Head-to-head reliability
Acura ZDX vs Toyota Camry
How the Acura ZDX 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 ZDX vs Toyota Camry: The ZDX has 67 complaints over 7 years (9.6/yr) with issues in forward collision and braking, while the Camry has 2143 complaints over 10 years (214.3/yr) with powertrain and brake failures. The ZDX has 36 recalls, the Camry 31. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Acura ZDX or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Acura ZDX
The Acura ZDX is a relatively low-volume electric SUV with a short model history, and its complaint pattern centers on advanced driver-assist systems and braking. Owners report the forward collision and automatic braking systems either failing to engage or engaging unexpectedly, which can be startling and potentially dangerous. There are also reports of the drive motor inverter cooling system failing, which could affect performance. With 67 complaints over 7 years, it's a low number, but the nature of the issues—especially those involving unintended braking—is concerning for a newer vehicle.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume sedan with a long history, and its complaint pattern is dominated by powertrain, engine, and brake issues. Owners report transmission grinding and replacement needs, sudden acceleration incidents, and brake failures, including a complete loss of braking on a hill. There are also many complaints about HVAC odors and AC condenser damage. With 2143 complaints over 10 years, the raw number is high, but given the Camry's popularity, it's important to consider the rate and the severity of the reported failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Acura ZDX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 67 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 36 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.6 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 Better | 163 |
| 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 ZDX
- 01FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE23
- 02SERVICE BRAKES20
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER13
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
- 05BACK OVER PREVENTION9
Owners report the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) failing to engage during a collision, and also hyper-sensitivity causing unwarranted automatic braking. This can lead to a lack of protection in a crash or unexpected stops that risk rear-end collisions.
Intermittent braking malfunctions cause the vehicle to jerk unexpectedly while slowing or stopping, occurring in stop-and-go traffic, on hills, and while reversing. The cause is often unknown, making it unpredictable and potentially dangerous.
Failures in the drive motor inverter cooling system have been reported, which could lead to overheating and loss of power. This is a critical component for an electric vehicle's operation.
“On [XXX] at approximately 700 miles on a 2024 Acura ZDX A-Spec AWD (VIN [XXX] ), the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) failed to engage during a collision event. The system did not provide forward collision warning and did not initiate automatic emer…”
“I am writing to report a serious safety defect in my 2024 Acura ZDX concerning the Forward Collision Alert and Automatic Emergency Braking. The system exhibits hyper-sensitivity, leading to unwarranted and dangerous automatic braking events. On 3/17/25, at ap…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end upon acceleration, with dealerships confirming transmission issues and recommending replacement. Some transmissions are on backorder, leaving owners without a vehicle for extended periods.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration, leading to crashes and total loss of the vehicle. Additionally, engine maintenance required lights and codes like P268115 indicate coolant valve bypass issues, which may not be covered by recall for all VINs.
Brake failure has been reported, including a complete lack of response when pressing the pedal on a steep hill, forcing the driver to take evasive action. This is a critical safety concern.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder 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 ZDX — 36 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississip…
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 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 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-20…
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 August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F…
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
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…
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…
Buyer analysis
Acura ZDX or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Acura ZDX has far fewer complaints per year (9.6) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), but the ZDX's issues are concentrated in safety-critical systems like collision avoidance and braking. The Camry's higher volume of complaints includes serious powertrain and brake failures, but its popularity means more vehicles on the road. In practice, the ZDX's lower complaint rate suggests fewer overall issues, but the nature of its problems may be more alarming.
Key differences
- The ZDX has a much lower complaint rate (9.6/yr) vs the Camry (214.3/yr), but the ZDX's complaints are heavily focused on forward collision and braking systems that can cause unexpected stops or fail to engage.
- The Camry has a significant number of powertrain complaints, including transmission failures and sudden acceleration, which are not reported on the ZDX.
- The ZDX has 36 recalls, many for air bag inflator modules, while the Camry has 31 recalls covering seats, wheels, and occupant classification sensors.
- The Camry has a higher number of crash-related complaints (181) and injuries (163) compared to the ZDX (5 and 4), but the ZDX's sample complaints show near-misses due to unintended braking.
- Test the forward collision warning and automatic braking in a safe area to ensure they don't trigger unexpectedly.
- Check for any service bulletins or recalls related to the drive motor inverter cooling system, as failures could lead to loss of power.
- Listen for grinding noises during acceleration and have the transmission inspected, as replacements are common.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on hills, and check for any signs of brake failure or sudden acceleration issues.
Before you buy
- Check the NHTSA recall database for both vehicles and ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- For the ZDX, ask for a demonstration of the forward collision and braking systems in a controlled environment.
- For the Camry, request a transmission fluid check and a test drive that includes acceleration and braking on slopes.
- Inspect the ZDX's cooling system components for any signs of leaks or prior repairs.
- For the Camry, ask about any history of HVAC odor complaints and check the AC condenser for damage.
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 ZDX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 119 |
| 2025 | 0 | 153 |
| 2024 | 55 | 48 |
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 ZDX or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Acura ZDX vs Toyota Camry
- Acura ZDX total complaints
- 67
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Acura ZDX total recalls
- 36
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Acura ZDX avg complaints/year
- 9.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Acura ZDX
- Acura ZDX top complaint area
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN