Head-to-head reliability
Ferrari 458 vs Toyota Camry
How the Ferrari 458 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
Ferrari 458 vs Toyota Camry: The Ferrari has 1.1 complaints per year versus 214.3 for the Camry, but Ferrari issues include airbag deployment and fire, while Camry issues include brake failure and sudden acceleration. Both have recalls, but the Camry has 181 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Ferrari 458 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Ferrari 458
The Ferrari 458 is a high-performance exotic that, in ownership terms, is a weekend or special-use vehicle. Its complaint history is very low in volume, but the issues reported are dramatic when they occur, including a Takata airbag inflator that deployed without a crash and a fire that started in the rear. Owners also mention interior plastic melting and fuel-filling problems, suggesting that while rare, failures can be serious and costly.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan often used for daily commuting and family transport. Its complaint count is much higher, reflecting its popularity and higher exposure, with frequent reports of transmission issues, engine problems, and brake failures. Owners describe sudden acceleration, grinding noises, and brake loss, which are concerning for a vehicle that many rely on for everyday safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Ferrari 458 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 9 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.1 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.
Ferrari 458
- 01AIR BAGS5
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 03FUEL SYSTEM1
- 04GASOLINE1
- 05SERVICE BRAKES1
Owners report Takata inflator recalls and at least one case where the driver's airbag deployed unexpectedly without a collision, which could cause injury or loss of control.
A vehicle caught fire in the rear while parked, consistent with a prior recall, and interior dashboard plastic melts, making essential buttons unidentifiable and sticky.
Some owners cannot add fuel to the tank; the nozzle keeps shutting off, making refueling difficult or impossible at various stations.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FERRARI 458 ITALIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V341000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT…”
“TAKATA RECALL WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH ON A PERFECTLY FLAT AND SAFE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG ON MY 2012 FERRARI 458 SUDDENLY AND FOR NO VALID REASON EXPLODED AND DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, THERE WAS NO POTHOLE OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE THAT WOULD HAVE…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission issues are common, with grinding noises on acceleration and dealers recommending full transmission replacement, sometimes with parts on backorder.
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, leading to crashes, and engine maintenance lights with codes related to coolant valve bypass recalls that may not apply to their VIN.
Brake failure is reported, such as no response when pressing the pedal on a downhill slope, requiring immediate evasive action to avoid a crash.
“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.
Ferrari 458 — 11 recalls
The defect: On January 9, 2018 Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) recalled 1,073 model year 2013 California, 458 Italia, 458 Spider, FF, and F12 Berlinetta vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 1, 2018 for the original population. The recall will begin in June 2018 for the expanded population. Owners…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2012 Ferrari California, 458 Italia, 458 Spider, and FF vehicles that have not already had their passenger frontal air bag replaced. These passenger frontal air bag modules have air bag inflators that may explode in the event of a crash due…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly with one that uses an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-8…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (FNA) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 458 Speciale, 458 Speciale A, California T, FF, F12 Berlinetta, and LaFerrari vehicles manufactured December 19, 2014, to April 29, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with a driver side a…
The risk: In the event of a crash, the deployment of the driver's air bag in a rotated orientation increases the risk of injury.
The fix: FNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front Driver's Side Air Bag Module, free of charge. The recall began on August 10, 2015. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-866-551-2828. Ferrari's number for this recall i…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 F458 Italia and F458 Spider vehicles manufactured March 5, 2010, to May 20, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the secondary latch for the front trunk storage compartment may not release when the vehicle is stationary. As…
The risk: In the event an individual is trapped in the trunk and the latch system does not release the trunk lid, it increases the risk of personal injury or possibly death.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will modify the existing front trunk latch system with a new component that will meet requirements, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at…
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
Ferrari 458 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Ferrari 458 has far fewer complaints per year (1.1 vs 214.3), but its issues are severe and potentially life-threatening. The Camry's higher volume reflects its mass-market use, but the nature of its problems—like brake failure and sudden acceleration—also poses serious risks. In practice, the Ferrari's low volume means you're less likely to encounter an issue, but if you do, it could be catastrophic.
Key differences
- The Ferrari 458 has a very low complaint rate (1.1/yr) but includes a fire and an airbag deployment without crash, while the Camry has a high rate (214.3/yr) with many reports of brake failure and sudden acceleration.
- Ferrari owners report interior plastic melting and fuel-filling problems, while Camry owners report transmission grinding and AC odors.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 163 injuries, whereas the Ferrari has none crash-related and only 1 injury, indicating different risk profiles.
- Both have recalls, but the Ferrari's recalls focus on airbags and trunk locks, while the Camry's include occupant classification sensors and wheel lugs.
- Check for any open Takata airbag recalls and ensure the inflator has been replaced, as one owner experienced a deployment without impact.
- Inspect the rear area for signs of fire damage or prior repairs, given the reported fire incident, and verify the trunk lock recall was addressed.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on a hill, and listen for any grinding from the transmission during acceleration.
- Check for engine maintenance lights and verify if any coolant valve bypass recall applies to your VIN, as some owners were told their car wasn't covered.
Before you buy
- For the Ferrari 458: verify all recalls are completed, especially airbag and trunk lock, and have a mechanic inspect the fuel system for filling issues.
- For the Toyota Camry: take a test drive that includes acceleration and braking on a slope to check for transmission noise and brake response.
- Ask for service records to see if the Camry's transmission has been replaced or if there are recurring AC odor complaints.
- Check the NHTSA website for any open investigations or recalls on the specific model year you're considering.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with each brand.
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 | Ferrari 458 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Ferrari 458 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Ferrari 458 vs Toyota Camry
- Ferrari 458 total complaints
- 9
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Ferrari 458 total recalls
- 11
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Ferrari 458 avg complaints/year
- 1.1
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Ferrari 458
- Ferrari 458 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN