Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Toyota Camry Solara owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Toyota Camry Solara. While driving approximately 35 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle at a high rate of speed. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained unknown injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,600.
I was at a standstill and rearended by another driver going approximately 50 MPH and he did not brake. The seat belt did not engage nor did the airbags. Both cars totaled. Trunk hood popped, also rear panels bent. I sustained a head injury either on windshield or steering wheel . My firm belief is the seatbelt should have engaged and avoided the head injury.
I purchased the car new in September 1998. On December 13, 1999 I was involved in an accident. I was driving to work that morning on a major interstate, I-285 east, it was around 7:30 am and traffic was bumper to bumper. Traffic began moving and I was going approximately 40 MPH when suddenly the truck in front of me slammed on his brakes and I hit him. The nose of my care was smashed so hard that the hood crumpled into a tepee and was pushed back into the windshield causing the glass to crack. I couldn't open my doors because the impact had pushed the doors back so they overlapped the back quarter panels and were jammed. Luckily no one was hurt. This was a dead on front impact accident in a practically brand new car and the airbags did not deploy. There was not a single inch of the front end that didn't take the impact so there is no way it "missed the sensors". …
Every time that the passenger seat is moved forward to allow passengers in or out the air bag light in the vehicle starts blinking. The light will blink for around 15 days before it shuts off if the passenger seat is not moved forward for passengers during that time. The next time the passenger seat is moved forward for passengers, the cycle starts over again.
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.
My daughter was driving into starved rock national park in illinois around 4 p.m. On August 20th, 2014. She driving on the entrance drive at the speed of 10 MPH. The car suddenly started ramping up in speed causing the my daughter to start braking. The car continued gaining speed and the brakes were unable to stop the vehicle. As the car was going faster, my daughter entered the parks visitor center parking lot. While still trying to stop the vehicle, my daughter hit a parked car to the right, just clipping it causing damage to the hit car's taillight. Her car hit a car to the left then hit a parked tahoe which stopped my daughters car after being pushed 4 parking spaces. We complained to Toyota corp. They inspected the car and said it was mechanically sound. They admitted after further discussion the accelerator cable was frozen. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Toyota Camry Solara. While driving 35 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The failure recurred whenever the vehicle was operated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 00e010000 (interior lighting). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Nothing happened yet, since I cannot know for sure if these are bad air bags since car was in accident and repaired with replacement air bags in past, so no way to find out unless Toyota pays to check them first and maybe replaced. Worried that replacement air bag are defective or dangerous no one is addressing this issue why??? My replacements need to be checked by serial number???
Passenger air bag warning light comes on frequently. Within the first year, the air bag light came on and stayed on. The dealership indicated that there was a failure with the airbag assembly and replaced the entire passenger seat and assembly. Since then, the light just comes on randomly and stays on until I take it to a dealership. Each time, they fix "something". Several of the times, they have told me that the wires underneath the seat come disconnected over time. They then proceed to "fix" it. However, it seems to happen again within several months. One time, they said it was a loose connector from the steering. All times, the dealership has fixed this without charging me. This last time, the dealership told me that the problem was the loose cable under the seat again, but because the prior problem was not this same thing (e.g. …
Airbag light flashed on/off back in aug. 2003. I took it to the dealership to be repaired and thought that was the end of the problem. Almost a year later in July 2004 my airbag light started flashing on/off again, I then returned it to the dealership where once again it was "fixed or repaired" now, two months later I'm having again the same problem. I don't think Toyota knows how to fix this issue and it's a real concern to think that if there's a possible accident or inncodent the air bag(s ) May not deploy. I'm frustrated with this problem and am filing a complaint in hopes that maybe someone will listen or pay attention. This could get to be a costly issue that never gets resolved. I know I'm not the only person to have filed a complaint about this issue. This is a defective vehicle with a frustrating problem.
Airbag complaints in other Camry Solara years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1999 Toyota Camry Solara?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the air bags of the 1999 Toyota Camry Solara, 27% of the model year's 84 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Toyota Camry Solara airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1999 Toyota Camry Solara. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Toyota Camry Solara airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 117,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.