Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Magnum vs Toyota Camry
How the Dodge Magnum 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
Dodge Magnum vs Toyota Camry: The Magnum averages 290 complaints per year with 22 recalls, while the Camry averages 214 per year with 31 recalls. The Magnum has more crash-related complaints per year, but the Camry has more total injuries. Both have serious issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Magnum or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Magnum
The Dodge Magnum is a rear-wheel-drive station wagon that has been out of production for years, so you're buying an older, high-mileage car. It averages about 290 complaints per year, which is high for a vehicle with only four model years of data. Owners frequently report transmission problems that trigger limp mode, air bags that fail to deploy in crashes, and engine stalling. These are serious issues that can leave you stranded or worse, so budget for repairs and thorough inspections.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a long-running family sedan with a reputation for dependability, but this data shows it's not trouble-free. It averages about 214 complaints per year over ten years, which is lower per year than the Magnum. However, the total number of complaints is higher because it covers more model years. Owners report transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, brake failure, and air conditioning odors. While the Camry may have fewer problems per year, some reported issues are still concerning.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Magnum | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,162 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 47 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 290.5 | 214.3 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 57 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
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.
Dodge Magnum
- 01POWER TRAIN235
- 02AIR BAGS221
- 03ENGINE194
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM160
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM158
Owners report the transmission suddenly entering limp mode, limiting speed to 35 mph, and a shift interlock latch that can leave the car stuck in park. These failures can happen without warning and may require expensive transmission repairs.
Multiple complaints describe front air bags failing to deploy in crashes, even with severe front-end damage. This is a critical safety concern because it means you may not be protected in a collision.
Drivers report the engine stalling at various speeds without warning, sometimes restarting but often with no diagnosed cause. Another owner heard a booming noise and found coolant leaking, indicating cooling system failure.
Some owners experience engine stall immediately after refueling, especially when filling the tank to capacity. This can be dangerous if it happens in traffic and may point to a fuel system defect.
“MY DODGE MAGNUM KEEPS GOING INTO LIMP MODE. LIMITS TO 35 MPH AND WILL SLOW YOU TO 35 QUICKLY. I TOOK IT IN TO A DODGE DEALER AND THEY PREFORMED A TCM UPDATE AND ALLOWED ME TO TAKE THE CAR I MADE IT 5 MILES BEFORE GOING INTO LIMP MODE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DE…”
“POWER TRAIN - "SHIFT INTERLOCK LATCH" - VECHILE STUCK IN PARK - DODGE WILL NOT PERMIT OUR VECHILE TO BE COVERED BY THEIR "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION NOTIFICATION K39 TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTERLOCK LEVER." BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE CORRECT MODEL AND YEAR, OUR V…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, which dealers have diagnosed as transmission failure requiring replacement. Another complaint describes unintended acceleration in a parking lot, though the cause is unclear.
Sudden, uncontrollable acceleration has been reported multiple times, leading to crashes. Also, some owners see a coolant valve bypass code and are told it's not covered by recall, causing safety concerns.
One owner reported complete brake failure while driving down a steep hill, with no response from the pedal. This is a severe safety issue that could lead to a crash.
Many complaints involve air conditioning problems, such as a condenser damaged by a rock or a persistent mildew smell from the vents. These are annoying but less critical than brake or acceleration issues.
“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.
Dodge Magnum — 22 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2…
The risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occur…
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger front…
The defect: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 20,283 MY 2006-2009 CHARGER AND MAGNUM VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE AND EQUIPPED WITH A COLUMN SHIFTER. THE GEARSHIFT CABLE MAY BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN MOUNTING BRACKET AND CAUSE AN INCORRECT TRANSMISSION GEARSHIFT POSITION DISPLAY.
The risk: THIS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION STARTLING THE DRIVER, AND CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DEALERS WILL ADD A REDUNDANT LOCKING MECHANISM TO THE GEARSHIFT CABLE AT THE MOUNTING BRACKET TO ENSURE PROPER RETENTION AND SHIFT LINKAGE FUNCTION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE CAN CAUSE A MOMENTARY LOCK UP OF THE DRIVE WHEELS IF THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING OVER 40 MPH AND THE OPERATOR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL…
The risk: IF THE DRIVE WHEELS LOCKED UP, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
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
Dodge Magnum or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Dodge Magnum has about 290 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry has about 214 per year, so the Camry has fewer issues per year. However, the Magnum's problems often involve stalling, limp mode, and air bag failures, which can be disabling or life-threatening. The Camry also has serious reports like sudden acceleration and brake failure, but they appear less frequent per year.
Key differences
- The Dodge Magnum has a much higher complaint rate per year (290 vs 214), but the Camry's data covers more years, so total complaints are higher.
- Magnum owners frequently report transmission limp mode and stuck-in-park issues, while Camry owners report transmission grinding and sudden acceleration.
- Air bag non-deployment in crashes is a recurring complaint for the Magnum, whereas the Camry's air bag recalls focus on occupant sensors.
- The Camry has more crash-related complaints (181 vs 47) and injuries (163 vs 57), but this may reflect its larger sales volume over more years.
- Check for transmission issues: test drive at various speeds and ensure it doesn't enter limp mode or hesitate to shift. Ask if the TCM has been updated.
- Inspect air bag function: verify no recalls are outstanding and consider having a dealer scan for air bag fault codes, as non-deployment is a reported problem.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, which could indicate transmission problems needing replacement.
- Test the brakes on a downhill slope if possible, and check for any sudden acceleration tendencies during a slow parking maneuver.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on transmission, engine, and brakes.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any warning lights, unusual noises, or hesitation during acceleration.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and recall repairs.
- For the Magnum, specifically test the shift interlock by trying to shift out of park with the brake pressed; for the Camry, test the air conditioning for odors.
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 Dodge Magnum or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Magnum vs Toyota Camry
- Dodge Magnum total complaints
- 1,162
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Dodge Magnum total recalls
- 22
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Dodge Magnum avg complaints/year
- 290.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Dodge Magnum top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN