2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ENTERING A PARKING SPACE SHE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION. AS A CONSEQUENCE, SHE CRASHED INTO CONCRETE WALL. HER VEHICLE RECEIVED $3800.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS BECAUSE OF AN INTERFERENCE OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE FLOOR MAT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.UPDATED 10/26/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/26/09

AIR BAGS ON 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA SLE MAY NOT BE WORKING PROPERLY SINCE AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH OIL TURNING INTO GEL. THE ENGINE QUIT OPERATING COMPLETELY. *TR

OIL SLUDGE AND GELLING PROBLEM ON ALL TOYOTA ENGINES IN CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA FROM 1998 TO 2002. I HAVE THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND THE CAR GIVES OUT SMOKE, FAILS INSPECTION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND LEADS TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA. WHILE IDLING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE REVVED UP TO FULL RPM AND WENT THROUGH FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT STRUCK ONE VEHICLE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 3/18/08 *CN TEXAS POLICE REPORT UPDATED 03/18/08 *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE IN 2002. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE DEALER REBUILT THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY STARTED TO EXPERIENCE WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AGAIN. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICES. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH UNDERIN WET CONDITIONS IT STRUCK THE REAR END OF A SECOND VEHICLE. HE THEN DROVE OFF AN EMBANKMENT, WENT THROUGH ABOUT 12 WOODEN POSTS, AND CRASHED INTO A BOLDER WHICH CRUSHED THE FRONT BUMPER IN HALF. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POLICE CAME TO THE SCENE AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN BY HIS INSURANCE COMPANY FROM THE CRASH SITE TO TRY AND DETERMINE IF THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2006 I PUT THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND STARTED MY 2001 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CAR WAS STILL IN PARK AND HAD NEVER BEEN MOVED. WITHIN SECONDS OF STARTING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT I SUSTAINED A FRACTURED LEFT ULNA, NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN (CERVICAL SPRAIN) AND ISSUES WITH HEARING IN MY LEFT EAR. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE!*JB

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MY 2001 TOYOTA SOLARA BEGAN TO SHUDDER, SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 60+ MPH. WHILE PULLING OVER TO THE OFF RAMP, AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL ITSELF WOULD FIGHT BACK, PUSHING AGAINST THE PRESSURE. AN INSPECTION BY THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REVEALED NO FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEM (THE FRONT END HAD BEEN ALIGNED LESS THAN 10,000 MILES EARLIER), AND A CHECK BY THE TIRE COMPANY DID NOT REVEAL ANY UNEVEN WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE PROBLEM WOULD MANIFEST ITSELF INTERMITTENTLY, AND ONLY AFTER TRAVELING MORE THAN 5 MILES ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP LAST MONTH AND, AFTER A TEST DRIVE WITH THE MECHANIC, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGING WHEN THEY HEATED UP AFTER DRIVING MORE THAN 5 MILES. THE SOLUTION SUGGESTED WAS TO REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER AT A COST OF $1400! I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR UNDER THESE CONDITIONS WOULD RESULT IN THE BRAKES LOCKING UP - A VERY SCARY SITUATION. THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THERE HAD BEEN NO BULLETINS OR RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MODEL AND PROBLEM, BUT I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT MY SOLARA IS THE ONLY CAMRY MODEL TO EXPERIENCE THIS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS CONDITION. I HAVE DRIVEN AMERICAN CARS IN THE PAST - ONE, A BUICK LESABRE, FOR MORE THAN 13 YEARS AND MORE THAN 180,000 MILES WITHOUT A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE. I FEEL THAT DRIVERS ARE DISCOURAGED FROM REPORTING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, KEEPING IT OFF THE BULLETIN LIST AND AVOIDING ANY RECALL. *JB

TOYOTA SOLARA 2001 HAD TO HAVE BRAKE VACUUM ASSIST PART REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE HARM TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND EVENTUALLY MAY STOP ON HIGHWAY. CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS EXCELLENT CARE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT TOYOTA HAD RECALL OF THIS PART FOR THEIR COROLLAS FOR THAT YEAR, BUT NOT THE SOLARA. THIS COST ME $800 AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL THE VACUUM ASSIST DRUMS FOR THAT YEAR SINCE THE PART IS THE SAME FOR ANY MODEL. *JB