Head-to-head reliability
BMW 135I vs Toyota Camry
How the BMW 135I 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
BMW 135I vs Toyota Camry: The BMW 135I averaged 14.3 complaints per year over 7 years, while the Toyota Camry averaged 205.6 per year over 10 years. The BMW had 26 recalls and 1 crash-related complaint; the Camry had 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints. Both have serious issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 135I or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 135I
The BMW 135I is a sporty coupe that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over 7 years, it averaged 14.3 complaints per year, with air bags, engine, and electrical issues leading the list. Owners report stalling, transmission hesitation, and air bag inflator concerns. With 26 recalls, it demands vigilance and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume—205.6 per year over 10 years—but that reflects its huge sales. Power train, engine, and brake issues are common, including delayed acceleration and electronic parking brake failures. It has 31 recalls and a higher rate of crashes and injuries reported. Still, many issues are addressed by dealers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 135I | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 100 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 14.3 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
BMW 135I
- 01AIR BAGS36
- 02ENGINE30
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19
- 04POWER TRAIN15
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11
Owners report air bag inflator defects that may cause serious injury or death, and some were not notified of recalls. This is a critical safety concern that should be checked immediately.
Complaints describe the engine shutting off while idling or stalling when accelerating from a stop, which can leave you stranded in traffic. This points to potential fuel or ignition problems.
Owners report stalling, power steering loss, and transmission hesitation with violent lunging. These electrical glitches can make the car unpredictable and unsafe to drive.
The dual-clutch transmission hesitates for 3-5 seconds and then surges forward, and the car may hold gears. This makes smooth driving difficult and could lead to accidents.
“I JUST HAD THE BOLTS ON BOTH THE (INTAKE AND EXHAUST REPLACED) THIS IS LISTED IN THE UNSPECIFIED RECALL AND NO ONE NOTIFIED ME ON THIS RECALL I DRIVE THE 2011 128I SERIES COUPE AND THIS COST ME OUT OF POCKET $1,800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE, WHAT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND…”
“I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN 3/2016 THAT AIR BAG INFLATOR MAY RESULT IN "SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH" TO DRIVER AND /OR PASSENGERS. I LIVE AND WORK IN TALLAHASSEE, FL, THE AREA THAT TRIGGERS NEED FOR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. THIS GRAVE DEFECT IS ALSO ON MY CARFAX REPORT, DE…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others note hesitation and shuddering, which can be annoying and potentially dangerous.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when accelerating, with several seconds of lag before the car moves. This can be risky when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the ABS system. Brake issues are safety-critical.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring can malfunction simultaneously. This suggests complex electronic vulnerabilities.
“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.
BMW 135I — 26 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This r…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi,…
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: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This r…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat.
The risk: Wiring that overheats could cause the electrical connectors to melt, and increase the risk of a fire, even when the vehicle is unattended.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This r…
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
BMW 135I or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The BMW 135I has far fewer complaints per year (14.3 vs. 205.6), but its issues often involve stalling and air bags, which are serious. The Camry's higher volume means more frequent problems, but many are addressed by recalls. In practice, the BMW may need fewer repairs but each could be more severe.
Key differences
- BMW 135I averages 14.3 complaints per year; Toyota Camry averages 205.6 per year, but Camry sells in much higher volumes.
- BMW 135I has 1 crash-related complaint and 1 injury; Camry has 171 crash-related and 158 injuries, though these are not adjusted for sales.
- BMW 135I top issues are air bags and engine stalling; Camry top issues are power train (key stuck, hesitation) and brakes (EPB failure).
- BMW 135I has 26 recalls; Camry has 31 recalls, but Camry's recalls include seat and air bag sensor issues.
- Check for open air bag inflator recalls and confirm the fix was done; owners report serious injury risk if not addressed.
- Test drive for engine stalling at idle and during acceleration, and listen for transmission hesitation or lunging.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park; if it sticks, it may require battery disconnection to remove.
- Check the electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were fixed.
- Take a long test drive including stops, acceleration, and parking to check for stalling, hesitation, or brake issues.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission and electrical repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system, engine, and transmission before purchase.
- For the Camry, test the key removal and electronic parking brake multiple times.
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 BMW 135I or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 135I vs Toyota Camry
- BMW 135I total complaints
- 100
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- BMW 135I total recalls
- 26
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- BMW 135I avg complaints/year
- 14.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- BMW 135I
- BMW 135I top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN