2004 Toyota Camry Solara: jerking or lurching

Filed Jun 9, 2017 · Acceleration, Airbags · 109,000 miles · OK · crash · 1 injury

Pulling into a disabled retail parking space at very low speed, car lurched forward and hit the metal parking pole, damaging the front bumper and hood. Eyewitness to collision incident confirms this. Car was barely in motion and my foot was on the brake. I received whiplash requiring medical attention and injury to my right knee. Automotive repair company states impact was so severe that frame was bent, resulting in the insurance company declaring vehicle a total loss. However, the air bag never deployed even though the bumper damage occurred right at the air bag location on driver side. Toyota solara air bag should have deployed. The sudden lurch forward should not have occurred since my foot was on the brake at the time and barely moving. Pictures available. Police report not possible as they do not come to private parking property. Vehicle still drivable, so it was taken to toyota-approved auto repair shop.

Filed Apr 20, 2017 · Airbags, Brakes · 85,100 miles · FL · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed Nov 12, 2015 · Acceleration · 166,455 miles · NJ

The vehicle stalls when gas is applied or it jerks when going from low speeds to high speeds, after gas is applied. The vehicle also hesitates to accelerate after full stops. I went to a toyota camry dealer, sansone toyota located at 90-100 route 1 north in avenel, nj 07001. They found that the car is shifting abnormally and so they updated calibration software in the vehicle. After service at sansone toyota, the car still jerks when switching from low speeds (like 20 MPH) to higher speeds (like 60 MPH). Sometimes it jerks very violently and it always hesitates when gas is applied, after full stops (like at a stop sign or a red light). In addition, the vehicle sometimes accelerates, a little, when I apply breaks with the intend to slow down. A couple mechanics I went to say that the vehicle may need a new transmission, but I have read complaints on this site that a lot of toyota vehicles may have acceleration problems. Some 2004 toyota camry solara vehicles have been recalled for speed control problems. I don't wan to invest into a transmission if the car will have the same issue. My VIN was not included in the recall. I need to know if my 2004 toyota solara should have been included in the original recall.

Filed Aug 8, 2006 · Acceleration · 50,000 miles · IL · crash

Dt*: the contact stated while reversing the vehicle parked in the garage with the brake applied, it suddenly lurched backwards at high speeds crashing into another vehicle. After the initial crash, the vehicle continued accelerating in reverse across the street and crashed into a neighboring house which brought the vehicle to a stop. The contact was wearing a seat belt, and no injuries were sustained. There was extensive damage to the rear of the vehicle. The police were alerted and a report was taken. A field technical specialist from the manufacturer inspected the vehicle. The representative was unable to determine the cause of the incident.

Filed Jun 19, 2005 · Transmission · AZ

I purchased a 2004 toyota solara sle v6 from superstitions springs toyota in arizona just over 24 hours ago. When I started to drive it yesterday I almost got in a bad accident on the highway when someone started to pull over on me. I hit the gas pedal and went nowhere for at least 1-2 seconds. Thank god the guy heard my horn. I went to the dealer and they said 'they could feel it too' but there was nothing wrong with it. I had read a customer comment about the problem just once and there was a reply that said there was some download for it. When I mentioned this to the service dept. They said they checked and there were no downloads for it. Told me that it was operating as it should and there would be some hesitation, then started in on some engineering explanation, and said they have some specialist come in once a month from toyota and he would ask him about this issue. I tried to reiterate that this is a huge safety issue and needs to be corrected now, but got no different reply. I had noted some slight hesitation when I was test driving it, but really didn't notice any appreciable hesitation when I very briefly had it on expressway drive (only allowed about a 1/2 mile then told to turn off). However yesterday when I finally drove it, I started to feel like I was getting whiplash from the hesitation, lunging and jerking around, and then I almost got in a bad accident because of it. Now I am stuck with a car I don't feel comfortable driving and have a huge loan hanging over my head to boot. I guess I will just drive it as little as possible so I don't get killed due to an 'engineering problem' and then get rid of it as soon as I can. I will never buy a toyota again. Big mistake. Please also reference this web site with many complaints about the same issue: http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000920023135 and this web site with one entry and a reply stating there is a fix: http://www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_76023.html

Filed Feb 11, 2005 · Transmission · 18 miles · NY

2004 toyota solara with v6 and auto trans. Have owned car since new and have a hesitation problem that makes it very difficult to drive. Extra caution is needed to enter hwys safely. I am also unable to accelerate coming out of turns without feeling the car lurch forward making it unsafe to drive in inclement weather. When taken to service at toyota they act like nothing is wrong. I know I am not crazy because its noticed by all my passengers. And upon my personal investigation have uncovered many complaints by owners of the same vehicle and by owners of lexus vehicles that use same engine and trans. In fact it is a common problem in all cars using an electronic control for the throttle as opposed to the old linkage system. I feel that this is a potentially dangerous condition and its only a matter of time before someone gets killed because of it. I also noticed quite a few complaints on this website pertaining to the same problem.