2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA Complaints

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 THE PROBLEM WITH EVERY TOYOTA DEALER WHO HAS WORKED ON THE CAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. NONE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND AS A FEMALE, I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I AM AN EXCELLENT DRIVER WITH NO ACCIDENTS IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING. MOST RECENTLY, ON THIS PAST MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, AS I DROVE TO WORK, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME PUT ON BRAKES SUDDENLY. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, I HIT A POT HOLE AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. THE BRAKE PEDAL SOFTENED AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AT ALL. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND THIS TIME THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND THE CAR SLOWED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN COMPLETELY CONSISTENT. SUDDEN BRAKING, A BUMPY ROAD OR LOOSE TRACTION, ABS SEEMS TO ENGAGE, ABSOLUTELY NO BRAKES. THE ISSUE IS BAD ENOUGH THAT I REFUSED TO SELL THE NOW 6 YEAR OLD CAR TO MY BROTHER FOR HIS DAUGHTER TO DRIVE. I DO NOT THINK THAT AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER COULD POSSIBLY RESPOND QUICKLY ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. *TR

I JUST READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE BRAKING PROBLEM WITH THE NEW TOYOTA PRIUS. IT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY OR UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR WOULD EXPERIENCE BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. I WAS COMING TO A STOP ON A RURAL ROAD THAT WAS VERY BUMPY JUST BEFORE THE STOP SIGN.THE BRAKES RESPONDED LIKE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE ABS ACTUATING. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO FADE. AFTER THAT INCIDENT MY BRAKES NEVER SEEMED TO BE THE SAME. I HAVE TO BRAKE MUCH SOONER AND WITH MORE FORCE THEN I HAD TO USE PRIOR TO THE ABOVE INCIDENT. HAS THERE BEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SOLARA? *TR

PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR HAS NO AFFECT ON THE ENGINE RPMS. THE DEALER SAID THE SENSOR AT THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEFECTIVE. NOT RELATED TO THE CURRENT RECALL. HE REPLACES THE SENSOR AT A COST TO ME OF $750.00 TW*

ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING HER 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA AND HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB, HIT A TREE, A LAMP POST, AND CRASHED INTO A STONE SIGN. SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY FOUND A LARGE BRUISE ON HER ARM. THE DOCTORS SENT HER FOR A SCAN RIGHT AWAY, BUT SHE HAD A STROKE AND NEVER RECOVERED. SHE DIED FOUR DAYS LATER. I REALIZE THAT THE CURRENT TOYOTA ACCELERATOR RECALL DOES NOT INVOLVE THE SOLARA AT THIS TIME, BUT OUR FAMILY IS NOW SUSPICIOUS. A CAUSE OF MY MOTHER'S ACCIDENT HAS NOT BE DETERMINED. SHE DIED BEFORE THE POLICE WERE ABLE TO ASK HER ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR IS STILL SMASHED UP AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. SHOULD WE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FURTHER? TW* UPDATED 03/14/10 *BF UPDATED 07/26/10*JB UPDATE 9/15/11*CW

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN, MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED (RUNAWAY) ACCELERATION IN THE PARKING LOT OF A LOCAL RESTAURANT THIS PAST SUNDAY. PLACING MY FOOT ON THE BREAK DID NOT STOP THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID STOP WHEN IT RAN INTO A LARGE ROCK. NO ONE WAS INJURED THIS TIME. THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. DOES TOYOTA HAVE ANY SOLUTION/RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? IF NOT, DOES TOYOTA HAVE ANY PLANS ON CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE? A QUICK RESPONSE TO MY QUESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR BEST REGARDS, FRED

ON 09/20/08 I DROVE MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA TO A GREEK FESTIVAL ON MOUNTAINVIEW AVENUE IN SANTA ROSA. I WAS DIRECTED TO PARK MY CAR IN THE PARKING FIELD. I ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY TO GO OVER A SMALL BUMP AND THE MOTOR ROARED OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD TO QUICKLY THROW IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR TO KILL THE MOTOR. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR IT SEEMED TO BE OK. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. ON 9/22/08 I TOOK IT TO THE FREEMAN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN SANTA ROSA. A REPRESENTATIVE TOOK ME OUT FOR A RIDE IN MY CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. THEY DID NOT MAKE OUT A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT. NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP SEEMED VERY CONCERNED. *TR

TIME & PLACE OF ACCIDENT 9:30A.M. 8-17-09 TOLL BROTHERS IRONWOOD MODEL/SALES OFFICE PARKING LOT. UPDATED 04/20/2010. *LJ AFTER ENTERING SALES MODELS PARKING LOT FROM WATSON WAY, I WAS BRAKING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH SLOWING TO PARK NEXT TO HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE. SUDDENLY, I NOTICED THE ENGINE RPM'S ACCELERATING RAPIDLY. I TRIED TO SHIFT AUTO IN TO PARK POSITION AS THE AUTO JUMPED CEMENT ABUTMENTS STOPS, VEERED RIGHT (NORTH) DOWN SIDEWALK KNOCKING DOWN SMALL TREE IN LANDSCAPED AREA, VEERED TOWARDS DRIVERS SIDE OF RED JEEP WAGON, CORRECTED TOWARDS WALKWAY (WEST) AND SWIPED DRIVERS SIDE FRONT BUMPER OF RED JEEP. TOYOTA CAME TO STOP AFTER HITTING AND BECOMING IMPALED ON TOP OF STAIRWELL WALLS IN FRONT OF JEEP. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO CHAPMAN MEDICAL CENTER IN ORANGE CA BY SETH RING SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER FOR TOLL BROTHERS AND WAS CHECKED FOR MUSCLE STRAIN LEFT FOREARM OVER ALL O.K. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SKID MARKS NOTED DOWN SIDEWALK FROM PARKING SPACE TO STOPPING POINT AT STAIRWELL. AWAITING CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT. *TR UPDATED 05/28/10 UPDATED 07/12/10*JB

I AM THE AUTHOR OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI CASE NUMBER: 10253724, RELATING TO SUN GLARE ON MY 2004 SOLARA. ABOUT 5,000 MILES AGO I PURCHASED BLACK FELT FROM A LOCAL FABRIC STORE AND COVERED THE TOP PORTION OF THE DASH BOARD, WHERE THE SUN HITS, USING DOUBLE SIDED TAPE. IT IS NOW LIKE LOOKING THROUGH NEW GLASS. THERE IS NO MORE GLARE, EVEN NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER. I STILL BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD MAKE SOME TYPE OF DASH COVER AVAILABLE, THOUGH. *TR

ADDITIONAL INFO REGARDING ODI CASE NUMBER: 10142658, SUN GLARE ON 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE REFLECTION OF SHEEN ON THE DASHBOARD BACK ONTO THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, MUCH LIKE A PROJECTION SCREEN. IN CERTAIN CASES I HAVE "LOST" OTHER VEHICLES IN THE GLARE. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED I PURCHASE A DASHBOARD COVER. IT SEEMS TOYOTA SHOULD COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF FIX, NOT AFTERMARKET VENDORS AND NOT AT MY EXPENSE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM ON SUNNY DAYS. *TR

ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 9,2008 I WAS DRIVING HOME ON I-95 WHEN MY 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SURGE IN SPEED, AS I WAS ABLE TO CAUTIOUSLY GET OVER IN THE MEDIAN LANE WHEN IT THEN SHUT OFF, I WAS ABLE TO CRANK IT BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM BUT AS SOON AS I ACCELERATED IT SLOWED DOWN AND I THEN TURNED IT OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AN TURNED IT BACK ON WITH NO PROBLEM. SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO MY EXIT AND LIPTON TOYOTAS DEALERSHIP WAS RIGHT THERE I TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET CHECKED OUT, WELL MUCH TO MY SURPRISE I AM IN NEED OF A THROTTLE BODY A $931.17 PART AND $13.?? GASKET ALONG WITH $85.00 PER HOUR SERVICE FEE. NOW EVEN THOUGH MY FACTORY WARRANTY ENDED ON THE 4 OF THIS MONTH, THIS VIABLE COMPONENT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE ABOUT 42,500 MILES ON MY CAR AND I DON'T DRIVE IT EVERYDAY. I AM VERY ANGRY THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE A PART THAT IS SO COSTLY IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, TOYOTA IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST CARS ON THE ROAD BUT AT THIS POINT I FEEL LIKE I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST ONE IT IS MY 3RD ONE PURCHASED BRAND NEW, AND MY CONCERN IS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER HAVING A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. SO I WANT TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS AS A DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED TOYOTAS CORPORATE OFFICE I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE WHO SEEMED AS IF SHE HAD AN ATTITUDE LIKE I HAVE SOME NERVE TO CALL AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR TOP NOTCH VEHICLES. I WAS READING SOME BLOGS ABOUT "04 CAMRY THROTTLE BODY FAILURE" ON WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-CAMRY/TM6GC5T4DHVFS52CS I THINK THAT YOU WILL SEE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE, PLEASE CHECK THE SITE. I DON'T THINK ANYONE KNOWS MUCH ABOUT YOUR SITE AND THAT THEY SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOU AND ATLEAST GET THE MATTER AT HAND LOOKED IN TO. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MAY AND JUST NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO EXCEPT PAY FOR IT, IF THE CAN AFFORD IT. *TR