2005 Toyota Camry Solara Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2005 Toyota Camry Solara has a Complaint Index of 50 and ranks 3rd worst of 5 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Owners reported 92 complaints, mostly involving Structure & Body (33%) and Engine (28%), plus 1 recall for a crankshaft pulley issue.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #3 of 5 Camry Solara years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 92
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 22
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 9
- Top issue
- Structure & Body
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 19 city / 28 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 9 / 0
Top 2005 Toyota Camry Solara problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body30 (33%)
- Engine26 (28%)
- Transmission & Powertrain16 (17%)
- Airbags15 (16%)
- Brakes10 (11%)
- Other10 (11%)
- Electrical System6 (7%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (5%)
- Steering3 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or lurching while parking or backing up at low speeds, sometimes resulting in a collision.
- Multiple reports describe brakes failing to engage or producing a loud cracking sound before the vehicle continued moving despite braking.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, including one weather-related accident and one intersection collision.
- Automatic transmission complaints describe hesitation and rough gear shifts, with one owner noting a software update related to a 'wireless transmission.'
- One owner reported the vehicle suddenly surging forward while entering a parking space, striking a concrete barrier.
2005 Toyota Camry Solara recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 11V539000Nov 9, 2011Engine420,326 vehicles
Engine and engine cooling
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004 avalon vehicles; 2004 and 2005 camry, camry solara, highlander, and sienna vehicles, 2006 highlander hybrid; 2004 and 2005 lexus es330 and rx330; and 2006 lexus rx400h vehicles manufactured from june 1, 2004 through march 31, 2005, equipped with the 1mz-fe or 3mz-fe engine. The amount of adhesive agent applied between the outer ring and the torsional rubber damper (inner ring) in the crankshaft pulley may be inadequate. If the adhesive is insufficient, there is a possibility that the outer ring may become misaligned and it may not properly rotate with the inner ring, causing noise and/or illumination of the battery discharge indicator light.
Risk: In some cases, the belt for the power steering pump may become detached from the pulley which could result in a loss of power steering and a sudden increase in steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will check the crankshaft pulley to identify whether it was produced by the u.s. Supplier. If so, the dealer will replace the pulley with a new one at no charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during early january 2012. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
2005 Toyota Camry Solara fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 22.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,900
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Camry Solara years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Toyota Camry Solara reliable?
- NHTSA data shows a Complaint Index of 50 for the 2005 model year, giving it a Caution verdict relative to other Camry Solara years. It ranks 3rd worst out of 5 years with data.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Camry Solara?
- NHTSA complaints show Structure & Body issues make up 33% of complaints, followed by Engine problems at 28% and Transmission & Powertrain issues at 17%.
- Does the 2005 Camry Solara have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 11V539000) covering an engine crankshaft pulley issue that also affected other Toyota and Lexus models from the same era.
- How does the 2005 Camry Solara compare to other years?
- The 2005 model has a lower Complaint Index (50) than the 2006 (100) and 2007 (75) model years, both rated Avoid, but a higher index than the 2008 model (25), which is rated Good.
- What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2005 Solara?
- NHTSA data lists a median mileage at failure of 46,000 miles across all complaints for the 2005 model year.