Most common 2004 Toyota Camry Solara problems
Share of the 161 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 →
2004 Toyota Camry Solara recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 Lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 Lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from June 1, 2004 through March 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the U.S. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara:
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 2004 Toyota Camry Solara owners say
Body & structure all 36 →
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact stated that the dashboard started to crack exposing the air bag. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Pulling into a disabled retail parking space at very low speed, car lurched forward and hit the metal parking pole, damaging the front bumper and hood. Eyewitness to collision incident confirms this. Car was barely in motion and my foot was on the brake. I received whiplash requiring medical attention and injury to my right knee. Automotive repair company states impact was so severe that frame was bent, resulting in the insurance company declaring vehicle a total loss. However, the air bag never deployed even though the bumper damage occurred right at the air bag location on driver side. Toyota Solara air bag should have deployed. The sudden lurch forward should not have occurred since my foot was on the brake at the time and barely moving. Pictures available. Police report not possible as they do not come to private parking property. …
Steering all 30 →
On March 6, 2016, moving west on a residential street at about 20 MPH 10:45 p.m., less than 500' from home. Crystal clear night. Car freezes, steering & brakes lock, car lurches forward and keeps much higher speed. With both arms, I pulled car from head-on with utility pole to very high palm tree. Head-on ith tree, airbag releases, white smoke coming from hood. I turned car off, took keys, car engine continues as did horn blowing & white smoke. It took three aaa trucks to remove car from tree trunk, with steering and brakes still locked. Car was alone on a neighborhood road moving west, driver alone, very residential with people walking dogs, pilots and stews running, joggers and pups and cats prowling. No one was around. A guard from a gated community on the street's north side was the 1st to appear. Eventually 4 poloce officers were there, one talked to me often.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Toyota Camry Solara. While driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed. As a result, the contact cashed into a palm tree. The air bags deployed. The contact was not injured and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer collision center. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,100.
Speed control & acceleration all 27 →
February 1, 2017, turning into a parking lot at 700 e. Main st., grass valley, ca, turned right into a parking space and as the brake was applied, the car surged forward, jumping a cement curb, the fender grazing a tree on the left, coming to an abrupt stop when it hit the cement base of a light pole. Fluids were leaking from beneath the car, the front bumper was hanging off, the driver side door caught as it was opened. The car was towed to a body shop. This was the second incident, with the same event occurring 2 years prior but with less surge and no car body damage. Both incidents reported to Toyota immediately. Toyota investigated and both times found no cause for the unintended acceleration. Since the car hit a stationary object I am found "at fault" by my insurance, which is annoying. I did not have the car repaired since it is clearly unsafe. …
Pulling into a disabled retail parking space at very low speed, car lurched forward and hit the metal parking pole, damaging the front bumper and hood. Eyewitness to collision incident confirms this. Car was barely in motion and my foot was on the brake. I received whiplash requiring medical attention and injury to my right knee. Automotive repair company states impact was so severe that frame was bent, resulting in the insurance company declaring vehicle a total loss. However, the air bag never deployed even though the bumper damage occurred right at the air bag location on driver side. Toyota Solara air bag should have deployed. The sudden lurch forward should not have occurred since my foot was on the brake at the time and barely moving. Pictures available. Police report not possible as they do not come to private parking property. …
2004 Toyota Camry Solara engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara a good car?
Based on 161 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Camry Solara rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Camry Solara at the same age. It is one of the Camry Solara years we suggest avoiding. 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 2004 Toyota Camry Solara?
The body & structure — 36 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the steering (30) and speed control & acceleration (27).
How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara, the most recent from November 9, 2011 (engine and engine cooling). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 2004 Toyota Camry Solara problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 46% 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.