Head-to-head reliability
Dodge RAM Wagon vs Toyota Camry
How the Dodge RAM Wagon 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 RAM Wagon vs Toyota Camry: The Ram averages 543 complaints per year with 8 deaths, while the Camry averages 206 per year with 1 death and 31 recalls. The Ram has no recalls but more severe structural and air bag issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge RAM Wagon or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge RAM Wagon
The Dodge RAM Wagon is a full-size van or truck-based vehicle that generates a high volume of owner complaints—about 543 per year over four years. The most common issues involve structural cracks and rust, air bags that fail to deploy in crashes, and power train problems like rear axle or driveshaft failures. With no recalls on record, owners are left to deal with these problems on their own, often after they become safety hazards.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a much lower complaint rate—about 206 per year over ten years—but it has 31 recalls covering seats, air bag sensors, and wheel studs. Owners report power train hesitation, engine shuddering, brake noise, and electrical glitches. While the Camry has fewer complaints per year, the recalls and varied issues mean buyers should still check for open campaigns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge RAM Wagon | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,172 | 2,056 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 155 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 543.0 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 166 | 158 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 8 | 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 RAM Wagon
- 01STRUCTURE538
- 02AIR BAGS525
- 03POWER TRAIN252
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM165
- 05SUSPENSION148
Owners report dashboard cracks that worsen over time, sometimes requiring a cover to keep parts from falling behind the instrument cluster. More seriously, some describe the frame around the steering box disconnecting due to excessive rust, which can cause a sudden loss of steering control.
Multiple complaints state that air bags failed to deploy in frontal crashes at speeds of 40 mph or more, resulting in injuries to drivers and passengers. This pattern suggests a potential defect that could leave occupants unprotected in a collision.
Owners report loose pinion nuts on the rear axle that can lead to axle seizure, and in one case a driveshaft separated from the rear end at 55 mph, causing the rear wheels to lock up. These failures can cause loss of control and are a serious safety concern.
The front control module and power distribution center are prone to corrosion, which can knock out brake lights, turn signals, headlights, and emergency flashers. This makes the vehicle less visible and can lead to accidents, especially at night.
“A FEW YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE DASH BEGAN TO DEVELOP CRACKS AND HOLES. THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE A DASH COVER HAD TO BE PURCHASED TO AVOID THINGS FALLING DOWN BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CURRENTLY, THERE IS MORE M…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRAME AROUND THE STEERING BOX DISCONNECTED FROM THE STEERING DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENC…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck and unable to be removed even when the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, with the check engine light on, pointing to transmission or engine control issues.
Some owners experience a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, which can be dangerous when merging or pulling out. This delayed reaction has been reported multiple times and may indicate a software or sensor problem.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area is common. These issues can be frustrating and costly, though they are less likely to cause a crash than the Ram's brake light failures.
Complaints describe multiple systems malfunctioning at once—smart stop, stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assist. This suggests electrical or software glitches that can affect driver assistance features and overall reliability.
“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.
Dodge RAM Wagon
No recalls on record.
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
Dodge RAM Wagon or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has far fewer complaints per year (about 206 vs. 543 for the Dodge RAM Wagon), but it has 31 recalls compared to none for the Ram. In practice, the Camry is likely to need fewer unscheduled repairs, but buyers should verify that all recall work has been done. The Ram's higher complaint rate and serious safety-related failures make it a riskier choice for a daily driver.
Key differences
- The Dodge RAM Wagon has no recalls but a high complaint rate (543/year), while the Toyota Camry has 31 recalls and a lower complaint rate (206/year).
- Ram owners report structural rust and air bag non-deployment in crashes, whereas Camry owners report electronic parking brake and throttle response issues.
- The Ram's power train complaints involve catastrophic failures like axle seizure and driveshaft separation, while the Camry's are more about hesitation and key removal.
- The Camry has recalls for seats and air bag sensors, indicating some safety defects have been addressed, but the Ram has no such campaigns.
- Check the frame around the steering box for excessive rust or cracks—this can cause steering loss and is a reported failure.
- Inspect the rear axle for loose pinion nuts or signs of driveshaft separation, and test drive at highway speeds to feel for locking or vibration.
- Test the electronic parking brake to ensure it engages and disengages properly, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
- Check for delayed throttle response when accelerating from a stop, and verify that the ignition key can be removed easily when in Park.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website for the specific VIN.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Ram's undercarriage for rust, especially around the steering box and rear axle.
- For the Camry, test all electronic systems including parking brake, throttle response, and key removal.
- Ask for maintenance records to see if known issues like the Ram's pinion nut or Camry's brake switch have been addressed.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and braking to reproduce any shuddering, hesitation, or unusual noises.
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 RAM Wagon or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge RAM Wagon vs Toyota Camry
- Dodge RAM Wagon total complaints
- 2,172
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Dodge RAM Wagon total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Dodge RAM Wagon avg complaints/year
- 543.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Dodge RAM Wagon top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN