Head-to-head reliability
BMW 640I vs Toyota Camry
How the BMW 640I 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 640i vs Toyota Camry: The BMW has 22 complaints over 8 years (2.8/yr) with issues like stalling and fires, while the Camry has 2077 complaints over 10 years (207.7/yr) with powertrain and brake problems. The BMW's issues are more severe but rarer. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 640I or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 640I
The BMW 640i is a luxury coupe that, based on NHTSA data, shows a low complaint rate of 2.8 per year but with serious issues. Owners report sudden engine shutdowns at traffic lights, vehicle fires, and cracked wheels, making it a high-stakes ownership experience. The 7 recalls cover fuel pumps, airbags, and cooling systems, indicating systemic concerns.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular sedan with a high complaint volume of 207.7 per year, reflecting its large market share. Owners frequently report powertrain issues like key sticking and delayed acceleration, brake problems, and multiple system malfunctions. The 27 recalls address wheels, seats, and airbags, but the sheer number of complaints suggests widespread reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 640I | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 22 Better | 2,077 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 27 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.8 Better | 207.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 640I
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
- 02ENGINE6
- 03WHEELS3
- 04STRUCTURE3
- 05SERVICE BRAKES2
Owners report the vehicle suddenly shutting off at stops and failing to restart, creating a crash hazard. Another complaint describes a vehicle fire starting while parked, indicating potential electrical faults that could lead to total loss.
Engine stalling at intersections is a recurring theme, with one owner having to push the car out of traffic. Additionally, an auxiliary water pump failure triggers 'Engine Temperature High' warnings, risking overheating and breakdown.
Cracked wheel supports cause tire leaks and blowouts, with a dealer noting many 5 and 6 series have this defect. Tire separation at low mileage also occurs, undermining safety.
Doors fail to unlock from inside, trapping occupants. One owner reports both doors eventually fail, which could be dangerous in an accident if exit is needed quickly.
“ON 9/27/19 I LEFT THE GAS STATION WITH FULL TANK OF GAS AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A BUSY ROAD IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE LIGHT CHANGED GREEN MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. I PUT THE GEAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED OUT OF THE…”
“To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a vehicle fire that occurred on [XXX] at approximately [XXX] in Alabama State University. The vehicle involved is a 2012 BMW 640i Coupe (black) with the license plate number [XXX]. The fire started while…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN383
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER331
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
The ignition key gets stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnect to remove. Also, a loud noise from the rear and rough idling suggest drivetrain issues that may worsen over time.
Multiple safety systems (stability control, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping) malfunction simultaneously, indicating a central electronic fault. This can disable critical assists and confuse the driver.
Delayed throttle response and hesitation when accelerating, along with shuddering and check engine lights, point to engine management or fuel system problems that affect drivability.
The electronic parking brake fails to disengage, requiring towing. Also, a clicking/vibrating sound from the brake pedal is reported as common but abnormal, potentially indicating ABS or brake system issues.
“The contact owned a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH there would be a loud noise emitting from the rear-end of the vehicle that seemed as if the vehicle was running rough. The contact stated that while being idl…”
“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…”
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 640I — 7 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Co…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may c…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The fix: The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mi…
The risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran…
The risk: The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Toyota Camry — 27 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: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
The risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is S…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon, and 2017 Camry vehicles manufactured August 3, 2016, to September 12, 2016. The front passenger knee air bag module may have been attached to the lower instrument panel with incorrect fasteners.
The risk: If the air bag was installed with incorrect fasteners, the fasteners may become loose over time, affecting the air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fasteners, and if necessary, replace the instrument panel brace and body bracket and reattach the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 8, 2017. Owners may co…
Buyer analysis
BMW 640I or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The BMW 640i has far fewer complaints per year (2.8 vs 207.7), but its issues are more severe, including stalling and fires. The Camry's high complaint count reflects volume, but many are drivability nuisances rather than safety-critical. In practice, the BMW demands vigilance for sudden failures, while the Camry may require frequent dealer visits for recurring problems.
Key differences
- BMW 640i: sudden engine shutdown at stops vs Camry: delayed acceleration and hesitation.
- BMW 640i: vehicle fires and cracked wheels vs Camry: stuck ignition key and brake pedal noise.
- BMW 640i: door lock failure trapping occupants vs Camry: multiple system malfunctions.
- BMW 640i: 2.8 complaints/yr vs Camry: 207.7/yr, but Camry's issues are less likely to cause crashes.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or 'Engine Temperature High' warnings, and inspect wheels for cracks, especially on 5 and 6 series models.
- Test door lock operation from inside; if the handle doesn't unlock on first pull, it may fail completely.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park; if it sticks, the vehicle may need battery disconnect. Also check for delayed throttle response during test drive.
- Listen for clicking/vibrating from brake pedal and verify electronic parking brake disengages reliably.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full service history and check if recalls (especially fuel pump and water pump on BMW, wheel lug nuts on Camry) were performed.
- On BMW: test drive at low speeds and come to a complete stop to check for stalling; inspect wheels for cracks.
- On Camry: test ignition key removal multiple times; accelerate from stop to check for hesitation.
- Check for any NHTSA complaints on the specific VIN using the NHTSA website.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with these models.
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 | BMW 640I | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 387 |
| 2018 | 0 | 727 |
| 2017 | 0 | 148 |
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 640I or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 640I vs Toyota Camry
- BMW 640I total complaints
- 22
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,077
- BMW 640I total recalls
- 7
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 27
- BMW 640I avg complaints/year
- 2.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 207.7
- More reliable overall
- BMW 640I
- BMW 640I top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN