Head-to-head reliability
BMW M760i vs Toyota Camry
How the BMW M760i 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 M760i vs Toyota Camry: The M760i has 1 complaint over 5 years (0.2/yr) and 0 crash-related, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/yr), 171 crash-related, and 1 death. The M760i owner reports a passenger seat sensor warning; Camry owners report power train, engine, and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW M760i or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW M760i
The BMW M760i is a low-volume luxury sedan with only 1 complaint over 5 years, but that single complaint covers three related areas: air bags, seat belts, and seats. The owner reports a dashboard warning about a passenger seatbelt and restraint system malfunction that comes and goes as someone sits in the front passenger seat. This points to a seat-bottom sensor issue that can affect whether the air bag and seat belt pretensioner work properly. With 4 recalls, including back-over camera and child seat tether problems, a buyer should verify all recall work is done.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with 2,056 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 206 per year. The most common areas are power train, engine, brakes, and electrical system, with owners reporting issues like a stuck ignition key, hesitation and shuddering, and brake noises. There are also 171 crash-related complaints and 1 death reported, plus 31 recalls covering wheels, seats, and air bag occupant sensors. This is a mainstream car with many reported problems, but also many vehicles on the road.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW M760i | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.2 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 M760i
- 01AIR BAGS1
- 02SEAT BELTS1
- 03SEATS1
The single owner complaint describes a dashboard warning about a passenger seatbelt and restraint system malfunction. The owner suspects the seat-bottom sensor in the front passenger seat, which can cause the air bag to not deploy correctly in a crash.
The same complaint notes the warning goes in and out while someone sits in the front passenger seat. This suggests the seat belt pretensioner or occupant detection system may not work reliably, creating a risk that the restraint system will not activate when needed.
The complaint ties the warning to the seat bottom sensor in the front passenger seat. A faulty seat sensor can disable or misjudge the passenger air bag, so buyers should have the seat sensor and related wiring checked.
“Warning about seatbelt & restraint systems malfunction in passenger seat appear in dash. Seems to correlate to seat bottom sensor in front passenger seat, goes in and out of alarm while occupants sit in the front passenger seat, creating risk of restraint sys…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report an intermittent defect where the ignition key gets stuck and cannot be removed even though the car shows it is in Park. Another owner reports hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on. These can leave you stranded or cause delayed acceleration.
Complaints describe a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, and hesitation with shuddering. This can be dangerous when merging or pulling out into traffic, and may require dealer diagnosis.
One owner had the electronic parking brake not disengage, requiring a tow and a new switch that did not fix it. Another reports a clicking and vibrating sound from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer says comes from the ABS system. Brake problems affect stopping confidence.
A complaint lists multiple systems malfunctioning at once: smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, secondary collision brake, and lane keeping. When many electrical systems fail together, it can be hard to diagnose and expensive to repair.
“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 M760i — 4 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series C…
The risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 740Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive, M760Li xDrive, and Alpina B7 vehicles. The top child seat tether anchor on the rear middle seat may not be readily accessible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M…
The risk: A child restraint system placed on the vehicle's rear middle seat without utilizing the three-point safety belt, could increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a top tether anchor cover at the rear middle seating position. Until vehicles are remedied, owners will be instructed to utilize the outboard rear seating positions which are equipped with a…
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series C…
The risk: If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 740Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive, M760Li xDrive, and Alpina B7 vehicles. The top child seat tether anchor on the rear middle seat may not be readily accessible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M…
The risk: A child restraint system placed on the vehicle's rear middle seat without utilizing the three-point safety belt, could increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a top tether anchor cover at the rear middle seating position. Until vehicles are remedied, owners will be instructed to utilize the outboard rear seating positions which are equipped with a…
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 M760i or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The BMW M760i has far fewer complaints per year (0.2 vs 205.6), but it is a low-volume model so the numbers are small. The Camry has many more reported problems, including 171 crash-related complaints and 1 death, while the M760i has none. In practice, the M760i owner reports one specific sensor issue, while Camry owners report a wide range of power train, engine, brake, and electrical problems.
Key differences
- The BMW M760i has 1 complaint over 5 years, all about a passenger seat sensor affecting air bags, seat belts, and seats; the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years across many systems.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 1 death, while the M760i has 0 crash-related, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths in the data.
- Camry owners report stuck ignition keys, hesitation, brake noise, and multiple electrical failures; M760i owners report a single recurring restraint warning.
- The Camry has 31 recalls including wheels, seats, and air bag occupant sensors; the M760i has 4 recalls including back-over camera and child seat tether issues.
- Check for a dashboard warning about the passenger seatbelt and restraint system, especially if it comes and goes when someone sits in the front passenger seat.
- Verify that all 4 recalls are done, particularly the back-over camera and child seat tether recalls, by checking the VIN with a dealer.
- Test that the ignition key can be removed easily when the car is in Park; if it sticks, it may need a battery disconnect to remove.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area and check if the electronic parking brake disengages properly; these are reported brake issues.
Before you buy
- Ask for the full NHTSA complaint and recall history for the specific VIN of either car.
- On the BMW M760i, sit in the front passenger seat and watch for any restraint system warning lights.
- On the Toyota Camry, test the ignition key removal, accelerator response, and brake pedal feel during a test drive.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored codes, especially for air bag, seat sensor, ABS, and power train issues.
- Confirm that all open recalls are repaired before purchase, and get written proof from a dealer.
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 M760i | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
| 2019 | 1 | 395 |
| 2018 | 0 | 744 |
| 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 M760i or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW M760i vs Toyota Camry
- BMW M760i total complaints
- 1
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- BMW M760i total recalls
- 4
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- BMW M760i avg complaints/year
- 0.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- BMW M760i
- BMW M760i top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN