1999 Toyota Camry Solara Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year cluster around three themes: airbag warning lights that come on or flash and crashes where the airbags did not deploy; throttle and speed-control behaviour, where the car gains speed on its own or the pedal sticks and then lurches; and brakes, split between lines rusted through on older cars and rotor vibration appearing early. Engine oil sludge and noisy front struts also recur, while a hood latch failure at highway speed appears in a small but consistent group of reports. Most listed mileages fall well above 90,000, though several brake and suspension reports come in under 50,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on, airbags not deploying

   • 22 complaints (26%)
   • median 122,500 mi at 15.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2020

   Owners describe the airbag warning light coming on or flashing repeatedly, in one case each time the passenger seat is moved forward, and several say the dealer could not determine the cause or replaced a sensor only for the light to return. Other complaints describe collisions, including rear impacts, in which the airbags did not deploy. One owner reports a short from a clogged air conditioning drain that a mechanic said could set the airbag off, and one says an arbitration over deployment was unsuccessful. The warning-light reports and the crash reports are filed separately and do not identify a single shared part. Where mileage is listed, reports run from roughly 115,000 to 170,000 miles, though several records leave mileage blank and one concerns a car only a few months old.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the key and watch the airbag light: it should cycle and then go out, and a light that stays on or blinks points to a sensor or wiring fault worth diagnosing. Ask whether the airbag system has been scanned for stored codes and whether any sensors or the airbag control unit were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Air bag light has been looked at numerous times now that my regular warranty has expired, I had to look at my extended warranty for coverage and they do not replace air bag sensors. They supposedly fixed it at 30,000 miles but it reoccured at 45,000 miles. Now they say they will pay for the part but not the labor. Shouldn't this be paid by the manufacturer completely since it is a safety factor?”

   NHTSA complaint #745464, filed 2001-05

   “Dealership says the water from the stopped up A/C drain caused the electrical short and it will cost almost $800.00 to repair. I do not have $800.00. The mechanic told me the airbag could possibly deploy without notice and that puts everyone at risk when driving or riding in the car. It does not have an on/off switch and the dealership said that they could not deactivate the air bag. I transport children in my vehicle and I am very worried about them and anyone else including myself riding in the car. Please advise.”

   NHTSA complaint #764647, filed 2002-07
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden acceleration and sticking throttle

   • 8 complaints (10%)
   • median 130,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2011

   Owners describe the car gaining speed on its own, from a stop, in a parking lot and at highway speed, with the brake pedal unable to stop it in some accounts. Others report the gas pedal sticking or hesitating when pressed from idle and then lurching forward, and several connect surging to cruise control use, including one owner who says the accelerator cable stayed stuck after cruise was engaged. A few say the car does not slow promptly when the throttle is released. Reports cluster between roughly 40,000 and 190,000 miles, with incidents at highway speed as well as from a stop.

   What to check: On a test drive, confirm the pedal returns freely and that engine speed drops promptly when you lift off. Try the cruise control on a quiet road and check that it disengages with the brake pedal and the stalk, and ask whether the throttle and cruise cable linkages have been inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My daughter was driving into starved rock national park in illinois around 4 p.m. On august 20th, 2014. She driving on the entrance drive at the speed of 10 MPH. The car suddenly started ramping up in speed causing the my daughter to start braking. The car continued gaining speed and the brakes were unable to stop the vehicle. As the car was going faster, my daughter entered the parks visitor center parking lot. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10649125, filed 2014-10, 73,451 miles

   “I have read a report in USA today newspaper about the Camry Solara surging and I have experienced this myself. It has happened numerous times while traveling at highway speeds. Most of my travel is at these speeds. At the time I did not notice the spedometer or the tachometer increase, it just felt like I got a sudden push from behind. It does not happen at any certain time, road condition, weather or anything else. Each time on the highway I was using my cruise control. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10061927, filed 2004-03, 130,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Rusted brake lines and rotor vibration

   • 18 complaints (21%)
   • median 100,699 mi at 13.6 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2019

   Owners report the brake pedal going to the floor after brake lines rusted through, in two accounts after steering into a curb or tree to stop, and one independent shop noted the line cover can trap salt and moisture. Others describe steering wheel shake under braking that led to rotors being resurfaced or replaced, with dealers pointing to rust and runout, and some say the same repair was needed again at low mileage. One owner notes the ABS and traction-off lights coming on at start-up. A related bulletin describes inspection guidance for brake pads, calipers and discs. Rotor vibration appears from about 20,000 to 100,000 miles, while the brake-line failures are reported on cars around 113,000 to 130,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the steel brake lines under the car inspected for rust along their full length, especially where they run behind any cover, and ask for records of line or hose replacement. Check the pedal for a firm, steady feel and drive a stretch at speed to feel for pulsation through the wheel or pedal.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am the original owner of a 1999 Toyota solara (purchased march 1999).last month with 34,825 miles on it, I had to have the front rotors and brake pads replaced for the second time. The first time was in june 2001 with 22,125 miles on the vehicle. Both times, the dealer blames excessive rust and runout on the rotors as the cause of serious steering wheel vibration when braking. They claim I do not drive the car and use the brakes enough. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10021063, filed 2003-06, 34,825 miles

   “I have had to replace the brakes 3 times since I bought this car. Rotors and calipers have all been replaced 3 times. Car now has about 130,000 miles. Last repairman said there was excessive rust on the brakes, but the car is not driven in any salt water.”

   NHTSA complaint #10330470, filed 2010-05
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Engine oil sludge and oil consumption

   • 9 complaints (11%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2006

   Owners describe oil that thickened into sludge, excessive oil use, smoke at start-up and on acceleration, and engines that ran rough, stalled or seized and required replacement. One owner says oil could barely be poured in at a change because of the buildup, and owners describe raising the issue with dealers and being told it was not covered. A separate account describes a water pump failure on a trip that led to engine damage. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 105,000 miles, often on cars several years old.

   What to check: Pull the dipstick and check both level and colour, and look under the oil filler cap for dark buildup or varnish. Ask for oil-change records at regular intervals, watch for blue smoke at start-up, and check the water pump area for coolant seepage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sludge build up in engine caused engine failure. My engine is going to be inspected by Toyota at their griffin ga outlet on september 2, 2003. I anticipate the runaround and I am getting all the info I can to argue my case. My engine suddenly is using one quart per 300 miles and when I took it for an oil change I suddenly discovered it was so gunked up it would not accept oil unless poored in very slowly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10070468, filed 2004-01, 98,000 miles

   “I had my car serviced before leaving for our trip to florida and within 2 hours of driving from my home the water pump went and blew the engine. We had to leave our car at the dealership in watertown and rent a car for our trip. In 2004, we also failed the emission test twice.”

   NHTSA complaint #10175000, filed 2006-12, 47,109 miles
5. 5
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Hood latch failure and hood opening in motion

   • 10 complaints (12%)
   • median 96,630 mi at 10.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2015

   Owners describe the hood opening on the highway and folding back into the windshield, breaking the glass and blocking the view, with one report saying the latch bolts had sheared and another that the latch parts were rusted and stuck open. In both hood accounts the power windows also failed to go down at the moment. A separate complaint describes a driver's door that will not latch fully, leaving the door-open light on. Reported on cars around 95,000 to 102,000 miles, with the hood incidents occurring at highway speed.

   What to check: Open and close the hood several times and look at the latch, its mounting bolts and the secondary catch for rust, looseness or a latch that does not spring back into place. Check that each door closes flush and latches without needing a slam.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recently I've noticed that the driver's side door of my solara does not close completely, as if the latching device is out of alignment. The door open light goes on and sometimes the lock does not engage properly since the door is not closed. If I have to slam the door shut it sounds as if the window is going to crack.”

   NHTSA complaint #10184894, filed 2007-03, 77,000 miles

   “I was driving on the highway. The hood opened up and crashed into the windshield. The hood will not drop back down. I tried to get the door windows down and the power windows were stuck. I braked hard and used the rear view mirror to pull over. I had glass chips all over me and couldn't see anything in front. Once I pulled over I inspected the hood latch and found both latches were rusted and latched open. The horrible designs Toyota has almost killed me and the only reason I was not hit was because of no other cars on the road.”

   NHTSA complaint #10578434, filed 2014-04, 95,000 miles

Buying note. On a car of this age, the checks that matter most are the airbag warning light, the condition of the brake lines underneath and the hood latch hardware, since those areas account for a large share of the reports. Service records showing regular oil changes matter as much as the odometer reading.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.