Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac STS vs Toyota Camry
How the Cadillac STS 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 STS vs Toyota Camry: The STS averaged 38 complaints per year with 8 recalls, while the Camry averaged 214 complaints per year with 31 recalls. Both have injury reports, but the Camry's higher volume reflects greater sales. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac STS or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac STS
The Cadillac STS is a luxury sedan that averaged about 38 complaints per year over seven years, with air bags, electrical system, and engine being the most common trouble spots. Owners report issues like air bag lights staying on, sudden loss of engine power, and transmission problems that can affect control. With 8 recalls and 26 injuries reported, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 214 per year over ten years—but that reflects its huge sales numbers. The most frequent complaints involve power train, engine, and brake problems, including transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake failure. With 31 recalls and 1 death reported, it's generally reliable but not immune to serious issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac STS | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 268 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 35 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 38.3 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 26 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.
Cadillac STS
- 01AIR BAGS74
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM49
- 03ENGINE34
- 04POWER TRAIN32
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM24
Owners report the air bag warning light coming on and staying on, which can mean the air bags may not deploy in a crash. Some also describe traction control and stability system failures that precede air bag warnings.
Complaints include dash lights failing, power windows operating on their own, and a hard brake pedal that can't be pressed, leading to near-crashes. These electrical gremlins can affect safety systems and are often intermittent.
Drivers report intermittent loss of engine and electrical power while driving, causing brakes and steering to lose proper function. Another common message is 'engine power reduced,' which slows the car to 10-15 mph unexpectedly.
Some owners experience grinding noises and total loss of control because corroded gears prevent the shifter from working. Fluid leaks from the transmission are also reported, which can lead to costly repairs.
“THE CAR TRACTION CONTROL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HAD THE SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM COME ON. THE ABS LIGHT WAS LIT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR TURN EASILY. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THE DITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAD HEADLIGHTS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WITH BULBS…”
“SINCE MAY 2015, GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON, THEN AGAIN IN JUNE 2015 GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN AND STAYS ON. ONCE AGAIN , IN JULY LIGHTS COMES BACK ON AND STAYS ON HAS NOT GONE OUT AS OF 21 JULY 2015.. WE BROUGHT THE CAR…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners describe grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, often diagnosed as transmission failure requiring replacement. Some also report sudden acceleration when braking, such as in parking lots.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration that can lead to crashes, as well as coolant bypass valve failures that trigger a recall but may not cover all VINs. These issues can be dangerous and expensive.
Drivers report a complete lack of brake response when pressing the pedal, especially on hills or when slowing down. This can result in serious accidents if not addressed immediately.
Some owners report AC condenser damage from road debris, leading to loss of cooling, and recurring mildew odors from the HVAC system. These are comfort issues but can indicate poor component protection.
“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.
Cadillac STS — 8 recalls
The defect: GM IS RECALLING 4,586 MY 2008 CADILLAC STS AND STS-V PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, 'TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS' (TPMS). THE STANDARD REQUIRES AN INDICATION TO THE DRIVER FOR CERTAIN TPMS MALFUNCTIONS. WHEN THE S…
The risk: THESE INDICATIONS OF A SYSTEM MALFUNCTION DO NOT WORK. PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE REMOTE CONTROL DOOR LOCK RECEIVER MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://W…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.
The risk: A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PINION SEAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM; AND SATURN AT 1-800-9…
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE FUEL IS NO LONGER SUPPLIED TO THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE FUEL LEVEL LOW INDICATOR LIGHT OR THE WARNING CHIME.
The risk: IF THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING, THE OPERATOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WITH NEW SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED IN DECEMBER 2005 AND ASKED TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST 1/4 OF A TANK FUEL LEVEL TO AVOID THIS CONDITION UNTIL THE PARTS ARE AVAILABL…
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVE A LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK THAT COULD SEPARATE BECAUSE OF AN INCORRECT WELD.
The risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE AFFECTED REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN IN OR OUT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RIGHT AND LEFT TOE LINK AND REPLACE AS REQUIRED. IF A TOE LINK IS REPLACED, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
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
Cadillac STS or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Cadillac STS has far fewer complaints per year (38 vs. 214), but the Camry's higher volume is partly due to its much larger sales. In practice, the STS may have fewer reported issues overall, but the Camry's problems are more widely documented and sometimes addressed by recalls.
Key differences
- Cadillac STS complaints center on air bags and electrical failures, while Camry complaints focus on power train and brakes.
- The STS has 8 recalls; the Camry has 31, indicating more widespread safety campaigns for the Camry.
- Camry reports include sudden acceleration and brake failure; STS reports include loss of engine power and hard brake pedal.
- The STS averages 38 complaints per year; the Camry averages 214, but the Camry sold in much higher numbers.
- Check for air bag warning lights that stay on or flicker, as this may indicate a faulty sensor or wiring.
- Test the brakes for a hard pedal and listen for grinding from the transmission during a test drive.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, which could signal transmission problems.
- Test the brakes on a hill or slope to ensure they respond immediately and without hesitation.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a mechanic inspect the air bag system, electrical components, and transmission for both models.
- Test drive on varied roads, including hills, to check brake response and acceleration behavior.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake repairs.
- Verify that any recall work has been completed, particularly for the Camry's coolant valve and STS's fuel pump.
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 STS or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac STS vs Toyota Camry
- Cadillac STS total complaints
- 268
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Cadillac STS total recalls
- 8
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Cadillac STS avg complaints/year
- 38.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac STS
- Cadillac STS top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN