Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin DBS vs Toyota Camry
How the Aston Martin DBS 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 DBS vs Toyota Camry: The DBS has 0 complaints over 10 years, while the Camry has 2,099, with 177 crash-related and 1 death. The DBS has 18 recalls, the Camry 26. The Camry shows serious powertrain and brake issues, while the DBS has no reported owner complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin DBS or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin DBS
The Aston Martin DBS is a high-performance grand tourer that, in ownership terms, is a low-volume, high-cost vehicle. Over the past decade, it has recorded zero owner complaints with NHTSA, which suggests that either owners are not reporting issues or the car is relatively trouble-free in the eyes of those who do report. However, it has 18 recalls, indicating that the manufacturer has proactively addressed potential safety and functional defects. For a buyer, this means the car may have fewer day-to-day reported problems, but recalls highlight areas that could need attention.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mass-market sedan with a high volume of owner complaints—over 2,000 in the last decade, averaging about 210 per year. The complaints cluster around the powertrain, engine, brakes, and electrical systems, with real-world reports of transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, brake failure, and HVAC odors. While the Camry is known for reliability, these complaints suggest that some model years have significant issues that buyers should investigate. The 26 recalls also point to known defects that have been addressed.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin DBS | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 2,099 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 26 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 209.9 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 161 |
| 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 DBS
No component data available.
Owners have not reported specific issues, but recalls in this area suggest potential problems with door locks or latches that could affect security or safety. A buyer should ensure all recall repairs are done.
No complaints on record, but a recall for the TCM/PCM indicates a possible software or hardware issue that could affect shifting or engine performance. Verify the recall was performed.
No owner complaints, but a recall for battery cables suggests a risk of electrical failure or fire. Check that the recall fix is applied to avoid unexpected breakdowns.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN389
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER336
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report grinding noises from the transmission upon acceleration, with dealers recommending replacement. This is a serious and costly issue that could leave you stranded or require major repairs.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration leading to crashes, as well as engine maintenance lights related to coolant valve bypass recalls. These are safety-critical and should be investigated before purchase.
Owners describe brake pedal going to the floor with no response, especially on hills, which is terrifying and dangerous. This could indicate a brake system defect that needs immediate attention.
Complaints include HVAC odors and AC condenser damage from rocks, but also potential electrical issues. While not as severe, these affect comfort and can be annoying to fix.
“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.
Aston Martin DBS — 18 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 The Americas (Aston Martin) is recalling certain 2005-2009 DB9, and DBS vehicles. The battery supply cable on these vehicles may become damaged when the driver seat is positioned in the full rearward location.
The risk: If the battery cable is damaged and then grounded, the short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the battery supply cable for damage, and install a routing block to keep the battery supply cable from being compressed by the seat, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 201…
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 DB9, V12 Vantage, V8 Vantage, DBS, and Virage vehicles manufactured July 3, 2006, to November 5, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic control module for the driver and front passenger seat heate…
The risk: If the electronic control module fails, the seat heater could get hot enough that areas of the seat may overheat and smolder, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional module to the circuit that can interrupt the power to the seat heaters in case the electronic control module for the seat heaters fails, free of charge. The recall beg…
Toyota Camry — 26 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 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner…
The risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charg…
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…
Buyer analysis
Aston Martin DBS or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin DBS has zero complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages about 210 per year. This stark difference suggests that the DBS, despite its recalls, has fewer reported owner issues, but the Camry's high volume reflects its popularity and the fact that more cars on the road means more reports. In practice, the DBS may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience based on complaints, but the Camry's issues are more common and potentially serious.
Key differences
- The DBS has zero complaints, while the Camry has over 2,000, with many involving safety-critical failures like sudden acceleration and brake loss.
- The DBS has 18 recalls but no reported injuries or deaths, whereas the Camry has 177 crash-related complaints and 1 death, indicating more severe real-world incidents.
- The Camry's top problem areas are powertrain, engine, and brakes, with concrete examples of transmission failure and brake pedal going to the floor, while the DBS has no specific complaint patterns.
- The DBS is a low-volume exotic car, so its complaint count is naturally lower, but the Camry's high volume means more data points and a clearer picture of common issues.
- Check that all 18 recalls have been performed, especially those involving the transmission control module and battery cables, as these could affect drivability and safety.
- Inspect the latches and locks for proper operation, as a recall suggests a potential failure that could leave doors unsecured.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on a hill, to ensure the pedal feels firm and responsive, as owners report sudden loss of braking.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration, and check if the transmission has been replaced or if a recall applies to the specific VIN.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's VIN and check NHTSA's recall database for any open recalls on both models.
- For the Camry, have a mechanic inspect the transmission, brakes, and engine for signs of wear or previous repairs.
- For the DBS, verify that all recall repairs are documented and that the car has a service history from an authorized dealer.
- Take both cars for an extended test drive, including highway and stop-and-go traffic, to feel for any hesitation, grinding, or brake issues.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with each brand, especially for the DBS's complex systems.
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 | Aston Martin DBS | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 46 |
| 2023 | 0 | 60 |
| 2022 | 0 | 58 |
| 2021 | 0 | 154 |
| 2020 | 0 | 267 |
| 2019 | 0 | 388 |
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 DBS or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin DBS vs Toyota Camry
- Aston Martin DBS total complaints
- 0
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,099
- Aston Martin DBS total recalls
- 18
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 26
- Aston Martin DBS avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 209.9
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin DBS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN