Head-to-head reliability
Honda FCX Clarity vs Toyota Camry
How the Honda FCX Clarity 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 FCX Clarity vs Toyota Camry: The FCX Clarity has 0 complaints and 5 recalls, all for the passenger air bag inflator. The Camry has 2,143 complaints, 31 recalls, 181 crash-related reports, and 163 injuries. The Camry’s larger complaint record includes transmission, brake, and engine issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda FCX Clarity or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda FCX Clarity
The Honda FCX Clarity is a hydrogen fuel-cell sedan produced in very small numbers, so ownership is unusual and parts/service can be hard to find. Over 10 years, NHTSA shows 0 owner complaints, which means there is no pattern of reported failures to learn from. However, it has 5 recalls, all for the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator module, so that safety fix is the main documented issue. With no complaints and no crash, injury, or death reports, the data suggests a quiet record, but the tiny population means silence is not proof of trouble-free ownership.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mass-market sedan with a large owner base, so NHTSA has 2,143 complaints over 10 years, about 214 per year. The most common complaint areas are power train, unknown or other, engine, service brakes, and electrical system. Owners describe serious symptoms: transmission grinding and replacement, sudden acceleration leading to a crash, brake pedal going to the floor, and AC odors or condenser damage. There are also 181 crash-related reports, 163 injuries, and 1 death, so the complaint record includes real safety consequences.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda FCX Clarity | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 5 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Honda FCX Clarity
No component data available.
All 5 recalls on the FCX Clarity involve the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator module. A recalled inflator can deploy incorrectly in a crash, so buyers should confirm the recall repair was done. This is the only documented failure pattern in the NHTSA data for this model.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front during acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission problems and recommending replacement. Some mention 2021 Camry transmission recalls and parts backorders. This matters because a failing transmission can be expensive and may affect drivability.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration that led to a crash and a coolant valve bypass code (P268115) tied to a 2022 Camry recall. These are serious symptoms because sudden acceleration can cause loss of control, and coolant issues can lead to engine damage.
Owners describe the brake pedal having no response while driving down a steep hill, and another report of needing extra brake force in a parking lot. Brake failure is a critical safety concern because it removes the driver’s ability to slow or stop the car.
Complaints include AC condenser damage from a rock and a recurring mildew or vinegar smell from the vents. These are not crash risks but affect comfort and can lead to costly AC repairs. The 'unknown or other' category is large, meaning many issues are hard to classify.
“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.
Honda FCX Clarity — 5 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississip…
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: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Acura TSX, 2011 TSX Wagon, 2010-2011 Acura ZDX, 2008-2011 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid, and Civic GX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2010-2011 FCX Clarity and Insight, and 2009-2011 Fit, and Pilot…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is KA4, KA5, KA6, and KA7.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV veh…
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 February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Hon…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may con…
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
Honda FCX Clarity or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Honda FCX Clarity has far fewer reported issues per year: 0 complaints per year versus about 214 per year for the Toyota Camry. In practice, that means the Camry has a large, well-documented set of owner-reported problems, including crashes and injuries, while the FCX Clarity has no complaint pattern at all. However, the FCX Clarity’s tiny population and 5 air bag recalls mean its record is not necessarily cleaner, just less reported.
Key differences
- The FCX Clarity has 0 complaints and 5 recalls, all for the passenger-side air bag inflator, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints and 31 recalls across many systems.
- Camry owners report serious safety symptoms like sudden acceleration, brake pedal failure, and transmission grinding; the FCX Clarity has no owner complaint text on record.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related reports, 163 injuries, and 1 death in the NHTSA data; the FCX Clarity has 0 in each of those categories.
- The FCX Clarity is a low-volume fuel-cell vehicle with limited service options, while the Camry is a mass-market sedan with broad dealer and independent repair support.
- Confirm the passenger-side frontal air bag inflator recall was completed, since all 5 recalls on this model are for that part.
- Check for any signs of fuel-cell system service needs, because the vehicle is rare and specialized repairs may be difficult to arrange.
- Test for transmission grinding or hesitation during acceleration, as owners report transmission replacement and recall-related backorders.
- Check brake pedal feel and response, especially on slopes, because owners report brake pedal going to the floor with no response.
Before you buy
- Ask for the recall repair history on both vehicles and verify the FCX Clarity’s passenger air bag inflator recall was done.
- On the Camry, test drive at low speed and on a hill, listening for transmission grinding and checking for brake response.
- On the Camry, scan for engine codes like P268115 and ask whether the coolant valve bypass recall applies to the VIN.
- On the Camry, inspect the AC condenser for rock damage and check for mildew or vinegar odors from the vents.
- For the FCX Clarity, confirm there is a nearby service center qualified to work on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.
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 FCX Clarity or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda FCX Clarity vs Toyota Camry
- Honda FCX Clarity total complaints
- 0
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Honda FCX Clarity total recalls
- 5
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Honda FCX Clarity avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Honda FCX Clarity
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN