1999 Toyota Camry Other Problems

When you start your car, it feels sluggish and only moves slowly even when you press hard on the accelerator. Then suddenly when you turn the steering wheel, the car returns to normal and accelerates forward suddenly. This unpredictable behavior resulted in a crash.

While driving to the store, your car suddenly accelerated on its own and wouldn't slow down no matter what you did. The only way to stop it was to shift the transmission into Park while the car was still moving, which caused it to go over a curb. This involved a crash.

I STARTED MY CAR, SAT IN THE PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES BEFORE I PUT IT IN GEAR & BEGAN MOVING. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 100-200 YARDS TO THE EXIT OF THE PARKING LOT WHEN I NOTICED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE VENTS AND OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS & GOT OUT OF THE CAR. THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS DIED NOT LONG AFTER I TURNED THEM ON. ONCE I DETERMINED THERE WASN'T A FIRE, I CAREFULLY OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE SMOKE STILL POURING OUT OF THE STARTER. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT SOMEHOW THE STARTER HAD BEEN ENGAGED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND DIDN'T STOP UNTIL IT HAD DRAINED THE BATTERY COMPLETELY. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE HEAT FROM THE STARTER HAD NOT MELTED ANY HOSES AND IGNITED SOMETHING. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED (IT WAS THE ORIGINAL STARTER FROM WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW), BATTERY RECHARGED AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CHECKED FOR DAMAGE. LUCKILY, THE ONLY DAMAGE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TO THE STARTER ITSELF. I SUBSEQUENTLY WENT ONLINE AND FOUND REFERENCES TO STARTERS IN THE SAME MAKE, MODEL & YEAR OVERHEATING IN THE SAME WAY & SOME EVEN CATCHING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON FIRE. I HAVE TO WONDER HOW MANY SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE GONE UNREPORTED, OR HOW MANY ENGINE FIRES WERE CAUSED BY STARTERS, BUT THE CAUSE WAS NEVER FOUND, BECAUSE THE STARTER & EVERYTHING ELSE WAS DESTROYED.

1999 TOYOTA SOLARA, VEHICLE STRUCK A MUD FLAP AND BRACKET THAT SEPARTED FROM UNIT 2. UNIT 2 CONTINUED EASTBOUND AND IS UNKNOWN. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0411-91)8JB UPDATED 09/13/10*BF

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.

WAS INCHING INTO A PARKING SPACE, TAPPING THE BRAKES, GOING AT AN INCLINE (UPHILL) TO PARK. SUDDENLY WITH ABOUT 8-10 INCHES TO GO THE CAR LITERALLY LUNGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. SLAMMING WITH A HUGE BOOM INTO A CONCRETE POLL. THE BRAKES WERE PUMPING AS ALL OF THIS HAPPENED UNTIL FINALLY THE ACCELERATION CEASED. HAD THE POLL NOT BEEN THERE I WOULD HAVE WENT THROUGH THE FRONT WINDOW OF THE RESTAURANT OR FLATTEN ANY PERSON WALKING BY. THE MANAGER OF THE RESTAURANT WITNESSED THE ENTIRE EVENT. HE SAID THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT IN HIS MIND FROM THE CREEPING INTO THE SPACE, WITH ONLY ABOUT 8-10 INCHES TO GO, TO A SONIC LIKE BOOM AND THE HUGE LUNGE FORWARD OF THE VEHICLE, THE THROTTLE HAD TO BE WIDE OPEN, THEN STUCK THERE. IT WAS A POWERFUL ENOUGH CRASH THAT IT BROKE THE FRAME AROUND THE HEADLIGHT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *TR

CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT HAS MALFUNCTIONED THREE TIMES IN THE FOUR YEARS WE'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. PREVIOUS TWO TIMES IT WOULD SUDDENLY, WITHOUT ADJUSTMENT, BLAST EITHER HOT OR COLD AIR. WE COULD USUALLY STOP IT, BY A LOT OF MANIPULATION OF THE THERMOSTAT KNOB, AND IT WAS "FIXED" BOTH TIMES BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN THE THIRD (CURRENT) INCIDENT THE TEMPERATURE IS STUCK ON 76 DEGREES. NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT WARMER OR COOLER. *NM

1. MY 1999 SE V6 SOLARA BEGAN SMOKING A LOT EVERYTIME I STARTED THE CAR AND WHEN I ACCELERATED. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE "SLUDGE" PROBLEM AND THE DEALER DID ALL OF THE REQUIRED WORK TO FIX THAT. 2. I WAS IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT IN 1999 AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. 3. THERE IS A VERY LOUD, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, CLUNKING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AREA. THE DEALER SAYS THE STRUT TOPS ARE WORN OUT AND IT WILL COST $750.00??? PER SIDE TO REPLACE THE STRUTS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT. SHOULDN'T THE STRUTS HAVE A LONGER LIFE THAN THAT? 4. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW JUST FELL INTO THE DOOR PANEL ONE DAY AND HAD TO HAVE THE REGULATOR REPLACED. 5. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, IF I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STILL WARM IT WOULDN'T CRANK. FIRST THERE WAS NO NOISE AT ALL WHEN I TURNED THE KEY OVER AND IF I WAITED A BIT, AS IT COOLED OFF, IT WOULD EVENTUALLY START. THEN ONE DAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK I STOPPED AT THE STORE AND WHEN I TRIED TO LEAVE IT WAS DEAD AND WOULDN'T START AT ALL. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY AND HAVE A THROTTLE BODY SERVICE BECAUSE THE WAS "CARBON BUILD UP IN THE INJECTORS". 6. THE CAR SHAKES LIKE IT IS GOING TO EXPLODE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND IT IS NOT THE TIRES BEING OUT OF BALANCE OR THE ALIGNMENT. IT ALSO SHIMMIES BADLY WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES FROM A HIGH SPEED. 7. NOW, I WENT TO HAVE AN EMISSION TEST DONE AND FAILED BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CODE WAS FOR THE O2 SENSOR. MY MOTHER HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM FOR THE O2 SENSOR, WHICH SHE HAD REPAIRED AND WITHIN A WEEK THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I AM SO TIRED OF ONE THING AFTER THE NEXT WITH THIS CAR.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND SOMETIMES GOES OFF BY ITSELF. COMPUTER ANALYSIS INDICATES AN OXYGEN SENSOR IS BAD BUT ITEM IS UNDER WARRANTY FOR 96 MONTHS OR 80,000 MILES. PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 40,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THE WARRANTY IS GOOD ONLY IN THOSE STATES THAT ADOPTED CA STANDARDS, I.E., NY AND MA. OTHER STATES WARRANTY IS FOR 36,000 MILES. PROBLEM DID NOT SURFACE UNTIL 40,000 MILES. ORIGINAL AND SEND PURCHASE OF CARS WAS IN VIRGINIA BUT TOYOTA CHOSE TO PUT A CA SENSOR. I HAVE NO VOICE IN VA OR SC EMISSION STANDARDS. PROBLEM NOW IS WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, IS IT THE SENSOR OR SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS? THE TOYOTA WARRANTY POLICY IS ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS SINCE MOST TOYOTA'S ARE SOLD OUTSIDE OF CA. CAN YOU HELP ME?? TS

ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. *JG

CONSUMER STATED THAT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON SPORADICALLY WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON FOURTEEN OCCASIONS, AND IS STILL AT THE DEALER. *AK

THE REMOTE ENTRY SYSTEM FAILS TO WORK. IT DOES NOT PERMIT ACCESS TO THE CAR OR IT LEAVES THE CAR UNLOCKED. SINCE THIS IS A RANDOM FAILURE THE CAR BECAMES EXTREAMLY UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE TO PARK AT WORK.*AK

THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, AND WHEN IT DOES IT'S JUST BRIEFLY.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON/OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

SERIES OF SIX OR MORE VIOLENT SWERVES INTO ADJACENT LANES INITIATED BY SWERVE TO AVOID POTHOLE. CONTROL LOSS WAS INAPPROPRIATE TO MANEUVER, POSING SIGNIFICANT DANGER.

AT TIMES WHEN WEARING BOOTS, THE PLASTIC COVERING WHICH IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL, COULD INTERFERE WITH PEDAL APPLICATION WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK