2007 Toyota CAMRY SOLARA: complaints, problems and recalls

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2007 TOYOTA SOLARA WITH WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS CAST A DISTINCTIVE SHADOW AND LINE WITH DARKNESS AT TOP AND LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM. AND DEPENDING ON THE CONTOUR OF THE ROAD AT TIMES IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AND PRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DRIVING HAZARD. AMD OFTEN ON COMING TRAFFIC THINK I HAVE MY HIGH BEAMS ON AND THEY PUT THEIR HIGH BEAMS ON BLINDING ME TO ROAD AHEAD. AFTER ARBITRATION WITH A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE THE SITUATION HAS NOT BEEN AD…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182898 at NHTSA ↗

MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY INTO FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC, THE CAR HESITATED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE IT DOWNSHIFTED AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE. ON-COMING CARS HAD TO BRAKE AND HONKED AT ME. THAT CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10189835 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA SOLARA SLE. I EXPERIENCED THROTTLE / SHIFT LAG WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A DEAD START.THE TACHOMETER WILL JUMP TO 1500 OR HIGHER RPMS BEFORE THE CAR MOVES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10193523 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA SOLARA. ACCORDING TO THE CONTACT, THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THERE IS A SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME FOR THE SEAT BELTS. HE STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THAT FEATURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THAT SAFETY FEATURE. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER VERIFIED HIS VIN AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE THAT FEATURE. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY REPEATED THEIR PREVIOUS STATEMENT. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT INDI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10194970 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A MAJOR DELAY AT TIMES WHEN THE CAR IS ASKED TO ACCELERATE- IF GOING APPROX 20 MPH AND WANT TO ACCELERATE INTO FAST LANE YOU NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE THE CAR TO RESPOND TO THE DEPRESSED GAS PEDDLE. THE CAR ALSO APPEARS TO DROP A GEAR OCC WHEN SLOWING DOWN. TOYOTA STATES THIS IS BECAUSE THE CAR HAS LEARNED THE WAY YOU LIKE TO DRIVE AND RESPONDS THAT WAY. WON'T ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THIS DANGER AND UNPREDICTABILITY HAS ALWAYS ACTED THIS WAY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196029 at NHTSA ↗

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A BRAND NEW TOYOTA SOLARA 2007 IN APRIL 2007. SINCE THEN I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER FOR MORE THEN 5 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS FOR THE SAME DEFECT. BUT THEY CANNOT REPAIR IT. I REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATE ON ACCELERATION ON ALL OCCASION. WHENEVER I MAKE A TURN (LET OR RIGHT TURN) THE CAR WILL "PAUSE" AND LOST IN POWER, LOST OF TRANSMISSION FOR SECONDS. THE CAR SIMPLY "RETARDED" AND SIMPLY ROLL ON THE ROAD WITHOUT TRANSMISSION CONTROL...WHENEVER I NEED TO STEP ON GAS TO ESCAPE FROM A SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY, THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199038 at NHTSA ↗

I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY SOLARA. IT HESITATES ALL THE TIME GOING AROUND CORNERS, HIGHWAY ACCELERATION IS TERRIBLE. I TALKED TO TOYOTA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE NO HELP. THEY HAVE POSTED A BULLETIN TO KIND OF FIX THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE V6 SOLARA, AND THE CAMRY. THEY HAVE NOTHING FOR THE 4 CYL. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THE CARS TRANSMISSION IS RESPONDING THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I KEEP TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO RESET THE TRANSMISSION BACK TO THE FACTORY SETTINGS, BUT THAT ON…

Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203113 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED TOYOTA SOLARA AUG, 2007. TIRES ARE @ 15K MILES AND THE TREAD IS SHOT. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY STATED SEE MANUFACTURER FOR WARRANTY. TOYOTA STATED THEY WOULD SELL ME NEW TIRES AND THEN WARRANTY TREADWARTE. WENT TO BRIDESTONE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT HONOR TREAD WARRANTY. SO BASICALLY IF YOU BUY A NEW CAR YOU GET NO TIRE WARRANTY. I THINK THIS IS CONSUMER FRAUD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209691 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-12-21 (December 21, 2006)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CURTAIN SIDE AIR BAGS (CSA), THE CSA TETHER STRAP LOCATED IN THE FRONT PILLARS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ROUTED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

Consequence: IF THE TETHER STRAP IS NOT CORRECTLY ROUTED, THE FRONT SIDE OF THE CSA MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED, WHICH MAY RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT OCCUPANT PROTECTION DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH OR ROLLOVER EVENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH CSA FRONT TETHER STRAPS, AND IF NECESSARY, REROUTE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 21, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.

Reported: 2016-06-02 (June 2, 2016)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

Consequence: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.