Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin DB9 vs Toyota Camry
How the Aston Martin DB9 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
Aston Martin DB9 vs Toyota Camry: The DB9 has 9 complaints and 39 recalls over 10 years, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls. The DB9 reports stalling and key ejection; the Camry reports transmission shudder and brake noise. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin DB9 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin DB9
The Aston Martin DB9 is a low-volume exotic with only 9 complaints over 10 years, but 39 recalls and a pattern of electrical and fuel-related stalling. Owners report dramatic failures like the key being ejected from the dash and the car shutting off, as well as strong fuel fumes on acceleration. With so few complaints, each one is a significant red flag for a buyer of a high-maintenance vehicle.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with 2,056 complaints over 10 years, including 171 crash-related and 158 injuries, but 31 recalls. Common owner reports include transmission shuddering, delayed throttle response, and brake system noises. The sheer number of complaints reflects the huge number of Camrys on the road, but the variety of issues means buyers should be aware of potential problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin DB9 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 9 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 39 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.9 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Aston Martin DB9
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
- 03FUEL SYSTEM2
- 04GASOLINE2
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
Owners report the key being forcefully ejected from the dashboard's spring compression chamber, shutting the car off while driving or at a gas station. Another complaint describes the car stalling at low speed and not restarting for several minutes, with instrumentation lights on but the engine not turning over.
Headlights (not just bulbs) failed in both units, creating a driving hazard. Rear tail light covers fog up and hold moisture, and one brake light fails intermittently, which could lead to electrical problems or loss of brake light function.
Owners report a strong smell of fumes when accelerating, which the dealer attributed to the clutch but said there was nothing to do about it. The same stalling incident is also filed under fuel system and gasoline, suggesting a possible link between fuel delivery and stalling.
While no specific complaint text is provided for this component, the stalling incidents and the fuel smell could indicate engine management or cooling issues. Buyers should be aware that engine-related complaints exist, even if the sample text focuses on electrical and fuel symptoms.
“THIS CAR HAS A SPRING COMPRESSION CHAMBER WHERE THE KEY GOES IN THE DASHBOARD . TWICE OVER THE LAST 6 YRS THE CHAMBER HAS SPIT THE KEY OUT LIKE A BULLET AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. ONCE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN 2017 AND AT A GAS STATION IN 2023. THE CHAM…”
“THE CAR STALLED AT A FEW MPH AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. THE INSTRUMENTATION LIGHTS REMAINED ON. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO PALM BEACH MOTORS. THE COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW A FAULT AND THEY C…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key becoming stuck and unable to be removed even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Another complaint describes hesitation and shuddering while driving, with the check engine light on, diagnosed by a dealer.
Multiple systems malfunctioned at once, including smart stop, vehicle stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, secondary collision brake, and lane keeping assistance. Another complaint lists front and rear subframe, driveline, and stability/traction control components as involved.
Owners report a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car eventually moving. This hesitation and shuddering, along with the check engine light, suggests potential engine management or transmission issues.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) would not disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer and a new switch that did not fix the problem. Another owner reports a clicking and vibrating sound from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer says is from the ABS system and common for the 2023 Camry.
“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.
Aston Martin DB9 — 39 recalls
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 DB9, 2010-2012 DBS, 2010-2016 V8 Vantage, 2012 Virage, 2010-2016 Rapide, 2014-2016 Vanquish, 2011-2016 V12 Vantage, and 2012-2013 V12 Zagato vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with interior door…
The risk: If the doors cannot be opened by an occupant from inside the vehicle, they may be trapped inside, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will disable the double locking feature by reprogramming the software, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2009-2016 DB9, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2015 Rapide, 2012 Virage, and 2014 Vanquish vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Touchtronic II Automatic Transmission. A communication error between the Engine Control Module (ECM) and the Transmission Con…
The risk: If the park pawl does not engage and the vehicle is stopped on a slope and exited without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 1, 2018. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this…
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 DB9, 2010-2012 DBS, 2010-2016 V8 Vantage, 2012 Virage, 2010-2016 Rapide, 2014-2016 Vanquish, 2011-2016 V12 Vantage, and 2012-2013 V12 Zagato vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with interior door…
The risk: If the doors cannot be opened by an occupant from inside the vehicle, they may be trapped inside, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will disable the double locking feature by reprogramming the software, free of charge. The recall began August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston…
The defect: Aston Martin The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2009-2016 DB9, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2015 Rapide, 2012 Virage, and 2014 Vanquish vehicles equipped with a 6-Speed Touchtronic II Automatic Transmission. A communication error between the Engine Control Module (ECM) and the Transmission Con…
The risk: If the park pawl does not engage and the vehicle is stopped on a slope and exited without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 1, 2018. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service at 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's number for this…
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
Aston Martin DB9 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin DB9 has far fewer complaints per year (0.9 vs. 205.6), but its issues are more exotic and potentially catastrophic, like stalling and key ejection. The Toyota Camry has many more complaints, but they are spread across a huge number of vehicles, and some are common annoyances like brake noise. In practice, the DB9 may be more unpredictable and expensive to fix when something goes wrong, while the Camry's issues are more widely documented and potentially easier to address.
Key differences
- The DB9 has only 9 complaints over 10 years, while the Camry has 2,056, but the DB9's complaints include dramatic stalling and key ejection, whereas the Camry's include more mundane issues like brake noise and delayed throttle.
- The DB9 has 39 recalls, many for latches, transmission control module, and seat heaters, while the Camry has 31 recalls, including wheels, seats, and air bag sensors.
- The DB9 has 1 injury and 0 deaths reported, while the Camry has 158 injuries and 1 death, though these numbers are influenced by the vastly different production volumes.
- Owner complaints for the DB9 often mention dealer inability to diagnose or fix issues, while Camry complaints sometimes note that the manufacturer considers certain behaviors normal.
- Check the ignition key mechanism for any signs of sticking or ejection, and test the car for stalling at low speeds or after fueling.
- Inspect headlights and tail lights for fogging, moisture, or intermittent failure, and check for strong fuel odors when accelerating.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park, and listen for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive, especially with the check engine light on.
- Check the electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which may indicate ABS issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup.
- For the DB9, have a pre-purchase inspection by an Aston Martin specialist focusing on electrical, fuel, and lighting systems.
- For the Camry, test drive at various speeds to feel for transmission shudder or delayed throttle, and test all electronic safety systems.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for any prior stalling, key, or brake issues.
- Budget for potential repairs: DB9 parts and labor are expensive, while Camry repairs are more common but still need attention.
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 Aston Martin DB9 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin DB9 vs Toyota Camry
- Aston Martin DB9 total complaints
- 9
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Aston Martin DB9 total recalls
- 39
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Aston Martin DB9 avg complaints/year
- 0.9
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin DB9
- Aston Martin DB9 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN