Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota Camry
How the Hyundai Tucson 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 Tucson vs Toyota Camry: Tucson averages 297 complaints/year with 1,277 engine issues including sudden acceleration; Camry averages 208/year with key removal in Drive and brake noise. Camry has fewer severe failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Tucson or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson has a high complaint rate, averaging 297 per year, with engine issues dominating—over 1,200 reports. Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration and steering lock-ups, suggesting serious powertrain and control problems. Recalls cover engine fasteners, braking systems, and electrical glitches, indicating a vehicle that may require frequent dealer visits.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (208) but still notable issues, especially with the powertrain—key getting stuck in ignition and roll-away risk. Brake noise and unintended braking are common, along with a shattered moonroof. Recalls focus on seats and airbag sensors, pointing to fit-and-finish and safety system concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Tucson | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,972 | 2,081 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 27 Better | 28 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 136 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 297.2 | 208.1 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 134 Better | 161 |
| 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 Tucson
- 01ENGINE1,277
- 02POWER TRAIN539
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER406
- 04SERVICE BRAKES375
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM337
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, where the car surges forward without input, leading to crashes. This is the most frequent complaint, with 1,277 reports, and is linked to a recall for critical engine fasteners.
The steering can lock up while driving, and the transmission may get stuck in reverse, requiring the car to be turned off and on to shift. These issues affect control and safety.
The automatic emergency braking system falsely activates, locking brakes suddenly when no collision is imminent. This can cause rear-endings or loss of control.
The infotainment screen may get stuck in a software update loop, disabling backup camera and other functions. Recalls address instrument cluster failures.
“I experienced sudden unintended acceleration which propelled me over a curb, up an embankment, over a boulder and into a fence. I could have been killed or I could have killed others because I had no control of the car. The Hyundai corporation will not acknow…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN384
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER332
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
The ignition key can be removed while the car is in Drive, allowing it to roll away. Also, the key may get stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnect to remove.
Some owners report excessive engine noise and vibration when braking, along with musty smells and rust in the trunk, though these are less severe than Tucson's issues.
Brakes may produce grinding or thumping noises, and the system can erroneously activate, causing unintended deceleration. This is similar to Tucson's false braking but less frequent.
The moonroof can shatter spontaneously while driving, and driver-assist features may malfunction, such as lane keeping or adaptive cruise control acting erratically.
“The vehicle allows the engine to be turned off, key removed, while the vehicle is still in drive with no warning lights or sounds. I have tested and the vehicle can roll away. Complained to the toyota dealership and they said the service tech consulted with t…”
“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…”
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 Tucson — 27 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 281.
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 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 2…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.
The risk: Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehi…
Toyota Camry — 28 recalls
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…
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…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Tucson or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (208 vs 297) and less severe engine issues. In practice, the Tucson is riskier for sudden loss of control, while the Camry's problems are more about inconvenience and noise. The Camry is likely more reliable day-to-day.
Key differences
- Tucson has 1,277 engine complaints vs Camry's 309, with reports of unintended acceleration—a critical safety risk.
- Camry's powertrain issues involve key removal in Drive (roll-away risk), while Tucson's include steering lock-up and transmission stuck in reverse.
- Both have false braking complaints, but Tucson's are more frequent and linked to a recall for forward collision avoidance.
- Camry has a unique moonroof shattering issue; Tucson has electrical system update loops that disable backup cameras.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or unintended acceleration—ask for service records related to engine fasteners recall.
- Test the transmission: shift through all gears and ensure it doesn't get stuck in reverse or fail to engage Park.
- Test the ignition: try to remove the key in Drive and Park; ensure it only comes out in Park and doesn't get stuck.
- Listen for brake grinding or thumping noises during test drive, and check moonroof for cracks or prior replacement.
Before you buy
- Verify all recalls are performed on both vehicles using NHTSA VIN lookup.
- For Tucson: test drive at low speed to check for unintended acceleration or steering lock.
- For Camry: test key removal in all gear positions and listen for brake noise.
- Inspect moonroof on Camry for any signs of stress or replacement.
- Check electrical system on Tucson: ensure infotainment updates work and backup camera functions.
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 Tucson | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 49 | 97 |
| 2025 | 266 | 140 |
| 2024 | 87 | 46 |
| 2023 | 126 | 60 |
| 2022 | 364 | 57 |
| 2021 | 75 | 154 |
| 2020 | 173 | 264 |
| 2019 | 370 | 387 |
| 2018 | 385 | 728 |
| 2017 | 1077 | 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 Hyundai Tucson or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Tucson total complaints
- 2,972
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,081
- Hyundai Tucson total recalls
- 27
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 28
- Hyundai Tucson avg complaints/year
- 297.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 208.1
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Tucson top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN