Head-to-head reliability
AUDI RS 4 vs Toyota Camry
How the AUDI RS 4 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
AUDI RS 4 vs Toyota Camry: The Audi RS 4 has 4 complaints over 2 years and 5 recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years, 171 crash-related, and 31 recalls. The Camry's higher volume means more reported issues, but the RS 4's low count may hide problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI RS 4 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI RS 4
The Audi RS 4 is a high-performance sedan with low complaint volume: only 4 complaints over 2 years, but 5 recalls. Owners report suspension leaks and clunking, air bag inflator issues, and ignition coil failures. Living with it means dealing with expensive, recurring suspension repairs and potential air bag fixes.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a huge complaint volume: 2,056 complaints over 10 years, including 171 crash-related and 158 injuries. Owners report power train hesitation, brake noises, and electrical glitches. Living with it means many reported issues, but also many recalls and a large data pool.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI RS 4 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.0 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.
AUDI RS 4
- 01SUSPENSION2
- 02AIR BAGS1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
Owners report leaking shock absorbers and a bad clunking noise, with Audi calling it 'sweating' and refusing replacement until complete failure. This matters because the car can feel like it's falling apart and may not track straight after repairs.
One owner was told there would never be a fix for the air bag issue due to the vehicle's limited edition status. This is a safety concern because the air bag may not deploy correctly in a crash.
Owners report hesitation, check engine lights, and repeated ignition coil replacements starting around 8,000 miles. This can cause loss of power and recurring repair bills.
“SUSPENSION COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING TO LEAKING SHOCK ABSORBER. PROBLEM ACKNOWLEDGED BY AUDI AS A KNOWN DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOCKS REPLACED UNDER THEIR CAMPAIGN, "43A9 DYNAMIC RIDE CONTROL SUSPENSION SERVICE". AFTER NEW SHOCKS THE CAR DOES NOT TRACK CENTER, PUL…”
“ALL SUSPENSION LEAKING OIL AND HAS A BAD CLUNKING NOISE. AUDI OF AMERICA CALLS IT ( SWEATING ). AND SAY ITS NORMAL. AND WOULD NOT REPLACE UNTIL COMPLETELY BROKEN.VEHICLE FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO FALL APART. *TR”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnection, and hesitation/shuddering with check engine lights. These issues can leave you stranded or cause delayed acceleration.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping malfunctioned at once. This is dangerous because it can happen while driving and affect many safety features.
Owners report several-second delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator. This lag can be a safety risk when merging or crossing traffic.
Owners report the electronic parking brake not disengaging, requiring a tow, and clicking/vibrating noises from the brake pedal area. These issues can prevent the car from moving or indicate ABS problems.
“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.
AUDI RS 4 — 5 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2005-2008 Audi A4 Sedan, A4 Avant, S4 Avant and S4 Sedan, 2007-2008 RS4 Sedan, 2004 RS4 Cabriolet, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2005-2011 A6 Sedan, 2006-2011 A6 Avant, and 2007-2011 S6 Sedan vehicles. These vehicles are…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi has notified owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag with an alternate remedy part, free of charge. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009 Audi A4 Cabriolet, S4 Cabriolet, A6 Avant, A6 Sedan and S6 Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2018. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Note: This recall has been superseded by…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2006-2013 Audi A3, 2007-2009 A4 Cabriolet and S4 Cabriolet, 2008 RS4 Cabriolet, 2009-2012 Q5, and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet and S5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure m…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Vol…
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
AUDI RS 4 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Audi RS 4 has far fewer issues per year (2.0 vs 205.6), but both have recalls. In practice, the Camry generates many more complaints, including crashes and injuries, while the RS 4's low volume may hide problems. The difference means the Camry has a wider range of reported failures, but the RS 4's issues can be expensive and safety-related.
Key differences
- The Audi RS 4 has 4 complaints over 2 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 over 10 years, including 171 crash-related and 158 injuries.
- Audi RS 4 owners report suspension leaks and clunking, with Audi calling it 'sweating' and refusing repairs until failure.
- Toyota Camry owners report power train issues like stuck ignition keys and hesitation, plus brake and electrical malfunctions.
- The Audi RS 4 has 5 recalls, all for air bag inflators, while the Toyota Camry has 31 recalls covering wheels, seats, and air bag sensors.
- Check for leaking or clunking suspension components, especially shock absorbers, as owners report Audi may call it 'sweating' and not fix until broken.
- Ask about air bag inflator recalls and whether they have been addressed, since one owner was told there would never be a fix.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and look for hesitation or shuddering during a test drive, as owners report these power train issues.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal and check if the electronic parking brake disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Audi RS 4's suspension for leaks and clunking, and verify air bag recall completion.
- For the Toyota Camry, test the ignition key, throttle response, and electronic parking brake during a test drive.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for ignition coils on the Audi and brake/electrical repairs on the Camry.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a brand-specific specialist to catch model-specific issues.
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 AUDI RS 4 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI RS 4 vs Toyota Camry
- AUDI RS 4 total complaints
- 4
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- AUDI RS 4 total recalls
- 5
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- AUDI RS 4 avg complaints/year
- 2.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- AUDI RS 4
- AUDI RS 4 top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN