Head-to-head reliability
Buick Envision vs Toyota Camry
How the Buick Envision 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 Envision vs Toyota Camry: The Envision has 217 complaints over 10 years (21.7/yr) with 10 recalls, while the Camry has 2143 complaints (214.3/yr) and 31 recalls. Envision owners report brake failures and electrical glitches; Camry owners report transmission issues and unintended acceleration. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Envision or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Envision
The Buick Envision is a compact luxury SUV that, in ownership terms, shows a pattern of electronic and braking gremlins that can undermine confidence. Owners report sudden loss of audio including safety warnings, engine stalls with reduced power warnings, and brake failures that require extreme pedal effort. While the complaint count is relatively low, the nature of these issues—especially those affecting braking and engine power—makes them serious for any buyer to consider.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a high volume of complaints, but many are related to comfort and convenience features like air conditioning odors. However, there are also significant reports of transmission grinding and replacement needs, sudden unintended acceleration, and brake failures. The sheer number of complaints and recalls indicates that while the Camry is generally reliable, there are notable safety-related issues that buyers should be aware of.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Envision | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 217 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 21.7 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 163 |
| 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 Envision
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM63
- 02SERVICE BRAKES46
- 03ENGINE33
- 04POWER TRAIN29
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER28
Owners report a faulty amplifier that causes loss of all audio, including safety chimes for seat belts and turn signals, which can be disorienting and reduce awareness of vehicle status.
There are reports of complete brake failure or an extremely firm pedal that makes stopping difficult, often accompanied by a 'service brake assist' warning. This is a critical safety concern.
Sudden loss of power and engine stall while driving, especially during turns, with 'Check Engine' and 'Reduced Engine Power' messages. Also, some owners found the engine consumed oil excessively, with no oil on the dipstick before the first oil change.
Loss of power and sluggish acceleration, sometimes with whining noises, possibly related to a booster vacuum sensor. This can affect drivability and safety when merging or climbing.
“We have two problems what we would call safety issues. First, all the sound in the vehicle was lost which included safety belt warning alarm, turn signal bells, door open alarms, etc. We were told by the dealership that it was a faulty amplifier. Secondly, th…”
“Description of Safety Defect: While operating the vehicle at approximately 25-30MPH and make a right turn, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of power/engine stall, accompanied by a "Check Engine" light and a "Reduced Engine Power" notification.…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission issues are prominent, with grinding noises on acceleration and dealer recommendations for transmission replacement. Some owners note recalls for similar problems on other model years, but their VINs may not be covered.
Reports of sudden unintended acceleration, which can lead to crashes, and engine maintenance warnings related to a coolant bypass valve that may be a recall issue but not applied to all VINs.
Brake failure incidents, such as no response when pressing the pedal, have been reported, requiring drivers to use emergency measures to stop. This is a serious safety defect.
Air conditioning problems include condenser damage from rocks and recurring mildew or vinegar odors from the vents, which can affect comfort and air quality.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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 Envision — 10 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Buick Envision vehicles. The vehicles are missing the label that states the tire size, pressure, and the loading information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Se…
The risk: Missing tire and load rating information may result in driving with improperly inflated tires or an overloaded vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install the label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2024. Owners may contact Buick Customer Service at 800-521-7300.
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Cadillac CT4 and CT5; 2021-2023 Buick Envision; and 2022-2023 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate wh…
The risk: DRLs that do not deactivate as intended may result in a glare, reducing visibility, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The body control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2023. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chev…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM),…
The risk: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
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…
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…
Buyer analysis
Buick Envision or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Buick Envision has far fewer complaints per year (21.7) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), but the Envision's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical systems like brakes and engine power. The Camry's higher volume includes many non-safety issues, but it also has serious transmission and acceleration problems. In practice, the Envision may have a lower risk of minor annoyances, but the Camry's problems are more varied and numerous.
Key differences
- The Envision has a much lower complaint rate (21.7/yr) than the Camry (214.3/yr), but its complaints are heavily weighted toward electrical and brake failures.
- The Camry has a higher number of recalls (31 vs 10) and more crash-related complaints (181 vs 8), indicating a broader range of issues.
- Envision owners report sudden loss of audio and engine stalls, while Camry owners report transmission grinding and unintended acceleration.
- The Camry's complaints include many non-safety issues like AC odors, which inflate its numbers but are less critical than the Envision's brake failures.
- Check the brake system thoroughly: test the pedal feel and look for any 'service brake assist' warnings. Have a mechanic inspect the brake booster and vacuum system.
- Verify the audio system works, including all chimes, as a faulty amplifier can disable safety alerts. Also, check for any signs of engine oil consumption or stalling during test drive.
- Listen for grinding noises during acceleration and have the transmission inspected by a specialist. Ask if the vehicle has had any transmission recalls or service campaigns.
- Test the brakes at various speeds, especially on hills, to ensure there is no loss of braking power. Also, check the air conditioning for any unusual odors.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any open recalls or previous complaints.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on brakes, electrical system, and transmission.
- Test drive both vehicles on a route that includes turns, hills, and highway speeds to assess power delivery and braking.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the known issues have been addressed.
- Check the NHTSA website for the specific VIN to see if any recalls are unrepaired.
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 | Buick Envision | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 119 |
| 2025 | 8 | 153 |
| 2024 | 10 | 48 |
| 2023 | 24 | 62 |
| 2022 | 25 | 59 |
| 2021 | 23 | 155 |
| 2020 | 10 | 270 |
| 2019 | 23 | 393 |
| 2018 | 13 | 736 |
| 2017 | 81 | 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 Buick Envision or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Envision vs Toyota Camry
- Buick Envision total complaints
- 217
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Buick Envision total recalls
- 10
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Buick Envision avg complaints/year
- 21.7
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Buick Envision
- Buick Envision top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN