NHSTA SAFETY COMPLAINT TEXT Safety defect and Incident Chronology: I am reporting a catastrophic, recurring sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) defect originating strictly from a forward idle state, culminating in a severe bidirectional runaway and property damage crash. This vehicle utilizes an Electronic Throttle System-intelligent (ETCS) that failed to trigger a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) , Check Engine Light or fail safe limp mode during all three events. INCIDENT 1 (MAY 15, 2026): While maneuvering at low-speed idle into my residential garage, the engine un commandingly surged . I was tapping the brake to go cautiously. Simultaneously, the brake pedal became rigid and physically impossible to depress. The vehicle crashed forward into my tool benches and drywall. INCIDENT 2 ( on or about May 22,2026): Under the identical conditions, the vehicle without command surged forward with total brake rigidity. Fortunately, this time it caused no damage. INCIDENT 3 (June 10, 2026) During a slow speed idle parking maneuver , the vehicle violently surged forward with total brake rigidity and struck shelving. To cut propulsion I immediately shifted out of Drive. Instead of neutralizing the event the car the car underwent a severe bidirectional runaway, violently accelerating in REVERSE for approximately 35 feet across my driveway crashing into my woodpile . I ended up moving forward and stopped somehow. TECHNICAL EVALUATION for INVESTIGATORS: The recurring rock hard brake pedal serves as empirical pneumatic proof that the throttle body valve uncommandedly opened wide while my foot was actively modulating the brakes, instantly destroying the engine manifold vacuum reserve. Furthermore, the vehicle accelerating forward and backwards proves system failure. The vehicle was transported via flatbed to PAPPAS Toyota. Toyota Case # TA 261680161. I request NHSTA safety Egrs secure and audit this transient ETCS-I failure mode.
Toyota Camry Solara sudden acceleration problems
47 of the 866 owner complaints about the Toyota Camry Solara describe sudden unintended acceleration, most of them for the 2005 model year.
- owner complaints
- 47
- worst model year
- 2005
- typical mileage
- 45,000
By model year
Often reported together
No deployment 4Stalling 2Jerking 2Hesitation 2Check engine light 2Pulling 1
What owners say
February 1, 2017, turning into a parking lot at 700 e. Main st., grass valley, ca, turned right into a parking space and as the brake was applied, the car surged forward, jumping a cement curb, the fender grazing a tree on the left, coming to an abrupt stop when it hit the cement base of a light pole. Fluids were leaking from beneath the car, the front bumper was hanging off, the driver side door caught as it was opened. The car was towed to a body shop. This was the second incident, with the same event occurring 2 years prior but with less surge and no car body damage. Both incidents reported to toyota immediately. Toyota investigated and both times found no cause for the unintended acceleration. Since the car hit a stationary object I am found "at fault" by my insurance, which is annoying. I did not have the car repaired since it is clearly unsafe. Today, may 1, 2017, a salvage company picked up the car to be used solely for parts. The car is in otherwise excellent condition, but I could not place another human being in jeopardy by repairing and selling it, nor could I ever feel safe again driving the car.
When backing out of the driveway the car suddenly accelerated and at a high rate of speed shot across the street hitting the curb blowing the tires and hitting a telephone pole and tore up the neighbors lawn before coming to a stop due to the lack of traction. My wife was stepping on the brakes and the car continued to accelerate. We had owned the car for 5 years and never had any issue with it. I looked and the mat had not moved in any way to impede the foot pedal. We contacted toyota and let them examine the vehicle and the reply said it was due to an aftermarket floor mat. They did not reveal what the computer data recorded. They refused to acknowledge it could of been anything else.
While pulling left into a parking place the car suddenly accelerated and violently slammed into a parked car opposite me. The police said my foot probably slipped off the brake and hit the gas pedal. It was a very violent hit and I was very shaken. Not having a recall on my car, I went along with the police until the same thing happened again on february 7, 2014. Luckily, this second incident only threw the car into a plowed snow bank.
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 !!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota camry solara. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the rpms increased excessively and the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact stated that the brakes were depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The vehicle crashed into a gate. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000 and the current mileage was 44,700. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota camry solara. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle made a roaring noise and accelerated without manual force, crashing into a fence and a tree. There were no injuries however, a police report was filed. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 toyota camry solara. The contact stated that while driving 24 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a curb. The contact suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop, but the failure was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 130,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 toyota camry solara. The contact stated while parking the vehicle it suddenly accelerated, as a result the vehicle fell more than 20 feet down a cliff and none of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The driver sustained minor bruises and lacerations on both hands. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileage was 84,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota camry solara. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH into a parking space, the brake was engaged and a sudden unintentional acceleration occurred. The vehicle failed to slow down after repeatedly applying the brake pedal as a result to crashing into a building. There was no personal injury. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was driven from the scene and taken to authorized dealer where they were unable to locate the problem. The vehicle sustained minor body damage and had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the unintended acceleration. The failure mileage was 82,600.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Toyota Camry Solara sudden acceleration
Which Toyota Camry Solara years have sudden unintended acceleration problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2005 (9 complaints), 2004 (7 complaints) and 2002 (6 complaints).
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