The 2007 Solara shares the Camry platform and generally offers Toyota reliability, but the V6 models faced significant engine oil consumption issues from defective piston rings, while transmission oil coolers can fail and contaminate the ATF on both engines.
Excessive Oil Consumption (V6 models - defective piston rings)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: burning 1+ quart per 1,000 miles, blue smoke on startup or acceleration, fouled spark plugs, check engine light P0300-P0306 misfires
Fix: Toyota issued TSB and extended warranty to 10yr/150k for this known defect. Requires complete engine teardown, new pistons and rings on all cylinders. 18-24 labor hours if shop does full rebuild; some opt for short block replacement at similar cost.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure (inside radiator)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission slipping or shuddering, pink milkshake appearance in transmission fluid, coolant level dropping, engine overheating in severe cases
Fix: Internal cooler ruptures, mixing ATF and coolant. Requires new radiator, complete transmission fluid flush (sometimes multiple flushes), new transmission filter. If caught late, transmission rebuild needed. 4-6 hours for radiator and flush only.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (caught early), $3,000-5,000 (transmission damaged)
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: clunk when shifting from park to drive/reverse, excessive engine movement visible under hood during acceleration, vibration at idle in gear
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount degrades, loses fluid internally. Replacement is straightforward with engine support. 1.5-2 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $250-400
Valve Cover Gasket Oil Leaks (V6)
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 120,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: oil smell from engine bay, oil seepage visible on valve covers, oil drips on driveway, oil level drops between changes
Fix: V6 has two valve covers; rear is more labor-intensive requiring intake manifold removal. Front cover 2 hours, rear cover 4-5 hours. Replace spark plug tube seals simultaneously.
Estimated cost: $400-600 (front only), $800-1,200 (both)
EVAP System Charcoal Canister Failure
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: check engine light P0441 or P0446, difficulty filling gas tank (pump clicks off repeatedly), fuel smell near tank area
Fix: Canister saturates or vent valve fails. Located above fuel tank, requires tank lowering for access. Sometimes just the vent valve (1.5 hours), sometimes full canister (2.5 hours).
Estimated cost: $300-600
Front Strut Mount Bearing Noise
Common · low severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking or popping when turning steering wheel at low speeds, grinding noise from front suspension over bumps while turning
Fix: Strut mount bearings wear out. Best practice is replacing complete strut assemblies with mounts included (quick-struts). 2-3 hours for both fronts.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Buy the 4-cylinder model if possible and budget $1,000-1,500 for deferred maintenance; avoid high-mileage V6s unless oil consumption has been documented as normal or engine already rebuilt.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.