Head-to-head reliability
Aston Martin V8 Vantage vs Toyota Camry
How the Aston Martin V8 Vantage 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 V8 Vantage vs Toyota Camry: The Vantage averages 1.1 complaints per year and has 29 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year and has 31 recalls. The Vantage's issues are fewer but often more severe, like stalling and hydraulic leaks; the Camry's are more frequent but typically less exotic. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a low-volume sports car with an average of just 1.1 complaints per year over the past decade, but that low count comes with a catch: many of those complaints describe serious, recurring problems. Owners frequently report leaky tail lights, sudden stalling or unintended braking, and hydraulic failures in the automated manual transmission. With 29 recalls in 10 years, it's a car that demands vigilance and a willingness to deal with quirky, sometimes expensive fixes.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with about 206 complaints per year, reflecting its huge sales numbers rather than a high failure rate per car. Still, owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission hesitation and stuck ignition keys to brake noises and multiple electronic system malfunctions. With 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints, it's a car that generally serves reliably but has its share of modern electronic and powertrain gremlins.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Aston Martin V8 Vantage | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 11 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.1 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 V8 Vantage
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
- 02VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
- 03POWER TRAIN3
- 04ENGINE3
- 05STRUCTURE1
Owners repeatedly report that headlights and tail lights develop condensation and leak, which can cause the lights to fail. This is a known design flaw across many model years, and replacements often have the same defect.
Complaints describe the car coming to an abrupt stop on the freeway, sometimes within days of purchase, and a recall for the accelerator pedal where parts were unavailable. This points to potential sudden loss of power or unintended braking.
The automated manual transmission (Sportshift) can suffer from ruptured or corroded hydraulic hoses, spilling oil onto the undercarriage. Another owner reported the car starting and rolling away on its own while connected to a battery refresher.
Several owners report the engine abruptly stopping on the freeway, often within the first week of ownership, requiring towing and repairs. This suggests possible fuel or ignition faults that can leave you stranded.
“The tail light on my car leaks and condensates - this is a problem with ALL Aston Martin Vantages and DB9's made from 2005 through 2017. The problem is that Aston Martin never had a fix and instead sells defective lights as a replacement when they fail from t…”
“ASTON MARTINS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING CONDENSATION BOTH IN THE HEADLIGHT AND TAIL LIGHTS. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM DUE TO BAD DESIGN AND BUILD YET THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CONDENSATION CAN CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT CAUSING P…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of recent Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck in the ignition even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect to remove it. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with a check engine light.
Multiple safety systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. Another complaint involves subframe, driveline, and stability control components, indicating complex electronic and structural issues.
Some drivers experience a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, making the car feel unresponsive when trying to move. This can be a safety concern in traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area is common. Owners are told the noise is normal, but it can be distracting and may indicate ABS issues.
“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 V8 Vantage — 29 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 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 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 V8 Vantage or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage has far fewer complaints per year (1.1 vs. 205.6), but that's partly because so few were sold. In practice, the Vantage's problems tend to be more severe and expensive when they occur, while the Camry's higher complaint count reflects its massive popularity and a broader mix of minor to moderate issues.
Key differences
- The Vantage has 11 complaints over 10 years; the Camry has 2,056—but the Camry sells in vastly higher numbers, so per-car risk is different.
- Vantage owners report sudden stalling and hydraulic transmission failures; Camry owners report key-stuck and hesitation issues.
- The Vantage has 29 recalls, including for accelerator pedals and latches; the Camry has 31 recalls, including for air bag sensors and seats.
- Camry complaints include many electronic system malfunctions; Vantage complaints center on lighting leaks and speed control.
- Check headlights and tail lights for condensation or water droplets inside the lens, as this is a common leak point that can lead to light failure.
- Test the transmission carefully for smooth shifting and look for hydraulic fluid leaks under the car, especially around the rear transaxle area.
- Try removing the ignition key after parking to ensure it doesn't stick, and test the electronic parking brake to confirm it disengages properly.
- During a test drive, accelerate firmly to check for any hesitation or delayed throttle response, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- For the Vantage, have a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist who knows Aston Martin hydraulic and electrical systems.
- For the Camry, test all electronic features: blind spot monitoring, lane keeping, stability control, and the infotainment system.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake system repairs.
- During a test drive, replicate common complaint scenarios: highway driving for the Vantage, and stop-and-go traffic for the Camry.
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 V8 Vantage | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 744 |
| 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 V8 Vantage or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage vs Toyota Camry
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage total complaints
- 11
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage total recalls
- 29
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage avg complaints/year
- 1.1
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN