Head-to-head reliability
Ferrari California vs Toyota Camry
How the Ferrari California 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 California vs Toyota Camry: The Ferrari has 6 complaints over 5 years (1.2/yr) and no crashes, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints over 10 years (214.3/yr) with 181 crashes. Ferrari issues are mostly airbag recalls; Camry issues include transmission and brake failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Ferrari California or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Ferrari California
The Ferrari California is a low-volume luxury grand tourer, and its reliability picture from NHTSA data is relatively quiet: only 6 complaints over 5 years, averaging about 1.2 per year. The complaints that do exist center on Takata airbag recalls, with owners reporting long waits for remedy parts, and a few isolated electronic gremlins like a speedometer failure that dealers struggled to diagnose. With 14 recalls, most related to airbags, the car's issues are more about recall logistics than widespread mechanical failures, but the electronic quirks hint at potential complexity.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan, and its NHTSA record is far busier: 2,143 complaints over 10 years, averaging 214.3 per year, with 181 crashes, 163 injuries, and 1 death. The complaints reveal a pattern of powertrain issues, including transmission grinding and replacement needs, as well as engine problems like sudden acceleration and coolant valve faults. Brake complaints include a scary loss of response on a hill, and there are also common annoyances like AC odors. With 31 recalls, the Camry's issues are more varied and affect core driving functions.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Ferrari California | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 6 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 14 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.2 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 California
- 01AIR BAGS3
- 02VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
- 03WHEELS1
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 05ENGINE1
Owners report being stuck in limbo due to Takata airbag recalls, with parts unavailable for extended periods, leaving them with a known safety defect that can't be fixed promptly.
One owner described wheels not operating properly and a speedometer that failed, which dealers couldn't replicate or diagnose, pointing to a possible electronic control issue.
The same complaint about wheels not operating properly suggests a potential issue with wheel speed sensors or related components, affecting speedometer readings and possibly stability systems.
The undiagnosable speedometer failure is likely rooted in the electrical system, indicating that intermittent electronic faults can be challenging to trace and repair.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FERRARI CALIFORNIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V006000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A R…”
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FERRARI CALIFORNIA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V341000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT C…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end on acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission issues that often require replacement, a costly repair that may be covered under recall for some models.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration leading to crashes, as well as engine maintenance lights tied to a coolant valve bypass recall that may not apply to all VINs, causing safety and reliability concerns.
A driver described pressing the brake pedal with no response on a steep hill, forcing evasive action, indicating potential brake system failures that are critical to safety.
Beyond the engine and brakes, electrical issues like AC condenser damage from rocks and recurring HVAC odors are common, affecting comfort and requiring repairs.
“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 California — 14 recalls
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Ferrari California, and 2010-2011 Ferrari 458 Italia vehicles that have not 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. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Ferrari California vehicles manufactured February 16, 2009, to July 8, 2011, and model year 2010-2011 458 Italia vehicles manufactured March 5, 2010, to July 29, 2011. These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators…
The risk: An inflator rupture 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, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall i…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2009-2011 California and 2010-2011 458 Italia vehicles equipped with non-desiccated, passenger frontal air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Taka…
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 front passenger air bag assembly with an alternate one, including a new non-ammonium nitrate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ferrari cust…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2005-2009 430, 2019-2020 488 Pista, 2016 F60 America, 2005-2011 612 Scaglietti, 2010-2011 612, 2018-2022 812, 2020-2022 F8 Spider, 2020-2022 F8 Tributo, 2021-2022 Roma, 2009-2017 California, 2015-2017 California T, 2013-2017 F12 Berlinetta,…
The risk: A loss of brake function can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software to provide a new warning message for low brake fluid, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed September…
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 California or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Ferrari California has far fewer complaints per year (1.2 vs 214.3) and no reported crashes or injuries, making it appear more reliable in terms of owner-reported issues. However, the Camry's higher complaint volume is partly due to its massive sales numbers, and its issues include serious safety events. In practice, the Ferrari's problems are mostly recall-related and electronic, while the Camry's are more varied and can affect core driving functions.
Key differences
- The Ferrari has 6 complaints over 5 years, while the Camry has 2,143 over 10 years, a massive difference in volume.
- Ferrari complaints are dominated by Takata airbag recalls and a few electronic glitches, whereas Camry complaints include transmission failures, sudden acceleration, and brake loss.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 1 death, while the Ferrari has none, indicating more severe outcomes in the Camry's reported issues.
- The Ferrari's recalls are mostly airbag-related, while the Camry's recalls cover a wider range of components like airbags, seats, and wheels.
- Check if all Takata airbag recalls have been completed; if not, be prepared for potential delays in getting parts.
- Test the speedometer and wheels for any intermittent failures, as these can be hard to diagnose and may indicate electrical issues.
- Listen for grinding noises during acceleration, which could signal transmission problems that may require expensive replacement.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on hills, to ensure there is no loss of response, and check for any pending recalls related to brakes or engine.
Before you buy
- Verify open recalls on both vehicles using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool and ensure they are completed.
- For the Ferrari, ask for service records showing any electrical or speedometer repairs, and get a pre-purchase inspection from a Ferrari specialist.
- For the Camry, test drive at various speeds and listen for transmission noises, and have a mechanic check the brake system and engine for any fault codes.
- Check the Camry's VIN against the coolant valve bypass recall to see if it applies, as some owners report issues even if not covered.
- Consider the cost of ownership: Ferrari parts and labor are expensive, while Camry repairs are more affordable but may be more frequent.
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 California or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Ferrari California vs Toyota Camry
- Ferrari California total complaints
- 6
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Ferrari California total recalls
- 14
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Ferrari California avg complaints/year
- 1.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Ferrari California
- Ferrari California top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN