RoadVitals

2006 Toyota Camry Solara Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Mar 27, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 116 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Toyota Camry Solara submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Mar 27, 2018

COMPLAINT REGARDING STICKY, SHINY DASHBOARD. I JUST PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA SOLARA. COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE DASHBOARD. (1) THE STICKYNESS OF THE DASHBOARD - HOLDS DUST AND GRIME AND CAN NOT BE CLEANED, AND (2) THE STICKY SURFACE RESULTS IN A SHINY/REFLECTIVE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT REFLECTS GLARE BOTH DAY AND NIGHT ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE. I BOUGHT IN OCT 2017 AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP NEAR ME. I WAS TOLD DUE TO THE CAR MANUFACTURE DATE, I WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RECALL OF THE DASHBOARD FROM TOYOTA. I AM TOLD THE DASHBOARD PART IS $1,800 - WOW! THIS IS A HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUE AND I DEMAND MY DASHBOARD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO ME.

NHTSA ID
11081468
Incident
Oct 1, 2017
Mileage
83,000 mi
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Aug 21, 2016

MY 2006 SOLARA CONVERTIBLE HAS DEEP CRACKS ALL ALONG THE DASH END TO END WHICH MAY AFFECT THE OPERABILITY OF THE AIRBAG. IT'S SHINY, GOOFY, STICKY WHICH DEFINITELY AFFECTS VISIBILITY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ELSE IT AFFECTS. I THOUGHT IT WAS CAUSED BY HEAT UNTIL I READ THE SOME 75 EXACTLY IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL THE DASH RATHER THAN ASK WE CONSUMERS TO PAY $2,400 TO FIX IT. THIS WAS A $32,000 VEHICLE. BAD ENOUGH THAT THE ADHESIVE AROUND THE BACK WINDOW DISSOLVED, NOW THIS. IT'S UNDRIVABLE, UNSALEABLE AND I ONLY HAVE 27000 MILES ON IT

NHTSA ID
10897447
Incident
Mar 2, 2013
Mileage
23,000 mi
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Jun 17, 2015

MY DASHBOARD IS STICKY AND IS CRACKED FROM DRIVER TO PASSENGER SIDES.ALSO IS CRACKED WHERE AIRBAGS ARE. DASHBOARD IS ALSO SHINEY AND SUNS REFLECTIONS MAKES IT DANGEROUS DRIVING. I AM AFRAID AIRBAGS WILL INFLATE.

NHTSA ID
10725688
Incident
Jun 17, 2015
Visibility
Filed Nov 12, 2014

GLARE ON WINDSHIELD CAUSED FROM MELTING DASHBOARD, I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE A PERSON WALKING NEAR THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND NOW THINK THIS WILL EFFECT HOW THE AIRBAG MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT WORK IF ACTIVATED, MY CAR IS DEALER SERVICED TO THE MANUFACTURES REQUIREMENTS BY TOYOTA. MY CAR IS IN 1ST CLASS CONDITION APART FROM THE DASH WHICH NOW HAS CRACKS 2MM IN WIDTH AND A STICKY GLAZE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10654600
Incident
Dec 10, 2013
Mileage
62,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Oct 8, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE WINDOW CONTROL ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS MELTING DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

NHTSA ID
10643372
Incident
Sep 25, 2014
Mileage
173,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 14, 2014

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA SOLARA. LOW MILEAGE. MY ENTIRE DASH BOARD IS CRACKING APART FORE SOME UNKNOWN REASON. THE SURFACE IS BECOMING GUMMY AND SHINY. INTERFERES WITH VISIBLILITY WHEN DRIVING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH THE MATERIAL USED. THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE DASH. THIS IS ABSURD. I HAVE SEEN ALMOST 100 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. THEY NEED TO RECALL AND MAKE GOOD ON A DEFAULTY DASHBOARD THAT IS HAZARDOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10632999
Incident
Sep 14, 2014
Mileage
42,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jul 29, 2014

THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARD THAT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. SMALL CRACKS STARTED APPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. THE SURFACE OF THE DASHBOARD BECAME SHINY AND STICKY. THE SHININESS CAUSES REFLECTIONS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES VISIBILITY DIFFICULT AT TIMES. OVER TIME THE CRACKS HAVE BECOME BIGGER AND MORE NUMEROUS AND THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME MORE SHINY AND STICKY. PARTS OF THE DASHBOARD ARE FALLING OFF EXPOSING SOME KIND OF FOAM PADDING UNDERNEATH. *JS

NHTSA ID
10617389
Incident
Jun 1, 2011
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jun 19, 2014

I PURCHASED THIS 06 SOLARA WITH ONE SMALL CRACK ON THE DASH, I THOUGHT THE STICKINESS AND BRIGHT SHINE (THAT IMPAIRS MY VISION) WAS DUE TO THE USE OF A VINYL OR LEATHER HIGH GLOSS PROTECTOR THE WAS USED ON THE DASH (SILLY ME). THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT, A MONTH LATER I NOTICED ANOTHER CRACK AND THIS IS CONTINUING. AT THE PRESENT IT LOOKS AS IF HAS BEEN IN A CAT FIGHT. I OWNED A CAMRY FOR 12 YEARS AND IT WASN'T GARAGED, NEITHER DID I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WONDER IF THERE IS PRESSURE SOME WHERE IN THE DASH, IS IT THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED, OR IS IT THE DESIGN OF THE DASH. WILL THERE EVER BE A RECALL OR AT THE LEAST SOME KIND OF HELP WITH THE REPAIR THAT HAS AFFECTED SO MANY PEOPLE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10604426
Incident
Feb 2, 2013
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 26, 2013

I AM ONLY OWNER OF THIS TOYOTA, IT IS GARAGED OR HAS SUN VISORS IN PLACE. I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME CRACKED/CRACKING DASH AS OTHERS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THIS TO OCCUR. I TOO WONDER WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF EVER MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY. THE CRACKING SO FAR IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. THIS STARTED EITHER IN FALL OF 2012. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR WITH AIRBAGS THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10500180
Incident
Sep 1, 2012
Mileage
140,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 3, 2012
Fire reported

THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BUTTONS SUDDENLY BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE AS I WAS DRIVING HOME. THE FIRE BURNT A HOLE IN THE CONSOLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10454026
Incident
Apr 3, 2012
Visibility
Filed Nov 20, 2011
Crash reported

THESE BODY STYLE OF THIS CAR PRODUCES SEVERAL BLIND SPOTS FOR THE DRIVER. SPECIFICALLY, THE ISSUE IS THE ELEVATED POSTERIOR WINDOWS THAT MAKE BACKING UP/DRIVING IN REVERSE AS WELL AS CHANGING LANES DIFFICULT. I HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS SINCE ACQUIRING THIS CAR IN 2009. EACH INCIDENT INVOLVED THE CORNERS OF THE REAR BUMPER AND RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10436494
Incident
Sep 20, 2010
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Mar 27, 2011

BLACK FOAM USED IN THE A/C DUCTS BECOMES DISLOGED AND BLOWS INTO THE EYES OF THE OPERATOR, CAUSING TEMPORARY EYE SIGHT IMPAIRMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10392993
Incident
Mar 26, 2011
Mileage
48,000 mi
EngineOther / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Feb 16, 2011

TWICE BLACK FOAM MATERIAL EMITS FROM HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING DUCTS STAINING CLOTHING, AND GETTING IN EYES CAUSING IRRITATION AND BLURRED VISION. SECOND TIME THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER TWICE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10382973
Incident
Jan 28, 2011
Mileage
42,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 22, 2009

2006 TOYOTA SOLARA XLE CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER WINDOW EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHEN PASSING A MEDIUM-SIZED TRUCK ON A SMOOTH CLEAN HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. NO INDICATION OF OBJECT THROWN BY TRUCK AS WINDOW EXPLODED SHORTLY AFTER THE WINDOW WAS FORWARD OF THE TRUCKS FRONT BUMPER. NORMAL HIGHWAY WIDTH SPACING WITH NO CONVERGENCE OF THE VEHICLES. ALL WINDOWS WERE UP, CONVERTIBLE TOP SECURED UP AND AIR-CONDITIONING ON. WINDOW SAFETY GLASS PERFORMED WELL AS NO LONG SHARDS OR SHARP EDGES WERE FORMED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10293150
Incident
Nov 19, 2009
Mileage
34,000 mi
Seat beltsVisibility
Filed Apr 10, 2007
Crash reported

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE OF 12,953 . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH ON MARCH 27, 2007 THE DRIVER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. SHE COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR BECAUSE THE HEAD REST WAS TOO BIG. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE CONTACT STATED TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF HE COULD GET THE HEADREST TAKEN OFF OR REPLACED WITH SMALLER ONE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEADREST COULD NOT BE REMOVED OR REPLACED.*AK UPDATE 05/04/07*TR\UPDATED 08/08/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10187502
Incident
Mar 27, 2007
Mileage
12,953 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .