Head-to-head reliability
Honda Element vs Toyota Camry
How the Honda Element 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
Honda Element vs Toyota Camry: The Element averaged 145.2 complaints per year over 9 years, with 100 recalls, while the Camry averaged 205.6 complaints per year over 10 years, with 31 recalls. The Element's complaints often involve visibility and air bags, while the Camry's involve power train and engine issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Element or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Element
The Honda Element is a boxy compact SUV with a loyal following, but its age and design lead to specific ownership challenges. Over 9 years, it averaged 145.2 complaints per year, with visibility and air bag issues dominating. Many complaints involve windshield stress cracks and air bag inflator recalls, plus serious rust in the rear suspension. Buyers should expect to address these safety-related repairs.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan known for reliability, but recent models have a higher complaint rate of 205.6 per year over 10 years. Power train and engine issues, such as hesitation and key removal problems, are common. Electrical and brake complaints also appear, including electronic parking brake failures. Despite these, the Camry remains a popular choice with fewer recalls than the Element.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Element | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,307 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 100 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 97 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 145.2 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 100 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.
Honda Element
- 01VISIBILITY379
- 02AIR BAGS328
- 03SUSPENSION116
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM112
- 05STRUCTURE93
Owners report windshield stress cracks appearing spontaneously, often near the rearview mirror, and loud bangs from the windshield area. These cracks can obstruct vision and may require costly replacement, and some complaints suggest a pattern not caused by road debris.
Air bag inflator modules are under recall, and owners describe deployments in crashes that may not have been triggered correctly. The risk of improper inflation or failure to deploy in a crash is a serious safety concern, and buyers should verify recall repairs.
Excessive undercarriage rust, especially in the rear frame and suspension, is frequently reported, mirroring issues in the Honda CR-V. This rust can cause structural weakness and fail state inspections, making the vehicle unsafe to drive.
Complaints include gauge needles popping out and tachometers failing simultaneously, leaving drivers without critical information. These failures can distract and confuse, and repairs may involve replacing the instrument cluster.
“I had arrived home on 7/17/2025 and was sitting in my parked vehicle under my carport talking on the phone when I heard a very loud bang. I was disoriented and worried that my safety may be at risk, so I asked the person I was speaking to if they would stay o…”
“STRESS CRACK APPEARED ON WINDSHIELD DIRECTLY OPPOSITE REAR VIEW MIRROR. CRACK BEGINS ABOVE AREA OF WINDSHIELD EXPOSED TO OUTSIDE AIR, EXTENDS STRAIGHT DOWN FOR SEVERAL INCHES, THEN VEERS LEFT SEVERAL INCHES AND STOPS. NOTHING HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THERE IS N…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key becoming stuck in the ignition even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering during acceleration, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Delayed throttle response is a common complaint, where pressing the accelerator results in a several-second lag before the car moves. This can lead to unpredictable acceleration and potential collisions, especially when merging.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may fail to disengage, requiring towing and manual release. Owners also report clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, attributed to the ABS system, which can be annoying and may indicate a defect.
Multiple systems, including stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring, can malfunction simultaneously. This leaves drivers without key safety aids and can be disorienting, increasing crash risk.
“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.
Honda Element — 100 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Ridgeline vehicles nationwide. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2012 Acura RL, 2011 Honda Element and 2011-2013 Ridgeline vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mary…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain Accelerator Pedal Assemblies part numbers 699-114 and 825-5029-1, sold as replacement parts for 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2004-2008 Acura TL and TSX, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2007-2011 Honda Element, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot and 2006-…
The risk: If the accelerator pedal binds, the engine may not quickly return to idle after the pedal is no longer pressed, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and qualified service facilities will replace the affected accelerator pedal assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 9, 2019. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492, using opti…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NG…
The risk: An explosion of an inflator within the driver frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver, front seat passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began April 10, 2019. Honda owners may contact customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for t…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. T…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5…
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
Honda Element or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Honda Element has fewer complaints per year (145.2 vs. 205.6), but its issues are often severe, involving structural rust and air bag recalls. The Toyota Camry's higher complaint rate includes many electronic and power train glitches that may be less immediately dangerous but still frustrating. In practice, the Element may require more urgent safety repairs, while the Camry may have more frequent but less critical problems.
Key differences
- The Honda Element has 100 recalls, many for air bag inflators, while the Toyota Camry has 31 recalls, with fewer air bag-related ones.
- Element owners report windshield stress cracks and rear suspension rust; Camry owners report key stuck in ignition and delayed throttle response.
- The Camry has a higher complaint rate per year (205.6) compared to the Element (145.2), but the Element's complaints often involve safety-critical structural issues.
- The Element has 0 deaths reported in NHTSA data, while the Camry has 1 death, though these numbers are not directly comparable due to different exposure rates.
- Inspect the rear suspension and undercarriage for excessive rust, especially around the frame and suspension components, as this can cause structural failure and inspection failure.
- Check the windshield for stress cracks, particularly near the rearview mirror, and verify that any air bag recalls have been performed.
- Test the ignition key removal in various gears to ensure it doesn't stick, and check for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive.
- Verify that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website for both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the specific problem areas: rust for the Element, and power train/electrical for the Camry.
- During a test drive, pay attention to acceleration response, brake feel, and any unusual noises or warning lights.
- For the Element, inspect the windshield for cracks and test all electrical components, including gauges.
- For the Camry, test the key removal, electronic parking brake, and all driver-assist systems.
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 Honda Element or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Element vs Toyota Camry
- Honda Element total complaints
- 1,307
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Honda Element total recalls
- 100
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Honda Element avg complaints/year
- 145.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Honda Element
- Honda Element top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN