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1999 Toyota Camry Solara

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Toyota Camry Solara do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 83.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

45 reports with mileage · 39 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

13 reports
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97,000 miles · May 4, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND RUSTING IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. EXHAUST RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. FRONT FLEX PIPE RUSTED. CAT CONVERTER RUSTED . MUFFLER AND BACK EXHAUST PIPE RUSTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328829

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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 P…

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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 2002 SOLARA WITH SAME PROBLEM. MY PARENTS HAVE 01 SOLARA-NO PROBLEMS REPORTED. MY OLD LEXUS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS MY 1989 CELICA WAS A GREAT CAR. WOULD NOT OWN AGAIN-WOULD LIKE TO SELL NUT CONCERNED FOR SAFETY OF ANY FUTURE OWNER(S.) *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318752

115,000 miles · Jan 29, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingCrashInjury

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 1999 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHEN CROSSING HIGHWAY AT INTERSECTION, THE CAR HESITATED ON ACCELERATION AND SHE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR. SHE STATES SHE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO CROSS BUT "THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T GO". ALSO, DESPITE IMPACTS FROM SEVERAL ANGLES, NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303206

47,109 miles · Dec 2, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAD MY CAR SERVICED BEFORE LEAVING FOR OUR TRIP TO FLORIDA AND WITHIN 2 HOURS OF DRIVING FROM MY HOME THE WATER PUMP WENT AND BLEW THE ENGINE. WE HAD TO LEAVE OUR CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP IN WATERTOWN AND RENT A CAR FOR OUR TRIP. IN 2004, WE ALSO FAILED THE EMISSION TEST TWICE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175000

90,000 miles · Oct 17, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED BUT WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED LIGHT HEADEDNESS AND FATIGUE, AS WELL AS, MUSCLE ACHES AND LOSS OF COORDINATION BELIEVED TO BE FROM FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER ON THREE OCCA…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ILLUMINATED BUT WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED LIGHT HEADEDNESS AND FATIGUE, AS WELL AS, MUSCLE ACHES AND LOSS OF COORDINATION BELIEVED TO BE FROM FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10171083

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087741

104,000 miles · Apr 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10066730

130,000 miles · Mar 11, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

I HAVE READ A REPORT IN USA TODAY NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE CAMRY SOLARA SURGING AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS MYSELF. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MOST OF MY TRAVEL IS AT THESE SPEEDS. AT THE TIME I DID NOT NOTICE THE SPEDOMETER OR THE TACHOMETER INCREASE, IT JUST FELT LIKE I GOT A SUDDEN PUSH FROM …

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I HAVE READ A REPORT IN USA TODAY NEWSPAPER ABOUT THE CAMRY SOLARA SURGING AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS MYSELF. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MOST OF MY TRAVEL IS AT THESE SPEEDS. AT THE TIME I DID NOT NOTICE THE SPEDOMETER OR THE TACHOMETER INCREASE, IT JUST FELT LIKE I GOT A SUDDEN PUSH FROM BEHIND. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT ANY CERTAIN TIME, ROAD CONDITION, WEATHER OR ANYTHING ELSE. EACH TIME ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS USING MY CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO I NOTICE IN THE REPORT THAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I MYSELF WAS JUST INVOLVED IN A MINOR CRASH RECENTLY WHERE AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. I HAD BEGUN TO MOVE INTO THE SPOT THAT THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME WAS MOVING OUT OF. WE WERE IN THE RIGHT TURN LANE, STOPPED, WAITING TO TURN. AS I MOVED I LOOKED LEFT FOR CLEARANCE AND WHEN I TURNED BACK, LOOKING RIGHT, SHE HAD STOPPED. MAYBE 5-10 FEET AHEAD OF ME. WELL I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I COULD FEEL THE PEDAL PUSLE FROM THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. I WASN'T GOING MORE THAN 5MPH MAX. I HAD JUST STARTED TO MOVE. I DON'T EVEN THINK I TOUCHED THE GAS, JUST LET OFF OF THE BRAKE TO COAST AHEAD INTO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS AN UNOCCUPIED SPOT. AT THE TIME IT SEEMED ODD TO ME THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO STOP IN SUCH A SHORT DISTANCE ESPECIALLY WHILE GOING AS SLOW AS I WAS. BUT AFTER YOUR CAR GETS CRUMPLED YOU KIND OF FORGET ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE EXCEPT THE VEHICLE AND DRIVERS CONDITION INVOLVED. OF COURSE I RECIEVED A TICKET FOR CARELESS DRIVING FOR BEING THE REARENDER, NOT THE REARENDEE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10061927

63,200 miles · Feb 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE BLOWN ON MY TOYOTA SOLARA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056736

66,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE WENT TO THE DEALER TODAY, ARMED WITH AN AMAZING ARRAY OF INTERNET INFORMATION. WE WERE INITIALLY SENT TO THE MAIN RECEPTIONIST WHO WHEN ASKED WHO'S HANDLING THE SLUDGE PROBLEMS? AT FIRST DIDN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THE WORD, THEN WHEN MY FIANCE PULLED OUT A WHOLE PACKET OF INFORMATION AND PUT IT IN FRONT OF HER A…

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WE WENT TO THE DEALER TODAY, ARMED WITH AN AMAZING ARRAY OF INTERNET INFORMATION. WE WERE INITIALLY SENT TO THE MAIN RECEPTIONIST WHO WHEN ASKED WHO'S HANDLING THE SLUDGE PROBLEMS? AT FIRST DIDN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THE WORD, THEN WHEN MY FIANCE PULLED OUT A WHOLE PACKET OF INFORMATION AND PUT IT IN FRONT OF HER AND SAID THIS PROBLEM, WHICH I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF SHE THEN AID, YOU TOOK ME OFF GUARD AND THEN STOPPED THE GSM OR SM AND ASKED HIM TO TALK TO US. WHEN IN HIS OFFICE, WE SAID, WE BOUGHT A CAR FROM YOU AND HAVE SLUDGE AND THE CAR HAS SAT A MONTH, HE REFERRED US TO THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT. WE WALKED THOUGH THE HALL AND OVER TO REPAIR AND SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER OF THAT DEPARTMENT. HE ASKED FOR THE VIN AND THE MILEAGE, AFTER WE SAID WE HAVE A BAD SLUDGE PROBLEM. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE UP IN THE COMPUTER THEN ASKED IF ANYONE HAD REMOVED THE INTAKE TO SEE IF IT WAS SLUDGE. WE ANSWERED THAT OF COURSE WE HAD TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS, FIRST BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS AN OIL LEAK, BURNING AND CAUSING ALL THE SMOKE. BOTH MECHANICS KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT IT WAS SLUDGE, ALTHOUGH THE ONE WAS NICE ENOUGH TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS TO PROVE THERE WAS NO LEAK. WE WERE TOLD THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. AFTER TELLING THE MANAGER THAT TWO MECHANICS HAD SEEN IT, HE ASKED IF IT COULD BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE TOLD HIM, SINCE IT IS SHUDDERING AND SMOKING LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN, BOTH MECHANICS ADVISED THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE WOULD SEIZE UP, AND WE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT. HE THEN GAVE US A NUMBER TO A TOWING COMPANY FOR THE DEALERSHIP THAT WOULD TOW AT NO COST TO US TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AGREED TO LOOK AT THE CAR TOMORROW. WHEN I ASKED WHAT IT WOULD COST ME, HE SAID NOTHING, IF IT IS SLUDGE. WE'LL SEE. IF THIS MAN IS AS HONEST AS HE SEEMS, HE'S NOT ONLY RARE, BUT AMAZING. OF COURSE, HE COULD CALL IN A DAY OR TWO AND SAY IT WAS MY FAULT AND WANT OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. UNFORTUNATLLY FOR THE DEALERSHIP, I HAVE THEM.

NHTSA ODI #10070692

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.