2008 Toyota CAMRY SOLARA: complaints, problems and recalls

2008 TOYOTA SOLARA: THE VEHICLE FAILS TO DOWNSHIFT/ACCELERATE DANGEROUSLY WHEN THE THROTTLE IS DEPRESSED AT LOW RPM. FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE HESITATES/LAGS SEVERELY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10207107 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS RETRACTED AND THE COVER IS PLACED OVER IT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCES DIFFICULTY SEEING OBJECTS BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE BLIND SPOT IS CAUSED BY THE ROOF COVER, ALSO KNOWN AS BOOT, AND MAKES VISIBILITY DIFFICULT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OFFER A REPAIR, BUT STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216480 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED A NEW 2008 TOYOTA SOLARA FROM COLEMAN TOYOTA IN BETHESDA, MD. ON 1/19/08. FROM DAY 1, TRANSMISSION IS JERKY, HESITATES, HAS NOT POWER WHEN NEEDED. CAR STALLS WHEN WAITING TO TURN AND FLOODS. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 2X. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219277 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SOLARA. WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER 2-3 MINUTES. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED FOR 2-3 SECONDS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN SURGE FORWARD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 500.

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219281 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR EIGHT HOURS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE LAUNDRY ROOM, THE GARAGE, AND THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE CAUSED $200,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE HOME. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE. THE INVESTIGATORS STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE DASHBOARD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,500. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229708 at NHTSA ↗

2008 TOYOTA SOLARA DEFECTIVE DIMMING REARVIEW MIRROR. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DIMMING MIRROR WILL GO IN AND OUT OF DIMMING. THE HEADLIGHTS FROM THE CARS BEHIND ARE VERY BRIGHT THROUGH THE MIRROR AND HE HAD TO COVER THE MIRROR WITH HIS HAND. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER PERFORMING A SERIES OF TESTS, HE CONCLUDED THAT THE AUTO-DIMMING MIRROR WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10232855 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL CONSISTENTLY DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY REALIGNED THE VEHICLE TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DRIFTING WAS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC FOR THE CAMRY AND SOLARA. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,208 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,308. UPDATED 09/15/09. *JB UPDATED 10/15/08 *BF UPDATED 10/21/08. …

Owner-reported narrative. 5,208 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238379 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PADDING IN THE FRONT ARM REST OF THE VEHICLE. HE EXPERIENCED EXTREME DISCOMFORT. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC DIMMING MIRRORS DIM IN LOW-LIGHT SITUATIONS. HE CANNOT MANUALLY ADJUST THE COMPONENT. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE MIRRORS AUTO-DIMMED. VISIBILITY WAS REDUCED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO A …

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272894 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

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.