Head-to-head reliability
FORD E 250 vs Toyota Camry
How the FORD E 250 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
FORD E 250 vs Toyota Camry: The E 250 averages 7.7 complaints per year and has 166 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The E 250's issues often involve engine stalling and tire failures, whereas the Camry's include power train and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD E 250 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD E 250
The Ford E 250 is a full-size van often used for commercial work or as a base for campers and shuttles. Over 10 years, it has a low complaint rate of 7.7 per year, but 166 recalls—many for adaptive equipment—show it's a vehicle that needs regular recall checks. Owners report serious issues like engine stalling at speed and tire failures, which can be dangerous when hauling heavy loads.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan known for comfort and efficiency. However, with 205.6 complaints per year, it has a much higher rate of owner-reported problems than the E 250. Complaints cover major systems like power train, brakes, and electrical, with some issues causing crashes and injuries.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD E 250 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 77 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 166 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 12 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.7 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 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.
FORD E 250
- 01ENGINE11
- 02TIRES9
- 03AIR BAGS8
- 04FUEL SYSTEM6
- 05GASOLINE6
Owners report the PCM can fail, causing fuel pumps to burn out and the engine to die at high speed, often with a wrench warning light. Spark plugs can also blow out, damaging coils, which may leave you stranded.
Complaints include tires developing severe thumps or failing prematurely, sometimes leading to blowouts. This is critical for a van that may carry heavy loads, as a blowout at speed can cause loss of control.
Some owners report fishtailing and crashes where air bags did not deploy as expected. Others note missing passenger-side air bag on/off switches, making it hard to safely transport children.
Fuel leaks at the relay and transmission problems are reported, with symptoms like abnormal odors and failure to accelerate. These can lead to stalling or fire risks, especially in commercial use.
“THE PCM AT 34,000 MILES CAUSED TWO FUEL PUMPS TO BURN OUT IN 4 DAYS. A "WRENCH" WARNING SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE DASH AND THE VANS ENGINE DIES WHILE GOING AT HIGH SPEED (WE PULL A PRESSURE WASHING TRAILER HOLDING WITH HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS & WATER). IF IT WAS RAI…”
“THANKFULLY I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY BETWEEN CURVES ON A STRETCH OF ROADWAY WITH A 30MPH SPEED LIMIT (ONE LANE EACH DIRECTION) WHEN I 'BLEW A SPARK PLUG'. THE COIL WAS ALSO DAMAGED I WAS TOLD. I WAS ALSO TOLD THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN,…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key gets stuck and won't come out even in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others experience hesitation and shuddering with check engine lights, pointing to transmission or engine control issues.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow. Owners also hear clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area, which dealers say is common but feels abnormal.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring can malfunction simultaneously. This can leave the driver with reduced control and safety features disabled.
“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.
FORD E 250 — 166 recalls
The defect: New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain 2008, 2013 and 2014 Ford E-250 vehicles modified to be equipped with Ricon Wheelchair lifts. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height. As…
The risk: If the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards towards the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: New England has notified owners, and Ricon dealers will replace the lift positioning input cam, free of charge. The recall began on March 18, 2019. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884 or New England customer service…
The defect: New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, E-350, and 2015 Ford Transit vans equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts by Ricon. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack. Additional…
The risk: If the platform side plates crack or the platform mounting fails from out-of-position bearings, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the vehicle's doors are opened, the platfor…
The fix: New England will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 29,…
The defect: Mobility Specialists, Inc. (Mobility Specialists) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, and E-350 vehicles modified to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affec…
The risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator. Add…
The fix: Mobility Specialists will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The…
The defect: National Van Builders, Inc. (National Van) is recalling certain 2007-2014 Ford E-150 and E-250 vehicles manufactured February 26, 2007, to August 19, 2014, and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform s…
The risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
The fix: National Van will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on…
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
FORD E 250 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Ford E 250 has far fewer complaints per year (7.7 vs. 205.6), but its issues tend to be severe, like engine stalling and tire failures. The Camry's higher complaint volume means you're more likely to encounter problems, though many are less immediately dangerous. In practice, the E 250 may need fewer repair visits but each could be costly and risky.
Key differences
- The Ford E 250 has 166 recalls, mostly for adaptive equipment, while the Camry has 31 recalls covering seats and air bag sensors.
- E 250 complaints often involve engine stalling and tire blowouts, which can be catastrophic; Camry complaints include key getting stuck and brake noise, which are annoying but less likely to cause a crash.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, compared to 12 crashes and 15 injuries for the E 250, though the E 250's lower volume may reflect fewer vehicles on the road.
- E 250 owners report fuel leaks and transmission failure, while Camry owners report electronic parking brake failure and multiple system malfunctions.
- Check for any signs of engine misfire or recent PCM replacement, as fuel pump burnout and spark plug blowout are reported.
- Inspect tires for uneven wear, bulges, or thumping noises, and verify the DOT date codes to avoid old or recalled tires.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and listen for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive.
- Test the electronic parking brake engagement and disengagement, and listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to check for open recalls on both vehicles.
- For the E 250, have a mechanic inspect the engine, fuel system, and tires, and scan for stored codes.
- For the Camry, test all electronic systems including brakes, stability control, and keyless entry, and check for transmission hesitation.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for oil changes and transmission service.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to replicate reported conditions.
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 FORD E 250 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD E 250 vs Toyota Camry
- FORD E 250 total complaints
- 77
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- FORD E 250 total recalls
- 166
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- FORD E 250 avg complaints/year
- 7.7
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- FORD E 250
- FORD E 250 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN