2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA Complaints

PASSENGER WAS DRIVING APPROX 50MPH AND COLLIDED WITH A DEER WITH THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, HOWEVER NEITHER THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR IS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RETRACTOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,000.

THE SEAT BELT STAYS AT FAR EXTENSION AND WILL NOT RETRACT, SO IT WILL NOT FUNCTION. I WENT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR COMPANY AND THEY SAID IT COULD NOT BE FIXED AND MUST BE REPLACED. I FIRST NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF THIS ON MAY 21, 2012 BY SPEAKING WITH THE "CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER". [XXX] SAID SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 1 BUSINESS DAY. 2 BUSINESS DAYS LATER LATE PM I RECEIVED A CALL FROM [XXX] WHO TOLD ME TO GO TO A TOYOTA DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT & GET AN ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT. I ASKED IF IT COULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE, SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ITEM THAT SHOULD NOT MALFUNCTION. SHE SAID GET THE ESTIMATE FIRST AND THEN CALL HER. I WENT THE FOLLOWING DAY (5/22) AND RECEIVED THE ESTIMATE. ON THE MORNING OF MAY 22 I CALLED [XXX] NUMBER & LEFT A MESSAGE. ON THE AFTERNOON OF 5/22 I CALLED AGAIN. SHE AGAIN WAS NOT THERE, SO I HELD ON FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO HELP ME. [XXX] SAID [XXX] WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I TOLD HER I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEATBELT, AND ASKED IF SHE OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HELP ME. SHE SAID I CAN ONLY SPEAK WITH MY "CASE MANAGER" [XXX]. I INSISTED ON SPEAKING WITH HER MANAGER. SHE TOLD ME THE MANAGER WENT HOME. I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH ANOTHER MANAGER. SHE SAID I COULD ONLY SPEAK WITH [XXX] WHO WOULD ABSOLUTELY CALL ME BACK WITH 24 HOURS. 24 HOURS LATER [XXX] HAD NOT CALLED. I CALLED HER AND SHE DID NOT ANSWER, BUT I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE ALSO IN HER DEPARTMENT WHO AGAIN SAID NEITHER HE ("[XXX]")NOR ANYONE ELSE COULD HELP ME THAT DAY. HE SAID A MANAGER WOULD CALL ME BACK WITHIN 24 HOURS. I TOLD HIM I AM DRIVING AROUND FOR DAYS WITHOUT A SEATBELT WAITING FOR THEM, AND INSISTED ON SPEAKING WITH HIS MANAGER'S MANAGER. HE SAID " A MANAGER WILL CALL YOU BACK IN 1 BUSINESS DAY". INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA V6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED POLLUTION AND AN ENGINE FIRE. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONTAMINATED WITH OIL AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR $8,000. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ UPDATED 10/12/11

EMISSIONS SYSTEM. OBD II CODE P0446 FAILED VENT VALVE (APPARENTLY THERE ARE 3 OF THESE, ONE NEXT TO THE AIR CLEANER HOUSING, AND TWO ON THE CHARCOAL CANISTER LOCATED UNDER THE CAR NEXT TO THE GAS TANK). THE SYSTEM IS INSTALLED TO MEET EPA REQUIREMENTS WHICH LIMIT HYDROCARBON EMISSIONS FROM THE ATMOSPHERE. THIS FAILURE ALONG WITH OTHERS REPRESENTED BY CODES P0440, P0441, P0442, ETC. HAVE BEEN REPORTED ESPECIALLY FOR TOYOTA MODELS BUILT FROM THE LATE 1990'S THROUGH EARLY TO MID 2000S AND HAVE PLAGUED MOTORIST FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS OR MORE. YET NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY EPA OR DOT TO REMEDY WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THIS SYSTEM IN THESE CARS AS REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES HERE AND IN OTHER PLACES ON THE INTERNET. WHY NOT? IF LIMITING EMISSIONS IS SO IMPORTANT WHY HAVEN'T YOU REQUIRED A RECALL OF AUTOMOBILES MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE EMISSIONS SYSTEMS? WHAT HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED BY OWNERS OF THESE AUTOMOBILES IS CONSISTENT MISDIAGNOSIS OF THIS FAILURE BY DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS COSTING DRIVERS HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN UNNECESSARY REPAIRS ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME CODE(S) REOCCUR A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS LATER. THE RESULT: FAILED STATE EMISSIONS TESTS, DRIVERS UNABLE TO USE THEIR AUTOMOBILES TO GET TO WORK, AND MORE COSTLY REPAIRS. NOT TO MENTION FOULED AIR. IF THIS SYSTEM IS SO COMPLEX THAT EVEN DEALERS CAN'T PROPERLY DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR IT, THAT IN ITSELF IS CAUSE TO RECALL IT, REPAIR IT PROPERLY AND GET THESE CARS BACK ON THE ROAD SAFELY. YOU STATE THAT COMPLAINT INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR AGENCY, YET YOU'VE DONE NOTHING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE FOR THE MAJORITY OF MOTORISTS THAT HAVE REPORTED THIS FLAW TO YOU MANY TIMES OVER MANY YEARS. DON'T YOU THINK IT'S TIME YOU DID SO? SOME MAY CONCLUDE THAT YOUR FAILURE TO ACT INDICATES THAT THE MANUFACTURERS CONTROL YOUR AGENCY AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. *TR

I'VE OWNED MY 2001 SOLARA SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN APRIL 2001. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY REAL PROBLEMS WITH IT (I'VE HAD ALL OF THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE, WEAR & TEAR STUFF DONE), UNTIL ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. MY WIFE & I WERE OUT OF TOWN AND WERE TURNING AROUND AT A STRIP MALL SHOPPING CENTER WHEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP. IT HAD JUST RAINED EXTREMELY HEAVILY AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SURFACE WATER ON THE ROAD. I JUST ASSUMED THAT PERHAPS THE POWER STEERING DRIVE BELT GOT WET AND WAS SLIPPING (ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T HEAR ANY SQUEALING). AFTER THAT THE STEERING SEEMED OK. THEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I STARTED NOTICING THE PROBLEM MORE REGULARLY, MOSTLY WHILE "UN-PARKING" THE CAR FROM A PARALLEL PARKING SPOT. I CAN BACK UP OK, BUT WHEN I STEER THE CAR TO BEGIN DRIVING, THE STEERING LOCKS UP & I HAVE TO STOP, BACK UP AGAIN, & "STEER OUT OF IT." ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS KIND OF STEERING PROBLEM? I HAVE 125,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I KNOW THAT TOYOTA HAS DONE A RECENT RECALL ON CRACKED STEERING BOXES ON CERTAIN MODELS. I HAD A '76 CELICA ONE TIME THAT DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CASTING AT ABOUT 80 OR 90,000 MILES. *TR

SEAT BELT DOESN'T RETURN. INSTEAD, IT IS FULLY EXTENDED AT ALL TIMES, WITH SHOULDER BELT LYING ON MY LAP, AND SEAT BELT BEING WAY TO LOOSE. *TR

ON 4/1/08, IN THE MORNING, ON WET ROADS, I WAS DRIVING MY '01 TOYOTA SOLARA AND NEEDED TO STOP SHORT IN TRAFFIC. I HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES NEVER KICKED IN, NOR DID THE CAR SLOW DOWN. I HAD REAR ENDED A TOYOTA SEQUOIA. I HAD MENTIONED TO THE OTHER DRIVER THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I HAD ALSO TOLD THE POLICE OFFICER THE SAME. MY TOYOTA SOLARA WAS TOTALED. CONVINCED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT, AND NOTHING WAS WRONG. ONLY AFTER HEARING THE RECENT WOES OF OTHER TOYOTAS' WITH THE STICKING ACCELERATOR, DID IT FINALLY CLICK AND MAKE SENSE. THIS IS WHY THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND WHY THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE REASON I AM REPORTING THIS NOW IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE TOYOTA VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR LONGER THAN THE RECALLS LISTS SUGGEST, AND I BELIEVE MORE INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD BE DONE ON THE HIGHER MILEAGE VEHICLES. *TR

2001 TOYOTA SOLARA WITH 147000 MILES. GAS PEDAL HAS A CATCH IN IT WHEN IT IS ALL THE WAY BACK, OR RETURNED. WHEN YOU GO TO PRESS DOWN, IT WON'T GO DOWN AND FEELS LIKE IT IS CATCHING ON SOMETHING. IT WILL SUDDENLY RELEASE CAUSING SOME OVER ACCELERATION. OUR LOCAL DEALER SAYS THIS IS NOT PART OF THE TOYOTA RECALL AND IT WILL COST $35.00 TO CLEAN IT UP TO FIX. IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IT BEFORE IT'S FIXED LET ME KNOW. *TR

ON 9/24/08 I WENT TO TOWN FAIR TIRE AND HAD FOUR TIRES REPLACED AT A COST OR $539.12. I WAS TOLD YOKOHAMA TIRES WERE THE BEST AND HAD THE BEST MILEAGE UP TO 80,000 MILES. AT THAT TIME I HAD THE FOUR TIRES REPLACED WITH THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR AT 74,000 MILES. ON 6/3/09 I BROUGHT MY CAR WHICH NOW HAD 81,000 MLS. ON IT WITH A BUBBLE ON MY TIRE AND HAD TO REPLACE IT AT A CA COST OF $134.51. FIVE MONTHS LATER ON 11/02/09 I WENT BACK TO TOWN FAIR TIRE WITH 83,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND ANOTHER BUBBLE ON MY TIRE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR FORTY TWO YEARS AND NEVER HAD A BUBBLE ON A TIRE AND IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND LESS THAN 10,000 MILES I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF THESE TIRES BECAUSE OF BUBBLES. TOWN FAIR TIRE SAYS ITS MY DRIVING, I SAY THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TIRES AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN. I AM ON DISABILITY AND DO NOT DRIVE TO OFTEN BUT I LIKE TO FEEL SAFE WHEN I DO. I WOULD LIKE THESE TIRES INVESTIGATED. $800.00 FOR TIRES A YEAR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL HAVE TO SPEND MORE.. THE TIRES ARE YOKOHAMA AVID TRZ ID CC208213308-4208-4408 I WOULD APPRECIATE AN ANSWER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR