Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Camry
How the Hyundai Palisade 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
Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Camry: The Palisade averages 349 complaints per year over 7 years, while the Camry averages 206 per year over 10 years. The Camry has more crash-related reports (171 vs. 58) but fewer total complaints. Both have 1 death reported. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Palisade or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade is a three-row family SUV that generates a high volume of owner complaints—about 349 per year over seven years. The most common trouble spots are brakes, seat belts, and engine behavior, with several reports describing serious symptoms like unintended acceleration or a brake pedal that goes to the floor. Recalls have addressed rear seat belt buckles and power seat adjustments, but the pattern suggests you should expect more frequent shop visits than average.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a lower complaint rate—about 206 per year over ten years—but it still has notable issues. Owners frequently report power train problems such as a stuck ignition key or shuddering during acceleration, along with brake noises and electrical glitches. While the overall volume is lower, the Camry has more crash-related and injury reports in the data, so a thorough inspection is still essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Palisade | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,443 | 2,056 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 32 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 58 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 349.0 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 71 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.
Hyundai Palisade
- 01SERVICE BRAKES442
- 02SEAT BELTS417
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER381
- 04ENGINE315
- 05VISIBILITY/WIPER272
Owners report the car accelerating when the brake is pressed, and some see repeated anti-lock brake system error codes even when the app says everything is fine. This matters because a brake that doesn't respond as expected is a serious safety concern.
The third-row seat belt can show as buckled when it isn't, or show unbuckled when it is, tied to a recall for the rear buckle assembly. A faulty seat belt reminder or latch could mean a child or passenger isn't properly secured.
Some owners describe severe shaking, sputtering, loss of power, and stalling at low mileage, while others report power seat motors getting stuck. These symptoms can leave you stranded or make the SUV feel unreliable.
This is a top complaint area, though specific owner text isn't provided. Buyers should test wipers, defrosters, and cameras carefully, as visibility problems can affect safety in rain or snow.
“My "Vehicle Health" reports all systems good on the BlueLink App-- however, when I open "diagnostics history", it shows 8 repeated reports under DTC: C183987 (SAFETY - Anti-lock Braking System). There is also a reports for a DTC C186B87 (ELECTRICAL- Lane Depa…”
“INCIDENT: Pressed brakes but car accelerated. STORY: I reversed out of a parking spot, turning so I could go to the right in parking lot. Put the car in drive and proceeded driving veering right in the parking lot. I pressed brake within 5 seconds of that but…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering during acceleration, which can be annoying and potentially dangerous in traffic.
A delayed throttle response is a common complaint—pressing the gas and waiting several seconds for the car to move. This lag can make merging or crossing an intersection feel risky.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer calls normal. A parking brake that won't release can leave you stuck.
Multiple systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction at once, according to one owner. Electrical gremlins like these can be hard to diagnose and expensive to fix.
“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.
Hyundai Palisade — 32 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel displa…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Palisade and 2026 Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with a Limited or Calligraphy trim package. The second and third row power seats may fail to detect a person. The seat may continue to move after contacting a person during powered seat fun…
The risk: A person, especially a child, may become trapped by a rear powered seat, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised to exercise caution when operating the second and third row power seat functions until the repair is performed. Children are advised to not be in the rear seats or near the rear seating area during power-folding operatio…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Hyundai Palisade and 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with "Limited" and "Calligraphy" trim packages. The internal wiring within the third-row driver-side seat belt buckle may become damaged and result in a permanent display of…
The risk: A faulty seat belt status indicator may fail to alert occupants to an unfastened seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will install a wiring harness extension and replace the seat belt assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 8, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles. The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch.
The risk: Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Passengers are advised to insert the belt firmly into the buckle with a quick and direct motion, pulling on the belt to confirm the seat belt is fully secured, until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle…
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
Hyundai Palisade or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (about 206 vs. 349 for the Palisade), suggesting it may be less trouble-prone overall. However, the Camry's data shows more crash-related reports and injuries, so lower complaint volume doesn't automatically mean fewer serious incidents. In practice, the Palisade may demand more frequent attention, while the Camry's issues tend to cluster around power train and electrical quirks.
Key differences
- The Palisade averages about 349 complaints per year, while the Camry averages about 206—so the Camry sees fewer owner-reported problems annually.
- Palisade owners frequently report brake and seat belt issues, including unintended acceleration and false seat belt warnings, while Camry owners more often report power train problems like a stuck ignition key and hesitation.
- The Camry has more crash-related reports (171) and injuries (158) than the Palisade (58 crashes, 71 injuries), even though the Camry has fewer total complaints.
- Both have 1 death reported, but the Palisade's recalls focus on seat belts and seats, while the Camry's recalls involve wheels, seats, and air bag sensors.
- Test the brakes at low speed and on a slope; listen for unusual noises and feel for any delay or acceleration when braking, as owners report unintended acceleration and ABS error codes.
- Check the third-row seat belts by buckling and unbuckling them several times to see if the dashboard indicator matches the actual buckle status, since a recall addresses false readings.
- Try removing the ignition key after parking to ensure it doesn't get stuck, and test acceleration from a stop for any hesitation or shuddering that owners describe.
- Engage and disengage the electronic parking brake multiple times to confirm it releases properly, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all open recalls have been repaired, especially the Palisade's rear seat belt buckle recall and the Camry's air bag sensor recalls.
- Take a test drive that includes braking, accelerating from a stop, and parking to check for the specific symptoms owners report—brake delay, hesitation, or stuck key.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the brakes, seat belts, and electrical systems, focusing on the components with the most complaints for each model.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and check if the vehicle has had repeated repairs for the same issue, which could indicate a persistent problem.
- Verify that all safety systems—including stability control, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—function correctly during the test drive.
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 | Hyundai Palisade | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 123 | 0 |
| 2025 | 248 | 163 |
| 2024 | 387 | 50 |
| 2023 | 400 | 64 |
| 2022 | 309 | 61 |
| 2021 | 439 | 157 |
| 2020 | 537 | 274 |
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 Hyundai Palisade or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Palisade vs Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Palisade total complaints
- 2,443
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Hyundai Palisade total recalls
- 32
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Hyundai Palisade avg complaints/year
- 349.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Palisade top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN