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U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Toyota CAMRY SOLARA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

84 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

95,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 45 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 84 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1517.9%
Electrical and battery issues910.7%
Steering behavior56.0%
Transmission and shifting33.6%
Engine operation11.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
16
Engine And Engine Cooling
6
Unknown Or Other
5
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Air Bags:Frontal
4
Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut
4
Electrical System
3
Exterior Lighting
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags16
Engine And Engine Cooling6
Unknown Or Other5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Air Bags:Frontal4
Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut4
Electrical System3
Exterior Lighting3

Air Bags: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Unknown Or Other: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut: 4; Electrical System: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
8
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
12
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9998
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9998
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 6

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 39 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
4
2001
7
2002
11
2003
8
2004
13
2005
6
2006
4
2007
1
2009
2
2010
11
2011
1
2014
5
2015
3
2016
2
2017
3
2019
1
2020
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20004
20017
200211
20038
200413
20056
20064
20071
20092
201011
20111
20145
20153
20162
20173
20191
20202

2000: 4; 2001: 7; 2002: 11; 2003: 8; 2004: 13; 2005: 6; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 11; 2011: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10021063 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1999 TOYOTA SOLARA (PURCHASED MARCH 1999).LAST MONTH WITH 34,825 MILES ON IT, I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JUNE 2001 WITH 22,125 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK BOTH TIMES, THE DEALER BLAMES EXCESSIVE RUST AND RUNOUT ON THE ROTORS AS THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THEY CLAIM I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND USE THE BRAKES ENOUGH. THE SOLARA IS GARAGE KEPT AND GETS AT LEAST AS MUCH USE AS ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE OWNED AND I HAVE NEVER…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,825 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021063 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10038685 · 2003-09-11 (September 11, 2003)

1. MY 1999 SE V6 SOLARA BEGAN SMOKING A LOT EVERYTIME I STARTED THE CAR AND WHEN I ACCELERATED. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE "SLUDGE" PROBLEM AND THE DEALER DID ALL OF THE REQUIRED WORK TO FIX THAT. 2. I WAS IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT IN 1999 AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. 3. THERE IS A VERY LOUD, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, CLUNKING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA. THE DEALER SAYS THE STRUT TOPS ARE WORN OUT AND IT WILL COST $750.00??? PER SIDE TO REPLACE THE STRUTS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT. SHOULDN'T THE STRUTS HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038685 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10274394 · 2009-06-20 (June 20, 2009)

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES FOR PASSAGER SIDE AIRBAGS. IF YOU JIGGLE WIRING UNDER SEAT OFTEN THE NEXT TIME YOU START CAR LIGHT WILL BE OFF. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10274394 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10056203 · 2004-01-30 (January 30, 2004)

PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT AND ASSEMBLY. SINCE THEN, THE LIGHT JUST COMES ON RANDOMLY AND STAYS ON UNTIL I TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME, THEY FIX "SOMETHING". SEVERAL OF THE TIMES, THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE WIRES UNDERNEATH THE SEAT COME DISCONNECTED OVER TIME. THEY THEN PROCEED TO "FIX" IT. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AGAIN WITHIN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056203 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10093235 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)

SHIFT CABLE LINKAGE RUSTED AND BROKE OFF ARM TO TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. PART WAS REPLACED. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093235 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10318752 · 2010-03-10 (March 10, 2010)

SINCE 2007 I HAVE NOTICED SOME TYPE OF ENGINE DIFFICULTY WITH THE TOYOTA. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE RUNNING (IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.) ALSO, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY RECEIVE TOO HIGH A CHARGE RESULTING IN COMPUTER SYSTEM OVERHEATING. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES, MUCH MORE THAN NECESSARY AND PROBLEM REMAINS WITH THE OBD SYSTEM. THIS ALSO CAUSES ENGINE TO HAVE SURGES OF POWER WHILE DRIVING AFFECTING CRUISE CONTROL... I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM RELATIVE TO CURRENT TOYOTA ISSUES-ONLINE SOMEONE HAS A …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10318752 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10066730 · 2004-04-07 (April 7, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 55-60 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, JERKING FORWARD AND THEN STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE ENGINE LOCKED UP DUE TO AN OIL SLUDGE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 104,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066730 at NHTSA ↗