VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Toyota Camry Solara1999–2008
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Toyota Camry Solara
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Toyota Camry Solara Years to Avoid
1 recall · 52 complaints
47 reported injuries
Top issue: STRUCTURE
0 recalls · 111 complaints
10 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
0 recalls · 66 complaints
14 reported injuries
Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Toyota Camry Solara — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 59 | 4 | — | 63 | 38 | 54 | Caution |
| 2007 | 0 | 76 | 3 | — | 69 | 38 | 58 | Caution |
| 2006 | 1 | 52 | 47 | — | 55 | 38 | 49 | Avoid |
| 2005 | 0 | 66 | 14 | — | 63 | 38 | 54 | Caution |
| 2004 | 0 | 111 | 10 | — | 65 | 38 | 56 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 0 | 18 | 7 | — | 79 | 38 | 65 | Good |
| 2002 | 0 | 34 | 6 | 1 | 59 | 38 | 52 | Good |
| 2001 | 0 | 38 | 9 | — | 66 | 38 | 56 | Caution |
| 2000 | 1 | 42 | 7 | 2 | 46 | 38 | 43 | Caution |
| 1999 | 0 | 56 | 12 | — | 64 | 38 | 55 | Caution |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Toyota Camry Solara Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Camry Solara compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Camry Solara to buy?+
The 2003 Toyota Camry Solara scores highest on our Buyer Score (65/100) — combining a reliability score of 79/100 with a value score of 38/100. It has 0 recalls and 18 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Camry Solara years have the most problems?+
The 2006, 2004, 2005 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2006 Camry Solara leads with 1 recalls and 52 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Camry Solara problems?+
The most frequently reported Toyota Camry Solara issues involve: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE, STRUCTURE:BODY. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.