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.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Cadillac XTS vs Toyota Camry: The XTS has 218 complaints over 7 years (31/year) and 15 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (206/year) and 31 recalls. The XTS reports rear suspension and brake failures; the Camry reports power train and brake issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Cadillac XTS or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Cadillac XTS
The Cadillac XTS is a full-size luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume: 218 over seven years, about 31 per year. The most common trouble spots are electrical gremlins, rear air suspension failures, and brake issues. Recalls cover brakes, seat belts, air bags, and parking brake. For a used buyer, this means fewer reported problems overall, but the ones that do occur can be expensive and safety-related.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much higher complaint count: 2,056 over ten years, roughly 206 per year. Owners report power train hesitation, engine shuddering, brake noises, and electrical glitches. Recalls involve wheels, seats, and air bag sensors. For a used buyer, this suggests a higher volume of reported issues, though many may be less severe than the Cadillac's suspension and brake failures.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Cadillac XTS | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 218 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 31.1 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 XTS
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM79
- 02SUSPENSION41
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER39
- 04SERVICE BRAKES17
- 05ENGINE16
Owners report the trunk opening by itself while parked or driving, and the car refusing to move or shift out of gear. These glitches can leave you stranded or create a security risk.
The rear air suspension motor or air bags fail, causing the rear end to drop suddenly, bounce on uneven roads, and affect steering control. This can happen at highway speeds and is a major safety concern.
Complaints include brakes failing to fully stop the car when backing out or pulling into a parking spot, plus electrical issues that can kill the engine while driving. Brake problems are especially dangerous in low-speed maneuvers.
Some owners report the engine dying while driving, which can lead to loss of power steering and braking assist. This is a serious reliability and safety issue that needs immediate attention.
“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
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with a check engine light.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, and shuddering with the check engine light on. These issues can make merging or accelerating unpredictable.
The electronic parking brake may not disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer calls normal. Brake problems can be frustrating and costly.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping can malfunction at once. This can overwhelm the driver with warnings and reduce safety features.
“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 XTS — 15 recalls
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…
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.…
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…
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 — 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 XTS or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Cadillac XTS has far fewer complaints per year (about 31) than the Toyota Camry (about 206). However, the XTS complaints often involve serious safety issues like rear suspension collapse and brake failure, while the Camry's higher volume includes many drivability and electrical annoyances. In practice, the XTS may have fewer problems but they can be more severe, whereas the Camry may have more frequent but sometimes less critical issues.
Key differences
- The Cadillac XTS has about 31 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry has about 206 per year, a nearly seven-fold difference.
- Cadillac XTS owners frequently report rear air suspension failures that cause the rear to drop and affect steering, a potentially dangerous issue.
- Toyota Camry owners often report power train issues like stuck ignition keys and hesitation, which can be inconvenient but less immediately hazardous.
- The Camry has more crash-related complaints (171) and injuries (158) than the XTS (5 crashes, 2 injuries), though these numbers don't account for vehicle sales volume.
- Check the rear suspension for sagging or a rough ride, and listen for the air suspension compressor running excessively, as failures are common.
- Test all electrical functions, especially the trunk release, and look for any signs of the car not starting or shifting out of gear.
- Try removing the key from the ignition in various gears to ensure it doesn't stick, and check for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive.
- Test the electronic parking brake to make sure it engages and disengages properly, and listen for any unusual noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for open recalls and past repairs.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the specific problem areas for each model.
- For the Cadillac XTS, ask about the rear air suspension service history and consider a warranty that covers it.
- For the Toyota Camry, test the ignition key removal and electronic parking brake multiple times.
- Check the NHTSA website for any new complaints or recalls on the specific year and model you are considering.
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 XTS | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 | 395 |
| 2018 | 0 | 744 |
| 2017 | 24 | 148 |
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
- Comparison
- Cadillac XTS vs Toyota Camry
- Cadillac XTS total complaints
- 218
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Cadillac XTS total recalls
- 15
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Cadillac XTS avg complaints/year
- 31.1
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Cadillac XTS
- Cadillac XTS top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN