Head-to-head reliability
Cadillac Vistiq vs Toyota Camry
How the Cadillac Vistiq 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 Vistiq vs Toyota Camry: The Vistiq has 20 complaints per year and 4 recalls, while the Camry has 214.3 complaints per year and 31 recalls. The Vistiq reports 0 crash-related complaints and 1 injury; the Camry reports 181 crash-related complaints and 163 injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac Vistiq or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac Vistiq
The Cadillac Vistiq is a new electric SUV with only one year of complaint data, averaging 20 complaints per year. Owners report digital screen failures, unexpected automatic braking, and glare from the dashboard, which can affect driving visibility. With 4 recalls and 1 injury reported, it's a vehicle that may require patience as early issues are sorted.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a long-running sedan with 10 years of data, averaging about 214 complaints per year. Common owner reports include transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, brake failures, and air conditioning problems. With 31 recalls and 181 crash-related complaints, it has a well-documented history of safety issues over many model years.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac Vistiq | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 20 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 20.0 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Vistiq
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE5
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 04VISIBILITY/WIPER4
- 05SERVICE BRAKES3
Owners describe the automatic emergency braking activating violently without any obstacle, especially while using SuperCruise. This sudden braking can startle the driver and potentially cause a rear-end collision.
Complaints include the vehicle shutting down after DC fast charging and issues with Super Cruise, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. These failures can leave the car inoperable or disable safety features.
Drivers report significant glare from the dashboard reflecting onto the windshield, obstructing forward visibility in daylight. This distraction makes it hard to see the road clearly and can be dangerous.
The infotainment screen goes blank while driving, leaving the driver without speed or turn signal information. Also, the digital owner's manual is inaccessible if the battery dies, which can strand owners without guidance.
“The dashboard/infotainment screen keeps alerting and going blank. I will be driving and will no longer know how fast I am going, nor if my blinkers work, or have any control of the screen. This will stay like this for seconds to hours. I have taken the vehicl…”
“Completely lost power because battery ran out, and since Cadillac only provided a digital owner's manual, not a printed one, it could only be accessed if the vehicle had power. We were stranded in an area without cell service and could not consult a manual to…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the transmission upon acceleration, often requiring replacement. Some also experience sudden unintended acceleration, which has led to crashes.
Complaints include sudden rapid acceleration and a coolant valve bypass issue that may not be covered by recall for certain VINs. These can cause loss of control or engine damage.
Drivers describe brake pedal failure, such as no response when trying to decelerate on a hill. This can lead to dangerous situations where the vehicle cannot be stopped.
Air conditioning problems include condenser damage from road debris and persistent mildew odors from the vents. These affect comfort and can be costly to repair.
“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 Vistiq — 4 recalls
The defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac VISTIQ vehicles and 2025 Cadillac LYRIQ vehicles. The bolts attaching the high voltage battery to the interior floor may be missing or loose.
The risk: An improperly secured battery may become damaged in a crash, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the high-voltage battery bolts and replace or re-tighten the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed September 8, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at…
The defect: General Motors is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Vistiq electric vehicles. The radio may not have been set to the correct status to download the electronic owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 30, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800…
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Cou…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-970…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Cadillac Vistiq vehicles. When the power fold feature is activated, the third-row power seatback may fail to reverse when enountering a person.
The risk: A person, especially a child, may be trapped by a rear powered seatback, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will disable the third-row folding feature until parts are available. Once available, the seat module will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 6, 2026. Owners may con…
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 Vistiq or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Cadillac Vistiq has far fewer complaints per year (20) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), but the Vistiq's data covers only one year. The Camry's higher volume reflects a longer history and more vehicles on the road, but also a pattern of serious safety issues like unintended acceleration and brake failure.
Key differences
- The Cadillac Vistiq has 20 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages 214.3 per year, but the Camry's data spans 10 years versus 1 year for the Vistiq.
- Vistiq owners report digital screen failures and unexpected automatic braking, whereas Camry owners report transmission grinding and sudden acceleration.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 163 injuries, while the Vistiq has 0 crash-related complaints and 1 injury, though the Vistiq's data is limited.
- Both vehicles have electrical system issues, but the Vistiq's are tied to charging and driver-assist features, while the Camry's are more general.
- Check for any history of infotainment screen going blank or electrical shutdowns after charging; test all screen functions and ensure software is up to date.
- Inspect windshield for dashboard glare; sit in the driver's seat under different lighting to see if reflections obstruct your view.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration and test drive at various speeds; check for transmission replacement history.
- Test the brakes on a slope or during hard braking to ensure they respond properly; look for any signs of sudden acceleration by checking for related complaints or recalls.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- For the Cadillac Vistiq, verify that all software updates have been applied and test the infotainment and driver-assist systems thoroughly.
- For the Toyota Camry, have a mechanic inspect the transmission and brakes, and check for any signs of unintended acceleration.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any unusual noises, warning lights, or unexpected braking or acceleration.
- 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 Vistiq | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20 | 119 |
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 Vistiq or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Cadillac Vistiq vs Toyota Camry
- Cadillac Vistiq total complaints
- 20
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Cadillac Vistiq total recalls
- 4
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Cadillac Vistiq avg complaints/year
- 20.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac Vistiq
- Cadillac Vistiq top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN