Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac DTS vs Toyota Camry
How the Cadillac DTS 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 DTS vs Toyota Camry: The DTS averaged 85.2 complaints per year over 6 years, while the Camry averaged 205.6 over 10 years. The DTS had 17 recalls and 36 crash-related complaints; the Camry had 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac DTS or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac DTS
The Cadillac DTS is a full-size luxury sedan with a mixed reliability record. Over six years, owners filed 511 complaints, averaging 85.2 per year, with electrical problems dominating. Recalls are frequent (17), and crash-related complaints (36) and injuries (43) suggest some safety concerns. Living with a DTS means expecting occasional electrical gremlins and potential stalling.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume (2,056 over 10 years, 205.6 per year) but also more recalls (31). Power train and engine issues are common, and there are 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries. Despite the numbers, many complaints are for newer models, indicating ongoing quality challenges.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac DTS | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 511 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 36 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 85.2 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 43 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.
Cadillac DTS
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM174
- 02EXTERIOR LIGHTING101
- 03ENGINE78
- 04STEERING52
- 05SERVICE BRAKES34
Owners report the vehicle locking itself, faulty door locks, and sudden stalling where the car quits running and won't restart. These issues can leave you stranded and require costly diagnostics.
With 101 complaints, lighting problems are frequent, though specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample. Malfunctioning lights can affect visibility and safety, and repairs may be needed.
Complaints include the car suddenly quitting while driving, often linked to a faulty fuel pump relay. This can cause dangerous stalls in traffic and may recur even after repairs.
Owners describe hard steering when turning and noises, often traced to fluid receptacle issues. This can make the car difficult to control and may indicate power steering failure.
“VEHICLE LOCKS ITSELF. "CHECKED" THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY, NOTHING FOUND. THEN BACK PASSENGER SIDE LOCK FAULTY & REPLACED. ON 6/2/15 I TOOK MY CAT TO THE VET, REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, DID NOT LOCK THE DOOR, PLACED THE KEYS ON THE CAT CARRIER, CLOSED T…”
“I WAS BACKING MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACKED ONTO THE ROAD,THE CAR SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING. I TRIED RESTARTING IT,BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD...I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER..WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER THE FOLL…”
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 hesitation/shuddering while driving with check engine light. These can strand you and indicate transmission or sensor faults.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, causing several seconds of no movement. This hesitation can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking/vibrating noise from the brake pedal area is reported. Brake issues are safety-critical and can be expensive to fix.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring can malfunction simultaneously. This suggests complex electronic faults that are hard to diagnose and 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.
Cadillac DTS — 17 recalls
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, a…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors custom…
The defect: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 DTS AND BUICK LUCERNE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES. THE STARTER OR ALTERNATOR CABLE IS IN CONTACT WITH THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE. IF EITHER THE STARTER OR ALTERNATOR CABLE IS CONTACTING THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE, THE CABLE COUL…
The risk: A POWER STEERING LEAK COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, AND/OR THE LEAK ONTO HOT ENGINE PARTS COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL SECURE AND IF NECESSARY REROUTE THE LINES TO PREVENT CONTACT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080…
The defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain…
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, a…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors custom…
The defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OU…
The risk: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
The fix: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM…
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 DTS or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Cadillac DTS has fewer complaints per year (85.2) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), but the DTS has more electrical and stalling issues that can be unpredictable. The Camry's higher volume includes many newer models, but its power train and brake problems are also serious. In practice, the DTS may have fewer overall issues, but the Camry's issues are more widely reported and may be addressed by more frequent recalls.
Key differences
- Cadillac DTS has far fewer complaints per year (85.2 vs 205.6) but more electrical system complaints (174 vs 237 for Camry, though Camry's total is higher).
- Toyota Camry has more crash-related complaints (171 vs 36) and injuries (158 vs 43), though the DTS has 0 deaths vs 1 for Camry.
- Cadillac DTS recalls focus on electrical/ignition, while Camry recalls involve wheels, seats, and air bag sensors.
- Camry owners report power train issues like stuck ignition keys and hesitation; DTS owners report stalling and steering problems.
- Check for intermittent electrical issues: test all door locks, ensure the car doesn't lock itself, and verify the ignition and battery cables are secure.
- Listen for steering noises and test for hard steering, especially when turning; check power steering fluid and hoses for leaks or damage.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park; if it sticks, it may require battery disconnection, indicating a power train defect.
- Check the electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking/vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which could signal ABS or EPB issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially electrical and ignition recalls for the DTS and seat/air bag recalls for the Camry.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, shuddering, or delayed acceleration, and test all electrical components including lights, locks, and windows.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brake system, including the electronic parking brake and ABS, for the Camry, and the power steering system for the DTS.
- For the DTS, check for signs of stalling by test-driving at various speeds and ensuring the fuel pump relay has been replaced if applicable.
- For the Camry, verify that the ignition key can be easily removed in Park and that all advanced safety systems (blind spot, lane keeping) function correctly.
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 DTS or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac DTS vs Toyota Camry
- Cadillac DTS total complaints
- 511
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Cadillac DTS total recalls
- 17
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Cadillac DTS avg complaints/year
- 85.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac DTS
- Cadillac DTS top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN