2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA Structure Problems

Dash is cracked all over, including where airbag is on front right passenger side, causing airbag light to stay lit. This is a safety hazard and should be repaired or replaced by Toyota. I was already informed by Toyota when I had called that there had been a recall on this matter for cosmetic reasons several years ago and now it was “too late” for them to be responsible, but I did not know of that condition/recall. This is not only a cosmetic issue, this is a safety concern and needs to be addressed immediately. I was informed by an employee at the number I was given that safety issues do not fall under the statue of limitations for recalls. I’ve been trying to get a response from the National Highway Safety Division but I haven’t received an actual determination as to whether Toyota had to replace the dash or not. Please help with this urgent safety concern. I can be reached at [XXX]. Thank you INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Apparently Toyota had a recall for the dash of their camry solara models back in 2015 for dashes that melt, bubble, become extremely tacky/sticky & peel when temperatures rise. However, I never received any notice of said dash recall for which my 2005 Toyota Solara qualified for, nor did I hear of any recalls in my local area on any MN news stations. A melting, sticky dash causes glare that is highly reflective reflecting the sun up into the driver's face. The glare from this design defect has caused accidents & injuries. Not only is a melting dash a safety issue but it's also non-compliant as a design defect/defective part with the standards of Toyota assembled parts. Safety & compliance recalls have no expiration date so why is Toyota not honoring that & replacing design defects/defective parts as such for an original owner of a recalled Toyota such as myself? Recalls, especially safety issue recalls, should not have "expiration" dates, especially when it's too easy for a consumer not to receive any notification or be beware of recalls. A consumer like myself should not have to wait until injury or a possible death occurs for everyone to do the right thing & get these dashes replaced. This is a 1) product liability issue of Toyota's defective parts/design defect & 2) safety issue with known injuries/accidents recorded because of such melting/glaring dashboard. These melting dash safety issues have been reported to NHTSA before & yet a nationwide recall hasn't been done. Local 2 discovered four accidents reported to NHTSA back in 2014 alone that drivers said were caused by the glare of their melting dashboards. I never received any supposed recall back in 2015 & didn't find out about said recall until more recently. All I want is dash replacement before any injuries occur. All too often, whey does it take a large body count of reports to NHTSA to get a nationwide safety recall when the purpose of safety recalls is to prevent deaths and injuries BEFORE they occur.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC TOYOTA (8510 TYLER BLVD., MENTOR, OH 44060) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE DASHBOARD NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO AN UNKNOW RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

HAD A SEIZURE WENT OFF THE ROAD VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL TREES AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR IS TOTALED. DRIVES HEAD HIT STEERING WHEEL AND HAD HEAD AND FACIAL DAMAGE. WAS ON CITY STREET TURNING TO GET ON HIGHWAY, HE HAS BEEN IN ICU FOR 3 DAYS. HAVE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT..

Mileage: 170,199

NOTICED ABOUT 5 OR 6 MONTHS AGO THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD THIS STICKY, GUMMY RESIDUE AND NOTHING I DID WOULD REMOVE IT. THE RESIDUE PRODUCES A GLARE BETWEEN THE DASHBOARD AND THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IMPAIRS THE DRIVER'S SIGHT. ALSO NOTICED 2 DIFFERENT CRACKS AS WELL. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF, PARKED IN A CLOSED GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE. THERE'S NO REASON I SHOULD BE EXPERIENCING THESE TYPES OF ISSUES UNLESS TOYOTA USED SUB-PAR PRODUCTS DURING MANUFACTURING, WHICH I NOW KNOW IS THE CASE. THIS IS MY FIRST ATTEMPT IN SEEKING RESOLUTION.

Mileage: 107,000

I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2006. AROUND 2011 I NOTICED A STICKINESS AND A FEW CRACKS IN THE DASH BOARD AND THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL. SINCE, I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MANY TOYOTA SOLARAS FROM YEARS 2004-2008. NOW THE CRACKS ARE TOO MANY TO COUNT, THE STICKINESS IS HORRIBLE AND THE SKIN IS PEALING LEAVING THIS BLACK UNDER SURFACE THAT IS EVEN MORE STICKY. ALSO THE WOOD FINISH IS BUBBLING AND CHIPPING ON THE DASH BOARD AND DOORS. SO I DID SOME INVESTIGATING AND IT LEAD ME TO THIS SITE. IF IT'S NOT ALREADY, THIS DEFINITELY SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

DASHBOARD IS CRUMBLING. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

WE HAVE BEEN THE SOLE OWNERS OF THE CAR AND HAVE LIVED IN MIAMI, FL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF OWNERSHIP. NOT LONG AFTER TIME OF PURCHASE, WE BEGAN TO NOTICE THE SAME COMPLAINT SO MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT: THE MELTING AND CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD. ALTHOUGH THE CRACKS AND SHINE ARE UNSIGHTLY AND THE STICKINESS IS BOTHERSOME, THE MOST TROUBLESOME RESULT OF THIS DEFECT IS THE GLARE IT CASTS ON THE WINDSHIELD. ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SUN, THE GLARE WITHOUT A DOUBT HINDERS VISIBILITY TO A DANGEROUS DEGREE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT COVER A REPLACEMENT OF THE DASHBOARD. THEREFORE, I STRONGLY URGE THE NHTSA TO INITIATE A RECALL FOR THIS PART, AS I AM FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT IT POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION/PROOF OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

SEVERAL LARGE CRACKS IN THE DASH PAD THAT GO ENTIRELY ACROSS THE DASH AND THE AREA BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. CONCERN IS THE AIRBAG DEPLOYING WITHOUT A CRASH. THOUGH I ENTERED AN INCIDENT DATE THIS IS JUST AN APPROXIMATE TIME AS TO WHEN THE DASH BEGAN TO SHOW THE CRACKING.... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 55,000

I GOT IN MY CAR AND NOTICED THERE WERE SEVERAL CRACKS IN MY DASHBOARD FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE ACROSS TO THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THEY ARE SPREADING OUT AND ARE STARTING TO SEPARATE AND ARE NOW IN THE AREA OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR

Mileage: 72,700

STICKY DASHBOARD...GLARE ON WINDOW IS QUITE DANGEROUS. REPORTED TO TOYOTA DEALER AND SAID THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I PLAN TO KEEP MY CAR FOR MANY MORE YEARS . I LIVE IN MIAMI AND I'M AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENTWITHTHE GLARE. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD'S VINYL COVER FRACTURED. THE CRACK INITIATED AT THE DRIVER SIDE AND SPREAD TO THE AIR BAG AND GLOVE COMPARTMENT AREA. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 10/22/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/21/2015 *JS

Mileage: 47,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA CAMRY SOLARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DETERIORATING AND CRACKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Mileage: 12,000

MY DASHBOARD IS EXTREMELY STICKY AND IS REFLECTING THE SUN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I LIVE IN MIAMI SO THE SUN IS ALWAYS REFLECTING OFF THE DASHBOARD. MY CAR IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF THE ROAD. I SPOKE TO A MANAGER AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO CALLED ABOUT WHAT COULD BE DONE. THE COST IS 900.00 FOR A NEW DASHBOARD. I AM A TEACHER AND SINGLE MOTHER WHO CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS MYSELF. I PLAN TO KEEP MY CAR FOR A LONG TIME SO I NEED OPTIONS BESIDES PAYING OUT OF POCKET. IF THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT..I WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED ON THE LIST. *JS

Mileage: 97,554

DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. HAS SLOWED DOWN IN PROGRESS AFTER BEING TREATED WITH INDUSTRIAL AIRCRAFT SOLUTION. MANY REPORTS CONCERNING CRACKING TOYOTA DASHBOARDS LISTED ON GOOGLE. OTHER SOLARAS IN MY BUILDING HAVE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO "FESS UP" AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. SHOULD CONSIDER CHANGING CAR BRANDS. *JS

Mileage: 47,000

I OWN A 2005 SOLARA CONVERTIBLE. AROUND 5 YEARS AGO MY DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK. IT IS SO BAD NOW THAT THE LINING OF THE DASH IS STARTING TO SHOW THROUGH. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND VERY WELL MAINTAINED. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND IT HAS DONE THE SAME THING. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE REAR DEFROST WAS NOT WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND ASSUMED THAT IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT WILLING TO MAKE THE PROBLEM RIGHT FOR ME SO I, TO THIS DAY, IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

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 ... BLAME IT ON THE DRIVER FOR INCORRECT MATS; MINE ARE THE ORIGINALS HOOKED UNDER THE FRONT SEATS !!! THIS IS TRANSMISSION CONTROL LINKAGE TO THE ACCELERATOR PETAL !? WHEN I BACKED UP, OFF THE MUDDY HILL, I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS STIFF/SLUGGISH !!! 2ND TOPIC - DRIVER'S LEFT SIDE LEATHER SEAT PANEL FOR AIR BAG: TOOK IT IN DUE TO PANEL SPLITTING IN TWO PARALLEL SPOTS (POSSIBLE SPLIT LEATHER MATERIAL, RATHER THAN FULL HIDE ? TOO THIN FOR SIDE-AIR BAG ! ) TOYOTA REFUSED TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE !!! *TR

Mileage: 45,000

HORRIBLE CRACKS ALL ALONG DASH BOARD. CALLED TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM I HAVE SEEN MANY POST ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT ONLY IF THEY GOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS WOULD THEY POSSIBLY DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE OWNED 4 TOYOTAS, DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE ANY MORE IF THEY DON'T DO SOMETHING! *TR

Mileage: 75,000

DASH IS CRACKING AND APPEARS THE DASH MATERIAL MAY NOT ALLOW AIR BAG TO FUNCTION --- HAS MULPTILY CRACKS IN ALL DIFFERENT LOCATION IN FRONT OF DRIVER AND PASSANGER. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

DASHBOARD CRACKING LEADING TO POSSIBLE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 14,900

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED TOYOTA CAR (VEHICLE VIN: [XXX]) ON 12/22/2008 FROM FREMONT TOYOTA DEALER ([XXX]), WHICH LEADS A NIGHTMARE AS IT'S A WRECKED CERT. REJECTED CAR WITH 2 TIRE VALVE STEMS BROKEN ON DAY 1 AND DAY 8 AFTER PURCHASE AND ANOTHER 2 TIRES FLAT AGAIN ON MAY 10 1. THE REAR RIGHT TIRE VALVE STEM BROKE ON 12/23/2008 (THE FIRST DAY AFTER PURCHASE) AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATOR (TPWS) WAS ON SO I DROVE THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 12/24/2008. DEALER CLAIM THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND ALSO CHECKED ALL THE OTHER TIRES AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE WORKING. 2. ON 1/1/2009, THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE VALVE STEM BROKE AGAIN AND THE TPWS WAS NOT ON. THIS HAPPENED WHEN WE DROVE ON HIGHWAY 5 AT 75 MILES/HOUR AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THE TIRE ALREADY 2/3 WAS FLATTENED!! WE HAPPENED TO LOOK FOR RESTAURANT AT THAT TIME AND A PERSON COMING OUT OF RESTAURANT POINTED TO US THIS FLAT TIRE! IF WE DID NOT EXIT FOR REST, ALL 5 PASSENGERS IN THE CAR COULD NO LONGER BE IN THIS WORLD NOW. 3. FURTHER COMPLETE DISCOVERY ON THIS CAR REVEALS: A. BONDO WAS APPLIED ON THE FOLLOWING AREAS: LEFT FENDER ON REAR BEHIND WHEEL OPENING AREA; RIGHT DOOR FROM UPPER CENTER TO BOTTOM OF DOOR; AND, RT QUARTER PANEL IN FRONT OF WHEEL OPENING AREA THE AMOUNT OF BONDO APPLIED TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLE,CLEARLY INDICATES THE DAMAGE/WRECK/REPAIR IN THESE AREAS WERE EXTENSIVE. B.SAND SCRATCHED AND DIRT UNDER PAINT ARE OBVIOUS IN MANY AREAS, THIS IS THE RESULT OF A POOR QUALITY RE-PAINT JOB. THE RE-PAINT OF THE VEHICLE IS FURTHER EVIDENCED BY THE PAINT MIL GAUGE READINGS FROM 8 MILES TO 12 MILES. THIS MATCHES KEARNY MESA TOYOTA'S 160 POINT REJECTION. C.THE PAINT JOB ALONE ESTIMATE (NOT INCLUDING THE BODY REPAIR) WAS OVER $2200 AND YET WAS THIS RE-PAINT WAS NOT REPORTED. THE FAULTY PAINT JOB IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO ANYONE THAT LOOKS AT THE VEHICLE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY. D. THE RIGHT FENDER WAS PREVIOUSLY REMOVED. AND MORE. *TR

Mileage: 31,800

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED TOYOTA CAR (VEHICLE VIN: [XXX]) ON 12/22/2008 FROM FREMONT TOYOTA DEALER ([XXX]), WHICH LEADS A NIGHTMARE AS IT'S A WRECKED CERT. REJECTED CAR WITH 2 TIRE VALVE STEMS BROKEN ON DAY 1 AND DAY 8 AFTER PURCHASE AND ANOTHER 2 TIRES FLAT AGAIN ON MAY 10 1. THE REAR RIGHT TIRE VALVE STEM BROKE ON 12/23/2008 (THE FIRST DAY AFTER PURCHASE) AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATOR (TPWS) WAS ON SO I DROVE THE CAR TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 12/24/2008. DEALER CLAIM THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM AND ALSO CHECKED ALL THE OTHER TIRES AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE WORKING. 2. ON 1/1/2009, THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE VALVE STEM BROKE AGAIN AND THE TPWS WAS NOT ON. THIS HAPPENED WHEN WE DROVE ON HIGHWAY 5 AT 75 MILES/HOUR AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THE TIRE ALREADY 2/3 WAS FLATTENED!! WE HAPPENED TO LOOK FOR RESTAURANT AT THAT TIME AND A PERSON COMING OUT OF RESTAURANT POINTED TO US THIS FLAT TIRE! IF WE DID NOT EXIT FOR REST, ALL 5 PASSENGERS IN THE CAR COULD NO LONGER BE IN THIS WORLD NOW. 3. FURTHER COMPLETE DISCOVERY ON THIS CAR REVEALS: A. BONDO WAS APPLIED ON THE FOLLOWING AREAS: LEFT FENDER ON REAR BEHIND WHEEL OPENING AREA; RIGHT DOOR FROM UPPER CENTER TO BOTTOM OF DOOR; AND, RT QUARTER PANEL IN FRONT OF WHEEL OPENING AREA THE AMOUNT OF BONDO APPLIED TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLE,CLEARLY INDICATES THE DAMAGE/WRECK/REPAIR IN THESE AREAS WERE EXTENSIVE. B.SAND SCRATCHED AND DIRT UNDER PAINT ARE OBVIOUS IN MANY AREAS, THIS IS THE RESULT OF A POOR QUALITY RE-PAINT JOB. THE RE-PAINT OF THE VEHICLE IS FURTHER EVIDENCED BY THE PAINT MIL GAUGE READINGS FROM 8 MILES TO 12 MILES. THIS MATCHES KEARNY MESA TOYOTA'S 160 POINT REJECTION. C.THE PAINT JOB ALONE ESTIMATE (NOT INCLUDING THE BODY REPAIR) WAS OVER $2200 AND YET WAS THIS RE-PAINT WAS NOT REPORTED. THE FAULTY PAINT JOB IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO ANYONE THAT LOOKS AT THE VEHICLE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY. D. THE RIGHT FENDER WAS PREVIOUSLY REMOVED. AND MORE. *TR

Mileage: 31,800

COMPLAINT REGARDING THE INTERIOR VEHICLE APPEARANCE BLACK GRAPHITE TRIM AND BEZEL PARTS THAT ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *MR THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWERED ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH CAUSED THE DASHBOARD BLACK GRAPHITE TRIM/BEZEL REGISTER ASSEMBLY TO BE LOWERED THEN THE TRIM/BEZEL BLACK GRAPHITE IN THE DOOR ASSEMBLY. THE DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ACCEPTABLE. *SC *JB

CONSUMER HAS A CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE, AND THE TOP HAS AN ODOR COMING FROM IT THAT MAKES HIM ILL. DEALER REPLACED THE FILTER IN THE VEHICLE AND DONE NUMEROUS THINGS TO RID THE ODOR, BUT THE UNDESIRABLE SMELL WAS STILL THERE. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP.*AK *BF *NM

Mileage: 1,000