Most common 2003 Toyota Camry Solara problems
Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Camry Solara complaints by model year
Best Camry Solara years: 2003, 2001, 2002. Years to avoid: 2004, 2007, 2006. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2003 Toyota Camry Solara:
Throttle control system
The Lexus models were the subject of defect petition (dp) 04-003.twelve odi complaints are duplicative to Toyota reports, including the two minor crashes.the v6 equipped solara models have been excluded because they do not contain the subject throttle control system.Toyota introduced electronic throttle control (etc) on the subject vehicles beginning in model year (my) 2002.odi opened the investigation to determine…
Engine surging
The petitioner owns a my 2006 Toyota camry with a 4-cylinder engine that was purchased new in January 2006. The petitioner also previously owned a my 2005 camry. He alleges that both vehicles exhibited vehicle engine surging, which he described as a short duration (1 to 2 second) increase in engine speed occurring while the accelerator pedal is not depressed.
Vehicle speed control
In a letter dated July 8, 2005, and after experiencing two incidents (and one crash) where he alleges his model year (my) 2002 camry accelerated without driver input, mr. Jordan ziprin petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA) office of defects investigation (odi) to commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect within the etc system in my 2002 to 2005 Toyota and Lexus…
What 2003 Toyota Camry Solara owners say
Air bags
I was involved in a traffic accident in which the front of my 2003 Toyota Solara hit a car that was parked in front of me. Road conditions were snowy and icy. Because of this, rear-ending the car in front of me was unavoidable. I was unpleasantly surprised that my airbags did not deploy upon impact. When I bought the car I never thought I would have an accident; however I was assured by the salesman that the car was safe, and airbag deployment was part of the outstanding customer protection Toyota offers. The outcome of the airbags failing to deploy was that I was taken to the hospital and suffered discomfort since upon impact I slammed into the steering wheel. I believe this could have been avoided if the airbags had deployed upon impact as they are supposed to do. The Solara, of course, was totaled. I would greatly appreciate your looking into this matter.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry Solara convertible. While driving 50 MPH and attempting to avoid hitting an animal the driver crashed into a stationary wooden power pole. The front passenger side on the vehicle was damaged; however, the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained numerous injuries such as 10 broken ribs, numerous back injuries, injured spleen, an injury and cut to left bicep. The driver also sustained numerous bruises and broken bones in her right hand. The vehicle was towed and was destroyed. The contact stated that the air bags were defective since they failed to deploy. The current and failure mileage was 90,000.
Speed control & acceleration
When backing out of the driveway the car suddenly accelerated and at a high rate of speed shot across the street hitting the curb blowing the tires and hitting a telephone pole and tore up the neighbors lawn before coming to a stop due to the lack of traction. My wife was stepping on the brakes and the car continued to accelerate. We had owned the car for 5 years and never had any issue with it. I looked and the mat had not moved in any way to impede the foot pedal. We contacted Toyota and let them examine the vehicle and the reply said it was due to an aftermarket floor mat. They did not reveal what the computer data recorded. They refused to acknowledge it could of been anything else.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Toyota Camry Solara. On June 21, 2007, the vehicle surged while pulling into a parking space at 5 MPH. The vehicle accelerated so quickly that it whipped the contact's head back and left skid marks on the ground. She had to remove her foot from the brake and depress the brake pedal again before the vehicle finally stopped. The contact stated that there was an investigation (# dto6003 - vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal) that was closed in April. The contact stated that she would take her vehicle to the dealer the following morning. The current and failure mileages were 67,000.
Electrical system
I have a 2003 Toyota Solara sle v6. I have been having an issue with my car, where the speedometer stops working while driving. It happens frequently, but without warning. Sometimes the speedometer will go to zero for 1-3 seconds, other times it will stay there for 10 minutes. I have also had times where the car stops accelerating. I will be driving 65 on the freeway, then the speedometer goes to zero, and all the sudden my car starts losing speed even though my foot is pushing on the gas pedal and RPM's are up to 4,000. Sometimes it will snap out of its "funk" and regain speed, other times I have to pull over and restart my car to get it moving again. These problems have been occurring occasionally over the past year (since I bought the car), but within the last month it has constantly been happening (every time I drive) and I have taken it to the mechanic 3 times over the last month. …
My Toyota Solara lse, 2003, with 125,000 miles has electrical problems and broken mount and struts problems. 1. My rear mount and struts broke and I was told by an auto mechanic it May cause a seriouse accident if not repaired. As soon as I repaired the problem in the rear, immediatly the following day front mount and struts broke. It is very expensive to fix. 2. My headlights keep going out monthly and I cannot tell my lights are not on because lights on the dashboard are out and some warning lights are on and automechanics can't get them off (although the warning lights are not linked to any actual problems); 3. My defroster is not working due to an electrical malfunction as well. I live in chicago and cannot see out of the rear windown in the winter months.
2003 Toyota Camry Solara engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Toyota Camry Solara a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Camry Solara rates better than average: 64% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Camry Solara at the same age. It is one of the best Camry Solara years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Toyota Camry Solara?
The air bags — 8 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the speed control & acceleration (4) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Camry Solara have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Toyota Camry Solara. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Camry Solara?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2001 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2007 and 2006. See the full Toyota Camry Solara years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Camry Solara problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 35% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.