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.
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 severity
Typical 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.
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 severity
Typical 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
Owner tips
V6 owners: monitor oil consumption religiously every 1,000 miles starting at 80k — catch the ring issue before engine damage occurs, TSB coverage may apply
Install external transmission cooler and bypass the radiator's internal cooler entirely if keeping long-term, especially in hot climates
Change transmission fluid every 50k miles regardless of 'lifetime fluid' claims — cheap insurance against cooler contamination damage
Keep up with routine valve adjustment checks on I4 models at 60k/120k intervals to prevent valve train noise
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.
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Every control module on the 2004-2008 Toyota Solara — where it lives, replacement time, and what it takes to program a replacement. Modules marked dealer / factory tool won't work after a part swap alone — budget for programming.
ABS Actuator / Brake Control Module (ABS)1.8 hr R&Rrelearn only +0.2 hr▸ programming details
📍 Engine compartment, driver side near master cylinder
Back Monitor Camera ECU (CAMERA ECU)0.5 hr R&Rno coding
📍 Integrated with camera assembly in trunk lid (if equipped)
⚠️ Rare option; plug-and-play; verify display unit compatibility
Aftermarket tool coverage varies by software version and vehicle build — treat "aftermarket tool" rows as "usually possible" and verify against your tool maker's coverage list before promising a customer. Spot a wrong location or hour? Tell us — corrections ship fast here.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2007 Toyota Solara 3.3L V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.