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 and 18 recalls over 10 years, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls. The Camry also shows 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries; the DBS shows none. 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 low-volume exotic car, so it has very few owner complaints on file—zero over ten years. That doesn't mean it's trouble-free; it means problems are less likely to be reported to NHTSA. Instead, it has 18 recalls covering things like door latches, transmission control, seat heaters, and the accelerator pedal. For a buyer, the main takeaway is that you'll rely more on recall history and a thorough pre-purchase inspection than on a large pool of owner complaints.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with a huge number of owner complaints—2,056 over ten years, or about 206 per year. Those complaints often describe real driving issues: hesitation and shuddering, stuck ignition keys, brake noises, and multiple electronic systems malfunctioning at once. There are also 31 recalls, including for wheels, seats, and airbag sensors. While many individual problems may be minor, the sheer volume means a used Camry is more likely to have had some issue reported by a previous owner.
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 | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 18 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 DBS
No component data available.
Recalls exist for door latch and lock linkage problems, which could mean doors that don't latch securely or open unexpectedly. A buyer should check that all doors open, close, and lock properly.
A recall covers the transmission control module, which can affect shifting or cause the car to enter limp mode. This matters because transmission repairs on an exotic car are expensive.
The seat heater/cooler system was recalled, so it may fail or overheat. A buyer should test both front seats' heating and cooling functions.
A recall for the accelerator pedal suggests possible sticking or unintended acceleration. This is a serious safety concern, so confirm the recall was performed.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on.
Multiple electronic systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping, and secondary collision brake—can malfunction at the same time. This can make the car feel unpredictable and may be hard to diagnose.
Complaints include a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the gas pedal from a stop. This lag can be dangerous when merging or pulling out into traffic.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow. Others hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which dealers say comes from the ABS system.
“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 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 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…
The defect: Aston Martin Lagonda of North America (Aston Martin) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 DB9 and V8 Vantage, 2009-2012 DBS, 2010-2012 Rapide, 2014 Rapide S, 2011-2012 V12 Vantage, 2011-2014 V8 Vantage S and 2012 Virage vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the accelerator pedal arm may brea…
The risk: If the accelerator pedal arm breaks, the engine will return to idle and the driver will be unable to maintain or increase engine speed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Aston Martin will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assemblies. The recall began on February 11, 2014. Owners may contact Aston Martin customer service by calling 1-888-923-9988. Aston Martin's recall number is…
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 DBS or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin DBS has far fewer complaints per year—zero versus about 206 for the Toyota Camry—but that's partly because so few DBS models are on the road. The Camry's higher complaint count reflects its huge sales volume and a wider range of reported issues, from transmission hesitation to brake noises. In practice, a used DBS may have fewer reported problems but each repair could be much more expensive, while a Camry is more likely to have had some issue but parts and service are cheaper and easier to find.
Key differences
- The DBS has 0 owner complaints and 18 recalls; the Camry has 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls—so the Camry has far more reported problems, but also far more cars on the road.
- Camry owners report real driving symptoms like hesitation, shuddering, stuck ignition keys, and brake noises; the DBS has no complaint text, so its issues are known mainly through recall subjects.
- The DBS recalls cover door latches, transmission control, seat heaters, and accelerator pedal; the Camry recalls include wheels, seats, and airbag sensors.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints, 158 injuries, and 1 death reported; the DBS has 0 in all those categories, though low volume may affect reporting.
- Check that all door latches and locks work smoothly and that the doors don't pop open—this is a recall area.
- Test the accelerator pedal for any sticking or hesitation, and confirm the transmission control module recall was performed.
- Try removing the ignition key after parking—if it sticks, that's a known complaint that may require a battery disconnect.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area and test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Ask for the full recall history and proof that all open recalls were completed on the specific car you're considering.
- Take a test drive that includes stop-and-go traffic, highway merging, and parking to feel for hesitation, shuddering, or brake noises.
- For the Camry, test every electronic system: stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping, and the parking brake.
- For the DBS, test the seat heaters/coolers, door latches, and accelerator pedal response, and have a specialist inspect the transmission.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic who knows the model, and budget for potential repairs based on the reported issues.
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 | 50 |
| 2023 | 0 | 64 |
| 2022 | 0 | 61 |
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
| 2019 | 0 | 395 |
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
- 2,056
- Aston Martin DBS total recalls
- 18
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Aston Martin DBS avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin DBS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN