2003 Toyota Camry Solara Owner Complaints

AIR BAD LIGH IS ON ALL THE TIME

NHTSA ID

10946249

Incident

Nov 2, 2016

Mileage

79,000 mi

WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED SHOT ACROSS THE STREET HITTING THE CURB BLOWING THE TIRES AND HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE AND TORE UP THE NEIGHBORS LAWN BEFORE COMING TO A STOP DUE TO THE LACK OF TRACTION. MY WIFE WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. WE HAD OWNED THE CAR FOR 5 YEARS AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUE WITH IT. I LOOKED AND THE MAT HAD NOT MOVED IN ANY WAY TO IMPEDE THE FOOT PEDAL. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND LET THEM EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND THE REPLY SAID IT WAS DUE TO AN AFTERMARKET FLOOR MAT. THEY DID NOT REVEAL WHAT THE COMPUTER DATA RECORDED. THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT COULD OF BEEN ANYTHING ELSE.

NHTSA ID

10749842

Incident

May 14, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618853

Incident

Jul 1, 2013

Mileage

112,000 mi

DRIVER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN FRONTAL PASSENGER SIDE CRASH. THIS CRASH WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO DESTROY FRONT BUMPER, HEADLIGHTS, HOOD, PASSENGER SIDE FENDER, WHEEL/ TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO FACE & EYES WITH SEVERAL FACIAL FRACTURES, BROKEN NOSE WHEN FACE IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL. UPDATED 12-13-13 *BF UPDATED 12/18/13

NHTSA ID

10555076

Incident

Dec 2, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515515

Incident

Jun 4, 2013

Mileage

59,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449353

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

Mileage

48,000 mi

OUR 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY/ SOLARA ACCELERATED WHILE IN NEUTRAL AND WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON. THE REGULAR BRAKES ALSO FAILED AS WELL AS THE AIRBAGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10326618

Incident

Apr 19, 2010

Mileage

46,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316935

Incident

Jul 15, 2008

GAS PEDAL NON RESPONSE ,WHEN FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF GAS PEDAL,CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310825

Incident

Feb 9, 2010

Mileage

103,000 mi

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. *CN

NHTSA ID

10307104

Incident

Sep 10, 2009

Mileage

95,000 mi

ON JANUARY 8, 2010, MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA SLAMMED INTO A PARKED SUV SENDING IT HALFWAY OUT OF IT'S PARKING SPACE. ONLY A SMALL RUBBER MAT WAS ON THE FLOOR, NOT TOUCHING THE PEDAL. THE ORIGINAL CARPET MAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REMOVED FOR CLEANING. INSURANCE COVERS AUTO BODY DAMAGE BUT DOES NOT ADDRESS THIS NEW RECALL PROBLEM BECAUSE MY CAR IS NOT IN THE LISTED AFFECTED YEARS (2007-2010). WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE? DO I REPAIR THE CAR AND FORGET THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN? I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT EVEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I COULD FIX IT OR NOT FIX IT AND TRY TO SELL IT, BUT WHO WOULD WANT THE CAR, IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT PUBLICITY ABOUT THE RECALLS AND TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO IT. I SUPPOSE I WILL WAIT AND SEE HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT, BUT WANTED TO PUT ON RECORD (SOMEWHERE) AND PERHAPS OTHERS ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION AS I COINCIDENTALLY FOUND MYSELF IN. MY CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED AND WELL MAINTAINED WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR IN THE PAST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10301926

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

31,358 mi

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. *JB

NHTSA ID

10285775

Incident

Sep 29, 2009

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A STATIONARY WOODEN POWER POLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ON THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NUMEROUS INJURIES SUCH AS 10 BROKEN RIBS, NUMEROUS BACK INJURIES, INJURED SPLEEN, AN INJURY AND CUT TO LEFT BICEP. THE DRIVER ALSO SUSTAINED NUMEROUS BRUISES AND BROKEN BONES IN HER RIGHT HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WERE DEFECTIVE SINCE THEY FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10281297

Incident

Jul 22, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

2003 TOYOTA SOLARA AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE STATES THAT SHE SUFFERED NECK AND CHEST PAIN FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *KB

NHTSA ID

10220607

Incident

Feb 4, 2008

I WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE FRONT OF MY 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA HIT A CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. ROAD CONDITIONS WERE SNOWY AND ICY. BECAUSE OF THIS, REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS UNAVOIDABLE. I WAS UNPLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT; HOWEVER I WAS ASSURED BY THE SALESMAN THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE, AND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS PART OF THE OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER PROTECTION TOYOTA OFFERS. THE OUTCOME OF THE AIRBAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY WAS THAT I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUFFERED DISCOMFORT SINCE UPON IMPACT I SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I BELIEVE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. THE SOLARA, OF COURSE, WAS TOTALED. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219025

Incident

Feb 4, 2008

Mileage

68,000 mi

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. *JB

NHTSA ID

10206141

Incident

Oct 12, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

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 ID

10193905

Incident

Jun 21, 2007

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR ON MY VEHICLE DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THE LATCH DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT GOES ON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184867

Incident

Apr 10, 2006

Mileage

40,048 mi

EXTREME SULPHUR SMELL INSIDE CABIN OF AUTOMOBILE. THIS AIR QUA;ITY CANNOT BE BENEFICIAL TO THE OCCUPANTS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN ONGOING TO LOCAL DEALER, BUT NOT YET RESOLVED ECU MUST BE ADJUSTED AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10114077

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. IT WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AND PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD. HOWEVER, UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073504

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS HIT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BY A TRUCK. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10055746

I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA SOLARA IN OCT. 2003. ON JANUARY 17, 2004 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH CARS ABOUT 50 YARDS OR MORE IN FRONT OF MINE AND NOTICED A CRACK IN THE CENTER OF MY WINDSHIELD THAT LOOKED LIKE IT STATED AT THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE UNTIL IT CAME UP ABOUT 10 INCHES FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND CLEAR OVER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (NOT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) TO LOOK AT IT. THE SERVICE TECH. SAID SOMETHING MUST HAVE HIT IT BECAUSE THE HE SAW A CHIP IN THE GLASS JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE CRACK ABOUT 2-3 MILLIMETERS IN DIAMETER AND ABOUT 1-2 MILLIMETERS IN DEPTH. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT AT ANY CHARGE TO ME. I KNOW NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND I FEEL THE GLASS IS DEFECTIVE AND CRACKED DUE TO THE COLD OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AND HEAT FROM THE DEFROSTER.

NHTSA ID

10054683

Incident

Jan 17, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE AT 65 TO 70 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED, AND AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE FIVE TIMES AND COULD NOT FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052250

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

2,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES FORWARD, RELEASED BRAKE AND SEAT WILL MOVE BACK. DEALER REPLACED ALL SEATS, AND STILL EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029860

Incident

Jul 22, 2003