Head-to-head reliability

Cadillac XTS vs Toyota Camry

How the Cadillac XTS and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Cadillac XTS216 complaints · 15 recalls Fewer issues per year
Toyota Camry2,021 complaints · 28 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Cadillac XTS averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Cadillac XTS has 216 complaints and 15 recalls on record; Toyota Camry has 2,021 complaints and 28 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryCadillac XTSToyota Camry
Total complaintsAll model years combined216 Better2,021
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns15 Better28
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints5 Better175
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years30.9 Better202.1
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints2 Better160
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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 XTS

  1. 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM78
  2. 02SUSPENSION40
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER39
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES17
  5. 05ENGINE16
In owners' words — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PROBLEM #1 - TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF (SOMETIMES WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY & LOCKED (I.E., PARKED FOR THE NIGHT - ENGINE OFF); OTHER TIMES THE TRUNK OPENS BY ITSELF WHILE I AM DRIVING/MOVING (ENGINE OBVIOUSLY ON); OTHER TIMES WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON AND THE VEH…

PURCHASED MY 2017XT5 9/13/2017. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAIN STREET, I STOPPED FOR A LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. COULD NOT TURN IT OFF NOR COULD I TRY TO PUT IT IN ANOTHER GEAR. A KIND GENTLEMAN, WHO WAS BEHIND ME, GOT OUT OF HIS…

Toyota Camry

  1. 01POWER TRAIN369
  2. 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER317
  3. 03ENGINE307
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES284
  5. 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM224
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

The 8 speed transmission sometimes hard shifts to a different gear randomly. Happened total of 4 times while cruising. During Low speed, when press the gas let go and gas immediately again causes the car to jerk and the transmission shifts hard in stop and go…

The contact owned a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH there would be a loud noise emitting from the rear-end of the vehicle that seemed as if the vehicle was running rough. The contact stated that while being idl…

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 XTS — 15 recalls

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Disc — Caliper
#18V576000

The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insu…

The risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrole…

Seat Belts — Front
#18V899000

The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Cadillac XTS vehicles. The front seat belt buckles may be missing a rivet that secures the buckle head to the cable mounting strap.

The risk: If the securing rivet is missing, the buckle may separate from the cable mounting strap in the event of a crash, preventing the occupant from being properly restrained, thereby increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat buckle assemblies, replacing them if the rivets are missing, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006.…

Air Bags — Side/Window
#15V666000

The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.

The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupan…

The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-102…

Parking Brake
#14V541000Sep 2014

The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Cadillac XTS vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to August 22, 2014, and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured November 5, 2012, to September 2, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the electronic parking brake piston actu…

The risk: Brake pads that remain partially engaged with the rotors may cause excessive brake heat that may result in a fire.

The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic parking brake software, free of charge. The recall began on October 28, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-…

Toyota Camry — 28 recalls

Wheels — Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
#23V432000

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…

Seats
#24V128000

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…

Seats
#24V128000

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…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification
#23V865000

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…

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.

YearCadillac XTSToyota Camry
20195379
20180722
201724148
Years to scrutinize: the 2013 Cadillac XTS drew the most complaints (103); the 2018 Toyota Camry drew the most (722). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 XTS or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Cadillac XTS vs Toyota Camry — comparison facts
Comparison
Cadillac XTS vs Toyota Camry
Cadillac XTS total complaints
216
Toyota Camry total complaints
2,021
Cadillac XTS total recalls
15
Toyota Camry total recalls
28
Cadillac XTS avg complaints/year
30.9
Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
202.1
More reliable overall
Cadillac XTS
Cadillac XTS top complaint area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Toyota Camry top complaint area
POWER TRAIN