2004 Toyota CAMRY SOLARA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
161 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
53,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 118 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 161 complaints (15.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 17.4% |
| Steering behavior | 22 | 13.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 |
| Structure | 22 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Structure:Body | 10 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
Steering: 25; Vehicle Speed Control: 24; Structure: 22; Air Bags: 14; Structure:Body: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 21 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 21; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 43 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 | 30 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2004: 30; 2005: 17; 2006: 13; 2007: 9; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 23; 2011: 10; 2012: 4; 2013: 8; 2014: 12; 2015: 7; 2016: 7; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10058646 · 2004-02-21 (February 21, 2004)
2004 SOLARA SE SPORT PULLS (DRIFTS) TO THE LEFT. ( DEALERSHIP SPENT 3 DAYS ON CAR, PERFORMED BULLETIN# ST002-04 INCLUDING ADJUSTMENT SPRING SEATS AND ALIGNMENT- STILL PULLS LEFT. ) AGREED TO DRIVE 3,000 MILES UNTIL NEXT SERVICE INTERVAL & AWAIT NEW DEVELOPMENTS FROM TOYOTA ) VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUE, I BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACURING OR DESIGN FLAW IN STEERING SYSTEM. I AM A QUALITY ENGINEER IN IMPORT AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY WITH 17 YEARS EXPERIENCE.) *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059071 · 2004-02-26 (February 26, 2004)
CAR PULLED SEVERLY TO LEFT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. TOYOTA'S FIRST ATTEMPT LESSENED LEFT HAND PULL. TOYOTA'S SECOND ATTEMPT ELIMINATED PULL, BUT NOW STEERING IS SLOPPY. TOYOTA WANTS TO TAKE CAR AND "LOOK AT IT AGAIN." SINCE THEY CANNOT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY ROOT CAUSE AND DEFINITIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION, I HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM A 3RD "CHANCE AT IT." I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND AM NOW ASKING FOR TOYOTA TO BUY BACK. THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER NON-SAFETY RELATED PROBLEMS WITH CAR. IT APPEARS THIS RE-DESIGN WAS NOT READY FOR MARKET LAST SEPTEMBER. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060004 · 2004-02-28 (February 28, 2004)
CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. IT IS VERY SEVERE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CAR SEEMS TO BE FIGHTING FOR CONTROL. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY STEER RIGHT TO AVOID DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10060004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061154 · 2004-02-23 (February 23, 2004)
LAWYER REPRESENTING CONSUMER STATING THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *LA *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062545 · 2004-03-18 (March 18, 2004)
2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA PULLS TO LEFT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS DESPITE WHEEL ALIGNMENT ON-SPEC. HAS DONE SO SINCE PURCHASED DEC 2003.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062772 · 2004-03-21 (March 21, 2004)
SINCE PURCHASING MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT IT'S STEERING AND HOW UNSAFE IT FEELS TO DRIVE. PULLS TO THE LEFT FREQUENTLY, AND THE RIGHT LESS FREQUENTLY. STEERING IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE, AND FEELS UNSAFE. CAR SLIDES INTO OTHER LANES, AS IF ON ICE...ESPECIALLY WHEN PASSED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER REPAIRED A SLIGHT FAULT WITH SOME RINGS BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, IT ONLY SLIGHTLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. STEERING IS MORE CONTROLLED, BUT CAR STILL DRIFTS INTO OTHER LANES. CAR ALSO ROCKS WHEN IN A PARKED POSITION, IF …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065621 · 2004-04-06 (April 6, 2004)
I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JANUARY 2004, AND I STARTED COMPLAINING THE NEXT DAY. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING INTO ANOTHER LANE WHEN GOING OVER 60 MPH, LIKE I DROVE OVER SOMETHING SLIPPERY LIKE ICE. IT ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND SOMETIMES TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN MY MIND, BUT I NOW SEE IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT. IS LEMON LAW A POSSIBILITY? I FEEL VERY UNSAFE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065902 · 2004-04-10 (April 10, 2004)
PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. EVER SINCE THE DAY I PICKED IT UP THE CAR HAS DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. NOW WITH 9000 MILE ON IT ,IT HAS STARTED TO PULL RIGHT ONCE IN A WHILE. THE DEALER HAS RE-ALINED THE FRONT END 5 TIMES AND I HAVE ALSO HAD A PRIVATE SHOP DO IT ONCE . THE DEALER HAS COMPLETED THE WORK WHICH TOYOTA SENT OUT ON A BULLETIN HOWEVER IT STILL DRIFTS. TOYOTA SENT AN ENGINEER UP FROM CHICAGO TO DRIVE MY CAR, HE TOLD ME THAT ALL TOYOTA'S ARE DESIGNED TO DRIFT LEFT DUE TO ROAD CROWN. LOOKING AT ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS ,I FEEL HE WAS JUS…
Owner-reported narrative. 278 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065902 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V539000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2011-11-09 (November 9, 2011)
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 AVALON VEHICLES; 2004 AND 2005 CAMRY, CAMRY SOLARA, HIGHLANDER, AND SIENNA VEHICLES, 2006 HIGHLANDER HYBRID; 2004 AND 2005 LEXUS ES330 AND RX330; AND 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2004 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH THE 1MZ-FE OR 3MZ-FE ENGINE. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE AGENT APPLIED BETWEEN THE OUTER RING AND THE TORSIONAL RUBBER DAMPER (INNER RING) IN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THE ADHESIVE IS INSUFFICIENT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OUTER RING MAY BECOME MISALIGNED AND IT MAY NOT PROPERLY ROTATE WITH THE INNER RING, CAUSING NOISE AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY DISCHARGE INDICATOR LIGHT.
Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE BELT FOR THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A SUDDEN INCREASE IN STEERING EFFORT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY TO IDENTIFY WHETHER IT WAS PRODUCED BY THE U.S. SUPPLIER. IF SO, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULLEY WITH A NEW ONE AT NO CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING EARLY JANUARY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗