Head-to-head reliability
AUDI RS E TRON GT vs Toyota Camry
How the AUDI RS E TRON GT 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 E TRON GT vs Toyota Camry: The Audi has 1 complaint over 5 years (0.2/year) and 5 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. The Audi’s lone complaint involves driver-assistance failure; the Camry’s include power-train and brake issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the AUDI RS E TRON GT or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
AUDI RS E TRON GT
The Audi RS E TRON GT is a high-performance electric vehicle with very few owner complaints filed—just one over five years—but it has five recalls covering charging cables, the traction battery, brake lines, and backup cameras. The single complaint describes a serious failure where emergency braking, cross-traffic warning, and forward-collision warning all failed to work, leading to a collision in a parking lot. For a buyer, this suggests that while overall complaint volume is low, the advanced driver-assistance systems may not always perform as expected, and recall work should be verified.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a huge number of owner complaints—over 2,000 in ten years—and 31 recalls, including issues with wheels, seats, and airbag sensors. Owners frequently report power-train problems like a stuck ignition key or shuddering during acceleration, as well as brake issues such as the electronic parking brake not disengaging and unusual brake-pedal noises. Electrical and unknown-component complaints also appear, often involving multiple safety systems malfunctioning at once. This pattern shows that while the Camry is common, it is not immune to recurring reliability problems that can affect daily driving.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | AUDI RS E TRON GT | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.2 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 E TRON GT
- 01BACK OVER PREVENTION1
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1
The sole complaint states that the rear cross-traffic warning and emergency braking failed to function, allowing the vehicle to hit a crossing car in a parking lot. This matters because these systems are meant to prevent low-speed collisions, and a failure could lead to costly body damage or injury.
The same complaint notes that forward collision warning and emergency braking did not work, and the failure repeated even after the first crash. For a buyer, this means the car’s automatic braking may not reliably engage in an emergency, so you should test these features and check for related recalls.
“On [XXX], the vehicles safety systems (emergency braking, cross traffic warning, forward collision warning) failed to function allowing the vehicle to hit a cross traffic vehicle in a parking lot. The safety system failed again after the first collision allow…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report an intermittent defect where the ignition key gets stuck and cannot be removed even though the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering during acceleration with the check engine light on. These issues can leave you stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, and repeated hesitation/shuddering with the check engine light. Such delays can be dangerous when merging or pulling out, and may indicate underlying engine or transmission problems.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking/vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer calls common. These problems can prevent the car from moving or signal ABS issues that affect braking performance.
Multiple safety systems—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—malfunctioned simultaneously in one complaint. Another mentions subframe, driveline, and stability control components. Such widespread electrical glitches can compromise several safety features at once.
“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 E TRON GT — 5 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 RS e-tron GT, e-tron GT, Q4 e-tron Sportback, Q4 e-tron, 2020-2021 Audi A8, 2019-2024 e-tron Quattro, 2020-2024 e-tron Sportback Quattro, Q5, and 2021-2022 A7 vehicles. When using the industrial 220V/240V plug at the 100% charg…
The risk: An overheated outlet or charging cable can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use the 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable and only use the 110V home charging cable or public charging stations. Dealers will supply a new 220V/240V compact/portable charging cable with an incorporated tem…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Audi RS E-Tron GT and E-Tron GT vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery modules.
The risk: A short circuit in a high-voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised to only charge their vehicles to a maximum of 80% battery capacity until the repair has been completed. Dealers will, analyze the battery data and replace the high-voltage battery modules as necessary free of charge. Own…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Audi RS E-Tron GT and Audi E-Tron GT vehicles. The front axle brake hoses can develop tears, causing a leak and a brake circuit failure.
The risk: A failed brake circuit can cause longer brake pedal travel and reduced braking performance, extending the distance required to stop and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front axle brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 6, 2024. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Audi's number for this recall is 47UP.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Audi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 E-TRON GT, and RS E-TRON GT vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module.
The risk: A short circuit in a high-voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install advanced diagnostic software as the final remedy free of charge. For vehicles where on-line data is available (Audi recall number 931A), as an interim measure, the vehicles will be monitored through online data evaluat…
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 E TRON GT or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Audi RS E TRON GT has far fewer complaints per year (0.2 vs. 205.6 for the Camry), but its single complaint involves a critical driver-assistance failure, while the Camry’s higher volume includes many recurring power-train and brake issues. In practice, the Audi may have fewer day-to-day problems, but the Camry’s issues are more numerous and varied, so you’re more likely to encounter a complaint-worthy defect with the Toyota.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Audi has 1 complaint over 5 years; Camry has 2,056 over 10 years—a massive difference in reported issues per year.
- Crash-related complaints: Audi has 1 crash-related complaint; Camry has 171, with 158 injuries and 1 death reported.
- Recalls: Audi has 5 recalls (charging cable, traction battery, brake lines, backup camera); Camry has 31 recalls (wheels, seats, airbag sensors).
- Failure patterns: Audi’s complaint centers on driver-assistance systems failing to prevent a collision; Camry complaints often involve power-train (stuck key, shuddering), brakes (parking brake, noise), and multiple electrical glitches.
- Test the forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert in a safe environment to ensure they activate; the sole complaint describes these failing completely.
- Ask for proof that all five recalls (charging cable, traction battery, brake lines, backup camera) have been performed, as unresolved recalls could affect safety and reliability.
- Check that the ignition key can be removed smoothly in Park and that the engine doesn’t hesitate or shudder during a test drive; these are common power-train complaints.
- Test the electronic parking brake repeatedly to ensure it engages and disengages without sticking, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls are addressed for the specific car you’re considering.
- During a test drive, deliberately test the advanced safety features (forward collision warning, automatic braking, cross-traffic alert) if equipped.
- For the Camry, check for smooth key removal, responsive acceleration, and proper electronic parking brake operation.
- Inspect the brake pedal feel and listen for unusual noises that could indicate ABS or parking-brake issues.
- Verify that all electrical systems—including stability control, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—function without warning lights.
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 | AUDI RS E TRON GT | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 1 | 50 |
| 2023 | 0 | 64 |
| 2022 | 0 | 61 |
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 E TRON GT or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- AUDI RS E TRON GT vs Toyota Camry
- AUDI RS E TRON GT total complaints
- 1
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- AUDI RS E TRON GT total recalls
- 5
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- AUDI RS E TRON GT avg complaints/year
- 0.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- AUDI RS E TRON GT
- AUDI RS E TRON GT top complaint area
- BACK OVER PREVENTION
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN