2006 Toyota Camry Solara Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a deteriorating dashboard — cracking, sticky and shiny surfaces that reflect glare onto the windshield — along with hesitation or delayed response when accelerating from a stop. The dash complaints appear at low mileage and in both garaged and outdoor-kept cars, while the acceleration complaints are usually described as present since new or recurring over years.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracking, sticky, melting dashboard

   • 51 complaints (44%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,800 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2021

   Complaints describe dash pads that develop hairline cracks which spread and widen across the top of the dash, around the steering wheel, the radio panel and the glove box area. Owners say the surface becomes sticky and shiny, holding dust and leaving a residue on the inside of the windshield, and that the glare makes it hard to see the road in sunlight. According to the complaints, dealers told owners the material was the cause or that heat was responsible, and that replacement of the dash pad would be at the owner's expense; several owners mention a prior warranty enhancement for the condition that had expired. Reported across a wide mileage range, often under 60,000 miles, and in vehicles kept garaged as well as outdoors.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash for cracks, a sticky or glossy finish, and residue on the inside of the windshield; ask whether the dash pad was ever replaced and whether any extended coverage for it was used.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2006 Toyota Camry Solara's dashboard is cracked and more cracks seem to appear out of nowhere. The vehicle is garaged and under shade during the day. It has been cracked for years and continues the same trend. I've seen other toyotas with cracked dashboards, there must be a service bulletin for this. I could ignore it for a while, but now it has gone too far.”

   NHTSA complaint #10488129, filed 2012-12, 40,000 miles

   “I was heading into the sun and I could hardly see due to glare from the dashboard. When I stopped I put my hand on the dash and found it to be very sticky and cracked. The car is always in a garage and seldom in the sun. I have since learned that many other Toyota owners have experienced the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10652716, filed 2014-11, 20,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Concern about airbag function after dash damage

   • 27 complaints (23%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2023

   Several owners whose dashes cracked or deteriorated say they worry the damage around the passenger-side airbag area could affect deployment, and some describe the car as no longer being driven for that reason. Other complaints report airbags that did not deploy in a collision, or a clock spring failure that turned on the airbag warning light. Dealers are described as unwilling or unable to repair airbag concerns in some cases. Mentioned mostly between roughly 40,000 and 90,000 miles, and in some cases shortly after delivery of the car.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light comes on and goes out at start-up, look closely at the dash seams around the passenger airbag, and ask whether the clock spring or any airbag component has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2006 Toyota solara convertible. This car is garaged except when driven. Earlier this year I noticed small cracks developing around the edges of the dashboard. However, now the cracks have grown and there are some very large cracks. I am very concerned about the large cracks developing on the passenger side of the dashboard. Can these cracks affect the operation of the dashboard air bags??”

   NHTSA complaint #10644763, filed 2014-10, 50,000 miles

   “My 2006 solara convertible has deep cracks all along the dash end to end which may affect the operability of the airbag. It's shiny, goofy, sticky which definitely affects visibility. I have no idea what else it affects. I thought it was caused by heat until I read the some 75 exactly identical complaints. Toyota needs to recall the dash rather than ask we consumers to pay $2,400 to fix it. This was a $32,000 vehicle. Bad enough that the adhesive around the back window dissolved, now this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10897447, filed 2016-08, 23,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Hesitation or delayed acceleration from a stop

   • 23 complaints (20%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2026

   Owners describe a lag of a second or more between pressing the accelerator and the car picking up speed, most noticeable when merging or pulling out of an intersection, sometimes with the engine revving before the car moves. Some complaints describe the opposite — sudden lurching or unexpected acceleration at very low speed, including while parking. According to the complaints, dealers often called the behavior normal or pointed to carbon buildup or the throttle body and pedal assembly, and some owners asked for a computer reflash. Described from very low mileage, sometimes from new, and reported again at higher mileage.

   What to check: Drive the car from a stop and at low speed and note any delay or lurch; ask whether the throttle body was cleaned or the engine computer reflashed, and whether any diagnostic codes were stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2006 Toyota solara convertible. While driving this vehicle I have to accelerate, for example when changing lanes on the highway and trying to increase speed, the vehicle hesitates and there is a delay and then will increase in power. This is dangerous because this also happened at an intersection when I was turning left, I depressed the gas pedal-the vehicle hesitated, then power was reinstated. This is a daily occurrence and it needs to be looked into. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10265987, filed 2009-04, 82,000 miles

   “I own a 2006 Toyota solara 6 cyl. And the car has a problem when when you accelerate from a slow pace (as when you start to merge into a busy street or freeway) the car actually hesitates, there is a 1 1/2 to 2 second delay or lag, before the car actually kicks in and accelerates. I acctually hear and see the rpms rev up on one of the gauges, but the car is not accelerating or shifting as it should be. It is Toyota's responsibility to do a reflashing for a computer update! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10185364, filed 2007-03, 11 miles

Buying note. Check the dashboard carefully for cracks, stickiness and glare, since that is the most common report on this model year and repairs are typically at the owner's cost, and take a test drive that includes pulling away from a stop to judge the throttle response.

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.