Head-to-head reliability
FORD F 550 vs Toyota Camry
How the FORD F 550 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 F 550 vs Toyota Camry: The F-550 has 76 complaints over 10 years (7.6/year) with severe engine and frame issues, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints (214.3/year) including sudden acceleration and brake failures. Both have recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD F 550 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD F 550
The Ford F-550 is a heavy-duty chassis cab truck, often used for commercial work, so its 76 complaints over 10 years (about 7.6 per year) reflect a smaller but hard-working fleet. The most common owner-reported issues involve fuel system and diesel problems, including strong fuel odors entering the cabin and recalls for fuel system parts not being available. Engine complaints include catastrophic failure of the 7.3L 'Godzilla' V8 due to a roller lifter bearing at around 93,000 miles. Structural issues like frame cracking have also been reported, with a recall for reinforcement or replacement.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with 2,143 complaints over 10 years (about 214 per year), a much higher volume that partly reflects its large sales numbers. Owners frequently report power train problems such as transmission grinding noises and sudden acceleration, as well as brake failures where the pedal goes to the floor. Engine issues include coolant valve bypass codes and unexpected acceleration events. Electrical and unknown problems like AC condenser damage and HVAC odors are also common.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD F 550 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 76 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 55 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 3 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.6 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.
FORD F 550
- 01FUEL SYSTEM17
- 02DIESEL16
- 03ENGINE13
- 04STRUCTURE11
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
Owners report strong fuel odors entering the cabin while driving, sometimes noticed by other drivers pointing at the underside. This can indicate a fuel leak, which is a fire risk and should be addressed immediately.
Many complaints involve diesel fuel system recalls where the repair part is not yet available, leaving owners waiting. A diesel fuel-burning odor can also enter the cabin through the A/C vents, which is unpleasant and potentially hazardous.
A 2020 F-550 with the 7.3L V8 suffered catastrophic engine failure at about 93,000 miles due to a roller lifter bearing failure, requiring a full engine replacement. This is a major expense and suggests a potential weak point in that engine.
Owners report frame cracking on the F-550 chassis, with a recall to replace or reinforce the frame. Abnormal sounds from the subframe, especially on bumpy roads, can indicate structural damage that compromises safety and durability.
“The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-550. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manuf…”
“The contact owns a 2020 Ford F-550. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle emitted a strong odor of fuel into the cabin. The contact stated that other drivers were pointing at the underside of the vehicle. The contact pulled over a…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front upon acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission failure and recommending replacement. Some also experience sudden acceleration, which can lead to crashes and is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration that has led to crashes, as well as coolant valve bypass issues (code P268115) that may not be covered by recall for some VINs. These can cause loss of control or engine damage.
Owners describe brake pedal going to the floor with no response, especially on hills or when braking gently. This is a critical safety failure that could result in a crash if not repaired.
Common issues include AC condenser damage from road debris and persistent mildew or vinegar odors from the HVAC system. These are comfort and potential mold concerns, not usually safety-critical but costly to fix.
“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.
FORD F 550 — 55 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
The defect: LGE Coachworks, Inc. (LGE Coachworks) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Ford E-450, F-550, and Freightliner M2-based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager back-up camera displays. The displays may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be…
The risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: ASA will notify LGE Coachworks owners, and dealers will replace the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA customer service at 1-800-384-4400 or LGE Coachworks at 1-800-209-3985.
The defect: Watts Manufacturing, LLC (Watts Manufacturing) is recalling certain 2019 First responder vehicles built on Ford F-550 chassis and equipped with Whelen brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such,…
The risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Watts Manufacturing will notify owners and Whelen dealers will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2019. Owners may contact Watts Manufacturing customer service at 1-785-404-6003.
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
FORD F 550 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Ford F-550 has far fewer complaints per year (7.6) than the Toyota Camry (214.3), but the F-550's issues often involve severe failures like engine destruction or frame cracking. The Camry's higher complaint count includes many for less critical problems, but also serious safety issues like sudden acceleration and brake failure. In practice, the F-550 may have fewer reported problems, but when they occur they can be very expensive; the Camry has more frequent complaints but many are manageable.
Key differences
- The Ford F-550 has 76 complaints over 10 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,143, but the F-550's complaints include catastrophic engine failure and frame cracking.
- Camry owners report sudden acceleration and brake failure leading to crashes, while F-550 owners report fuel odors and diesel recalls that may leave parts unavailable.
- The F-550 is a commercial chassis cab with structural and fuel system concerns; the Camry is a passenger car with power train and brake issues.
- Both have recalls, but the F-550's recalls include engine and seat recliner, while the Camry's include air bag sensors and wheel studs.
- Check for fuel odors inside the cabin and underneath the truck, especially around the fuel tank and lines, as owners report strong smells and leaks.
- Inspect the frame for cracks or signs of reinforcement, particularly on models affected by the frame cracking recall, and listen for abnormal subframe noises on test drive.
- Test the transmission for grinding noises during acceleration and check for any hesitation or sudden acceleration; a dealer inspection may be needed.
- Check brake pedal feel for sponginess or going to the floor, and inspect the AC condenser for damage from road debris, as owners report these issues.
Before you buy
- Verify all open recalls are repaired, especially for the F-550's fuel system and frame, and the Camry's air bag sensors and wheel studs.
- Obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic familiar with the specific model, focusing on the reported problem areas.
- For the F-550, check the engine oil for metal debris and ask about the 7.3L V8's lifter history; for the Camry, scan for transmission codes and test drive at various speeds.
- Review the vehicle's complaint history on NHTSA using the VIN to see if it has been involved in any reported incidents.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for fuel system repairs on the F-550 and transmission or brake service on the Camry.
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 F 550 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 119 |
| 2025 | 0 | 153 |
| 2024 | 2 | 48 |
| 2023 | 1 | 62 |
| 2022 | 9 | 59 |
| 2021 | 12 | 155 |
| 2020 | 17 | 270 |
| 2019 | 14 | 393 |
| 2018 | 8 | 736 |
| 2017 | 12 | 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 F 550 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD F 550 vs Toyota Camry
- FORD F 550 total complaints
- 76
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- FORD F 550 total recalls
- 55
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- FORD F 550 avg complaints/year
- 7.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- FORD F 550
- FORD F 550 top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN