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 2005 Toyota Camry Solara owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I went to back up my car out of a parking space at church. Put the car in reverse, and touched the gas pedal, and suddenly the car took off backwards at an extremely high speed and became uncontrollable. Would appear that the accelerator was stuck. The accident resulted in property, damage to another car, financial loss and mental anguish. Car was on church property at the time of the accident car was totalled by safeco, not repaired. I could not find an open recall on this car, but do not believe that should rule out the defect.
I own a 2005 Solara sle v6 automatic: pulling into a restaurant parking space, making a right turn, the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward: jumping the curb, forward onto a muddy open space, an approx. 25* incline, and into a low barrier wall between the two neighboring restaurants' parking lots (with cars on the other-side of the barrier). Fortunately, no vehicles or persons were stuck!; just, the damage to my vehicle! When it accelerated, my foot was off the accelerator petal, about to brake; stood on my ABS brake; and, the barrier, I believe, stopped most of the forward motion; hit hard; air bags did not deploy !!! Nothing like this has ever happened to me before; not in any of my past vehicles !!! It's my understanding that Toyota is denying problems with the Solara models, when they're the sporty model the Camry !!! Dealership said to contact corporate, but, this is not ... …
Previous odi 10576595, 2 April 2014/ today 25aug2017: at approx. 1910-1915 hrs I was driving south on bell ave. Approaching hurley ave, in sacramento, ca., when for the third time I have experienced vehicle acceleration while braking. The second time, I was driving in the late evening, 2200, to the movies; approaching arden and fulton, same thing, braking and the vehicle accelerated almost hitting the vehicle in front of me; that time my actions of standing on the brake and turning off the ignition key kept me from hitting the other car. This second incident happened maybe 2 months ago! I considered that maybe my sandal got caught on the brake pedal, which is why I did not make an immediate report! Now I know for sure that it is and always has been a tautly problem with the braking, engine rev/acceleration problem! Toyota denies that this problem happens with the Solara! …
Tl contact owns a 2005 Toyota Solara. While the contact was driving 30 MPH she attempted to brake and noticed that the brakes would not engage and a loud cracking sound could be heard coming from the brakes. During her attempt brake, the vehicle suddenly accelerated, causing the contact to crash into the back of a nearby vehicle. Shifting the vehicle into neutral or park gear would not stop the acceleration. No one was injured during the crash. A police report was not filed for the incident. The contact called the manufacturer and a representative was sent to diagnose the vehicle, however the contact was still waiting for the ruling on her vehicle. The current and failure mileages were approximately 40000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Toyota Solara. The contact stated while attempting to brake from approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact was unable to stop the unintended acceleration and the vehicle proceeded to drive over a curb and crash into the bushes. The door ajar warning alarm then abnormally sounded. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the dealer would inspect the event data recorder to determine why the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was available. The failure and current mileages were 57,314.
When car moving in a little up hill at 25 MPH with accelerator slightly depress engine surged forward suddenly losing control of the vehicle rolling out of the road an crash in a concrete barrier resulting driver injured and the front end of the car body damaged. At the moment of the incident the car continued moving forward dragging the brakes that were fully applied to try to stop the car. A witness driving behind the car saw all the stop lights of the car blinking but the car continued moving forward instead of stopping. The current and failure mileages were approximately 48916.
While entering a parking space the vehicle surged forward without provocation, crashing into a concrete barrier which thankfully stopped the forward motion. I don't know if related, but the vehicle has a history of hesitation and rough sequencing through gears of the automatic transmission. Advised by manufacturer this is a wireless transmission, and that there was a software update, installed 1/27/06. Condition continued thereafter though never anything approaching this. Speed at incident difficult to know and component failure best guess.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Toyota Camry Solara. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle made a roaring noise and accelerated without manual force, crashing into a fence and a tree. There were no injuries however, a police report was filed. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
1. I put the car in reverse and it accelerated suddenly, hitting another car and a post. 2. This happened the one time but I haven't gotten the car back from the body shop, yet. 3. Toyota has denied responsibility since they"examined the car carefully" in its immobile wrecked condition at the body shop and found the accelerator to be fine. I also, had after market floor mats.
My 2005 Toyota Solara convertible was involved in an accident this morning. While attempting to park the car, the engine accelerated and my car lurched forward, I applied the brakes, to no avail, and hit a parked truck head-on. My car is not part of the current recall - but I know now it is also defective and action must be taken to correct this immediately.
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 2005 Toyota Camry Solara?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2005 Toyota Camry Solara, 22% of the model year's 92 complaints. The component named most often is linkages (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Toyota Camry Solara acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2005 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 2005 Toyota Camry Solara acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 49,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 13 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries 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.