Head-to-head reliability
BMW 528xi vs Toyota Camry
How the BMW 528xi 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 528xi vs Toyota Camry: The BMW 528xi had 120 complaints over 3 years (40/year) and 1 recall, while the Toyota Camry had 2056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. The BMW's issues often involve engine seizure, whereas the Camry's include brake and power train problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 528xi or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 528xi
The BMW 528xi is a luxury sedan that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over three years, owners filed 120 complaints, with engine and power train issues dominating. Reports include sudden engine seizure, fluid leaks, and electrical glitches. A recall for exterior lighting adds to ownership burden.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a long history of high complaint volume, averaging 205.6 complaints per year over ten years. Issues span power train, engine, brakes, and electrical systems. Some complaints involve safety-related failures like stuck keys and brake problems. Despite many recalls, it remains a common choice.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 528xi | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 120 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 40.0 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 528xi
- 01ENGINE64
- 02POWER TRAIN37
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER12
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING10
Owners report sudden engine seizure with no warning, often due to lack of oil, and catastrophic failures like snapped camshafts with metal shavings in the oil pan. These can lead to expensive repairs or engine replacement.
Complaints include fluid leaks and drivetrain malfunctions, sometimes after recall repairs. Owners may face recurring issues with transmission or drivetrain components, leading to costly diagnostics and repairs.
Electrical problems such as warning lights and sensor failures are reported, sometimes linked to engine issues. These can cause unreliable operation and require dealer visits for diagnosis.
Issues like water in headlights causing wiring damage and turn signal failure are noted. Such problems may seem minor but can lead to electrical gremlins and repeated repairs.
“While driving my car at about 30 miles per hour the engine suddenly seized up. There was no warning at all. I had it towed to the dealer, Baron BMW in Merriam Kansas. After evaluating the car they determined the engine failed and it was an issue of lack of oi…”
“The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528XI. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V608000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), but the failure occurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check co…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent ignition key stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnect to remove, and hesitation/shuddering with check engine light. These can strand drivers and indicate transmission or sensor issues.
Multiple system malfunctions (stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring) occur simultaneously, and subframe/driveline issues are reported. These complex failures can be dangerous and hard to diagnose.
Delayed throttle response and hesitation when accelerating are reported, sometimes with check engine light. This can affect drivability and may signal underlying engine management problems.
Electronic parking brake fails to disengage, requiring towing, and clicking/vibrating noises from ABS are common. Brake issues are safety-critical and may need repeated repairs.
“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 528xi — 1 recall
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Saf…
The risk: The vehicle may be less visible to other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
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 528xi or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The BMW 528xi has far fewer complaints per year (40) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), but the BMW's issues are often severe and expensive, like engine seizure. The Camry's higher volume includes many minor or repetitive complaints, but also some safety-related failures. In practice, the BMW may need fewer visits but each could be costlier, while the Camry may have more frequent but sometimes less catastrophic problems.
Key differences
- BMW 528xi complaints center on engine and power train failures like sudden seizure, while Camry complaints are more varied across power train, brakes, and electrical systems.
- The BMW has 1 recall for exterior lighting; the Camry has 31 recalls covering air bags, seats, wheels, and more.
- Camry reports include safety-related issues like stuck ignition keys and brake malfunctions; BMW reports include catastrophic engine failure and fluid leaks.
- BMW averages 40 complaints per year; Camry averages 205.6, but the BMW's lower volume may reflect fewer vehicles on the road or different reporting patterns.
- Check for any signs of oil leaks or low oil pressure, as engine seizure due to lack of oil is reported.
- Inspect electrical system for warning lights and ensure all recalls (especially exterior lighting) have been addressed.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and listen for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive.
- Check electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been repaired.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine for oil leaks, sludge, or unusual noises (BMW) and check for transmission hesitation (Camry).
- Test all electrical components, including lights, infotainment, and driver-assist systems.
- For the Camry, verify proper operation of the electronic parking brake and ignition key removal.
- For the BMW, check for coolant and oil leaks, and scan for stored error codes.
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 528xi or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 528xi vs Toyota Camry
- BMW 528xi total complaints
- 120
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- BMW 528xi total recalls
- 1
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- BMW 528xi avg complaints/year
- 40.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- BMW 528xi
- BMW 528xi top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN