1999 Toyota Camry Solara

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA SOLARA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURY TO THE HEAD DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD IMPACT. THE DRIVER SEATBELT WAS ENGAGED WITH A DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A POLICE REPORT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ

1999 TOYOTA SOLARA IN EXCELLENT CONDITION YESTERDAY AS I WAS RETURNING FROM THE GROCERY STORE I TRIED TO START MY CAR. THE ENGINE TURNED OVER BUT WAS RUNNING ERRATICALLY. WHEN I TRIED TURNING IT OFF TO RESTART IT, IT WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING. IT MADE A STACCATO SOUND AND RAN FAST AND OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL IT DRAINED THE BATTERY AND STOPPED. WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT AND A TERRIBLE SMELL ACCOMPANIED THIS. WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO WORKS ON MY CAR, HE SAID HE HAD ANOTHER TOYOTA THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE HAS REPLACED THE STARTER MOTOR, AND THE BATTERY IS HOLDING A CHARGE. I BELIEVE THAT IF TWO CARS IN THIS ONE GARAGE HAD THIS PROBLEM, IT MAY BE MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE. I AM NOT SURPRISED TO HAVE TO REPLACE A STARTER MOTOR, BUT THIS WAS A FRIGHTENING EVENT AND COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I WERE NOT IN A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD SETTING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE STARTER MOTORS IN OTHER CARS, BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD A SITUATION LIKE THIS ONE WHEN THEY HAVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT.

SINCE 2007 I HAVE NOTICED SOME TYPE OF ENGINE DIFFICULTY WITH THE TOYOTA. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE RUNNING (IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.) ALSO, ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY RECEIVE TOO HIGH A CHARGE RESULTING IN COMPUTER SYSTEM OVERHEATING. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES, MUCH MORE THAN NECESSARY AND PROBLEM REMAINS WITH THE OBD SYSTEM. THIS ALSO CAUSES ENGINE TO HAVE SURGES OF POWER WHILE DRIVING AFFECTING CRUISE CONTROL... I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM RELATIVE TO CURRENT TOYOTA ISSUES-ONLINE SOMEONE HAS A 2002 SOLARA WITH SAME PROBLEM. MY PARENTS HAVE 01 SOLARA-NO PROBLEMS REPORTED. MY OLD LEXUS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS MY 1989 CELICA WAS A GREAT CAR. WOULD NOT OWN AGAIN-WOULD LIKE TO SELL NUT CONCERNED FOR SAFETY OF ANY FUTURE OWNER(S.) *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 TOYOTA SOLARA, HOME IN THE RAIN GOING 50 MPH WHEN A STREET LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, I STARTED TO PUT ON MY BRAKES, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN IN TIME TO STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION, SO I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES AND JUST WENT THROUGH THE YELLOW LIGHT. I FELT THAT IF I WAS DRIVING ANY OTHER ONE OF MY CARS THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD PLENTY TIME TO STOP. WHEN YOU TAKE THE FOOT OF THE GAS ON THIS CAR IT DOES NOT SLOW DOWN AUTOMATICALLY LIKE OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN I FIRST GOT THIS 1999 TOYOTA SOLARA I GOT A TICKET FOR NOT STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. THERE TO I ALSO THOUGH I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO STOP, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE ENGINE IS FIGHTING AGAINST THE BRAKE WHEN I TRY TO STOP. SINCE THEN WHEN I COME UP TO A STOP SIGN I START BRAKING MUCH FURTHER BACK THAN I US TO. EVEN WHEN I'M STOPPED AT 700 RPM, THE CARS SEEM TO WANT TO START GOING. I ALWAYS THE FIRST ONE TO START OFF WHEN A STOP LIGHT , BECAUSE AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OF THE GAS THE CARS GOES 5 MPH WITH OUT EVEN PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE GAS. THE DRIVE-ABILITY OF THIS CAR IS THE SAME AS OWNING A 1970'S PUMPED OUT MUSCLE CAR. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT ON THE NEWER CAMRY BASED TOYOTA CARS THAT THE DISC'S ON THE DISC BRAKES ARE TWICE AS BIG AS MY SOLARA'S DISK BRAKES, WHICH MEANS TO ME THAT TOYOTA KNOWS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE BRAKES. TO THE NOVICE DRIVER I WOULD SAY THAT THE SOLARA IS A DANGEROUS CAR TO DRIVE. *TR

1. TOYOTA SOLARA 1999 HOOD OPENED UP DURING DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CRASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD INTO DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AND OBSTRUCTING VISION THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM LOOKING OUTSIDE TO PULL OVER. 2. DRIVER NARROWLY ESCAPED TRAFFIC COLLISION BECAUSE OF OBSTRUCTED VISION. 3. DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER. PULLED DOWN THE HOOD AND TIED THE HOOD TO THE CHASSIS USING ROPE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. ALL PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AS THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED. *TR