ToyotaSolara2003V6/toyota/solara/2003/v6/

2003 Toyota Solara — V6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2003 Solara V6.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine V6Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2003 Toyota Solara V6 is a passenger‑car coupe powered by a V6 mated to a four‑speed automatic, returning an EPA‑rated 17 city/25 highway/20 combined mpg and requiring four quarts of 5W‑30 API oil. Owner‑reported issues total 36 complaints, with air‑bag concerns leading the list, yet the model carries zero recalls for the year. Across the 1997‑2008 Solara lineage, 2003 sits well below the 2004 peak of 161 complaints and far above the 1998 low of just one, positioning it as a comparatively trouble‑free model year with a modest, focused reliability footprint.

Model year200420032002200120001999

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/25/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 90915YZZF1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tail / brake / turnHOTOEM · verified
Tire sizeCoupeOEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZF1 alt 90915YZZD1
Engine air filter1780103010
Fuel filter2330020090 alt 2330074280
Front wiper blades8522206020 alt 8521204031
Serpentine belt9091602401 alt 9008091212
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter8713906030

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.2 in
Overall width71.3 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase105.1 in
Curb weight3137 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 25 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, ATF in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilATF
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.4 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts159 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerDenso
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.25-1.38 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.50 oz
Optional BCI Group Number24F
Optional BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression145-218 psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs / 80 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle34 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Runout Limit0.0059 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.472 in / 1.102 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAir Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The Toyota Solara experienced a significant increase in reported issues starting in 2002, transitioning from a very low baseline between 1997 and 2001 to a period of higher instability. The 2003 model year shows a relative decrease in complaints (36) compared to 2002 (86), but it precedes a sharp climb in 2004, which saw 161 complaints and the first recorded recall. For 2003, the most frequent complaints involved Air Bags (6) and Vehicle Speed Control (5), though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. With 106 TSBs and 3 investigations, 2003 aligns with the rising trend of technical service bulletins that characterized the latter half of the generation. Positioned just before the peak of complaints and the introduction of recalls in later years, 2003 represents a moderate point in the vehicle's reliability arc. This is a good year to buy relative to the 2004-2008 models, as it avoids the highest complaint volumes and the onset of federal recalls.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
106
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
36
Owner complaints
11 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 36 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags6
Vehicle Speed Control5
Power Train3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Wheels,Service Brakes,Engine1
Vehicle Speed Control,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System1
Air Bags,Seat Belts,Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 106 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
T-SB-0038-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureTo prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film…
T-SB-0039-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
T-SB-0061-23 Rev22024-12-05StructureToyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to…
T-SB-0035-24 Rev12024-07-12StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
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Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2003 Solara V6 take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2003 Solara have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the V6 get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.