESTIGATED. $800.00 FOR TIRES A YEAR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL HAVE TO SPEND MORE.. THE TIRES ARE YOKOHAMA AVID TRZ ID CC208213308-4208-4408 I WOULD APPRECIATE AN ANSWER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING POWER SEAT WOULD ROCK BACK AND FORTH OR SIDE TO SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE STEREO HAD A HISSING SOUND. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE REPLACED WITH A LATER MODEL, FULL REFUND OR A RENTAL VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED. *PH *NLM

PAINT IS PEELING AND BODY METAL IS VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE. *CN