Head-to-head reliability
Buick Regal Tourx vs Toyota Camry
How the Buick Regal Tourx 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 Regal Tourx vs Toyota Camry: The Tourx has 35 complaints over 3 years (11.7/yr) and no recalls, while the Camry has 2,143 over 10 years (214.3/yr) and 31 recalls. Camry owners report sudden acceleration and brake failure, whereas Tourx issues are mostly electrical and shift-to-park. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Regal Tourx or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Regal Tourx
The Buick Regal TourX is a relatively rare wagon with a modest complaint history—35 over three years—suggesting it's not a high-volume problem child, but the issues that do surface are concentrated in electrical, powertrain, and brake systems. Owners describe recurring electrical gremlins like battery drain and blank instrument panels, transmission-related 'Shift to Park' warnings, and brake noise or assist problems. While there are no recalls or crash reports on file, the pattern points to a vehicle that may need patience with intermittent electronic and drivetrain glitches.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a high-volume sedan, has a much larger complaint count (2,143 over 10 years) and 31 recalls, but that's partly due to its popularity. Owners report serious issues like sudden unintended acceleration, transmission grinding and failure, brake loss on hills, and persistent HVAC odors. The presence of crash and injury reports underscores that some of these failures have real safety implications, making the Camry's reliability record more concerning despite its reputation for dependability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Regal Tourx | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 35 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 11.7 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 Regal Tourx
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
- 02POWER TRAIN8
- 03ENGINE7
- 04SERVICE BRAKES6
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
Owners report repeated electrical failures, including a dead battery with no warning, a blank instrument panel, and ongoing issues that require multiple dealer visits. This suggests problems with the battery, charging system, or body control modules that can leave you stranded.
A common complaint is an intermittent 'Shift to Park' message even when the car is in Park, traced to a faulty shift position switch. This can prevent the car from starting or cause confusion about gear selection, and it's a known GM issue.
Engine-related complaints include the same starting/electrical issues (no power, blank dash) and a brake-scrubbing noise that some owners attribute to engine or accessory problems. This points to potential issues with the starting system or engine accessories.
Brake complaints include a scrubbing noise and a reference to a GM recall for loss of vacuum brake assist, which increases crash risk. Owners have experienced reduced braking power, which is a serious safety concern.
“Dear NHTSA, I am submitting a formal complaint regarding a 2019 Buick Regal, which I purchased as a used vehicle in 2023 with approximately 19,000 miles. Since owning the car, I have added only 14,000 miles, yet I have experienced multiple significant and ong…”
“I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 866-790-5600. I PURCHASED THE CAR 11/23/18 BRAND NEW WITH 12 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO GET IT SERVICED DUE TO KEPT HEARING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THE BRAKES KEEP SCRUBBING, IN WHICH I THE…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end on acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission failure and recommending replacement. Some note that transmissions are on backorder, indicating a widespread issue. Others describe sudden unintended acceleration, which can lead to crashes.
Engine complaints include sudden acceleration incidents and a specific code (P268115) related to a coolant valve bypass that is under recall for some VINs but not others, leaving owners with a potential overheating risk. This suggests engine management and cooling system problems.
Serious brake failures are reported, such as no response when pressing the pedal on a downhill slope, leading to a crash. Another owner describes the car accelerating unexpectedly while braking, indicating potential brake system or electronic throttle control issues.
Common complaints include AC condenser damage from rocks (a design vulnerability) and a recurring vinegar/mildew smell from the HVAC system, which is unpleasant and may indicate moisture buildup or mold in the evaporator.
“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 Regal Tourx
No recalls on record.
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 Regal Tourx or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Buick Regal TourX has far fewer complaints per year (11.7 vs 214.3) and no recalls, making it a lower-risk choice in terms of frequency of reported issues. However, the Camry's problems are more severe, including safety-critical failures like unintended acceleration and brake loss, so the TourX may offer more peace of mind despite its own electrical and brake quirks.
Key differences
- The TourX has no recalls, while the Camry has 31, including airbag and seat-related recalls.
- Camry owners report sudden unintended acceleration and brake failure, which are absent from TourX complaints.
- TourX electrical issues (battery drain, blank dash) are annoying but less dangerous than Camry's transmission failures.
- Camry has a known HVAC odor problem and AC condenser vulnerability, while TourX has brake scrubbing noise and shift-to-park messages.
- Check for intermittent 'Shift to Park' messages and have the shift position switch inspected.
- Test the battery and charging system, and look for any signs of electrical gremlins like a blank instrument panel.
- Listen for grinding noises during acceleration and have the transmission checked by a mechanic.
- Test the brakes on a hill and ask for service records related to brake or acceleration complaints.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both vehicles.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission, brakes, and electrical system.
- Test drive both cars, including acceleration, braking, and parking, to feel for any issues.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for the Camry's transmission and the TourX's electrical system.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recalls using the VIN.
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 Regal Tourx | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3 | 270 |
| 2019 | 18 | 393 |
| 2018 | 14 | 736 |
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 Regal Tourx or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Regal Tourx vs Toyota Camry
- Buick Regal Tourx total complaints
- 35
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Buick Regal Tourx total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Buick Regal Tourx avg complaints/year
- 11.7
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Buick Regal Tourx
- Buick Regal Tourx top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN