2008 Toyota Camry Solara Owner Complaints

The dashboard hasbeen cracking for some time. I have use leather oils & other products to reduce. has slowly worsened

NHTSA ID

11694011

Incident

Apr 5, 2023

I was recently informed about a previous recall on a dashboard issue I've been dealing with for years. I have a sticky cracking dashboard that imitates a smell in warm to hot temperatures. I have own this vehicle since 2014 and lived at the same address since 2006. Never have I been made aware of the recalls on this issue. I have vested a lot of money to keep this great car on great condition. And it would be good to receive consideration to have the problem dashboard replaced. The sticky dashboard also produces a glare on the windshield causing a blinding most of the time This makes driving challenging unless it's covered. I would really appreciate consideration on extending this recall for the safety of all those on the road ways. Please and Thank you!

NHTSA ID

11683166

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Solara. The contact stated that upon inspection, the interior dashboard was sticky and had started to deteriorate. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the failure was linked to an undisclosed recall; however, the recall repair had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,731.

NHTSA ID

11681853

Incident

Aug 15, 2024

Mileage

75,731 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact stated that the dashboard was melting. Additionally, the dashboard was sticky and cracking. The contact was unable to clean or wipe the dashboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed about a recall and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11553706

Incident

Nov 6, 2023

Mileage

150,000 mi

TOYOTA has known about this problem for years. They also had knowledge regarding a recall and an extended warranty. Unfortunately, I was not made aware of their extended warranty until it was too late. This vehicle has the melting dash problem which has gotten to a "dangerous" level. The glare on the windshield makes it unsafe for drivers and pedestrians who may be in an area which causes them to be obscured. I know this car is older, but my son who is using this as a cheaper method of transportation doesn't drive it much. It only now has 95,000 miles on it and has always been well maintained. The local dealer gave me a price of $2,500.00 to replace this dash. Also, in addition to the vision issue, I assume there will soon be problems with all the electronics contained in the dash area. I'm asking that the Federal Safety Board force Toyota to do the right thing, since they have told me they will not stand behind the produce. One of their representatives told me that with my history ( 8 or 9 new vehicles since 1990), they may make an exception since their extended warranty expired. They declined my request.

NHTSA ID

11468453

Incident

Jun 7, 2019

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS OR OPEN HIGHWAYS ON SUNNY DAYS, DRIVER SOMETIMES BECOMES BLINDED FROM GLARE FROM "MELTING" SHINY DASHBOARD. THIS PROBLEM WITH "MELTING" DASHBOARD BEGAN MAYBE 5-6 YEARS AGO AND HAS KEPT GETTING WORSE. THE BLINDING REFLECTIONS ARE NOW SO BAD AT TIMES THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE WE ARE SOMETIMES BLINDED BY REFLECTIONS FROM THE SHINY DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ID

11416615

Incident

May 14, 2021

Mileage

49,769 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD MELTED AND WAS STICKY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFECT CAUSED A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH DECREASED DRIVING VISIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED FOR THE DASHBOARD REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.*BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11375220

Incident

Nov 15, 2020

Mileage

71,000 mi

THE DRIVER SEAT HAS A TEAR IN IT AND THERE ARE ONLY 120,000 MILES ON THE CAR. IT TORN ON A CRACK IN THE LEATHER ON THE SEAT. ALSO - THE DASH HAS CRACKS ALL THROUGH IT BUT WE HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. IS THAT TRUE? THE DASH SURFACE IS STICKY AND HARD TO CLEAN.

NHTSA ID

11342826

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND MELTING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLARE FROM THE MELTED DASHBOARD REFLECTING ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IMPAIRED HER VISION WHILE DRIVING. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO REPAIR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11338411

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

20,000 mi

WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AS THE GEAR SHIFT WAS PUT IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE SPED UP RAPIDLY, OUT OF CONTROL AND THE CAR ENDED UP ABOUT 200' TO THE REAR THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, OVER 3 CONCRETE BUMPS AND ENDED UP ON A GRASSY AREA. NO ONE WAS HURT - LUCKILY. WAS THERE NOT A RECALL BY TOYOTA ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO OF 400,000 SIMILAR VEHICLES BECAUSE THE ENGINES WENT RACING OUT OF CONTROL? MANY DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS ATTRIBUTED TO IT? MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE AS HAVING AN ACTIVE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11291485

Incident

Dec 26, 2019

Mileage

19,359 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED MULTIPLE CRACKS AND MELTING AREAS ON THE DASHBOARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED TREASURE COAST TOYOTA OF STUART (LOCATED AT 5101 SE FEDERAL HWY, STUART, FL 34997, (772) 283-8300) AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,673. *AS *JB

NHTSA ID

11254517

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

Mileage

121,673 mi

2017 REGULAR OIL CHANGE I WAS TOLD OIL LEVEL WAS EXTREMELY LOW. NO EXPLANATION GIVEN TO ME. I WAS TOLD TO REGULARLY CHECK OIL LEVEL BETWEEN CHANGES. I HAVE BEEN ADDING OIL REGULARLY. UPON LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ON MY OWN, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE! I TALKED TO TOYOTA REP, AND HE ADMITTED THAT 2 LETTERS WERE MAILED TO ME, NONE OF WHICH I RECEIVED, REGARDING REPAIR OPTIONS BY TOYOTA. THIS OFFER EXPIRED IN 2018. I ASKED FOR ADDRESS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT INFO. SO I ASKED IF ALL COMMUNICATIONS FROM TOYOTA COULD BE MADE BY EMAIL, THEY SAID NO. I FEEL EXTREMELY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. I ALWAYS USED TOYOTA SERVICE TO AVOID PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS LACKING AND I FEEL I SHOULD STILL QUALIFY FOR A REPAIR BY TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID

11218149

Incident

Oct 24, 2017

Mileage

70,570 mi

DASH HAS BECOME STICKY AND SHINY PRODUCING A GLARE DURING BRIGHT DRIVING CONDITIONS. VEHICLE WAS ONLY SERVICED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SINCE PURCHASED AND THIS BEING AN ISSUE WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.

NHTSA ID

11217385

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

STICKY MELTING DASHBOARD THAT THROWS OFF A BLINDING GLARE. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE MY DASHBOARD AS TIME ELAPSED ON A RECALL THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF. MY DASHBOARD REFLECTION IS DANGEROUS AND IT BLINDS ME WHEN THE SUN REFLECTS OFF IT.

NHTSA ID

11205089

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

AT ABOUT 62000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE RAC AND PINION NOW AGAIN AT ABOUT 130000 MILES IT NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. MY 2001 CAMARY HAS 200000 MILES AND IS STILL ON THE ORGINAL RAC. THE RACS TOYOTA IS PUTING IN THE 2008 CAMERY ARE DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

11144098

Incident

Oct 30, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

JUST DISCOVERED MY DASH IS STICKY, HAS NOT YET PROGRESSED TO SHINY AND TOYOTA'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDED 10-1-17. ONLY DRIVE THE CAR 6 MONTHS OF THE YEAR, AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE 54266 MILES. SPOKE WITH TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THE $2000 COST TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DASH. THEY MADE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND SHOULD COVER REPLACEMENT COST NO MATTER WHEN IT OCCURS. I NEVER RECEIVED THE SINGLE LETTER THEY MAILED IN 2015. THEY ALWAYS HAD MY EMAIL AND NEVER NOTIFIED ME VIA EMAIL OR SENT OUT A FOLLOW LETTER.

NHTSA ID

11114121

Incident

Jul 20, 2018

Mileage

54,266 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON MARCH 7, 2018 AT NIGHT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE REFLECTION OF THE DASHBOARD ONTO THE WINDSHIELD WAS SO INTENSE THAT IT IMPAIRED THE DRIVER'S VISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SUN TOYOTA IN HOLIDAY, FLORIDA) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THE DASHBOARD HAD EXPIRED ON JANUARY 18, 2018; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ID

11078353

Incident

Mar 9, 2018

Mileage

152,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED, SHINY AND STICKY, SERIOUSLY AFFECTING VIABILITY. I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11057713

Incident

Dec 24, 2017

Mileage

51,950 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT VERY TIRED AND PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT TO SLEEP FOR THIRTY MINUTES. WHEN SHE AWAKENED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ABNORMAL ODOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKED INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ASKED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID

11057363

Incident

Nov 23, 2017

Mileage

86,000 mi

MY 2008 TOYOTA SOLARA HEADLIGHTS ARE REALLY SCARY TO DRIVE WITH AT NIGHT. THE VISIBILITY IS ALMOST NONE. THE HIGH BEAMS ARE LIKE REGULAR BEAMS ON EVERY OTHER CAR. MY LOW BEAMS ARE NONEXISTENT. MY FRIEND HAS A 2007 TOYOTA SOLARA AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO ONLY BE TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT ADJUST AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. TO THE POINT I DO NOT EVEN DRIVE AT NIGHT, AND I AM A 33 YEAR OLD WOMAN. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP AS WE SPEAK ONCE AGAIN DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. BUT NOT ONLY ARE THE BEAMS LOW, BUT BOTH ARE NOW NONFUNCTIONAL. THE SHOP CAN NOT FIND ANY DEFECT OR WIRES LOOSE. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAT THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE AND A MANUFACTURER SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11045763

Incident

Nov 13, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT MY HOME AROUND THE LAST WEEK IN JANUARY AND THE 4TH OF FEBRUARY 2017. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND A SQUIRREL UNDERNEATH AND HAD A LOT OF DEBRIS. I FOUND THE COVERINGS CHEWED OFF THE WIRES SOME WIRES CHEWED INTO AND SOME HOSES CHEWED. THE INJECTOR WIRES WERE CHEWED TO THE #6 INJECTOR CAUSING IT TO RUN VERY SLOW UPHILL. THE INSULATION UNDER THE HOOD, OUTER COVER WAS CHEWED OFF AND PART OF THE INSULATION. I HAVE LIVED HERE MANY YEARS AND NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES EXCEPT ONE OTHER VEHICLE AT THE SAME TIME THIS HAPPENED. SINCE THEN I CAN'T KEEP THE SQUIRREL OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE I CHECK IT OFTEN AND THERE IS MORE DEBRIS UNDER THE HOOD SOMETIMES BUT NOT AS MUCH AS BEFORE. HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT THINGS TO KEEP THE RODENTS OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD BUT NOTHING IS WORKING PERMERNANTLY. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I CAN AFFORD TO GET IT CHECKED OUT COMPLETELY. G

NHTSA ID

10970010

Incident

Feb 4, 2017

Mileage

72,000 mi

ENGINE IS BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY

NHTSA ID

10957097

Incident

Feb 26, 2017

THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME STICKY AND IS CRACKING. IT ALSO PRODUCES A DANGEROUS BRIGHT SHINY GLARE ON SUNNY FLORIDA DAYS.

NHTSA ID

10938419

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

54,000 mi

TOYOTA DID A RECALL ON THE DASH OF THE CARS GETTING STICKY AND CRACKING. THEY INDICATED THEY WERE REPLACING ALL OF THESE AFFECTED. THIS NOTICE CAME TO ME IN 2015. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER, AUTOWAY TOYOTA IN CLEARWATER, FL. THAT I WAS 96 ON THE REPLACEMENT LIST WITH THEM. I JUST CALLED ONE YEAR LATER TO CHECK STATUS AND THEY SAID I WAS #89. THEY INDICATED THEY ONLY GET A FEW REPLACEMENT DASHES A WEEK AND THEY COULD GIVE ME NO ANSWER HOW MUCH LONGER IT WOULD BE. KEEP IN MIND YOU CANNOT SELL OR TRADE THE CAR GIVEN THE CRACKED DASH. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY WERE ONLY PRODUCING A FEW NEW DASHES PER DAY AND THAT THEY HAD OVER 1 MILL. CLAIMS. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS ACCEPTABLE AND I WONDERED IF YOU COULD HELP OR WHETHER I SHOULD WRITE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

NHTSA ID

10898225

Incident

May 5, 2015

Mileage

25,000 mi

MY SOLARA HAS A DASHBOARD THAT IS CRACKED AND IS MELTING. THE GLARE IS TERRIBLE FROM THIS.

NHTSA ID

10872977

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

32,899 mi