2005 Toyota Camry Solara Owner Complaints

In the last several years the dashboard is sticky and cracking. I am not only concerned about the glare and white residue but also the potential effect on the airbags. I have visited a dealership and sent written communication to Toyota in Plano TX. I also called Toyota asking for help with this issue and have been informed the cost would be entirely my responsibility. Toyota created a case number which is [XXX]. The car is garage kept with approximately 112,000 miles and in very good condition. Thanks for any assistance you can provide. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11641468

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

My engine has a sludge of oil and it was expensive to repair.The convertible top n windows malfunction and the electrical system stopped the windows from rolling up n down and out of no where they go down on their own,so I have many problems when it rains due to the windows.

NHTSA ID

11570354

Incident

Nov 12, 2023

I bought my used car about 6-7 years ago. The transmission leaks. I had it supposedly fixed 3 tims and yet it still leaks. Was there a recall on the transmissions for that year 2005?

NHTSA ID

11532850

Incident

Aug 25, 1998

Dash is cracked all over, including where airbag is on front right passenger side, causing airbag light to stay lit. This is a safety hazard and should be repaired or replaced by Toyota. I was already informed by Toyota when I had called that there had been a recall on this matter for cosmetic reasons several years ago and now it was “too late” for them to be responsible, but I did not know of that condition/recall. This is not only a cosmetic issue, this is a safety concern and needs to be addressed immediately. I was informed by an employee at the number I was given that safety issues do not fall under the statue of limitations for recalls. I’ve been trying to get a response from the National Highway Safety Division but I haven’t received an actual determination as to whether Toyota had to replace the dash or not. Please help with this urgent safety concern. I can be reached at [XXX]. Thank you INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11510282

Incident

Mar 6, 2023

Apparently Toyota had a recall for the dash of their camry solara models back in 2015 for dashes that melt, bubble, become extremely tacky/sticky & peel when temperatures rise. However, I never received any notice of said dash recall for which my 2005 Toyota Solara qualified for, nor did I hear of any recalls in my local area on any MN news stations. A melting, sticky dash causes glare that is highly reflective reflecting the sun up into the driver's face. The glare from this design defect has caused accidents & injuries. Not only is a melting dash a safety issue but it's also non-compliant as a design defect/defective part with the standards of Toyota assembled parts. Safety & compliance recalls have no expiration date so why is Toyota not honoring that & replacing design defects/defective parts as such for an original owner of a recalled Toyota such as myself? Recalls, especially safety issue recalls, should not have "expiration" dates, especially when it's too easy for a consumer not to receive any notification or be beware of recalls. A consumer like myself should not have to wait until injury or a possible death occurs for everyone to do the right thing & get these dashes replaced. This is a 1) product liability issue of Toyota's defective parts/design defect & 2) safety issue with known injuries/accidents recorded because of such melting/glaring dashboard. These melting dash safety issues have been reported to NHTSA before & yet a nationwide recall hasn't been done. Local 2 discovered four accidents reported to NHTSA back in 2014 alone that drivers said were caused by the glare of their melting dashboards. I never received any supposed recall back in 2015 & didn't find out about said recall until more recently. All I want is dash replacement before any injuries occur. All too often, whey does it take a large body count of reports to NHTSA to get a nationwide safety recall when the purpose of safety recalls is to prevent deaths and injuries BEFORE they occur.

NHTSA ID

11504610

Incident

Jan 31, 2023

DASHBOARD MELTDOWN. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER, WE NEVER GOT NOTICE ON THIS PROBLEM. TOOK MY CAR OUT FOR A DRIVE YESTERDAY AND THE DASH IS DISGUSTING. MY CAR IS ALWAYS STORED IN A AIR CONDITIONED GARAGE. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT WE NEVER GOT NOTICE SO WE COULD PROTECT OURSELVES AND MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

11416299

Incident

May 11, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC TOYOTA (8510 TYLER BLVD., MENTOR, OH 44060) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE DASHBOARD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO AN UNKNOW RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11408385

Incident

Apr 16, 2021

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR OF BURNING OIL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT OIL SLUDGE WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.*DT *JB

NHTSA ID

11390628

Incident

Jan 1, 2021

Mileage

90,000 mi

HAD A SEIZURE WENT OFF THE ROAD VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL TREES AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR IS TOTALED. DRIVES HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL AND HAD HEAD AND FACIAL DAMAGE. WAS ON CITY STREET TURNING TO GET ON HIGHWAY, HE HAS BEEN IN ICU FOR 3 DAYS. HAVE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT..

NHTSA ID

11171665

Incident

Jan 20, 2019

Mileage

170,199 mi

2AZ-FE 4CYL ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. OIL CHANGES EVERY 5,000 MILES THROUGHOUT VEHICLE'S LIFE. VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED. OIL LIGHT CAME ON AT 96,743 MILES. RECEIVED OIL CHANGE AT 96,760 MILES. CHECKING OIL ON LEVEL SURFACE EVERY 100-200 MILES. CAMRY SOLARA HAS BEEN CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. DIPSTICK SHOWS OIL GOING FROM MAXIMUM TO MINIMUM WITHIN 1,500 MILE RANGE. FREQUENT TOP OFFS OF OIL NECESSARY TO AVOID CATASTROPHIC SEIZING OF ENGINE. REFER TO ATTACHED DOCUMENT FOR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM - ZE7 OF TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH 2AZ-FE ENGINE. 2005 CAMRY SOLARA NOT INCLUDED WITHIN WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT DESPITE HAVING 2AZ-FE ENGINE WITH OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 100,240 MILES AND OIL CHANGE WAS DONE AT 100,015 MILES. VEHICLE NEEDED EXTRA TOP OFFS TOTALING 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF 5W-30 OIL BETWEEN 96,760 AND 100,015 MILE OIL CHANGES TO AVOID ENGINE FROM SEIZING.

NHTSA ID

11165449

Incident

Sep 22, 2018

Mileage

96,743 mi

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 ID

11044450

Incident

Aug 21, 2017

PREVIOUS ODI 10576595, 2 APRIL 2014/ TODAY 25AUG2017: AT APPROX. 1910-1915 HRS I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON BELL AVE. APPROACHING HURLEY AVE, IN SACRAMENTO, CA., WHEN FOR THE THIRD TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED VEHICLE ACCELERATION WHILE BRAKING. THE SECOND TIME, I WAS DRIVING IN THE LATE EVENING, 2200, TO THE MOVIES; APPROACHING ARDEN AND FULTON, SAME THING, BRAKING AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ALMOST HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME; THAT TIME MY ACTIONS OF STANDING ON THE BRAKE AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION KEY KEPT ME FROM HITTING THE OTHER CAR. THIS SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED MAYBE 2 MONTHS AGO! I CONSIDERED THAT MAYBE MY SANDAL GOT CAUGHT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT MAKE AN IMMEDIATE REPORT! NOW I KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN A TAUTLY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING, ENGINE REV/ACCELERATION PROBLEM! TOYOTA DENIES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WITH THE SOLARA! TONIGHT, I ALSO STOOD ON MY BRAKES WHEN I HEARD THE ENGINE REV AND THE CAR ACCELERATED, HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION, BUT, NOT INTO CROSS TRAFFIC! INSTEAD OF THE STUCK VEHICLE CROSSING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND PULLING OVER, THEY/HE/SHE SPED OFF DOWN BELL ABOUT? TO NORTHRUP AND TURNED LEFT. I CALLED CHP AND THE MADE A REPORT: NCIC 9250 / OFFICER 19071. TRIED PULLING UP MY PREVIOUS REPORT VIA VIN# AND ODI# AND FOUND NOTHING ON FILE! WHAT GIVES? THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING THE PERIOD OF TOYOTA DEALING WITH MASSIVE VEHICLE RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM; SOLARA'S WERE NOT ON THE LIST AT THAT TIME, AND THE DENIED THAT THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH SOLARA'S. WHAT I PERCEIVE AS A PROBLEM IS THAT ONLY TOYOTA CAN READ THE BLACK BOX; AND, CAN CLAIM WHATEVER THEY WANT THE ANALYSIS TO BE. WHICH, IS TOTALLY UNFAIR TO THE VICTOMIZED OWNER!!!!!!!!!!!! STREET SPEED 35 MPH, BRAKING FOR INTERSECTION, ENGINE REV AND ACCELERATION!

NHTSA ID

11019818

Incident

Aug 25, 2017

Mileage

62,000 mi

NOTICED ABOUT 5 OR 6 MONTHS AGO THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD THIS STICKY, GUMMY RESIDUE AND NOTHING I DID WOULD REMOVE IT. THE RESIDUE PRODUCES A GLARE BETWEEN THE DASHBOARD AND THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IMPAIRS THE DRIVER'S SIGHT. ALSO NOTICED 2 DIFFERENT CRACKS AS WELL. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF, PARKED IN A CLOSED GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE. THERE'S NO REASON I SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPES OF ISSUES UNLESS TOYOTA USED SUB-PAR PRODUCTS DURING MANUFACTURING, WHICH I NOW KNOW IS THE CASE. THIS IS MY FIRST ATTEMPT IN SEEKING RESOLUTION.

NHTSA ID

10991651

Incident

Jan 15, 2017

Mileage

107,000 mi

I WENT TO BACK UP MY CAR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT CHURCH. PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL, AND SUDDENLY THE CAR TOOK OFF BACKWARDS AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH SPEED AND BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. WOULD APPEAR THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. THE ACCIDENT RESULTED IN PROPERTY, DAMAGE TO ANOTHER CAR, FINANCIAL LOSS AND MENTAL ANGUISH. CAR WAS ON CHURCH PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT CAR WAS TOTALLED BY SAFECO, NOT REPAIRED. I COULD NOT FIND AN OPEN RECALL ON THIS CAR, BUT DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SHOULD RULE OUT THE DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10950083

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

101,000 mi

AIR BAG DEFECTIVE

NHTSA ID

10882534

Incident

Jun 5, 2016

Mileage

126,000 mi

MY PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATING THE "OFF" LIGHT WHEN AN ADULT WAS SEATED IN MY PASSENGER SEAT. DIAGNOSTICS DONE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INDICATED I NEEDED A NEW OCCUPANT DETECTION ECU. IT FAILED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. THIS WAS A $670 FIX. THEY INSTALLED A NEW ONE AND IT DID NOT WORK. THEY THEN INSTALLED ANOTHER ONE, WHICH DID NOT WORK PROPERLY EITHER. FINALLY, THEY INSTALLED A THIRD ONE AND IT WASN'T WORKING PROPERLY EITHER. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE GUY THAT THEY WERE USING PARTS THAT HAD "RETURNED" STICKERS ON THE BOX AND HAD ALREADY BEEN OPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT GENUINE, NEW PARTS WERE WHAT I WAS BEING QUOTED FOR, BUT THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN CLEARLY STATED THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO INSTALL PARTS INTO MY VEHICLE THAT HAD BEEN RETURNED FOR SOME REASON. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT TOYOTA IS INSTALLING PARTS INTO MY VEHICLE THAT WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE IN OTHER VEHICLES..? I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED THAT THE SENSORS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG, WHICH IS A VITAL SAFETY FEATURE, ARE NOT WORKING. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD STOP WORKING IN A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704903

Incident

Apr 6, 2015

Mileage

114,649 mi

I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2006. AROUND 2011 I NOTICED A STICKINESS AND A FEW CRACKS IN THE DASH BOARD AND THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL. SINCE, I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MANY TOYOTA SOLARAS FROM YEARS 2004-2008. NOW THE CRACKS ARE TOO MANY TO COUNT, THE STICKINESS IS HORRIBLE AND THE SKIN IS PEALING LEAVING THIS BLACK UNDER SURFACE THAT IS EVEN MORE STICKY. ALSO THE WOOD FINISH IS BUBBLING AND CHIPPING ON THE DASH BOARD AND DOORS. SO I DID SOME INVESTIGATING AND IT LEAD ME TO THIS SITE. IF IT'S NOT ALREADY, THIS DEFINITELY SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704101

Incident

Sep 26, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

DASHBOARD IS CRUMBLING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683717

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA .THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CALIPERS SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10679988

Incident

Jul 3, 2013

Mileage

84,000 mi

BRINGING UP SPEED ON FREEWAY ENTRANCE TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC GOING 65 MPH OF MORE. I GOT UP TO 45 AND MY CAR STALLED AS IF LOSING POWER, IT DID THIS FOR A FEW SECONDS (ENOUGH TO ALMOST GET ME HIT), IT SUDDENLY JERKED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED UP TO 60MPH AT WHICH TIME I TAPPED MY BRAKES AND THE CAR STARTED DRIVING NORMALLY. IT ALSO DOES THIS WHEN I AM IN A SITUATION THAT I HAVE TO BRAKE SUDDENLY. IT DRAGS BEFORE I CAN ACCELERATE AGAIN TO WHATEVER SPEED I AM GOING. WHEN SLOW IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC IT ALMOST STOPS ON ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668567

Incident

Aug 3, 2014

Mileage

200,000 mi

WE HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNERS OF THE CAR AND HAVE LIVED IN MIAMI, FL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP. NOT LONG AFTER TIME OF PURCHASE, WE BEGAN TO NOTICE THE SAME COMPLAINT SO MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT: THE MELTING AND CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD. ALTHOUGH THE CRACKS AND SHINE ARE UNSIGHTLY AND THE STICKINESS IS BOTHERSOME, THE MOST TROUBLESOME RESULT OF THIS DEFECT IS THE GLARE IT CASTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SUN, THE GLARE WITHOUT A DOUBT HINDERS VISIBILITY TO A DANGEROUS DEGREE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER A REPLACEMENT OF THE DASHBOARD. THEREFORE, I STRONGLY URGE THE NHTSA TO INITIATE A RECALL FOR THIS PART, AS I AM FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT IT POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION/PROOF OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667673

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi

SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS IN THE DASH PAD THAT GO ENTIRELY ACROSS THE DASH AND THE AREA BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. CONCERN IS THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING WITHOUT A CRASH. THOUGH I ENTERED AN INCIDENT DATE THIS IS JUST AN APPROXIMATE TIME AS TO WHEN THE DASH BEGAN TO SHOW THE CRACKING.... *TR

NHTSA ID

10659434

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN WISCONSIN 2004. MOVED CAR TO FLORIDA IN 2009. CAR SITS IN GARAGE FOR 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. WE ARRIVED IN FLORIDA IN OCTOBER 2012 AND TOOK THE CAR OUT OF GARAGE. IT SAT IN PARKING LOT FOR ONE HOUR. WE NOTICED THE DASHBOARD HAD A BRIGHT SHINE AND WAS STICKY. WHEN YOU PUT IT BACK IN GARAGE IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL. BACK OUT IN THE HEAT AND SUN IT ONCE AGAIN APPEARS TO BE MELTING. VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE WITH THE GLARE. TOOK IT TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT SINCE THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. JUST RECENTLY HEARD ON THE NEWS ABOUT OTHERS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND WAS GIVEN THIS SAFERCAR.GOV SITE TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. AS OF THIS DATE THE CAR CONTINUES TO "MELT" WHEN OUTSIDE AND NO HELP FROM DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652561

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10652043

Incident

Oct 3, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

I GOT IN MY CAR AND NOTICED THERE WERE SEVERAL CRACKS IN MY DASHBOARD FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE ACROSS TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THEY ARE SPREADING OUT AND ARE STARTING TO SEPARATE AND ARE NOW IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650156

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

72,700 mi