2004 Toyota Camry Solara Electrical Problems

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE WI 43 FREEWAY (SPEED APROX. 70 MPH) AT 2:00AM OF 09/28/2020. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND SAW SPARKS COMING FROM UNDER MY DASHBOARD. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED 911. TWO OZAUKEE COUNTY SHERIFFS AND 1 PORT WASHINGTON FIRE TRUCK RESPONDED (INCIDENT NUMBER 20-27928). AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ATTACHED PICTURES WHICH WERE TAKEN THE NEXT DAY AT THE TOWING YARD MY CAR'S DASH AND INTERIOR WAS TOTALLY MELTED BY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT WAS SO HOT IT CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. ALTHOUGH THE CAR HAS SOME AGE ON IT, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD EVER OCCUR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOTALED AS IT WAS BEYOND REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11362817

Incident

Sep 28, 2020

Mileage

180,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712768

Incident

Apr 25, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL HAD A SMALL CRACK ON IT. THE CRACKED EXPANDED THROUGH OUT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AND HAD EXTENDED NEAR THE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG COULD PREMATURELY DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SINCE IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,496.

NHTSA ID

10341651

Incident

Jun 8, 2005

Mileage

49,729 mi

THE VEHICLE'S REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A REQUIRED SAFETY ITEM IN NJ, DOES NOT WORK. PER TOYOTA, ENTIRE CONVERTIBLE TOP MUST BE REPLACED TO REPAIR WINDOW, AND THE NEW DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK EITHER. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND REFUSES TO REPLACE THE TOP UNDER WARRANTY OR REPAIR THE WINDOW SO THAT THE DEFROSTER WORKS. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SOLARA CONVERTIBLE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SPANNING MANY YEARS, STARTING WITH 2004 MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10324505

Incident

Apr 8, 2010

Mileage

5,000 mi

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY/SOLORA TECHNICAL PROBLEM PASSENGER DOOR OR TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN. THERE IS NO KEY LATCH TO ENTER CAR FROM OUTSIDE OF CAR ON PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OR TO OPEN TRUNK. KEY REMOTE DOES NOT WORK , I'VE TAKEN CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER AND REPLACED BATTERY, BUT STILL WILL NOT OPEN CAR DOOR OR TRUNK. I'VE TRIED REPORT THIS PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST PAST 2 YEARS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER W/ NO HELP. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR DIOAGNOSTIC CHECK. I FEEL THIS IS THE DEALERS RESPONSIBILIY BECAUSE THE PASSENGER DOOR OR TRUNK DOES NOT HAVE A KEY LATCH ON OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR OR TRUNK . I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO HAS TO RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT FOR SAFTEY PURPOSES; I FEEL THAT IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF / OR SOMEONE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OR SHE CANNOT GET OUT OF CAR FROM INSIDE. PLEASE ADVISE. [XXX] *TR

NHTSA ID

10314714

Incident

Apr 6, 2009

Mileage

7,500 mi

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY/SOLARA TECHNICAL PROBLEM PASSENGER DOOR OR TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN. THERE IS NO KEY LATCH TO ENTER CAR FROM OUTSIDE OF CAR ON PASSENGER SIDE OR TO OPEN TRUNK. KEY REMOTE DOES NOT WORK , I'VE TAKEN CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER AND REPLACED BATTERY, BUT STILL WILL NOT OPEN CAR DOOR OR TRUNK. I'VE TRIED REPORT THIS PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST PAST 2 YEARS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER W/ NO HELP. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. I FEEL THIS IS THE DEALERS RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE PASSENGER DOOR OR TRUNK DOES NOT HAVE A KEY LATCH ON OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR OR TRUNK . I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO HAS TO RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT FOR SAFETY PURPOSES; I FEEL THAT IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF / OR SOMEONE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OR SHE CANNOT GET OUT OF CAR FROM INSIDE. PLEASE ADVISE. [XXX] *TR

NHTSA ID

10314713

Incident

Apr 6, 2009

Mileage

7,500 mi

2004 TOYOTA SOLARA THIS CAR IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT 100%. I HAVE REPLACED 2 SETS OF BRAKES, ROTORS, CALIPERS BOTH RIGHT SIDE. ALSO BOTH INNER TIE ROD ENDS AND RIGHT CV SHAFT, WHEEL BEARINGS. A NEW BATTERY THE INTERIOR IS FALLING APART AND THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD PULLING TO THE RIGHT. TOYOTA REFUSED TO REPLACE MOST OF THE PARTS AS THEY SAY NOT COVERED UNDER THE NEW WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172186

Incident

Feb 15, 2005

Mileage

14,000 mi

DT: 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA, VEHICLE WILL STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, 55 MPH, 65 MPH, AND OTHER SPEEDS. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED IT DID NOT START AGAIN, THE ONLY PART OF THE VEHICLE THAT WORKED WAS THE RADIO. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO DEALER MANY TIMES, AND DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO MULTIPLE DEALERS. THE DEALERS HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE CONSUMER PURCHASED IT, CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS UNTIL AFTER HE PURCHASED VEHICLE . *AK

NHTSA ID

10126725

Incident

Oct 1, 2004