Head-to-head reliability
Buick Allure vs Toyota Camry
How the Buick Allure 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
Buick Allure vs Toyota Camry: The Allure has 4 complaints over 5 years and 0 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years and 31 recalls. The Camry also reports 171 crash-related incidents and 158 injuries, versus none for the Allure. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Allure or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Allure
The Buick Allure is a low-volume sedan with very few owner complaints—only 4 over 5 years, averaging 0.8 per year. There are no recalls, no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported in the data. The complaints that do exist describe serious but isolated problems like headlights failing, steering column pulling back, a door that won't open, and a fuel gauge that drops quickly. For a buyer, this suggests a car with a sparse but potentially alarming issue list, so a thorough inspection is key.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume sedan with 2,056 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 206 per year. It has 31 recalls and reports 171 crash-related incidents, 158 injuries, and 1 death. Common complaint areas include the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical system, with owners describing issues like stuck ignition keys, hesitation, brake noises, and multiple system malfunctions. This points to a car with many reported problems, though the sheer number of vehicles on the road may influence totals.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Allure | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 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.
Buick Allure
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
- 02STEERING1
- 03STRUCTURE1
- 04FUEL SYSTEM1
- 05OTHER1
One owner reported that the low-beam headlights suddenly turned off while driving at night, and only the high beams worked. This is a serious safety concern because it can leave you unable to see the road, and the manual switch did not fix it.
An owner described the steering wheel and column pulling back nearly six inches when they pulled on the wheel, and the tilt function stopped working. This suggests a possible mechanical failure in the steering column that could affect control.
A passenger door would not open from inside or outside, even though the electric locks seemed fine. This is a major safety risk because it could trap someone in a fire or crash.
The gas gauge was reported to drop rapidly from just under a quarter tank to empty, which could cause unexpected stalling or running out of fuel. This is an inconvenience and could be dangerous in traffic.
“DRIVING ALONG AT 8:30 PM ( DARKNESS) AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. HIGH BEAMS WORKED, NO LOW BEAM. VERY DANGEROUS. I TRIED THE MANUAL SWITCHES AND COULD NOT GET THE LOW BEAMS TO TURN ON. HAD TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS TO GET HOME.”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent issues like the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, with the check engine light on.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This can be a safety issue when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may not disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that is attributed to the ABS system. These issues can affect braking confidence.
Multiple systems such as stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assistance have malfunctioned at once. This could make the car unpredictable and harder 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.
Buick Allure
No recalls on record.
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
Buick Allure or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Buick Allure has far fewer issues per year (0.8 vs. 205.6 for the Camry), but that difference is partly because the Camry is sold in much higher numbers. In practice, the Camry has a long list of reported problems and many recalls, while the Allure has very few complaints but some are severe. A buyer should weigh the lower complaint rate against the potential for serious failures in either car.
Key differences
- The Buick Allure has 4 complaints over 5 years and 0 recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years and 31 recalls.
- Buick Allure complaints include low-beam headlights failing, steering column pulling back, a door that won't open, and a fuel gauge dropping fast.
- Toyota Camry complaints include stuck ignition keys, hesitation and shuddering, brake noise or parking brake failure, and multiple electrical system malfunctions.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and 1 death in the data, while the Allure has none of these reported.
- Check that both low-beam and high-beam headlights work consistently, and test the manual switch, since one owner reported low beams failing while driving.
- Inspect the steering column for any looseness or movement when pulling on the wheel, and verify the tilt function works, as an owner reported the column pulling back several inches.
- Test the ignition key to ensure it can be removed easily when the car is in Park, as owners report it getting stuck and requiring a battery disconnect.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and check that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly, since owners report failures and noise.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls, especially on the Camry which has 31 recalls.
- Take the car to an independent mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific complaint areas for each model.
- For the Buick Allure, test all lights, the steering column, door operation, and fuel gauge behavior during a test drive.
- For the Toyota Camry, test the ignition key removal, acceleration response, brake pedal feel, and all electronic safety systems.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any recall work has been completed.
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 Buick Allure or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Allure vs Toyota Camry
- Buick Allure total complaints
- 4
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Buick Allure total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Buick Allure avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Buick Allure
- Buick Allure top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN