Yikes! Problems, Problems, Problems

[fotodad]

Before I bought my 04 solara I owned a 2003 Nissan 350Z. So once in awhile I check my350z.com to see how folks are feeling about their Zs. Since I like Acura TLs and Infiniti G35s, I also visit and post on their forums as well. Wow! I cannot believe how unhappy these car owners are. Sure, forums are typically a place to vent your frustrations. But it seems to me these forums have an excessive amount of owners who are unhappy with their cars. Z owners seem to be the most upset, followed by TL owners, then G owners. I realize the Solara isn't perfect, but putting aside the left-drift issue (which Toyota addressed relatively quickly) this car has been trouble free (knocking heavily on wood).

This confirms my beliefs that Toyota/Lexus builds the best auto on the road.

[Shoe]

what sort of problems did you see?

shoe

[TadS]

this car has been trouble free

Yep, that's why Toyota/Lexus is good, and why I choose to drive 1 .

[TRD MCV20L]

this car has been trouble free

Yep, that's why Toyota/Lexus is good, and why I choose to drive 1 .

same here. toyotas last forever

[Astro]

Damn, I'm glad my girl got the Solara. Her first 2 choices were the TL and the G35. We both were skeptical on getting a Nissan/Infiniti because of problems in the past. For the TL, I hate Honda, so I personally wouldn't buy an Acura. But, if my girl wanted it, I probably would of helped her get it. I really think me pushing a Toyota helped, she already agrees that Toyotas are the best!!!!

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

i have 2 toyota's and one lexus...(thankfully i sold my celica). You bet toyota's last for ever!

[fotodad]

what sort of problems did you see?

shoe

The 350Z had tire issues, window issues, rattles, transmission problems, and Nissan/dealerships were not helping owners at all.

The TL forum had a thread which listed at least 25 common problems from the roof liner falling down, to vibration, to rattles.

The G35 people were probably the most pleased with their cars, but they did discuss poor interior features and functions, uncomfortable front seat, and, yes, the ever so common, rattle.

I must admit to having an annoying rattle in my 04 Solara as well, but I don't want to have the entire dash ripped apart to get it "fixed."

Check out the sites yourself:
G35driver.com
acura-tl.com
my350z.com

[TW85]

If I forget about the several rattles in my car then I have nothing to complain about. What drives me nuts is that the rattles come and go.

[Buckeyegirl]

One would think that as much as these cars cost you wouldn't have to deal with these rattle problems. My car just developed a new one in the right C-piller some where. It's so frustrating and embarrassing. How Toyota get's high marks with J.D. Power in initial quality survey is beyond me.

[fotodad]

One would think that as much as these cars cost you wouldn't have to deal with these rattle problems. My car just developed a new one in the right C-piller some where. It's so frustrating and embarrassing. How Toyota get's high marks with J.D. Power in initial quality survey is beyond me.

I agree, Buckeyegirl. Considering the price of these cars (regardless of manufacturer), I think the consumer must demand a higher quality vehicle, free of rattles and squeeks. The only way the manufacturer is going to get the message is for the consumer to take the car in for every rattle or squeek he/she hears. It's time to hit the car manufacturers in the pocketbook. Don't settle for sub-standard workpersonship. Become a squeeky wheel yourself.

[erasat]

For all of you, my previous Coupe 04 SLE, began with an annoying rattle on the dashboard, I went 3 times to service for that, it was the screws that goes in the panel, last time I went I demanded to get it fix, or not giving me back the car, and that time they finally did it, until about 2 weeks later, a little tiny squeeks began to sound again from the dash, but at least it wasn't annoying just barely hear, they claimed that from all Solaras just mine and the owner's daughter's one had the sam eissue.

Then the most annoying of all began, a huge rattle noise from the rear right side of the car, it sounded as metal crashing, it happened everytime I drove a bad or irregular road, when the chassis of the car got tested, so I always told them that it was like something in the rear rigt suspension was without enough grease or something, they never found it, they told me that they checked at Toyota and nobody else have reported that, so I went 3 times too for that, only difference was that I never got it fixed, I know that main problem was that it wasn't a constant sound, just ocasionally, so it was hard for them to at least hear it, even though 2 times I went with them to try to listen it, but it sounded just once, and they didn;t hear it, so that made it harder to fix.

Then somebody stole the car, it never appeared again, I got my money from the Insurance Company and went to buy another one, this time I saw the Convertible, and went for one, same day I got it, the Tire light went on, after checking Tires presuures and seeing that it wasn't that, they checked the Tire Sensor lines going to the Computer, and the Service Manager told me that he thought that saw what appeared to be one of the lines contact to the Computer, loose, so he re-adjusted it, after that the light hasn't turned on again, it has been 3 weeks. So, 1 of 2 things, or that was the real problem, or he disconnected that sensor, and I won't get the Tire light again, I'm afraid that is something I won;t be able to check unless I get the car to another Toyota Service Location, and for now I don't have plans to do it.

At least, with this one, Dashboard and Rear Right Suspension are not making noises, so maybe got aware of the issue and fix them in latest released cars.

[mattyboyl]

Hey fotodad, thanks for the news. I always wonder, what if I bought that 350Z ? Hearing what you have heard and what I have heard about the Z in particular, I am grateful to have saved about $10,000 for a practical, reliable, quality automobile. I get into my car and say, "Damn, how can they asell these things so cheap in comparison to some of the junk I see out there?" BTW, I will check those forums when I get the urge to complain about the Solara, which hasn't been in approximately 7 mos. (since I got the car).

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

Then the most annoying of all began, a huge rattle noise from the rear right side of the car, it sounded as metal crashing, it happened everytime I drove a bad or irregular road, when the chassis of the car got tested, so I always told them that it was like something in the rear rigt suspension was without enough grease or something, they never found it, they told me that they checked at Toyota and nobody else have reported that, so I went 3 times too for that, only difference was that I never got it fixed, I know that main problem was that it wasn't a constant sound, just ocasionally, so it was hard for them to at least hear it, even though 2 times I went with them to try to listen it, but it sounded just once, and they didn;t hear it, so that made it harder to fix.

That sounds like the strut mound problems we have on Gen 4 camry (only 1997 & 1998) toyota got it right for rest of the years on the gen4& gen 4.5. I am currently on my 3rd strut assemblies on my gen4 camry...all thanks to extended warranty!

[erasat]

Yep, I think you are right, in the money in the assumptions that was the Strut, the manager told me once that he was going to consider mounting the whole set of struts under warranty. So I think now that the thief that got my car will need to do it now, jeje.