Head-to-head reliability
BMW I7 vs Toyota Camry
How the BMW I7 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 I7 vs Toyota Camry: The i7 has 25 complaints over 4 years (about 6.3 per year) and 19 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (about 205.6 per year) and 31 recalls. The i7's complaints often involve brakes and unintended acceleration or braking; the Camry's involve power train and engine issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW I7 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW I7
The BMW i7 is a flagship electric luxury sedan, and its NHTSA data shows 25 complaints over 4 years (about 6.3 per year) plus 19 recalls. Owners most often report brakes that engage on their own, brake pedal failures, and electrical or parking-assist glitches that can cause unintended acceleration or braking. Living with it means dealing with frequent software and brake-related service visits, and some owners say dealers lack a fix for recall issues.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan with 2,056 complaints over 10 years (about 205.6 per year) and 31 recalls. Reported problems cluster around the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical systems, including hesitation, shuddering, stuck ignition keys, and brake noises. Because so many are on the road, the raw complaint count is high, but the rate per year is far lower than the i7's.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW I7 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 25 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.3 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 I7
- 01SERVICE BRAKES12
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE9
- 04HYDRAULIC4
- 05ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)4
Owners report the vehicle suddenly braking on its own at normal speeds with no obstacle ahead, and some say the brake pedal occasionally fails to respond. These are serious because they can cause loss of control or rear-end collisions.
Complaints describe the car accelerating in reverse when parking assistance is active, plus repeated software issues. This matters because parking-assist and software faults can lead to unexpected movement in tight spaces.
Owners say the system can brake unexpectedly or fail to respond as expected, including during low-speed stops. A buyer should know these driver-assist features may behave unpredictably and need dealer software updates.
Reports include the brake pedal becoming inoperable and the vehicle becoming inoperable at speed, sometimes requiring the parking brake to stop. This points to possible power-assist or control-module faults that can leave the car hard to stop.
“I have now experienced multiple instances where the vehicle suddenly brakes on its own while driving at normal speeds, without any obstruction or hazard ahead. This is not only unacceptable — it's extremely dangerous, putting both myself and other drivers at…”
“I have contacted the BMW dealership in Henderson several times about the recall and they do not have a fix from the BMW. I contacted BMW about the issue and filed a complaint with them to offer a solution of replacing the vehicle or return the vehicle for a b…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent ignition key sticking even when the dash shows Park, and hesitation or shuddering with the check engine light on. These can leave you unable to remove the key or drive smoothly, leading to dealer visits.
Complaints include delayed throttle response where the car takes several seconds to move after pressing the gas, and shuddering at various speeds. This matters because delayed acceleration can be risky when merging or pulling out.
Owners describe the electronic parking brake not disengaging, requiring a tow, and clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area that dealers call normal ABS operation. These issues can strand you or make braking feel abnormal.
Reports mention multiple systems malfunctioning at once, including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping. A buyer should check for warning lights and ensure software recalls are done.
“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 I7 — 19 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2025 Mini Cooper S, Mini Countryman S All4, X2, 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre, 2023-2025 i7, 7 Series, X7, 2024-2025 i5, 5 Series, 2023-2024 XM, X1, 2024-2025 X6, and X5 vehicles. The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss o…
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: The Integrated brake system will be inspected and, if necessary, replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce custo…
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 2023 BMW 740i, 760i xDrive, and i7 xDrive60 vehicles. The telematics control unit may not transmit the vehicle location information to emergency responders.
The risk: Emergency response may be delayed without the vehicle location information, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the telematics control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2022-2023 iX xDrive40, iX xDrive50, iX M60, i4 eDrive35, i4 eDrive40, i4 M50, and 2023 i7 xDrive60 vehicles. The high voltage battery electronic control unit (ECU) software may cause an interruption of electrical power.
The risk: An interruption of electrical power may result in a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the high voltage battery ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 10, 2023. 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 I7 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The BMW i7 has far fewer complaints per year (about 6.3) than the Toyota Camry (about 205.6), but the i7's complaints often involve brakes and unintended acceleration or braking. The Camry's higher volume reflects its much larger sales base, yet its reported issues are more often drivability and brake-noise problems. In practice, the i7 may need more specialized attention for complex brake and software faults, while the Camry may have more routine but widespread powertrain and brake complaints.
Key differences
- The BMW i7 has about 6.3 complaints per year versus about 205.6 for the Toyota Camry, but the i7's complaints include sudden self-braking and unintended reverse acceleration.
- The Camry's top complaint area is power train, with stuck ignition keys and hesitation, while the i7's top area is service brakes, with brake pedal failures and self-braking.
- Both have brake complaints, but the i7's are tied to power-assist and control-module recalls, while the Camry's include electronic parking brake failure and ABS noise.
- The i7 has 19 recalls over 4 years; the Camry has 31 recalls over 10 years, so the i7 has a higher recall rate per year.
- Check for any open recalls on the brake power-assist control module and electronic stability control, and confirm the dealer has a fix, since owners report no remedy available.
- Test the brakes at low speed and while parking to see if the car brakes on its own or if the pedal feels unresponsive, and verify parking-assist does not cause unintended acceleration.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and listen for hesitation or shuddering during a test drive, as owners report stuck keys and delayed throttle.
- Check the electronic parking brake engagement and release, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area that owners say dealers call normal.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific BMW i7 or Toyota Camry you are considering.
- Ask for a complete service history, especially any brake, software, or powertrain repairs tied to the complaints above.
- During a test drive, deliberately test low-speed braking, parking-assist, and acceleration from a stop to feel for sudden braking or hesitation.
- Have an independent mechanic inspect the brake system, including the power-assist module on the i7 and the electronic parking brake on the Camry.
- For the i7, confirm the latest software updates are installed; for the Camry, check for any stored engine or transmission codes.
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 I7 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 | 163 |
| 2024 | 15 | 50 |
| 2023 | 8 | 64 |
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 I7 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW I7 vs Toyota Camry
- BMW I7 total complaints
- 25
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- BMW I7 total recalls
- 19
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- BMW I7 avg complaints/year
- 6.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- BMW I7
- BMW I7 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN