2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA Steering Problems

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.

Mileage: 85,100

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING FAILURE. A MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V539000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED BY A DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

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.

Mileage: 140,100

THE CAR HAS 70100 MILES. NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES LOW CLICKS WHEN TURNING AND THERE IS A SLIGHT MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE A FAILURE OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. CONTACTED TOYOTA, THEY SAID NO RECALLS WERE ON THIS VEHICLE. ASKED TOYOTA VIA EMAIL ON 2/19 IF THE STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN RE-DESIGNED AND REQUESTED THE CORRECT PART NUMBER TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. CAR IS SITTING AWAITING AN UPDATE FROM TOYOTA AND REPAIR.

Mileage: 70,100

WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT ABOUT 25MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY BUT THEY CAR STILL IMPACTED, THEN CONTINUED OVER THE CURB. THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED FOR A WHILE AFTER THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AND THEN FINALLY RELEASED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ONLY WHEN THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND PARKED, ALTHOUGH IT REMAINED LOCKED STUBBORNLY EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS PUT IN DRIVE AND THE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR LOCKED UP WHILE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND INTO THE WATER. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND NECK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND CRASH CAUSED BY THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Mileage: 135,000

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10, 5 MILES WEST OF CRESTVIEW FLORIDA. SHE WAS IN LEFT LANE, IN WET CONDITIONS. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING THE CAR TO FLIP AND OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING THE CAR TO CREATE A HAZARD AND RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS. PASSANGERS HAD TO CRAW OUT TO AVOID FURTHER INJURY. TOTAL LOSS OF CAR AND INJURED TWO PEOPLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS ISSUED A NHTSA WARNING- ID- 11V539000. NEVER RECEIVED THIS WARNING. *JS

Mileage: 76,684

STEERING SHAFT BOLT SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. STEERING SHAFT WAS DISASSEMBLED, AND NEW SHAFT BOLT REPLACED FOR OLD RUSTED OUT SHAFT BOLT. TWO HOURS LABOR. *TR

Mileage: 62,350

WELL ITS ABOUT TIME NHTSA IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT TOYOTA. I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT UNSAFE STEERING PULL ON MY 2004 CAMERY SOLARA SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND SO HAVE LOTS OF OTHER FOLKS. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO DO A THING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 1

IM A SOLARA 2004 OWNER. I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THOUSANDS OF SOLARA'S OWNERS ARE HAVING. THE ISSUE OF PULL TO THE LEFT AND WHAT TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA ARE DOING TO RESOLVE THIS....NOTHING. TOYOTA SKIPS TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND THE NHTSA DOESN'T CARE OR JUST THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE TOYOTA TO SOLVE THIS BIG PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 6,000

MY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR COST IS $500+. A REVIEW OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN TOYOTA VEHICLES. THE REPLACEMENT SHAFT HAS BEEN REDESIGNED, INDICATING THIS PART HAD A DESIGN FLAW. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THIS PART CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN STEERING LOSS. A SAFETY RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED IN OTHER COUNTRIES (JAPAN AND CANDA, FOR EXAMPLE) FOR THE PRIUS, ALTHOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN MOST TOYOTA MODELS. A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED IN THE U.S. FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP. THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS CHECKED AND APPEARED TO BE FINE. THE DEALER PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 7,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.

Mileage: 10

I LEASED A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SEPT OF 2003. I AM SO UPSET WITH THIS CAR, IT DRIFTS TO THE LEFT, I'VE TAKEN IT BACK SO MANY TIMES, THERE IS BULLETIN ON THIS, AND THEY SAID IT WAS IN THE SPRINGS, SO THEY TOOK THE TO REPAIR IT. IT STILL DRIFT'S, I'VE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED, A COUPLE OF WHEEL ALIGNMENTS, WHICH I HAD TO PAY. AT FIRST THEY DID NOT WANT TO ALIGN IT SAYING THAT NEW CARS DON'T NEED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. SO I WENT THROUGH THE LEMON LAW. WITH NO SATISFACTION. IT'S A LEASE, TAKE THE CAR BACK. THIS WAS TO BE MY RETIREMENT CAR AND NOW I WILL NOT HAVE ONE. WILL NOT BUY THIS CAR. AFTER PAYING FOR THE CAR IN FULL WHEN THE LEASE IS UP. I AM IN TEARS, THIS IS JUST NOT FAIR. TOYOTA WAS TO BE SUCH A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED COMPANY AND ALL THEY'RE DOING IS RIPPING US OFF. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *NM

2004 TOYOTA SOLARA THIS CAR IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT 100%. I HAVE REPLACED 2 SETS OF BRAKES, ROTORS, CALIPERS BOTH RIGHT SIDE. ALSO BOTH INNER TIE ROD ENDS AND RIGHT CV SHAFT, WHEEL BEARINGS. A NEW BATTERY THE INTERIOR IS FALLING APART AND THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD PULLING TO THE RIGHT. TOYOTA REFUSED TO REPLACE MOST OF THE PARTS AS THEY SAY NOT COVERED UNDER THE NEW WARRANTY. *JB

Mileage: 14,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE IS KEPT IN CONTROL BY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED.

Mileage: 3,150

I PURCHASED A 2004 SOLARA, AND SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT OUT OF THE SHOWROOM, IT HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 6 TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF (ELGIN TOYOTA), AND WHATEVER THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED (IF ANYTHING) TO DO, NOTHING HAS HELPED. THEY WERE GOING TO GET TOYOTA REPS OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT (AT LEAST THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO) WHEN THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS, BUT NO TOYOTA REP EVER LOOKED AT IT, OR DID THEY DO ANYTHING TO TRY AND FIX IT. *NM

WITH ONLY 27,000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE STEERING KNUCKLE ON MY 2004 SOLARA BEGAN TO FAIL. THIS CAUSED LOOSENESS IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING AROUND CORNERS. PREVIOUSLY, MY CAR ALSO SUFFERED FROM THE LEFT PULL PROBLEM LISTED ON THIS SITE. I BELIEVE THE SOLARA HAS SOME VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS, BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *NM

Mileage: 27,500

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING OF MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA SPORT COUPE WITH THE V6 MOTOR. THIS CAR CONSISTENTLY PULLS TO THE LEFT. FURTHER, THE CAR VEERS HARD TO THE LEFT WHEN COMING TO A STOP JUST PRIOR TO STOPPING. IT IS NOT A BRAKE PROBLEM. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM THE WEEK I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE DEALER, LEITH TOYOTA IN RALEIGH, NC, HAD THE WHEELS ROTATED AND THEN ALIGNED ALL FOUR WHEELS. I COMPLAINED ABOUT IT AGAIN AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR HAD DEFECTIVE TIRES. THEY DID NOT DEIGN TO REPLACE THE TIRES. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO ANDERSON TOYOTA IN RALEIGH, NC, AND THEY ALIGNED THE VEHICLE, AND ALSO REPLACED A BROKEN STEERING COMPONENT THAT WAS CAUSING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. THEN THEY TOLD ME A TSB HAD "JUST COME OUT" ABOUT THE PULL TO THE LEFT, AND THEY NEEDED TO ORDER NEW SPRINGS. I AM SUPPOSED TO GO PICK UP THE AUTO TODAY, BUT I SERIOUSLY DOUBT WHETHER IT IS FIXED, OR WHETHER TOYOTA IS CONCERNED ABOUT MY WELFARE OR MY INVESTMENT. CURRENTLY, THE CAR HAS 26K MILES, AND HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASIONS FOR THIS ISSUE.*AK

Mileage: 300

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. EVEN WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A BLIND SPOT. CONSUMER HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 12

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A BROKEN RECORD - CAR PULLED SEVERELY TO LEFT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. TOYOTA'S FIRST ATTEMPT LESSENED LEFT HAND PULL. TOYOTA'S SECOND REDUCED PULL, BUT NOW STEERING IS SLOPPY. TOYOTA SAYS THEY "FIXED" IT. CAR FEELS "TWITCHY". ON CROWNED ROADS YOU WILL PULL HARD TO WHATEVER SIDE THE ROAD LEANS TO. I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE - TOO SCARY TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCES. THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER NON-SAFETY RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR - SHARP RATTLE FROM REAR PASSENGER SIDE, VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE IS SOFT. *JB

I'VE HAD A TOYOTA SOLARA SINCE LATE FEBRUARY, AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITHIN DAYS. IT PULLS TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, AND SLIPS INTO OTHER LANES USUALLY FROM THE RIGHT. ON 1 OCASSION WHEN I WAS GOING ABOUT 60 MPH, IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE AND I SLID OFF THE ROAD AND SLID INTO A TREE, SLOWLY THANK YOU GOD. IT IS VERY BAD TO DRIVE, AND I WON'T LET MY WIFE OR MY KIDS IN THIS CAR IT WAS BOUGHT FOR HER. MY DEALER CLAIMS THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG. I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THIS CAR AND FEEL SAFE. PLEASE GIVE ME A HAND. *LA

TROUBLE-DIFFICULTY STEERING, CAR KEEPS SLIPPING TO THE RIGHT. LOCAL DEALER COULDN'T FIND TROUBLE. CAR IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I'VE TALKED TO 5-6 OTHER PEOPLE WITH SOLARA, ALL BUT 1 HAD SAME PROBLEMS...PULLING RIGHT/LEFT. MINE FEELS LIKE I'M DRIVING OVER OIL SLICK, AND CAR SLIPS INTO OTHER LANE. PLEASE HELP. *AK

Mileage: 5

PURCHASED 2004 SOLARA IN SEPTEMBER 2003. HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE TWICE FOR PULLING TO THE LEFT. IT WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES WITH NO REASON FOR PROBLEM. CAR PERFORMS OK FOR A FEW DAYS THEN STARTS PULLING LEFT AGAIN. *AK ALSO - HESITATION ON ACCELERATOR. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN GIVING CAR GAS. ALSO ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE TWICE. FEEL THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A PROBLEM CAR AND AM VERY CONCERNED

PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA. EVER SINCE THE DAY I PICKED IT UP THE CAR HAS DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. NOW WITH 9000 MILE ON IT ,IT HAS STARTED TO PULL RIGHT ONCE IN A WHILE. THE DEALER HAS RE-ALINED THE FRONT END 5 TIMES AND I HAVE ALSO HAD A PRIVATE SHOP DO IT ONCE . THE DEALER HAS COMPLETED THE WORK WHICH TOYOTA SENT OUT ON A BULLETIN HOWEVER IT STILL DRIFTS. TOYOTA SENT AN ENGINEER UP FROM CHICAGO TO DRIVE MY CAR, HE TOLD ME THAT ALL TOYOTA'S ARE DESIGNED TO DRIFT LEFT DUE TO ROAD CROWN. LOOKING AT ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS ,I FEEL HE WAS JUST SINGING A STORY. TODAY I VISITED THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND DROVE TWO NEW SOLARAS. THEY BOTH DRIFTED LEFT. I DRIVE THIS CAR FOR MY JOB--30,000 MILES A YEAR IT IS TOTALLY EXHAUSTING TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY POSSIBLY DANGEROUS.

Mileage: 278

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JANUARY 2004, AND I STARTED COMPLAINING THE NEXT DAY. IT FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING INTO ANOTHER LANE WHEN GOING OVER 60 MPH, LIKE I DROVE OVER SOMETHING SLIPPERY LIKE ICE. IT ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND SOMETIMES TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN MY MIND, BUT I NOW SEE IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT. IS LEMON LAW A POSSIBILITY? I FEEL VERY UNSAFE. *LA

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2004 TOYOTA SOLARA, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT IT'S STEERING AND HOW UNSAFE IT FEELS TO DRIVE. PULLS TO THE LEFT FREQUENTLY, AND THE RIGHT LESS FREQUENTLY. STEERING IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE, AND FEELS UNSAFE. CAR SLIDES INTO OTHER LANES, AS IF ON ICE...ESPECIALLY WHEN PASSED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER REPAIRED A SLIGHT FAULT WITH SOME RINGS BEING INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, IT ONLY SLIGHTLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. STEERING IS MORE CONTROLLED, BUT CAR STILL DRIFTS INTO OTHER LANES. CAR ALSO ROCKS WHEN IN A PARKED POSITION, IF EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED, AND WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN STOPPED GOING UPWARD ON HILL...BRAKES DO NOT LOCK INTO A HOLD POSITION. *JB

2004 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA PULLS TO LEFT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS DESPITE WHEEL ALIGNMENT ON-SPEC. HAS DONE SO SINCE PURCHASED DEC 2003.*AK

Mileage: 30

CAR PULLED SEVERLY TO LEFT AT TIME OF PURCHASE. TOYOTA'S FIRST ATTEMPT LESSENED LEFT HAND PULL. TOYOTA'S SECOND ATTEMPT ELIMINATED PULL, BUT NOW STEERING IS SLOPPY. TOYOTA WANTS TO TAKE CAR AND "LOOK AT IT AGAIN." SINCE THEY CANNOT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY ROOT CAUSE AND DEFINITIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION, I HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM A 3RD "CHANCE AT IT." I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND AM NOW ASKING FOR TOYOTA TO BUY BACK. THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER NON-SAFETY RELATED PROBLEMS WITH CAR. IT APPEARS THIS RE-DESIGN WAS NOT READY FOR MARKET LAST SEPTEMBER. *AK

LAWYER REPRESENTING CONSUMER STATING THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *LA *JB

2004 SOLARA SE SPORT PULLS (DRIFTS) TO THE LEFT. ( DEALERSHIP SPENT 3 DAYS ON CAR, PERFORMED BULLETIN# ST002-04 INCLUDING ADJUSTMENT SPRING SEATS AND ALIGNMENT- STILL PULLS LEFT. ) AGREED TO DRIVE 3,000 MILES UNTIL NEXT SERVICE INTERVAL & AWAIT NEW DEVELOPMENTS FROM TOYOTA ) VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUE, I BELIEVE THERE IS A MANUFACURING OR DESIGN FLAW IN STEERING SYSTEM. I AM A QUALITY ENGINEER IN IMPORT AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY WITH 17 YEARS EXPERIENCE.) *JB

Mileage: 100