Toyota Solara problems
The Toyota Camry Solara, popularly known as the Toyota Solara, is a mid-size coupé/convertible built by Toyota. The Camry Solara is mechanically based on the Toyota Camry and effectively replaced the discontinued Camry Coupé (XV10); however, in contrast with its predecessor's conservative design, the Camry Solara was designed with a greater emphasis on sportiness, with more rakish styling, and uprated suspension and engine tuning intended to provide a sportier feel. The coupe was launched in late 1998 for model year 1999. In 2000, the convertible was introduced, effectively replacing the Celica convertible in Toyota's North American lineup.
The second-generation Camry Solara debuted in 2003 for model year 2004, initially offered as a coupe; the second-generation convertible was introduced in the spring of 2004 as a 2005 model. Coupe production ended in mid-2008. Despite official statements that the convertible might be sold until 2010 if demand was sufficient, production was suspended in December 2008 and never resumed.
First generation (XV20; 1998–2003)
The Solara was created to appeal to a demographic of more sport-minded drivers than those who prefer the Toyota Camry sedan, while still needing "room and comfort." The Camry Solara thus aspired to blend "sporty" looks and style with spacious practicality. Prior to the production of the Camry Solara, the 2-door version of the Toyota Camry was simply known as the Camry Coupe. It was added to the third generation Camry lineup in 1993 for model year 1994 to compete with the Honda Accord and other cars in its class. However, due to it never being nearly as popular as the 4-door sedan of the Camry, the Camry Coupe was dropped in 1996 when the sedan was redesigned for model year 1997. A distinct successor went into development in the mid-1990s, resulting a winning design entry in 1995 from Warren J. Crain of Calty Design and Research. After design approval, production development ran from 1995 to the first half of 1998. Patents were filed at the Japan Patent Office on January 18, 1996, under 1020408 and November 14, 1996, at the United States Patent Office USPTO under D407350.
The first generation Camry Solara went on sale in the third quarter of 1998 as a 1999 model to replace the Camry Coupe. It was based on the mechanical platform of the previous generation XV10 Toyota Camry and was built at the TMMC facilities in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. This model featured a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine with 136 hp (101 kW) and 150 lb⋅ft (203 N⋅m) of torque at 4,400 rpm, and a 3.0-liter V6 engine with 200 hp (149 kW) at 5,200 rpm, and 214 lb⋅ft (290 N⋅m) of torque at 4,400 rpm. The engines are the same as the ones used in the fourth generation Camry, but slightly revamped to have a small gain in power (two and six horsepower, respectively). The V6 claimed a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 7.1 seconds.
TRD Solara
"The TRD recipe starts with a tasteful seven-piece body kit ($1675) available in all '99-'00 factory colors. To be sure the sporty look is backed by more straightline performance, TRD developed a supercharger kit (around $3300) for the 3.0-liter V-6 engine. According to TRD, it bumps horsepower to 262, a 62-horsepower gain over stock. Torque is also raised, going from 214 pound-feet to a much stronger 268. The TRD Solara we tested (equipped with five-speed manual transmission) produced a strong 0-60-mph time of 5.6 seconds compared with 6.9 for stock, a noticeable improvement on the street.
The Solara has been criticized as being too soft in the handling department, and TRD comes to the rescue. New parts include sport springs ($278) that drop the car 1.25 inches in front and 1.75 inches in the rear. Next, come a set of gas-pressurized front struts and rear shocks ($1230) and a larger rear anti-roll bar (price N/A). The final items are 17x7.0-inch TSW aluminum wheels wrapped in 225/45ZR17 Toyo tires ($1859). When installed on our test car, these parts dramatically improved the handling numbers over stock (see chart). On the road, the car is noticeably stiffer, telegraphing more road feel up to the driver. However, the ride is more than tolerable. Besides, we've driven plenty of sports cars that ride worse and don't handle as well. TRD will soon introduce a front strut tower brace as a part of the supercharger package that should further improve handling.
Other upgrades include a sport muffler ($391, nice deep tone), a quick-action manual shifter ($163, faster gear changes), and stainless-steel brake lines (price N/A) and carbon-metal brake pads ($70, improved braking performance).
Other upgrades include a sport muffler ($391, nice deep tone), a quick-action manual shifter ($163, faster gear changes), and stainless-steel brake lines (price N/A) and carbon-metal brake pads ($70, improved braking performance)." -
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The Toyota Camry Solara is also the first vehicle in the Toyota lineup, after their 1997 partnership agreement, to feature a JBL premium stereo option. All models came with a single-slot in-dash CD player and cassette deck from JBL. The SE models come standard with 15-inch steel wheels and hubcaps, upgradable to 15-inch alloy wheels. The Sports Package also adds a retuned suspension, perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, perforated eight-way power-adjustable leather seats, an upgrade to 16-inch alloy wheels, retuned steering, minor trim changes and a rear lip spoiler.
In 2000, the SE and SLE convertibles were added to the lineup; these cars were built as semi-finished coupes, shipped to an American Sunroof Company (ASC) facility where the roofs were removed and convertible tops installed, and were then shipped back to Toyota for painting and final assembly. Claiming that the car's basic structure was designed for this treatment, Toyota made no suspension changes from the coupe. Toyota did strengthen the rocker sections by doubling them up, while adding steel bracing between the wheel wells, adding 171 lb (78 kg) over the coupe's weight. Nonetheless, the car was considerably less rigid than the coupe.
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Toyota Solara model years
Common Toyota Solara problems
The Toyota Solara, a mid-size coupe and optional convertible, was introduced in 1998 and lasted until 2008. It was designed with a greater emphasis on sportiness than its predecessor, the Camry Coupe, and was available as a convertible or coupe. While there are some solid models, there are specific years that Toyota Solara owners should avoid due to common problems.
- Bad Ignition Coil Symptoms: The ignition coil delivers power to the spark plugs and enables the firing of the cylinder inside an engine. If the ignition coil fails, it could lead to misfires or some cylinders staying unfired completely, resulting in reduced engine power output and unpredictable acceleration at high speeds.
- Oil Thickness Problems: The first-gen Toyota Solara equipped with a 3.0-liter V6 engine has problems with oil forming into sludge within the engine. This issue could lead to overheating and seizing the engine if clean oil can't flow through the oil lines inside the engine.
- Rear Suspension Faults: The rear suspension system may have issues, but the specific details of this problem are incomplete in the search results.
- Cracking Dashboard: The 2004 model had the highest complaints, with a cracking dashboard being the overwhelming majority of reported issues. This problem was also prevalent in the 2006 model, where the dashboard was prone to cracking, ripping, and glossy looks that created a reflective hazard for drivers.
- Engine and Transmission Issues: The 2008 model year is considered the worst due to possible factors such as higher repair costs or more problems at lower mileage. The most-reported problem is with the 2004 Toyota Solara for cracking dashboard. The 2008 model also had issues with the accessories - interior problems.
When considering a used Toyota Solara, it is crucial to know the most reliable model year. The 1999 and 2003 models are considered the most reliable, with very few complaints and excellent fuel economy, reliable engines, and a decent transmission.
Is Toyota Solara a reliable car?
In terms of reliability, Toyota is known for setting a high standard, and the Solara is no exception. Although it had a production run from 1998 to 2008, certain years stand out as exceptionally dependable: 1999 Toyota Solara. 2001 Toyota Solara.
Why did they discontinued Toyota Solara?
From model year 2005 to 2008, sales fell from roughly 50,000 units annually to just over 20,000. After the 2008 model year, the coupe was discontinued due to faltering sales, but the convertible, which accounted for the majority of units sold, continued to be produced.
Are Toyota Solaras expensive to maintain?
Toyota Solara Repair & Maintenance Costs
The annual maintenance cost of a Toyota Solara is $397. Repair and maintenance costs vary depending on age, mileage, location and shop.
Why is my Toyota Solara shaking?
The most common reasons a Toyota Solara shakes when braking are bad brake rotors, bad brake pads, or a bad wheel bearing.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Toyota Solara years
We have researched Toyota problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Toyota Solara cars and compiled the top 2 most problematic Toyota Solara model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Toyota Solara model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Toyota Solara years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Toyota Solara car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Toyota Solara , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Air bags problems
- Visibility problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Toyota Solara vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Solara model years
A total of 2 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Solara model years
There were a total of 3 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Toyota Solara . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Toyota Solara vehicles.
List of Toyota Solara complaints
Toyota Solara 1998
- Date Of Incident: 2004-03-12
- Date Complaint: 2004-03-22
- Number Of Injuries: 3
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 2T1CF28P31C
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. IT LOST CONTROL AND HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD ON. VEHICLE FLIPPED ON ITS HOOD AND SLID APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS AND SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WERE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL. *AK
Toyota Solara 1997
- Date Of Incident: 2003-02-05
- Date Complaint: 2003-02-20
- Crash: 1
- VIN: PLEASE FILL
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE DRIVER AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
Toyota Solara 1997
- Date Of Incident: 2001-09-30
- Date Complaint: 2001-10-02
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: WHEN SHUTTING PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WINDOW SHATTERED. GLASS FELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE,CUT SEAT, AND DID SOME DAMAGE TO OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAPPENED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
Are you having problems with your Toyota Solara?
