Head-to-head reliability
Acura RDX vs Toyota Camry
How the Acura RDX 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 RDX vs Toyota Camry: The RDX averages 111.5 complaints per year with 22 recalls, while the Camry averages 208.1 complaints per year with 28 recalls. The RDX's main issue is spontaneous glass shattering, while the Camry has more varied powertrain and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura RDX or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura RDX
The Acura RDX, a compact luxury SUV, shows a high complaint rate of about 111.5 per year, with a notable pattern of spontaneous glass breakage—both the panoramic sunroof and rear hatch window have shattered without warning. Engine and electrical failures also appear, including sudden power loss and acceleration issues. While it has 22 recalls, the glass failures are a unique and concerning ownership risk.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a midsize sedan, has a higher complaint rate of about 208 per year, but its issues are more varied across powertrain, engine, and brakes. Owners report problems like the key getting stuck in the ignition, unintended braking, and a thumping noise from the brakes. With 28 recalls, the Camry's reliability picture is mixed, but its failures are less dramatic than the RDX's glass shattering.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura RDX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,115 Better | 2,081 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 28 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 111.5 Better | 208.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 23 Better | 161 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
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 RDX
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER301
- 02VISIBILITY/WIPER205
- 03ENGINE188
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM104
- 05POWER TRAIN103
Owners report the panoramic sunroof and rear hatch window spontaneously shattering while driving or parked, with no external cause. This is a safety hazard and costly repair, happening repeatedly to some owners.
The rear windshield has shattered on its own, even when the car is parked in a secure area. This suggests a structural defect in the glass, not just impact damage.
The engine can fail to accelerate at highway speeds, with the check engine light on, or suffer a sudden loss of power. One owner reported a loud noise and deceleration, indicating potential internal failure.
Complete loss of electrical power while driving, causing the engine to shut off and all systems to go dark. Another owner experienced stalling and engine seizure when reversing.
“As I was driving down the highway, I heard a loud noise that sounded like an explosion of some sort I was going about 65 miles an hour on the expressway [XXX] and [XXX], when I realized that my sunroof had to have shattered. I pulled off the highway and confi…”
“This week, my panoramic sunroof shattered. This is the second time this has happened to me. The first incident was last year my on 2021 RDX. I became suspicious and started doing some research and it appears this has happened to many RDX users. I filed a form…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN384
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER332
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
The vehicle can be turned off and the key removed while still in Drive, risking rollaway. Also, the ignition key gets stuck and can only be removed by disconnecting the battery.
The moonroof spontaneously shattered while driving on the freeway with no debris or temperature change, similar to the RDX but less frequent.
Engine noise and vibration when braking, plus a musty smell in the trunk with rust spots, suggesting water intrusion or exhaust issues.
Brakes grind or thump, and the system can erroneously activate, causing unintended deceleration. Dealers often cannot replicate the issue.
“The vehicle allows the engine to be turned off, key removed, while the vehicle is still in drive with no warning lights or sounds. I have tested and the vehicle can roll away. Complained to the toyota dealership and they said the service tech consulted with t…”
“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…”
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 RDX — 22 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Odyssey and 2024 Acura RDX vehicles. The steering gear box assembly may not have been tightened properly, allowing water to enter the assembly and cause corrosion and binding gears.
The risk: Corroded and binding steering gears can result in a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 4, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are LHU and FHT.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
Toyota Camry — 28 recalls
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 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…
Buyer analysis
Acura RDX or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Acura RDX has fewer complaints per year (111.5 vs 208.1), but its glass shattering issue is a unique and serious safety concern. The Camry's higher complaint rate is spread across more components, but its problems are less dramatic. In practice, the RDX may be more reliable day-to-day, but the glass failure risk is a dealbreaker for some.
Key differences
- Acura RDX has a unique pattern of panoramic sunroof and rear window shattering; Camry has moonroof shattering but less common.
- Camry has more powertrain complaints, including key stuck in ignition and rollaway risk; RDX has more electrical system failures causing sudden power loss.
- Camry's brake system can activate unintentionally; RDX's engine can fail to accelerate at highway speeds.
- RDX has fewer complaints per year (111.5 vs 208.1) but more dramatic individual failures.
- Inspect the panoramic sunroof and rear hatch window for any cracks or signs of stress; ask if they have been replaced before.
- Check for any history of electrical system failures or engine stalling, especially at highway speeds.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park; ensure it doesn't get stuck. Also check if the vehicle can be turned off while in Drive.
- Listen for brake grinding or thumping noises during a test drive, and ask if the brake system has been serviced for unintended activation.
Before you buy
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles using the VIN.
- For the RDX, ask the seller if the sunroof or rear window has ever shattered and been replaced.
- For the Camry, test the key removal in Park and Drive to ensure it works correctly.
- Test drive both vehicles at highway speeds to feel for any hesitation or brake issues.
- Review service records for any engine or electrical repairs on the RDX, and brake or powertrain work on the Camry.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Acura RDX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 97 |
| 2025 | 29 | 140 |
| 2024 | 11 | 46 |
| 2023 | 20 | 60 |
| 2022 | 30 | 57 |
| 2021 | 105 | 154 |
| 2020 | 339 | 264 |
| 2019 | 432 | 387 |
| 2018 | 76 | 728 |
| 2017 | 73 | 148 |
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 RDX or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura RDX vs Toyota Camry
- Acura RDX total complaints
- 1,115
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,081
- Acura RDX total recalls
- 22
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 28
- Acura RDX avg complaints/year
- 111.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 208.1
- More reliable overall
- Acura RDX
- Acura RDX top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN