Head-to-head reliability
BMW I5 vs Toyota Camry
How the BMW I5 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 I5 vs Toyota Camry: The i5 has 28 complaints over 3 years (9.3/year) and 10 recalls, while the Camry has 2056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. The i5 reports severe issues like unintended acceleration, but the Camry has more frequent power train problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW I5 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW I5
The BMW i5 is a new electric luxury sedan with only three years of complaint data, averaging about 9.3 complaints per year. Owners report serious issues like unintended acceleration, sudden loss of power steering, and failures of automatic emergency braking. With 10 recalls and 4 crash-related complaints, it's a complex vehicle that may require frequent dealer visits.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a long-running family sedan with 10 years of data and about 206 complaints per year, which is high but reflects its huge sales volume. Owners report power train problems like stuck keys and shuddering, plus brake and electrical glitches. With 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints, it has a mixed record but many issues are known and documented.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW I5 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 28 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.3 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 I5
- 01SERVICE BRAKES11
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE6
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
- 05ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)5
Owners describe the car suddenly moving forward from a stop and hitting obstacles, as well as brake system warnings during acceleration. These brake issues can lead to crashes, especially in traffic.
Reports include complete loss of power steering without warning and failures of automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning. These failures could make the car hard to control or prevent it from stopping in an emergency.
Owners report that automatic emergency braking and pedestrian warning systems stop working, sometimes with error messages. This means the car may not warn you or brake to avoid hitting a person or vehicle.
ESC issues appear in complaints and recalls, with warnings about chassis stabilization. If ESC fails, the car may be harder to control during sudden maneuvers, increasing crash risk.
“I was driving a brand-new 2025 BMW i5 electric car, just leased from dealer the day before. The car was at rest, waiting for traffic light to turn green. Then the car started to move forward, and suddenly hit the car in front with a big thrust. My foot was on…”
“While merging onto [XXX] from an on-ramp in [XXX] , I received a dashboard warning stating “Brake system and chassis stabilization – braking may require additional force.” This occurred during active acceleration and merging into highway traffic. At the time…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, which can be dangerous when merging or accelerating.
Complaints include delayed throttle response where pressing the gas pedal doesn't move the car for several seconds. This lag can cause accidents if you need to accelerate quickly.
The electronic parking brake may not disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area. These issues can leave you stranded or distract you while driving.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring can malfunction at once, as reported by one owner. Such failures can make the car unpredictable and hard to control.
“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 I5 — 10 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2024 740i, 740i xDrive, 760i xDrive, i7 eDrive50, i7 xDrive60, i7 M70, 2024 750e xDrive, 530i, 530i xDrive, i5 eDrive40, and i5 M60 vehicles. The ground connection to the steering wheel may not have been attached correctly, resulting in an i…
The risk: An inoperative hands-on detection system may fail to detect when the driver's hands are not on the steering wheel and therefore not engage the emergency stopping assistant system, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reattach the ground connection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 8, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 i5 eDrive40 and i5 M60 vehicles. During vehicle start-up, the artificial sound generator control unit may experience a fault and fail to generate the external pedestrian warning sound. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirem…
The risk: Without external warning sounds, pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the external artificial sound generator software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 16, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This is an expansion of Recall…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2023-2025 BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (A…
The risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the integrated brake system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between June and December 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2024 i4 xDrive40, i4 M50 and i5 eDrive40 vehicles. The high-voltage battery module may contain insufficient weld seams, which can result in the battery overheating.
The risk: An overheated battery module increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the high-voltage battery module, free of charge. 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 I5 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The BMW i5 has far fewer complaints per year (9.3 vs. 205.6), but it is a newer model with potentially more severe issues like unintended acceleration and loss of steering. The Camry's higher complaint count reflects its longer history and larger sales, with many known problems that are often less immediately dangerous. In practice, the i5 may need fewer repair visits but could have more serious safety defects.
Key differences
- The BMW i5 has 28 complaints over 3 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2056 over 10 years, but the i5's complaints include severe issues like unintended acceleration and power steering loss.
- The Camry's top complaint area is power train (385 complaints), often about stuck keys and hesitation, while the i5's top area is service brakes (11 complaints) with reports of sudden movement.
- The i5 has 10 recalls in 3 years, including for forward collision avoidance and stability control, while the Camry has 31 recalls over 10 years, covering air bags and seats.
- Both vehicles have crash-related complaints (4 for i5, 171 for Camry) and injuries (3 for i5, 158 for Camry), but the i5's lower totals still include serious safety defects.
- Check for any history of unintended acceleration or brake system warnings; test the brakes at low speeds and from a stop.
- Verify that power steering and automatic emergency braking systems work; look for dashboard warnings during a test drive.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park; ensure it comes out smoothly without needing to disconnect the battery.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal and check that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website for both models.
- Take a lengthy test drive that includes highway merging, stopping, and parking to feel for hesitation, brake issues, or steering problems.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the car, focusing on the specific complaint areas: brakes and electrical for the i5, power train and brakes for the Camry.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any recalls have been addressed.
- For the i5, confirm that all software updates and recall remedies have been applied, as many issues are electronic.
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 I5 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 163 |
| 2024 | 20 | 50 |
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 I5 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW I5 vs Toyota Camry
- BMW I5 total complaints
- 28
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- BMW I5 total recalls
- 10
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- BMW I5 avg complaints/year
- 9.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- BMW I5
- BMW I5 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN