Avg. Price Paid:$10,460 - $17,337
Original MSRP: $20,180 - $30,710
MPG: 22 City / 31 Hwy
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2008 Toyota Camry Solara Recalls & Reliability

These scores and this review are from when the car was new.

Scorecard

Overall: 2008 Toyota Camry Solara U.S. News Best Cars 7.9
Critics' Rating: 8.2
Performance: 7.6
Interior: 8.3
Safety: 7.8
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Near-luxury ride in an affordable car
  • Attractive and expensive-looking exterior design
  • Many standard convenience and safety features
  • Not as sporty as perhaps it promises to be

Research Other Years

Review Last Updated: 3/10/09

Recalls

There have been 2 safety recalls issued from NHTSA.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSRecall Date: 01/26/2010
  • Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 10V035000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 271417
  • Summary: GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.
  • Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CERTIFICATION LABEL, THE TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL, AND THE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION (ADDENDUM) LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.
  • Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDALRecall Date: 10/05/2009
  • Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 09V388000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 3800000
  • Summary: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
  • Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES TO REMOVE ANY DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT AND NOT REPLACE IT WITH ANY OTHER FLOOR MAT PENDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODEL-SPECIFIC REMEDIES. TOYOTA WILL MAIL A SECOND NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES NOTIFYING THEM OF THE FREE REMEDY WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE. THE FIRST NOTICE IS EXPECTED TO BE MAILED DURING OCTOBER 2009 AND TOYOTA WILL ADVISE NHTSA OF THE ESTIMATED DATE WHEN THE REMEDY PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331, LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
  • Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Reliability

Our reliability score is based on the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) rating or, if unavailable, the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating.

Dependability Ratings1 2008
Overall Dependability
Powertrain Dependability
Feature & Accessory Dependability
Body & Interior Dependability

1These scores come from consumer ratings of their vehicles after three years of ownership.

  • Key:
  • Among The Best
  • Better Than Most
  • About Average
  • The Rest

J.D. Power and Associates Power Circle Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circle Ratings. Your experience may vary.

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Warranty

Toyota's competitive vehicle warranty provides basic coverage for three years or 36,000 miles. The Solara's powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles.

The Solara is generally viewed as a reliable vehicle. "Since it shares many parts with the nation's best-selling sedan, the Camry, this Toyota is unlikely to send you to the service department very often," says the New York Times. Similarly, Edmunds asserts that "the Toyota Camry Solara coupe and convertible have quietly enjoyed a reputation for being reliable, well built and pleasantly styled, if not excitingly so." New Car Test Drive adds, "Toyota Camry outsells all the other midsize cars largely because of Toyota's reputation for quality, durability and reliability. The Camry is the perfect transportation appliance, flawlessly performing its duties, never annoying its owner."

However, in Consumer Reports' most recent reliability survey, Toyota dropped from first to fifth place, and the magazine no longer gives unproven Toyota models the benefit of the doubt when it comes to reliability. Consumer Reports specifically questions the reliability of the V6 engine in the Toyota Camry, which the Camry Solara Sport shares.

 

 

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