Head-to-head reliability
BMW 745li vs Toyota Camry
How the BMW 745li 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 745li vs Toyota Camry: the BMW 745li has 0 complaints over 4 years and 7 recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years, 31 recalls, and 171 crash-related reports. The BMW shows no owner complaint text; the Camry shows real symptoms like stuck keys and brake noise. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW 745li or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW 745li
The BMW 745li is a large luxury sedan with no owner complaints filed over the four years covered by this data, which may reflect low production numbers or limited reporting rather than proven durability. It does have seven recalls, including three for engine and engine cooling, one for fuel delivery, and one for door latches. For a used-car buyer, the absence of complaint text means you cannot see what actually fails in daily driving, so the recall history becomes the main clue about potential trouble spots.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream family sedan with a very high complaint volume: 2,056 complaints over ten years, averaging about 206 per year. Those complaints include 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and one death, and the most common areas are the power train, engine, service brakes, and electrical system. Owners describe real symptoms such as a stuck ignition key, shuddering and hesitation, brake noises, and multiple driver-assist systems failing at once.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW 745li | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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.
BMW 745li
No component data available.
Three separate recalls cover engine and engine cooling issues, which suggests repeated problems in this area. A buyer should ask whether those recalls were completed and whether any related repairs have been done.
A recall for fuel delivery means there was a recognized risk involving how fuel reaches the engine. Unfixed, this kind of issue can cause stalling or worse, so proof of recall service matters.
A door latch recall points to doors that may not latch or stay closed properly. That is a basic safety concern, especially for passengers, and should be checked on any used example.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report an ignition key that gets stuck and cannot be removed even when the dashboard shows the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, which can point to transmission or engine control trouble.
Complaints include a several-second delay between pressing the accelerator and the car moving, plus repeated hesitation and shuddering. These symptoms can make merging or pulling out into traffic feel unpredictable.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer calls normal for the ABS system. Brake problems are serious because they affect stopping confidence.
One owner reported multiple systems failing at once, including stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assistance. When several electronic safety aids drop out together, the driver loses support systems they may be relying on.
“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 745li — 7 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2005-2008 745i, 745Li, 750i, 750Li, 760i, 760Li, and B7 Alpina vehicles equipped with both the Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options. In these vehicles, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open.
The risk: The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the door latch system, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
The defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 7-Series vehicles, equipped with the Comfort Access option, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through July 24, 2008. The affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire)…
The risk: If the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway. Unattended rollaway incidents often result in a crash or cause injury to pedestrians attempting to stop or ent…
The fix: BMW will notify owners beginning in November 2012. The remedy became available in March 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
The defect: BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 7-Series vehicles, equipped with both Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through September 3, 2007. Due to a software problem, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently…
The risk: The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners and dealers will update software. The recall began on December 12, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR, A DESYNCHRONIZATION OF THE VALVETRONIC MOTORS FOR ENGINE BANKS I AND II MAY OCCUR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE COULD STALL.
The risk: IN THOSE CASES, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF ENGINE ROUGHNESS, OR STALLING, AS WELL AS TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE DRIVER'S REACTIONS, THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
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 745li or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The BMW 745li shows 0 complaints per year in this data, while the Toyota Camry shows about 206 complaints per year, so the BMW has far fewer reported issues per year. In practice, that means the Camry has a much larger and more visible record of owner-reported problems, including crashes and injuries, while the BMW's record is mostly recalls with no complaint text to explain real-world failures.
Key differences
- The BMW 745li has 0 complaints and 7 recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls over a longer period.
- Camry owners report concrete failures such as a stuck ignition key, shuddering and hesitation, and an electronic parking brake that will not disengage; the BMW has no complaint text on record.
- The Camry data includes 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and 1 death, while the BMW data shows 0 in each of those categories.
- The BMW's recalls cluster around engine cooling, fuel delivery, and door latches, whereas the Camry's recalls include wheels, seats, and air bag occupant sensors.
- Confirm that all seven recalls were completed, especially the three engine and engine cooling recalls and the fuel delivery recall, since unfixed fuel or cooling problems can lead to stalling or overheating.
- Check that both doors latch securely and stay closed, because the door latch recall indicates a known risk of doors not holding shut.
- Test the ignition key removal with the car in Park and the engine off; if the key sticks, that matches a reported power train complaint and may require a battery disconnect to fix.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area and test the electronic parking brake engagement and release, since owners report the EPB failing to disengage and brake pedal noise.
Before you buy
- Ask for written proof that all open recalls on the specific vehicle were repaired, not just that the model was recalled.
- On the Camry, test drive at low and highway speeds to feel for hesitation, shuddering, or delayed acceleration, and watch for a check engine light.
- On the Camry, start and stop the car several times, shift into Park, and try to remove the key each time to check for the stuck-key symptom.
- On the BMW 745li, inspect for coolant leaks, overheating signs, and fuel smell, and ask whether the engine cooling and fuel delivery recalls were addressed.
- On both cars, check that doors latch firmly and that all electronic driver aids, including stability control and parking brake, power on and off without warnings.
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 745li or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW 745li vs Toyota Camry
- BMW 745li total complaints
- 0
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- BMW 745li total recalls
- 7
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- BMW 745li avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- BMW 745li
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN