Head-to-head reliability
BMW 335xi vs Toyota Camry
How the BMW 335xi 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 335xi vs Toyota Camry: The BMW has zero complaints over 2 years, while the Camry has 2099 over 10 years, including 177 crashes and 1 death. The Camry's top issues are powertrain, engine, and brakes, with reports of sudden acceleration and brake failure. The BMW has 7 recalls, mostly for airbags. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 335xi or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 335xi
The BMW 335xi shows a clean complaint record over two years, with zero owner complaints on file. However, it has seven recalls, mostly for airbag inflator modules and electrical wiring, which are serious safety concerns. This suggests that while owners haven't reported issues, the vehicle has known defects that could affect safety and reliability.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has a high volume of complaints, averaging over 200 per year, with significant issues in the powertrain, engine, brakes, and electrical systems. Owners report problems like sudden acceleration, transmission failures, brake failure, and HVAC odors. These are not just minor annoyances; they include safety-critical failures that have led to crashes and injuries.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 335xi | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 2,099 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 26 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 209.9 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 161 |
| 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 335xi
No component data available.
Multiple recalls for the driver-side frontal airbag inflator module indicate a risk of improper deployment or rupture, which could increase injury risk in a crash.
Recalls for electrical wiring suggest potential for shorts, malfunctions, or even fire risk, affecting various vehicle functions.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN389
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER336
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report grinding noises and transmission failures, with some requiring full replacement. This is a costly repair and a major reliability concern.
Reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration and engine codes related to coolant valve bypass recall indicate potential safety hazards and engine management issues.
Brake failure incidents, such as no response when pressing the pedal, are critical safety issues that can lead to crashes.
Complaints include HVAC odors and other electrical gremlins, which, while not always safety-critical, affect comfort and reliability.
“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.
BMW 335xi — 7 recalls
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 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors for the system that controls air flow for the heating and ai…
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 replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available. Owners may cont…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 3 Series Sedan (324i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi), 2006-2012 3 Series Sportswagon (325xi, 328i, 328xi), and 2009-2011 3 Series Sedan (335d) vehicles. The original steering wheel may have been replaced with a spor…
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: Dealers will inspect and replace the driver's air bag module as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 30, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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…
Toyota Camry — 26 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 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner…
The risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charg…
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…
Buyer analysis
BMW 335xi or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The BMW 335xi has far fewer complaints per year (0 vs. 209.9) and fewer recalls (7 vs. 26), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Camry's complaints include severe safety problems like sudden acceleration and brake failure, which are more dangerous. In practice, the BMW may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience based on complaint data, but both have recalls that need attention.
Key differences
- The BMW has zero owner complaints, while the Camry has thousands, including safety-critical issues like sudden acceleration and brake failure.
- The Camry's top problem areas are powertrain, engine, and brakes, whereas the BMW's issues are mainly recall-driven (airbags, wiring).
- The Camry has a higher number of recalls (26 vs. 7), but the BMW's recalls are concentrated on airbag inflators, which are a known safety risk.
- The Camry's complaints include transmission failures and brake loss, which are expensive and dangerous, while the BMW has no reported owner complaints to indicate similar issues.
- Check the airbag recall status and ensure the inflator module has been replaced, as it poses a safety risk.
- Inspect the electrical wiring for any signs of wear or previous repairs, given the wiring recalls.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including on a slope, to ensure there is no loss of braking power.
- Listen for grinding noises during acceleration, which could indicate transmission problems, and check for any pending recalls related to the powertrain.
Before you buy
- Verify that all recalls have been performed on the BMW, especially the airbag inflator and wiring recalls.
- For the Camry, check the transmission for any signs of failure, such as slipping or grinding, and ask for service records.
- Test the Camry's brakes in a safe area, including sudden stops, to ensure they respond properly.
- Inspect the Camry's engine for any warning lights or codes, and check if the coolant valve bypass recall applies to the VIN.
- For both, get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
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 335xi or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 335xi vs Toyota Camry
- BMW 335xi total complaints
- 0
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,099
- BMW 335xi total recalls
- 7
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 26
- BMW 335xi avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 209.9
- More reliable overall
- BMW 335xi
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN