Head-to-head reliability
Acura RL vs Toyota Camry
How the Acura RL 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 RL vs Toyota Camry: The RL averages 23.6 complaints per year and has 58 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The RL's complaints often involve air bags and electrical issues, whereas the Camry's include power train and engine problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura RL or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura RL
The Acura RL is a low-volume luxury sedan with an average of 23.6 complaints per year over the past decade, suggesting relatively few reported problems. However, the complaints that do exist often involve serious safety issues like air bag inflator recalls and electrical glitches that can leave the car disabled. Owners also frequently mention blinding headlights and brake pedal interference, which can affect daily driving and safety.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with an average of 205.6 complaints per year, indicating many more reported issues than the Acura RL. Complaints span major systems like power train, engine, and brakes, with symptoms such as hesitation, shuddering, and electronic parking brake failures. While the Camry has fewer recalls (31 vs. 58), the sheer number of complaints suggests a higher likelihood of encountering problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura RL | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 236 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 58 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 23.6 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 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 RL
- 01AIR BAGS81
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING60
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM36
- 04SERVICE BRAKES16
- 05HYDRAULIC12
Owners report receiving recall notices for passenger and driver side inflator modules, sometimes forcing them to park the car for months due to lack of parts or rental reimbursement. This is critical because a faulty inflator can fail to deploy correctly in a crash, increasing injury risk.
Many complaints focus on the HID headlights being blindingly bright to other drivers, with owners calling them a road hazard. While not a mechanical failure, this can lead to glare-related accidents and dissatisfaction.
Owners describe random alarm triggers, key fob failures, and dashboard lights staying on after ignition off, sometimes leaving the car inoperable. These electrical gremlins can strand a driver and are costly to diagnose.
Some reports mention the gas and brake pedals deploying simultaneously, causing unintended acceleration and impacts. This is a serious safety concern that could lead to loss of control.
“I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH AND WAS TOLD TO PARK MY CAR. I DID FOR 9 MONTHS, FORCED TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. ACURA REFUSED TO PROVIDE A RENTAL. WE FILED A CLASS-ACTION SUIT. ACURA REQUIRED AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRBAGS/INFLATOR. I RECEIVED AN INVOICE I COUL…”
“MY WIFE WAS ENTERING A BEND IN THE ROAD AND CAME UPON A CAR STOPPED IN HER LANE, WITH NO BRAKES LIGHTS!!! SHE ATTEMPTED TO SWERVE TO THE SHOULDER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. SHE IMPACTED THE CAR IN THE REAR, SLIGHTLY OFFSET TO THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE. THE FRONT O…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent issues like the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove, and hesitation or shuddering while driving. These problems can leave a driver unable to start or move the car reliably.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This lag can be dangerous when merging or crossing intersections.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear clicking or vibrating noises from the ABS system. These issues can prevent the car from being driven or indicate brake system faults.
Multiple system malfunctions are reported, including failures of stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assistance. Such widespread electronic failures can compromise safety and require expensive repairs.
“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 RL — 58 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mary…
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 passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. T…
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 passenger frontal airbag 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 E5…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with…
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 S5B…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura RL, 2010 Honda Element, and 2010-2013 Honda Ridgeline vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
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 passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
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 RL or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Acura RL has far fewer complaints per year (23.6 vs. 205.6), but its issues often involve safety-critical air bags and electrical failures. The Toyota Camry, while more common, has a broader range of complaints including power train and engine problems that can affect drivability. In practice, the RL may have fewer overall problems, but the Camry's issues are more frequently reported and may be easier to find parts and service for.
Key differences
- The Acura RL has 236 complaints over 10 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2056, meaning the Camry has nearly 9 times more complaints despite similar timeframes.
- Air bag inflator recalls are a major concern for the Acura RL, with multiple recalls for passenger and driver side modules, whereas the Camry's recalls include seats and occupant classification sensors.
- Acura RL owners report electrical issues like random alarms and key fob failures, while Camry owners report power train problems such as stuck ignition keys and hesitation.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, compared to the RL's 14 crash-related and 12 injuries, indicating a higher number of reported crashes involving the Camry.
- Check for open air bag recalls and confirm the inflator modules have been replaced; ask for documentation.
- Test all electrical functions, including alarm, key fob, and dashboard lights, for random cycling or failures.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and look for any sticking or need to disconnect the battery.
- Check the electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website for both models.
- For the Acura RL, specifically ask if the air bag inflator recall has been addressed and get proof.
- For the Toyota Camry, test drive at various speeds to feel for hesitation or shuddering, and test the key removal.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system and brakes on both cars, focusing on the reported problem areas.
- Verify that all safety systems (air bags, brakes, stability control) are functioning properly before purchase.
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 RL or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
No VIN yet? Ask the seller.
A genuine seller should be happy to share it. Send this, then paste the VIN into the box above when it comes back.
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Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura RL vs Toyota Camry
- Acura RL total complaints
- 236
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Acura RL total recalls
- 58
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Acura RL avg complaints/year
- 23.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Acura RL
- Acura RL top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN