Head-to-head reliability
Buick Verano vs Toyota Camry
How the Buick Verano 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 Verano vs Toyota Camry: The Verano averaged 73 complaints per year with 15 recalls, while the Camry averaged 206 complaints per year with 31 recalls. Verano owners report stalling and power steering loss; Camry owners report brake and electronic issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Buick Verano or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Buick Verano
The Buick Verano is a compact sedan that averaged about 73 complaints per year over six years, with 15 recalls. Owners frequently describe stalling, loss of power steering, hard shifting, and airbag sensor problems. The pattern suggests a car that can leave you stranded or with a sudden loss of assist, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is critical.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan that averaged about 206 complaints per year over ten years, with 31 recalls. Owners report transmission hesitation, brake noise, and multiple electronic system malfunctions. While the volume is higher, the per-year rate is still notable, and some issues like a stuck ignition key or delayed acceleration can be frustrating and potentially risky.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Buick Verano | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 440 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 19 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 73.3 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 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 Verano
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM122
- 02ENGINE109
- 03AIR BAGS93
- 04POWER TRAIN52
- 05STEERING50
Owners report random acceleration declines, near-stalls, and loss of power steering, often with delayed warning lights. These symptoms can make the car hard to control in traffic.
Complaints include stalling, reduced power, and hard shifting from first gear. A major transmission failure around 112,000 miles was also reported, which can be expensive to repair.
Multiple owners mention a passenger airbag sensor issue that they believe should have been a recall. A warning light may appear, and the airbag may not deploy correctly in a crash.
Reports of transmission control module failure and loss of power while driving. Some owners note that their vehicle was not covered by a recall that affected similar models.
“BEGINNING IN MAY, I STARTED NOTICING ODD DECLINES IN ACCELERATIONS, RANDOMLY, EVEN WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL. THEN, I ALMOST STALLED OUT ON THE ROAD & LOST POWER STEERING. THIS IS DANGEROUS & SCARY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP & REPORTED A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST…”
“While driving home from work, my car, lost power a few times. Though, the maintenance malfunction light did come on, it was while the issue was occurring. I mention this because, in the car’s manual, it states that the light will come on BEFORE the malfunctio…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners describe an ignition key that gets stuck and cannot be removed unless the battery is disconnected, as well as hesitation and shuddering during acceleration. These issues can leave you unable to secure the car or cause delayed response when merging.
Complaints include a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the gas pedal, and check engine lights with hesitation. This lag can be dangerous when you need immediate power.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area is reported. Brake problems directly affect your ability to stop safely.
Multiple systems such as stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping can malfunction at once. Losing these aids suddenly can increase crash risk.
“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 Verano — 15 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to May 12, 2016, equipped with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine. The engine fuel line assembly may be misrouted, allowing the fuel line to contact the surface of the engine.
The risk: If the fuel line contacts the engine, the fuel line may wear, resulting in a fuel leak and increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line assembly, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is 54180.
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011…
The risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011…
The risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011…
The risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-…
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 Verano or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Buick Verano has far fewer complaints per year (about 73) than the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the Verano's issues often involve stalling, power steering loss, and airbag sensors. The Camry's higher volume includes many electronic and brake complaints. In practice, the Verano may have fewer overall problems, but the ones it has can be severe; the Camry may have more frequent but sometimes less critical issues.
Key differences
- The Verano has about 73 complaints per year versus about 206 for the Camry, but the Verano's complaints often involve stalling and loss of power steering, which are immediate safety concerns.
- The Camry has more crash-related complaints (171) and injuries (158) than the Verano (19 crashes, 17 injuries), though these numbers don't account for exposure or sales volume.
- Verano owners frequently report airbag sensor failures and transmission control module issues, while Camry owners report stuck ignition keys, brake noise, and multiple electronic system malfunctions.
- The Verano has 15 recalls over 6 years, while the Camry has 31 recalls over 10 years, indicating different recall frequencies and types of defects.
- Check for any signs of stalling or loss of power steering during a test drive, and ask if the airbag warning light has ever been on.
- Inspect the transmission for hard shifting or delayed engagement, especially around 112,000 miles where a major failure was reported.
- Test the ignition key to ensure it can be removed easily when the car is in Park, and listen for any clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area.
- Check for delayed throttle response when accelerating from a stop, and verify that all electronic driver aids (stability control, blind spot monitoring) are functioning.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the transmission, electrical system, and airbag sensors on the Verano, and the ignition, brakes, and electronic systems on the Camry.
- During a test drive, specifically test for the symptoms described in complaints: stalling, power steering loss, hard shifting (Verano); stuck key, brake noise, delayed acceleration (Camry).
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any repairs related to the transmission, brakes, or electrical components.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a dealer or independent shop familiar with the model to scan for stored trouble codes.
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 Verano | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 9 | 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 Verano or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Buick Verano vs Toyota Camry
- Buick Verano total complaints
- 440
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Buick Verano total recalls
- 15
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Buick Verano avg complaints/year
- 73.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Buick Verano
- Buick Verano top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN