Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac CT5 vs Toyota Camry
How the Cadillac CT5 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
Cadillac CT5 vs Toyota Camry: The CT5 averages 16.9 complaints per year with 12 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The CT5's issues include door handle failures and transmission shuddering, whereas the Camry suffers from key-stuck and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac CT5 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac CT5
The Cadillac CT5 is a luxury sedan that, based on owner complaints, can be frustrating to live with due to recurring electrical and transmission problems. Over 7 years, it has averaged about 17 complaints per year, with 12 recalls and 14 crash-related reports. Owners frequently mention door handles that stop working and transmission shuddering, which can be safety concerns. While the overall complaint count is low, the nature of the issues suggests potential for expensive repairs.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 206 per year over 10 years—but this reflects its huge sales numbers. The most common issues involve the power train, engine, and brakes, with reports of hesitation, shuddering, and brake noise. There are 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints, indicating that while problems are more numerous, they are also well-documented. For a used buyer, this means many issues are known and may have been addressed.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac CT5 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 118 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 14 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.9 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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.
Cadillac CT5
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM27
- 02POWER TRAIN27
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE19
- 05STRUCTURE16
Owners report exterior door handles that stop working, preventing doors from opening normally. This can trap occupants inside, especially children, and is a serious safety issue.
Complaints describe transmission shuddering, jerking, and shaking while driving at speeds like 42-66 MPH. Some vehicles are under recall for an internal transmission control valve failure, which can cause sudden loss of power.
Owners say the automatic emergency braking may not stop the car before hitting an obstacle, and some report incorrect speed limit displays. This could lead to a false sense of security or missed warnings.
While specific complaints are not detailed, structure issues appear in 16 complaints. This could involve door handles or other body components, but buyers should inspect for any unusual gaps or malfunctions.
“We own a 2021 Cadillac CT5 that we bought used in 2024 from Sewell Cadillac in Houston, Texas. During our first year of ownership, and while still under warranty, we started having intermittent issues with the rear doors. At times, one or the other rear doors…”
“I have experienced a serious and recurring safety issue with the door handles on my Cadillac CT5 vehicles. The exterior door handles have stopped working, preventing the doors from being opened normally. On one occasion, I was trying to get my child out of th…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove, and transmission hesitation or shuddering with check engine lights. These issues can leave you stranded or cause delayed acceleration.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, sometimes taking several seconds to move. This hesitation can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear clicking or vibrating noises from the ABS system. Brake problems directly affect stopping ability and safety.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring can malfunction simultaneously. This widespread failure could overwhelm a driver and 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.
Cadillac CT5 — 12 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Cadillac CT6, 2020-2021 CT4, CT5, and 2020-2022 Chevrolet Camaro vehicles equipped with a 10-speed transmission. The transmission may become damaged internally and cause the wheels to lock-up.
The risk: Wheel lock-up while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install transmission control module monitoring software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-8…
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…
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
Cadillac CT5 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Cadillac CT5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 17 vs. 206 for the Camry), but the Camry's higher volume is partly due to its much larger sales. In practice, the CT5's issues tend to be more severe, like door handles that trap occupants, while the Camry's problems are more widespread but often addressed by recalls. A buyer should weigh the lower frequency of CT5 complaints against the potentially more serious nature of those complaints.
Key differences
- The Cadillac CT5 has 118 total complaints over 7 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2056 over 10 years, but the Camry sells in much higher numbers.
- CT5 owners frequently report door handle failures that can trap people inside, a serious safety concern not seen in the Camry sample.
- Camry owners report transmission hesitation and key-stuck issues, which can cause delayed acceleration or immobilize the car.
- The CT5 has 12 recalls, including transmission and lighting software, while the Camry has 31 recalls covering air bags, seats, and wheels.
- Test all exterior door handles, especially rear ones, to ensure they open smoothly and don't stick or fail.
- During a test drive, accelerate at various speeds and feel for any transmission shuddering or jerking, particularly between 40-60 MPH.
- Check that the ignition key can be removed easily when the car is in Park; if it sticks, it could be a recurring problem.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the CT5's transmission recall and the Camry's air bag recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the CT5's door handles and transmission, and the Camry's brakes and throttle response.
- During a test drive, simulate emergency braking to check forward collision avoidance on the CT5 and listen for ABS noises on the Camry.
- Verify that all electrical systems, including lights, infotainment, and driver aids, function correctly on both cars.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any recall repairs have been completed.
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 | Cadillac CT5 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 163 |
| 2024 | 2 | 50 |
| 2023 | 13 | 64 |
| 2022 | 11 | 61 |
| 2021 | 29 | 157 |
| 2020 | 39 | 274 |
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 Cadillac CT5 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac CT5 vs Toyota Camry
- Cadillac CT5 total complaints
- 118
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Cadillac CT5 total recalls
- 12
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Cadillac CT5 avg complaints/year
- 16.9
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac CT5
- Cadillac CT5 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN