Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
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).
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. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact noticed that the dashboard was fractured. Priority Toyota hampton located at 2301 w Mercury boulevard, hampton, va 23666, [phone]) was contacted by phone and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to a recall however, there was a warranty enhancement from the manufacturer for the failure in similar vehicles. The vehicle was not taken to be inspected nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 177,151.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact stated that the dashboard on the driver's side was cracked and the glove compartment also had multiple cracks. The vehicle was taken to cerritos Toyota in cerritos, ca where it was determined that they could only replace the dashboard, and not the glove compartment. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 131,838. Updated 10/24/17
I purchased my car in 2004, new from lipton Toyota. After the warranty expired, the dashboard keeps melting and peeling and cracking. I complained to lipton Toyota to no avail. It is really unfair to pay so much for something and have it falling apart in a matter of years. I think Toyota should own this claim and fix my car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact stated that the dashboard developed a crack on the passenger side. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. Updated 09/03/15 updated 10/26/2017
A little over a year after I purchased the vehicle new, I noticed a small crack in the dashboard and stickiness of the dashboard. I asked at hollywood Toyota and got no satisfaction and think I called the 800 number too. Over the years, one half of the entire dashboard has become very noticeably cracked and damaged and now the covering at the bottom of the windows is peeling off the doors. The rest of the interior looks pristine. The dashboard cracked in my previous Camry too but not to this degree; to add insult to injury, Toyota paid me $1000 less that I would have gotten for the turn-in price because of the dashboard of the old Camry car when I sold it back to them when I bought my current Solara in 2004. At least a dozen people have come up to me and told me they also experienced similar problems with their solaras. …
2004 Toyota Camry/solora technical problem passenger door or trunk will not open. There is no key latch to enter car from outside of car on passenger side door or to open trunk. Key remote does not work , I've taken car to Toyota dealer and replaced battery, but still will not open car door or trunk. I've tried report this problem within the last past 2 years to the Toyota dealer w/ no help. They want to charge me for dioagnostic check. I feel this is the dealers responsibiliy because the passenger door or trunk does not have a key latch on outside of the door or trunk . I have a daughter who has to ride in the back seat for saftey purposes; I feel that in case of accident or emergency she would not be able to get out of / or someone would not be able to open door from outside or she cannot get out of car from inside. Please advise. [redacted]
2004 Toyota Camry/Solara technical problem passenger door or trunk will not open. There is no key latch to enter car from outside of car on passenger side or to open trunk. Key remote does not work , I've taken car to Toyota dealer and replaced battery, but still will not open car door or trunk. I've tried report this problem within the last past 2 years to the Toyota dealer w/ no help. They want to charge me for diagnostic check. I feel this is the dealers responsibility because the passenger door or trunk does not have a key latch on outside of the door or trunk . I have a daughter who has to ride in the back seat for safety purposes; I feel that in case of accident or emergency she would not be able to get out of / or someone would not be able to open door from outside or she cannot get out of car from inside. Please advise. [redacted]
Cracks in dashboard in two places on passenger side. One vertical about 3 inches long and one horizontal just above glove compartment running the entire length of glove compartment. After researching online, I see that many Toyota Solara, sienna and avalon owners are complaining of same problem with cracks in dashboard. It seems to be mainly the 2004 models, but same complaint with 2005, 2006, 2007 models. Obviously, problem is in material of dashboard and it seems since newer models do not seem to have this issue, possibly Toyota figured out the problem existed and changed suppliers or materials for dashboard. I feel like Toyota owes it to loyal Toyota owners (this is my 2nd Toyota - 1st was '95 Camry coupe which I replaced in '05 with the '04 Solara sle) to replace the cracked dashboards since it seems to be a trend in the '04 - '07 Solara, sienna, avalon.
Body complaints in other Camry Solara years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the body & structure of the 2004 Toyota Camry Solara, 22% of the model year's 161 complaints. The component named most often is body (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Camry Solara body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure 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 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles, and 29% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to body & structure 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.