Head-to-head reliability
Acura CL vs Toyota Camry
How the Acura CL and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Acura CL vs Toyota Camry: The Acura CL averages 138 complaints per year over 3 years, with 21 crash-related and 3 deaths, while the Toyota Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year over 10 years, with 171 crash-related and 1 death. The Acura's issues are more severe per year, especially transmission and air bag failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura CL or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura CL
The Acura CL is a two-door coupe that can be a headache to own, with an average of 138 complaints per year over three years. The most common complaint is transmission problems, often described as erratic shifting, hard downshifts, and even sudden shifts from 5th gear into 2nd at highway speed. Air bag issues, including Takata recalls, and brake problems like premature rotor warping also appear. With 21 crash-related complaints, 17 injuries, and 3 deaths reported, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a much longer complaint history—10 years—averaging about 206 complaints per year. Power train complaints include key stuck in ignition and hesitation/shuddering, while engine issues often involve delayed throttle response. Brake problems like electronic parking brake failure and ABS noise are also reported. Despite 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, the single death over a decade suggests a different pattern than the Acura's more concentrated severe outcomes.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura CL | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 414 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 21 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 138.0 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Acura CL
- 01POWER TRAIN287
- 02AIR BAGS48
- 03SERVICE BRAKES19
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL14
Owners report severe transmission issues: erratic shifting, hard downshifts, and sudden gear changes from 5th to 2nd at high speed, which can cause loss of control. Some had transmissions fail multiple times even after replacement, making this a critical safety and reliability concern.
Takata air bag inflator recalls affect the driver's side, and owners report air bag warning lights and the need for replacement. The risk of inflator rupture in a crash is serious, so confirming recall completion is essential.
Premature rotor warping leads to grinding noises when braking, and some owners report repeated brake repairs. This can affect stopping distance and adds ongoing maintenance costs.
Complaints include recurring electrical problems, sometimes linked to transmission failures that occur while driving. These issues can leave the car undrivable and may be expensive to diagnose.
“TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: ERRATIC SHIFTING, HARD DOWNSHIFTS, SHIFTS FROM 5TH GEAR INTO 2ND GEAR AT HIGH SPEED: CLOSE-TO-DEATH EXPERIENCE ON THE HIGHWAY!! THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS DONE CONCLUDING NOTHING WRONG. FROM MY RESEARCH I HAV…”
“I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP WHEN THE CAR STARTED SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD AS I WAS DRIVING. I CALLED A LOCAL ACURA DEALERSHIP, IN AUGUSTA GA, AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THEY COULD NOT SEE ME UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, WHICH WAS 9/6/2002. I HA…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of newer Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others experience hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, pointing to transmission or engine management issues.
A common complaint is delayed throttle response—pressing the gas pedal and waiting several seconds for the car to move. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic and may indicate a software or sensor problem.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the ABS system. These issues can leave the car stuck or cause uncertainty about brake performance.
Multiple driver-assist systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. This loss of safety aids can happen without warning and may be difficult to repair.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Acura CL — 10 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2001-2002 Acura 3.2CL, 2000-2003 Acura 3.5RL, 2000-2001 Acura 3.2TL, Honda CR-V and Honda Odyssey, 2001-2002 Acura MDX and 2000 Accord Coupe, Accord Sedan, Civic Coupe, and Civic Sedan vehicles. These vehicles may have received a replacement dri…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag cushion may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios inc…
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air bags in the vehicles, replacing the driver frontal air bag inflator with an inflator of a different design, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2020. Owners m…
The defect: ON SOME MINI VANS, SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS CAN RESULT IN HEAT BUILD-UP BETWEEN THE COUNTERSHAFT AND SECONDARY SHAFT SECOND GEARS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO GEAR TOOTH CHIPPING OR GEAR BREAKAGE.
The risk: GEAR FAILURE COULD RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The fix: ON VEHICLES WITH 15,000 MILES OR LESS, THE DEALER WILL UPDATE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A SIMPLE REVISION TO THE OIL COOLER RETURN LINE TO INCREASE LUBRICATION TO THE SECOND GEAR. ON VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE DEALER WILL INSPEC…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. These v…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are Q5A…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Acura CL or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Acura CL has fewer complaints per year (138 vs. 205.6), but its issues are more severe, with a higher rate of crashes, injuries, and deaths relative to its short three-year span. The Camry's higher annual complaint rate reflects a longer production run and more vehicles on the road, but its problems are often less catastrophic. In practice, the Acura CL poses a greater risk of sudden transmission failure and air bag danger, while the Camry's issues are more likely to be annoying but manageable.
Key differences
- The Acura CL's most common complaint is transmission failure with erratic shifting and sudden gear changes, while the Camry's power train complaints often involve key stuck or hesitation.
- Air bag recalls are a major concern for the Acura CL due to Takata inflators, whereas the Camry's air bag recalls involve occupant classification sensors.
- The Acura CL has a much higher rate of crash-related complaints (21 over 3 years) compared to the Camry (171 over 10 years), but the Acura's rate per year is higher.
- Brake issues differ: Acura CL owners report rotor warping and grinding, while Camry owners report electronic parking brake failure and ABS noise.
- Transmission: Test drive at highway speeds and check for hard shifts, hesitation, or sudden downshifts; ask for transmission service records and recall completion.
- Air bags: Verify that the Takata driver-side air bag inflator recall has been performed; check for any air bag warning lights.
- Electronic parking brake: Test that it engages and disengages smoothly; listen for unusual noises from the brake pedal area.
- Throttle response: During test drive, check for delayed acceleration when pressing the gas pedal from a stop or at low speeds.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the transmission, brakes, and air bag system before purchase.
- Test drive the car in various conditions, including highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic, to feel for shifting or braking issues.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake repairs.
- For the Acura CL, confirm that the Takata air bag recall has been completed; for the Camry, check for software updates related to throttle response.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Acura CL or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura CL vs Toyota Camry
- Acura CL total complaints
- 414
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Acura CL total recalls
- 10
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Acura CL avg complaints/year
- 138.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Acura CL
- Acura CL top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN