KnownCarProblemsHome › Toyota › Camry Solara › 2004
2004 Toyota Camry Solara Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara, most often about the body and structure (22% of complaints, typically around 60,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Camry Solara model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2004 Toyota Camry Solara problems
Body and structure
36 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 60,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, interior panels.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Toyota solara. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the lid for the center console abruptly opened. When it opened, it banged on the contact's arm which compromised the steering capabilities. The contact closed the lid and continued driving. The failure occurred again. The vehicle was taken to an…
I have a garage kept convertible and recently the entire dash has cracked above the steering wheel (from left side all the way to the right side). Also above the glove compartment it is cracked. There are thousands of people complaining about this same issue on google.com (I entered solara cracked dash). I took it in…
Steering
30 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 14,000 miles. Parts named most often: hydraulic power assist system, linkages, column.
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…
Im a solara 2004 owner. I'm having the same problem that thousands of solara's owners are having. The issue of pull to the left and what Toyota and the NHTSA are doing to resolve this....nothing. Toyota skips to resolve this problem and the NHTSA doesn't care or just they don't want to make Toyota to solve this big…
Speed control
27 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota solara. While the contact was driving approximately 50 MPH, an unexpected increase in acceleration occurred. The brake pedal was engaged with no response. The vehicle decreased in speed after several attempts of braking. Immediately, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The…
I was driving on the freeway when, while changing lanes to the slow lane, the accelerator pedal stuck, I lost control, and the car careened off the freeway and down and embankment. The car was severely damaged but I was not injured.
Air bags
19 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact stated while parking the vehicle it suddenly accelerated, as a result the vehicle fell more than 20 feet down a cliff and none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The driver sustained minor bruises and lacerations on both hands. The vehicle was…
Dashboard of my vehicle is so severely cracked from the drivers side to the passenger side, I am concerned the airbag could be deployed without cause.
Transmission
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 11,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
Throttle lag at low speed and from stop is inconsistant and has been the cause for several close calls when pulling into traffic. Manufacturer was informed; dealer investigated; states this is normal and nothing can be done, that lag is "acceptable". Some instances have been several seconds before actual throttle…
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…
Brakes
11 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components.
I was driving on the freeway when, while changing lanes to the slow lane, the accelerator pedal stuck, I lost control, and the car careened off the freeway and down and embankment. The car was severely damaged but I was not injured.
I have the same braking problem with my 2004 Toyota solara that has been recently described in the 2010 prius. I first reported the problem to kerry Toyota in covington, kentucky on october 11, 2005. I have a copy of the service report including Toyota's claim that the brakes were working properly. I have discussed…
Seats
10 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: front assembly, mid/rear assembly.
Rear window is blocked by the head rest. Also, the when the sun visor is down, it blocks the rear window . Manufacture states that the design meets dot compliance. The consumer also indicated that eh rear window appeared to be significantly small than prior year solara convertible.
Vehicle was parked and without incident the seat heater caught on fire. Owner took the vehicle back to the dealer, who removed the seat, and installed a new seat.
Visibility and wipers
10 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 5,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, rearview mirrors/devices, glass, side/rear, sun/moon roof assembly.
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…
There is a haze on my windshield and interior windows. I have cleaned the windows but the haze reappears. Dealer says the problem is "vinyl out gassing per Toyota tech assistance. Dealer says problem could last from 6 months to a year and the problem can not be corrected. The haze impairs my vision especially at dusk…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Toyota Camry Solara recalls
Engine: engine and engine cooling
Risk: In some cases, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley which could result in a loss of power steering and a sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the u.s. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during early january 2012. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from june 1, 2004 through march 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine. The amount of adhesive agent applied between the outer ring and the torsional rubber damper (inner ring) in the crankshaft pulley may be inadequate. If the adhesive is insufficient, there is a possibility that the outer ring may become misaligned and it may not properly rotate with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the battery discharge indicator light.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine surging
Summary
The petitioner owns a my 2006 toyota camry with a 4-cylinder engine that was purchased new in january 2006. The petitioner also previously owned a my 2005 camry. He alleges that both vehicles exhibited vehicle engine surging, which he described as a short duration (1 to 2 second) increase in engine speed occurring while the accelerator pedal is not depressed. In an initial interview, the petitioner estimated that 6 to 8 surge incidents, of varying severity, occurred in the my 2006 vehicle over the course of 10,000 miles and 7 months of ownership. The petitioner reports that the brake system is effective at overcoming the surge. However, he is concerned about reports filed with NHTSA alleging
Vehicle speed control
Summary
In a letter dated july 8, 2005, and after experiencing two incidents (and one crash) where he alleges his model year (my) 2002 camry accelerated without driver input, mr. Jordan ziprin petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA) office of defects investigation (odi) to commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect within the etc system in my 2002 to 2005 toyota and lexus vehicles, or to reopen a prior investigation preliminary evaluation (pe) 04-021.in a letter dated august 18, 2005, mr. Ziprin amended his petition to include allegations of interrelated brake and acceleration problems that allegedly result in inappropriate and uncontrollable vehicle
Questions about the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (36 complaints, typically around 60,500 miles); steering (30 complaints, typically around 14,000 miles); speed control (27 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from November 9, 2011 (engine). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Toyota Camry Solara?
- It is the most complained-about Camry Solara model year since 2000, with 161 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.