9.5

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
136,900 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. piston ring replacement (1 reports)
2004 Toyota Solara engine problems

engine problem

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2004 Toyota Solara Owner Comments

problem #4

Jan 202023

Solara SE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 241,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased this vehicle with 135,000 miles on it, shortly after I bought the car I noticed excessive oil consumption. it wasn’t bad at first. When I would take the car in for regular oil changes at 5,000 miles I was told my oil was about a quart low. Over time, the intervals in which I needed to add a quart of oil significantly increased. In the past 2 years it went from burning a quart of oil every 1,000 miles to every 800 miles and is now burning a quart every 500 miles at 241,000 miles.

I had a compression test done and it was confirmed it is leaking piston rings, which I already guessed based on other Toyota oil consumption problems being due to faulty rings. Toyota did issue a service bulletin about this but only in their 2006-2011. 2az-fe engines. I believe this issue affected many other model years based on researching this issue. Almost all years of the 2az-fe engines seem to have this issue. I’ve seen complaints about this same issue in models as new as 2013 for the Camry, Prius, RAV 4, and Avalon 4 cylinder engines.

I wish Toyota would do the right thing and fix this issue for free fir all models effected, and add more model years to their service bulletin, or issue another one adding more model years. they know this issue effected more than the models they claim. this is costing people thousands of dollars and resulting in engine failure. This also causes many other issues such as spark plugs needing to be replaced, catalytic converter failure, etc from the excessive oil burning.

- Tiffany L., Renton, US

problem #3

Jan 012016

Solara SE 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,600 miles

My 2004 Solara 2.4L engine started having burning problems at around 120,000 miles in early 2016. I didn't realized it till the check oil light came on. It's gradually getting worse, I just had an oil changed with less than 1000 miles and I had to refill it. I'm hoping one day Toyota would do the right thing and recall any of their engine that has the same issue. I had just replaced almost all the suspension system on this vehicle hoping that I could keep it for a long time. 120,000 is nothing for vehicles, Just last week my engine light came one,

had it checked and it was catalytic converter low efficiency. I think it's due to burning oil.

- Noy P., Pinellas Park, US

problem #2

Nov 012014

Solara

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

seems as if it is good right after an oil change but about a 1000 miles into the oil change you have to check your oil everyday unless you want to replace your engine.

- arc9150@yahoo.com, Wing, AL, US

problem #1

Dec 012013

Solara SE 2.4L I4

  • Manual transmission
  • 85,000 miles

I bought my 04 Solara used with close to 70k miles. After about 85k miles my low oil light started appearing. I noticed that around 1500 miles after an oil change my oil would be almost completely empty. I saw that the Camry has similar problems and is covered under warranty but my car is not and I am no longer under warranty anymore anyhow.

I did start doing a Lucas treatment after every oil change and can now make it close to 3000 miles without having to refill too much on oil. This is costing me about 15$ more every oil change. This appears to be an issue with many Toyota vehicles but Toyota is not taking responsibility for fixing this for everyone, only cars under warranty and only specific years. I am very tedious about maintenance and am a car lover who takes very good care of his vehicle.

- Freddie C., Bronx, NY, US

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