Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin Rapide vs Toyota Camry
How the Aston Martin Rapide 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 Rapide vs Toyota Camry: The Rapide has only 1 complaint over 9 years (0.1 per year) and 16 recalls, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints over 10 years (214.3 per year) and 31 recalls. The Camry reports serious issues like sudden acceleration and brake failure, whereas the Rapide's sole complaint is a check engine light. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin Rapide or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin Rapide
The Aston Martin Rapide is a low-volume luxury performance sedan, and its reliability record reflects that niche status. Over nine years, owners filed just one complaint, which is remarkably low, but the vehicle has been subject to 16 recalls. The single complaint describes a check engine light triggered by a diagnostic trouble code, pointing to potential fuel system or engine management issues. For a buyer, this suggests a car that may be relatively trouble-free in terms of owner-reported problems, but the high recall count indicates that factory defects and safety-related fixes are a significant part of ownership.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume mainstream sedan, and its complaint data shows a much higher volume of issues, with over 2,100 complaints in ten years. Owners report serious problems including sudden acceleration, transmission failures, brake failures, and air conditioning issues. The Camry also has 31 recalls and a history of crashes and injuries. This paints a picture of a car that, while popular and generally reliable, has had notable safety and reliability concerns that buyers should investigate thoroughly.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin Rapide | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.1 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Aston Martin Rapide
- 01FUEL SYSTEM1
- 02GASOLINE1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04ENGINE1
The only owner complaint for the Rapide involves a check engine light and a diagnostic trouble code, suggesting a possible fuel system or engine management fault. This could lead to reduced performance or drivability issues, but the sample is too small to identify a pattern.
The same complaint also lists the electrical system as a component, indicating that the check engine light may have been triggered by an electrical issue, such as a faulty sensor or wiring. Electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
The engine is also cited in the complaint, reinforcing the possibility of a fuel or ignition-related problem. Owners may experience warning lights and potential performance degradation, but the rarity of complaints suggests this is not a widespread issue.
“The contact owns a 2012 Aston Martin Rapide. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact used a handheld diagnostic machine to retrieve a DTC for a…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end upon acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission issues that often require replacement. This is a serious and costly repair, and some owners note that transmissions are on backorder, causing delays.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration, which led to a crash and total loss in one case. Additionally, an owner received a code for a coolant valve bypass that was not covered by a recall for their specific VIN, raising safety concerns.
Brake failure is reported, with one owner experiencing no response when pressing the pedal while descending a steep hill. This is a critical safety issue that could lead to accidents.
While not detailed in the sample, the electrical system is a top component, and owners have reported issues like AC condenser damage from rocks and recurring HVAC odors, which can affect comfort and require repairs.
“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 Rapide — 16 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 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…
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…
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
Aston Martin Rapide or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin Rapide has far fewer owner complaints per year (0.1) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), indicating a lower rate of reported problems. However, the Camry's higher volume reflects its popularity and the fact that more cars on the road lead to more complaints. In practice, the Rapide may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience based on owner reports, but the Camry's issues are more varied and include safety-critical failures.
Key differences
- The Rapide has only 1 complaint in 9 years, while the Camry has over 2,100 in 10 years, showing a stark difference in owner-reported issue frequency.
- The Camry has reports of sudden acceleration and brake failure, which are safety-critical, whereas the Rapide's only complaint is a check engine light.
- The Camry's transmission issues are common and often require replacement, while the Rapide has no such reports.
- The Rapide has 16 recalls, many related to latches and transmission control modules, while the Camry has 31 recalls, including airbag and seat issues.
- Check for any open recalls, especially those related to latches/locks and transmission control modules, as these could affect safety and drivability.
- Have the fuel and electrical systems inspected, as the only complaint involved a check engine light that could indicate a recurring issue.
- Inspect the transmission for any signs of grinding or slipping, and check if any transmission-related recalls have been performed.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including on a hill, and look for any warning signs of brake failure, as this has been reported.
Before you buy
- Check the NHTSA website for open recalls on both vehicles and ensure they have been addressed.
- For the Rapide, have a mechanic scan for diagnostic trouble codes and inspect the fuel system and electrical components.
- For the Camry, test drive at various speeds and listen for transmission noises; also, have the brake system inspected by a professional.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any major repairs, especially transmission or brake work on the Camry.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a certified mechanic who is familiar with the specific make and model.
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 Rapide | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 393 |
| 2018 | 0 | 736 |
| 2017 | 0 | 148 |
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 Rapide or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin Rapide vs Toyota Camry
- Aston Martin Rapide total complaints
- 1
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Aston Martin Rapide total recalls
- 16
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Aston Martin Rapide avg complaints/year
- 0.1
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin Rapide
- Aston Martin Rapide top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN