Head-to-head reliability
Buick Century vs Toyota Camry
How the Buick Century 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 Century vs Toyota Camry: The Century averaged 121 complaints per year with 20 recalls, while the Camry averaged 206 complaints per year with 31 recalls. Century owners report brake line failures and headlights cutting out; Camry owners report power train shuddering and electronic parking brake issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Century or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Century
The Buick Century is a mid-size sedan that, in the years covered by these NHTSA complaints, averaged about 121 owner complaints per year. The most common trouble spots are exterior lighting, service brakes, and the electrical system, with many reports describing headlights that cut out while driving and brake lines that fail due to rust. With 20 recalls and 38 crash-related complaints, it is a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mid-size sedan that, over the 10 years covered here, averaged about 206 owner complaints per year. The most frequent issues involve the power train, engine, and service brakes, with owners reporting shuddering, delayed acceleration, and electronic parking brake problems. It has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints, so while it is a popular car, it is not free of significant reported defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Century | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 726 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 38 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 121.0 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 36 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 Century
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING109
- 02SERVICE BRAKES103
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM100
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING92
- 05POWER TRAIN86
Owners report headlights that turn off unexpectedly while driving, sometimes multiple times, which can severely reduce nighttime visibility. This is a recurring safety concern that may require repeated repairs.
Complaints describe brake lines failing due to rust and corrosion, leading to a pedal that goes to the floor and a complete loss of braking. This is a critical safety issue that can happen at low speeds and without warning.
Reports include low beams that stop working at highway speed and window switches that fail, forcing drivers to hold the switch to keep high beams on. These electrical gremlins can be intermittent and frustrating to diagnose.
Some owners describe sudden loss of acceleration, with the vehicle veering and needing to be restarted. While not all complaints are this severe, it points to potential stalling or power-loss issues that a buyer should test for.
“WE HAVE HAD OUR 2005 BUICK LACROSSE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS NOW AND WANT TO REPORT THIS LIGHTING SAFETY CONCERN. THIS HEADLIGHT INCIDENT WITH OUR BUICK HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO US, THREE TIMES SINCE MID APRIL. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, WE WERE DRIVING ONE EVEN…”
“A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YEARS THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING FOR NO REASON. ONCE WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR WITH A FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS A BUICK THE ISSUE OCCURRED AND HE TOLD ME HIS CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. I CONTACTED BUICK, WHO…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent problems such as the ignition key getting stuck in Park and the vehicle hesitating or shuddering with the check engine light on. These issues can leave a driver unable to remove the key or drive smoothly.
Complaints include delayed throttle response, where pressing the accelerator results in a several-second delay before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or pulling into traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the ABS system. These brake issues can strand a driver or cause concern about brake performance.
Multiple safety systems—including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—have been reported to malfunction simultaneously. This suggests complex electronic faults that may be hard 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.
Buick Century — 20 recalls
The defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN…
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-24…
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
The defect: DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN…
The risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN'S TOLL-FREE HOTLINE AT 1-800-523-24…
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
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 Century or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Buick Century has fewer complaints per year (about 121) than the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the Century's issues often involve sudden brake failure and headlights going out, which are immediate safety risks. The Camry's higher complaint rate reflects its larger sales volume and more complex electronics, with problems like delayed acceleration and stuck keys. In practice, the Century may need more urgent attention to brakes and lights, while the Camry may have more frequent but sometimes less immediately dangerous electronic glitches.
Key differences
- The Buick Century has far fewer complaints per year (121 vs. 206), but its top issues—brake line failure and headlights turning off—are immediate safety hazards.
- The Toyota Camry's most common complaints involve the power train and engine, such as shuddering, hesitation, and delayed acceleration, which can affect drivability.
- The Century has 20 recalls and 38 crash-related complaints, while the Camry has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints, indicating more reported crashes for the Camry.
- Camry owners report complex electronic failures affecting multiple safety systems at once, while Century owners more often report basic mechanical failures like rusted brake lines and faulty window switches.
- Inspect brake lines for rust or corrosion, especially near the rear and front, as owners report sudden brake line bursts and pedal going to the floor.
- Test the headlights thoroughly, including low and high beams, for any flickering or unexpected shutoff, as multiple owners report headlights turning off while driving.
- Check for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive and ensure the check engine light is not on, as owners report power train and engine issues.
- Test the electronic parking brake to ensure it engages and disengages properly, and listen for any clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic, specifically asking them to check brake lines for rust on the Buick Century and to scan for stored trouble codes on the Toyota Camry.
- For the Buick Century, test all exterior lights, including headlights, turn signals, and brake lights, and verify they stay on over bumps and while driving.
- For the Toyota Camry, during a test drive, accelerate from a stop and at highway speeds to feel for any delay, shuddering, or hesitation, and check that the key can be removed easily from the ignition.
- Ask the seller for any recall repair documentation, and verify with a dealer that all open recalls have been addressed for the specific vehicle.
- Check the NHTSA website for the vehicle identification number (VIN) to see if there are any unrepaired recalls or additional complaints for that exact car.
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 Century or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Century vs Toyota Camry
- Buick Century total complaints
- 726
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Buick Century total recalls
- 20
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Buick Century avg complaints/year
- 121.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Buick Century
- Buick Century top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN