Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota Camry Solara owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
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.
Exited freeway and hit brakes to slow and stop at traffic light. The motor accelerated, the brakes were too weak to stop the vehical, and I crashed into the stopped car at the traffiic light. It seemed that the cruise control did not turn off when I pressed the brake pedal. They failed to turn the cruise control off.
I was in the process of parking my car in a parking garage when it suddenly started accelerating and hit the concrete wall of the garage. The car was drivable, but after getting it inspected, it was found to have significant frame damage and was totaled by my insurance company.
The vehicle stalls when gas is applied or it jerks when going from low speeds to high speeds, after gas is applied. The vehicle also hesitates to accelerate after full stops. I went to a Toyota Camry dealer, sansone Toyota located at 90-100 route 1 north in avenel, nj 07001. They found that the car is shifting abnormally and so they updated calibration software in the vehicle. After service at sansone Toyota, the car still jerks when switching from low speeds (like 20 MPH) to higher speeds (like 60 MPH). Sometimes it jerks very violently and it always hesitates when gas is applied, after full stops (like at a stop sign or a red light). In addition, the vehicle sometimes accelerates, a little, when I apply breaks with the intend to slow down. …
Time & place of accident 9:30a.m. 8-17-09 toll brothers ironwood model/sales office parking lot. Updated 04/20/2010. After entering sales models parking lot from watson way, I was braking at approximately 5 MPH slowing to park next to handicapped parking space. Suddenly, I noticed the engine RPM's accelerating rapidly. I tried to shift auto in to park position as the auto jumped cement abutments stops, veered right (north) down sidewalk knocking down small tree in landscaped area, veered towards drivers side of red Jeep wagon, corrected towards walkway (west) and swiped drivers side front bumper of red Jeep. Toyota came to stop after hitting and becoming impaled on top of stairwell walls in front of Jeep. I was transported to chapman medical center in orange ca by seth ring senior project manager for toll brothers and was checked for muscle strain left forearm over all o.k. …
On September 28, 2009 my mother was driving her 2004 Toyota Solara and had an accident. The car jumped the curb, hit a tree, a lamp post, and crashed into a stone sign. She was taken to the hospital where they found a large bruise on her arm. The doctors sent her for a scan right away, but she had a stroke and never recovered. She died four days later. I realize that the current Toyota accelerator recall does not involve the Solara at this time, but our family is now suspicious. A cause of my mother's accident has not be determined. She died before the police were able to ask her about the accident. The car is still smashed up and has not been repaired. Should we investigate this matter further? Tw* updated 03/14/10 updated 07/26/10 update 9/15/11
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly increased acceleration. The brake pedal traveled to the floorboard upon being depressed and failed to respond after repeated attempts made by the contact. The contact then crashed into a tree and a row of bushes. The vehicle continued to accelerate and then crashed into a brick house. The air bags filed to deploy with the impact. The front seat passenger suffered injuries to the left side of her body. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for investigation. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 33,265. Updated 12/04/13 updated 12/9/2013
Dt*: the contact stated while reversing the vehicle parked in the garage with the brake applied, it suddenly lurched backwards at high speeds crashing into another vehicle. After the initial crash, the vehicle continued accelerating in reverse across the street and crashed into a neighboring house which brought the vehicle to a stop. The contact was wearing a seat belt, and no injuries were sustained. There was extensive damage to the rear of the vehicle. The police were alerted and a report was taken. A field technical specialist from the manufacturer inspected the vehicle. The representative was unable to determine the cause of the incident.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Acceleration complaints in other Camry Solara years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara, 17% of the model year's 161 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Camry Solara acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara, though it has 1 recall for other components. 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 2004 Toyota Camry Solara acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 16 crashes, 0 fires and 7 injuries and 1 death to speed control & acceleration 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.