Head-to-head reliability
FORD FLEX vs Toyota Camry
How the FORD FLEX 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 FLEX vs Toyota Camry: The Flex has 1,744 complaints (174/year) and 33 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints (206/year) and 31 recalls. The Flex's top issues are electrical and steering (363 each), and the Camry's are power train (385) and engine (315). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD FLEX or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD FLEX
The Ford Flex is a three-row crossover that owners often keep for family hauling, but NHTSA data shows 1,744 complaints over 10 years (about 174 per year) and 33 recalls. The most common trouble spots are the electrical system and steering, each with 363 complaints, followed by back-over prevention (229) and structure (179). Owner reports describe serious issues like power steering failure at highway speed and backup cameras that show blank or upside-down images, so a used Flex needs a careful pre-purchase inspection.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a reputation for dependability, yet NHTSA logs 2,056 complaints over 10 years (about 206 per year) and 31 recalls. The top complaint areas are power train (385), unknown or other (323), engine (315), and service brakes (285). Owners report problems such as a stuck ignition key, delayed acceleration, and electronic parking brake failure, so even a Camry should be checked for these specific symptoms before buying.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD FLEX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,744 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 57 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 174.4 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 50 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 FLEX
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM363
- 02STEERING363
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER235
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION229
- 05STRUCTURE179
Owners report the rearview camera may show a blank screen or 'Camera Unavailable' when reversing, and some say the power liftgate opens on its own. These glitches can affect safety and convenience, so test the camera and liftgate during a test drive.
Complaints describe the car fishtailing or swerving at highway speed, and some owners say power steering and brake recalls were not fixed. This is a serious safety concern, so check for open recalls and any steering play or warning lights.
The backup camera may display an upside-down image or fail to turn on, and some recalls for this issue lacked parts. A non-working camera makes backing up riskier, so verify it works in all conditions.
Some owners report rear suspension toe link failures outside recall VIN ranges, and there are recalls for body and structure. A broken toe link can affect handling, so have a mechanic inspect the rear suspension.
“My 2017 Ford Flex has an open safety recall for the rearview camera system (Ford Recall 25S49 / NHTSA Recall 25V695). The recall states the camera may display a blank image or show the message “Camera Unavailable” when the vehicle is placed in reverse. My veh…”
“Hello, I recently submitted a safety complaint regarding my 2017 Ford Flex. The complaint number is XXX. I would like to add additional information that I forgot to include in the original report. The vehicle’s power liftgate has intermittently opened on its…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key gets stuck and cannot be removed even in Park, requiring a battery disconnect, and some experience hesitation or shuddering with the check engine light on. These issues can leave you stranded, so test the key removal and watch for rough running.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, sometimes taking several seconds to move. This lag can be dangerous when merging, so pay attention to acceleration during a test drive.
The electronic parking brake may not disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area. Brake problems are safety-critical, so test the parking brake and listen for odd noises.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping can malfunction at once. This suggests electrical gremlins that are hard to diagnose, so check all driver-assist features.
“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 FLEX — 33 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Lincoln MKT and Ford Flex and Taurus vehicles with the Police Interceptor or SHO Performance Pack. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
The risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. Remedy parts are not currently available. Owners were notified about the recall on March 3, 2020. A second notice will be mailed when remedy p…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
The risk: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of t…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Flex vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
The risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair or replace the B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 17, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated M…
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 FLEX or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Ford Flex has fewer complaints per year (about 174) than the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the Flex's complaints include more crash-related reports (57 vs 171 for Camry) and injuries (50 vs 158). In practice, the Flex may have fewer total complaints but its steering and camera issues can be severe, while the Camry's higher complaint count includes many power train and brake problems. Neither is problem-free, so condition and recall history matter more than the badge.
Key differences
- The Ford Flex has 57 crash-related complaints and 50 injuries, while the Toyota Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, so the Camry has more reported crashes but the Flex's steering failures are particularly alarming.
- Ford Flex complaints cluster around electrical (363) and steering (363), with backup camera problems (229), while Camry complaints center on power train (385), engine (315), and service brakes (285).
- The Flex has 33 recalls including suspension, turbocharger, and camera issues; the Camry has 31 recalls including wheels, seats, and air bag sensors.
- Owner reports for the Flex include fishtailing at highway speed and upside-down camera images, while Camry owners report stuck ignition keys and delayed acceleration.
- Check for open recalls on the rear suspension toe link and backup camera, and test the camera for blank or upside-down images.
- During a test drive, feel for any steering wander or vibration, and ask if power steering and brake recalls were completed.
- Test that the ignition key can be removed easily when in Park, and watch for any hesitation or shuddering during acceleration.
- Check that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages smoothly, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were fixed.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for steering, brake, and electrical repairs on the Flex or power train and brake repairs on the Camry.
- During a test drive, test the backup camera, power liftgate, ignition key removal, and electronic parking brake.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the rear suspension on the Flex and the brakes and transmission on the Camry.
- Check for warning lights on the dashboard and scan for stored trouble codes before buying.
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 FLEX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 251 | 395 |
| 2018 | 67 | 744 |
| 2017 | 42 | 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 FLEX or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD FLEX vs Toyota Camry
- FORD FLEX total complaints
- 1,744
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- FORD FLEX total recalls
- 33
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- FORD FLEX avg complaints/year
- 174.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- FORD FLEX
- FORD FLEX top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN