Head-to-head reliability
FORD Mustang MACH E vs Toyota Camry
How the FORD Mustang MACH E 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 Mustang MACH E vs Toyota Camry: The Mach-E averages 110.8 complaints per year over 6 years, while the Camry averages 205.6 over 10 years. The Mach-E has 42 recalls and 40 crash-related complaints; the Camry has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Mustang MACH E or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Mustang MACH E
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is an electric SUV that has been on the road for about six years. In that time, owners have filed 665 complaints, with the electrical system being the most common trouble spot. Many of the reported issues involve the car not starting, charging problems, or warning lights suddenly appearing. While there are 42 recalls, the average of about 111 complaints per year suggests that while problems exist, they are not overwhelming for an EV.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a long-running midsize sedan with a reputation for dependability, but NHTSA data shows 2,056 complaints over ten years, averaging about 206 per year. The most frequent complaints involve the power train, engine, and brakes. With 31 recalls and a higher number of crash-related reports, the Camry's issues are more varied and sometimes involve serious safety systems. Still, many owners report smooth operation, but the volume of complaints indicates that not all is perfect.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Mustang MACH E | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 665 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 42 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 40 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 110.8 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 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 Mustang MACH E
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM317
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE156
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER113
- 04POWER TRAIN113
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM88
Owners report that the door locks may not open from the outside and the battery may fail to charge, leaving them unable to access belongings. Some also describe the hood (frunk) unexpectedly unlatching and flying open while driving, which can block the view.
Complaints include sudden unintended acceleration and multiple warning alerts (Cross Traffic, Crash Alert, ABS Failure) appearing at once. In one case, the car accelerated while stopped and the brakes did not respond, which is a serious safety concern.
Owners have experienced high-voltage battery and powertrain failures that cause the vehicle to enter limp mode with reduced power. Charging errors and unexpected shutdowns are also reported, which can leave drivers stranded.
Although an EV, this category covers charging and propulsion issues. Complaints include charging errors and the car not moving despite being in gear, often linked to electrical faults.
“[XXX] @ [XXX] The door locks are not opening from the outside. The battery will not charge. I cannot get my items out. I have a [XXX] work & personal electronics, along with personal items for myself & my family, inside that I cannot access. It's early Sunday…”
“On Thursday, May28 I was driving my 2025 Ford Mach-2 on Schrock Rd. in Columbus, Ohio at approximately 3:30 PM when the hood (the "frunk") of the car unexpectedly unlatched and opened, flying up to a vertical position and obscuring my view of traffic. I was d…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often accompanied by a check engine light.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with several seconds of lag before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Some owners also hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which dealers attribute to the ABS system but owners find abnormal.
Multiple systems such as stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping can malfunction simultaneously. This suggests possible electrical or software glitches that affect several safety features at once.
“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 Mustang MACH E — 42 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles. The park rod may fail to engage when the vehicle is placed in the park (P) position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protecti…
The risk: A park rod that fails to engage can result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission park rod assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C25.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Mustang Mach E vehicles. In the event of a low battery charge, the electronic door latches may remain locked once the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door, possibly trapping someone who is unable to use the inside door release h…
The risk: The inability to enter or exit the vehicle in an emergency increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and the Secondary On-Board Diagnostic Control Module C (SOBDMC) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to 2021-2025 Mustang Mach-E owners September 12, 2025.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Mustang Mache E vehicles that received a new Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) during a prior repair. The battery energy control module software may cause an incorrect state of charge to display in the vehicle, or lead to an increased risk…
The risk: An inaccurate state-of-charge reading can lead to an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of crash. Additionally, a high voltage battery fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the BECM software, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 18, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Mustang Mache E vehicles that received a new Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) during a prior repair. The battery energy control module software may cause an incorrect state of charge to display in the vehicle, or lead to an increased risk…
The risk: An inaccurate state-of-charge reading can lead to an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of crash. Additionally, a high voltage battery fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the BECM software, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 18, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners…
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 Mustang MACH E or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Ford Mustang Mach-E has fewer complaints per year (about 111) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 206). However, the Mach-E's issues often center on electrical and propulsion problems that can be disabling, while the Camry's complaints span more traditional systems like engine and brakes. In practice, the Mach-E may have fewer overall complaints, but the nature of its problems can be more severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The Mustang Mach-E has about half the complaints per year of the Camry, but its top issues are electrical and forward collision avoidance, which can cause sudden loss of power or unintended acceleration.
- The Camry's most common complaints involve the power train, engine, and brakes, with reports of key getting stuck, hesitation, and brake noise, which are often annoying but less likely to strand you.
- The Mach-E has 42 recalls in 6 years, while the Camry has 31 recalls in 10 years, indicating a higher recall rate for the Mach-E.
- Crash-related complaints are higher for the Camry (171 vs. 40), but the Mach-E has more injuries per crash complaint, suggesting that when crashes occur, they may be more severe.
- Check for any history of electrical system repairs, especially battery charging issues and door lock malfunctions, as these are frequently reported.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system and ensure no warning lights appear during a test drive; also verify the hood (frunk) latches securely and does not pop open unexpectedly.
- Inspect the ignition key operation to ensure it does not stick in the ignition when the car is in Park, as this is a common complaint.
- Test the electronic parking brake to make sure it disengages properly and listen for any clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area during braking.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models, as recalls can affect safety and reliability.
- For the Mustang Mach-E, ask the seller to demonstrate charging from different sources and check for any error messages on the dashboard.
- For the Camry, test the key removal in Park and the electronic parking brake engagement and disengagement multiple times.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection performed by a mechanic who specializes in the respective vehicle type (EV for Mach-E, conventional for Camry).
- Search NHTSA's database for the specific VIN to see all complaints and recalls tied to that exact vehicle.
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 Mustang MACH E | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 12 | 163 |
| 2024 | 44 | 50 |
| 2023 | 123 | 64 |
| 2022 | 138 | 61 |
| 2021 | 347 | 157 |
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 Mustang MACH E or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Mustang MACH E vs Toyota Camry
- FORD Mustang MACH E total complaints
- 665
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- FORD Mustang MACH E total recalls
- 42
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- FORD Mustang MACH E avg complaints/year
- 110.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- FORD Mustang MACH E
- FORD Mustang MACH E top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN