Head-to-head reliability
FORD E 350 vs Toyota Camry
How the FORD E 350 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 350 vs Toyota Camry: The Ford E-350 has 63 complaints over 10 years (6.3/year) and 22 recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. The E-350's issues often involve steering and brakes, whereas the Camry's include power train and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD E 350 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD E 350
The Ford E-350 is a heavy-duty van or cutaway chassis often used for commercial work, ambulances, or large passenger transport. Over 10 years, it has 63 complaints (6.3 per year) and 22 recalls, with steering, engine, and brake issues being the most common. Owners report serious problems like sudden loss of power steering, spongy brakes, and transmission failures. Living with one means staying on top of recalls and being alert for steering and brake symptoms.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan known for everyday reliability, but it still has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6 per year) and 31 recalls. The most frequent complaints involve the power train, engine, and brakes, with reports of hesitation, shuddering, and electronic parking brake failures. While many issues are minor, some can affect drivability and safety. Buyers should check for open recalls and test-drive carefully.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD E 350 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 63 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.3 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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 350
- 01STEERING19
- 02ENGINE15
- 03SERVICE BRAKES14
- 04POWER TRAIN8
- 05HYDRAULIC7
Owners report abnormal popping sounds followed by loss of power steering and a spongy brake pedal, as well as steering becoming very difficult after hitting rough pavement. These failures can make the vehicle hard to control, especially at speed.
Complaints include emissions sensor failures that cause power loss while towing, and engine misfires on the 7.3L V8 used in delivery vans. These issues can lead to expensive repairs and downtime.
Drivers describe brakes feeling mushy and the pedal going to the floor, sometimes requiring the emergency brake to stop. In one case, an ambulance had unintended acceleration and braking problems, leading to crashes.
Transmission failures involve the CDF clutch cylinder, torque converter, and internal debris, plus reports of unintended acceleration in drive or reverse. These are serious and costly to fix.
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-350. The stated while driving into the driveway, the vehicle made an abnormal popping sound. The vehicle lost power steering functionality, and the brake pedal became spongy. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a tra…”
“After hitting a very rough patch of interstate, our steering became very difficult. The driver thought that maybe we had a low tire, so looked for a place to pull over. We crested a hill, and there was an exit with a truck stop. As we attempted to slow for th…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove it. Others experience hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, pointing to transmission or engine management issues.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This can be a safety concern when merging or pulling out.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area linked to the ABS system. These issues can leave the car undrivable or be annoying.
Multiple systems such as smart stop, stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping can malfunction at once. This suggests complex electronic vulnerabilities that may be hard to diagnose.
“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 350 — 22 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F600, and 2023 E-Series vehicles. In addition, certain 2016 E-Series, 2017 and 2019 F-450, 2021 F-350, and 2021 Transit vehicles that received a reprinted label are also included in this recall. The Safety…
The risk: Missing tire information could lead to an incorrect tire or rim being installed, or incorrect tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the Safety Certification Label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C09.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 E-350, E-450, and 2021-2022 F-59 vehicles. The paint along the weld seam of the fuel tank may peel and lead to corrosion of the exposed metal, which can result in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and replace, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S76.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Ford E-350, F-650, and F-750 vehicles. The park pawl may not fully engage the park gear due to a casting defect in the transmission.
The risk: A vehicle which does not have the park pawl fully engaged may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, or the valve body and extension housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2024. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Ford E-350, F-650, and F-750 vehicles. The park pawl may not fully engage the park gear due to a casting defect in the transmission.
The risk: A vehicle which does not have the park pawl fully engaged may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, or the valve body and extension housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2024. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332…
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 350 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Ford E-350 has far fewer complaints per year (6.3 vs. 205.6) and fewer recalls (22 vs. 31), but its issues tend to be severe, involving steering, brakes, and transmission. The Camry's higher complaint volume includes many minor electronic glitches, but also some serious power train and brake problems. In practice, the E-350 may need fewer visits to the shop, but when something fails, it can be more dangerous.
Key differences
- The Ford E-350 has 63 complaints over 10 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056, but the E-350's issues are more often tied to critical safety systems like steering and brakes.
- Camry owners frequently report electronic gremlins (e.g., multiple driver-assist systems failing at once), whereas E-350 complaints center on mechanical failures like transmission debris and power steering loss.
- The E-350 has 4 crash-related complaints and 2 injuries; the Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, though these numbers are influenced by the much larger number of Camrys on the road.
- Recalls for the E-350 include park pawl and fuel tank issues, while Camry recalls involve seats, air bag sensors, and wheel studs, showing different safety priorities.
- During a test drive, listen for popping noises from the steering and check if the wheel becomes hard to turn, especially after bumps. Also test the brake pedal for sponginess or going to the floor.
- Ask for transmission service records and check for delayed engagement or unusual noises, as CDF clutch cylinder and torque converter failures are reported.
- Try removing the key from the ignition after parking; if it sticks, that's a known power train defect. Also test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly.
- During a test drive, accelerate firmly to check for hesitation or shuddering, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Check for open recalls on both vehicles using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool and confirm they have been repaired.
- For the Ford E-350, have a mechanic inspect the steering system, brake hydraulics, and transmission for signs of wear or failure.
- For the Toyota Camry, test all electronic features (blind spot monitoring, lane keeping, smart stop) and the electronic parking brake.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic, focusing on the specific complaint areas for each model.
- Review owner complaint patterns on NHTSA for the exact model year you are considering to see if issues persist.
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 | FORD E 350 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 163 |
| 2024 | 2 | 50 |
| 2023 | 2 | 64 |
| 2022 | 14 | 61 |
| 2021 | 22 | 157 |
| 2020 | 2 | 274 |
| 2019 | 3 | 395 |
| 2018 | 3 | 744 |
| 2017 | 13 | 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 FORD E 350 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD E 350 vs Toyota Camry
- FORD E 350 total complaints
- 63
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- FORD E 350 total recalls
- 22
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- FORD E 350 avg complaints/year
- 6.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- FORD E 350
- FORD E 350 top complaint area
- STEERING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN