2005 Toyota CAMRY SOLARA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
92 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
46,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 68 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 92 complaints (19.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 17.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 13.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Structure | 16 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Structure: 16; Air Bags: 15; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Unknown Or Other: 8; Structure:Body: 7; Electrical System: 6; Engine: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 24 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 15 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 2; 2005: 17; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 15; 2011: 4; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 19; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 4; 2019: 2; 2021: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10113960 · 2005-03-11 (March 11, 2005)
TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO DOWNSHIFT. E.G. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE IN TRAFFIC, APPLYING THE ACCELORATOR, RESULTS IN A VEHICLE HESITATION WHERE THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN, THEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS, AND FINALLY THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACCELLERATE. THE VEHICLE I MERGED IN FRONT OF SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES, AS DID THE VEHICLES BEHIND THEM. THE HESTITATION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHILCE IN MAR 2004. THE HESITATION OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURED WHEN ACCELRATION FROM 40 MPH. DEALER CLAIMS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,475 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121378 · 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)
2005 TOYOTA SOLARA. IF IT IS DRIVEN FOR 1 HOUR, ENGINE NOISE IS LOUDER WHEN BRAKE IS PRESSED WHILE WAITING FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT. IF, I MOVE AUTO TRANSMISSION STICK TO N, NOISE IS CAML DOWN. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IF CAR IS DRIVEN LESSER THAN 15 MINUTES.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115586 · 2005-03-22 (March 22, 2005)
DRIVER NOTICED THAT WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK THE HESITATION AND THE JERKY SHIFTING IS NOT ONLY IRRITATING AND UNCOMFORTABLE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. ALSO, SUDDEN SHIFTING INTO A LOWER GEAR CAUSES THE FRONT WHEELS TO SPIN ON SLIPPERY SURFACES WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF TRACTION AND LO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168990 · 2006-09-22 (September 22, 2006)
THE SECOND GENERATION TOYOTA SOLARA USES "DRIVE BY WIRE" TECHNOLOGY INSTEAD OF A THROTTLE CABLE. MY CAR EXPERIENCES A LAG BETWEEN THE TIME WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY STARTS TO MOVE. THIS HAPPENS IN A SPECIFIC SCENARIO WHERE THE CAR IS DECELERATING, BUT THEN THE DRIVER RESUMES ACCELERATING. THE LAG CAN LAST UP TO 2 SECONDS AND PRESENTS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HAS LED TO THREE NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS IN INTERSECTIONS FOR ME. THIS FEELS LIKE IT WOULD IF YOUR CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND THEN THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10323051 · 2010-03-31 (March 31, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THERE WAS NO POWER RESPONSE. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE ENGINE STALLED. IMMEDIATELY, THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323051 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556543 · 2013-12-18 (December 18, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLICKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11570354 · 2024-02-06 (February 6, 2024)
My engine has a sludge of oil and it was expensive to repair.The convertible top n windows malfunction and the electrical system stopped the windows from rolling up n down and out of no where they go down on their own,so I have many problems when it rains due to the windows.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11570354 at NHTSA ↗