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: Over 10 years, the Tucson averaged 311 complaints per year and the Camry 206, with the Tucson having 1,315 engine complaints versus the Camry's 315. Both have 1 death reported. The Camry's lower complaint rate may mean fewer repair visits. 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 is a compact SUV that, based on NHTSA data, has averaged about 311 complaints per year over the past decade, with engine issues dominating the list. Owners frequently report stalling, engine knocking, and power loss, often accompanied by a flashing check engine light. Beyond the engine, problems with the transmission, brakes, and electrical system also appear, suggesting a vehicle that may demand more frequent attention and repair. With 27 recalls and 137 injuries reported, it's a model where thorough pre-purchase checks are especially important.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a lower complaint rate of about 206 per year, but it still has notable issues. Power train complaints lead the list, including stuck ignition keys, hesitation, and shuddering, while engine and brake problems also surface. Some owners report multiple electronic systems malfunctioning at once, which can be alarming. With 31 recalls and 158 injuries, the Camry isn't trouble-free, but the overall complaint volume is lower than the Tucson's.
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 | 3,112 | 2,056 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 27 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 147 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 311.2 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 137 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 Tucson
- 01ENGINE1,315
- 02POWER TRAIN549
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER430
- 04SERVICE BRAKES387
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM367
Owners report stalling while driving, often preceded by a flashing check engine light, and severe engine knocking that can lead to towed vehicles. These symptoms suggest potential internal engine damage or sensor failures that could be costly to repair.
Complaints include a steering column that remains locked after starting, making the vehicle undrivable, and catalytic converter efficiency failures that require replacement. These issues can strand a driver and may not be covered by warranty.
Some owners experience a hissing or buzzing noise when braking at low speeds, along with a soft brake pedal. This could indicate air in the brake lines or a failing component, affecting stopping reliability.
Reports include AC system failures where the compressor and other parts stop working, sometimes even after multiple repairs. Electrical gremlins can be frustrating and expensive to diagnose.
“My family’s safety is at serious risk with my 2021 Hyundai Tucson, which I’ve owned only 55 days. This vehicle has stalled three times while driving, putting me and my two young children in immediate danger. Each time, the car operated normally until a flashi…”
“I was driving down [XXX] from my house.My engine light started to flash.I tried to accelerate my car barely went 10 miles an hour.I got Home 2 minutes later.There was major knocking.I had the car towed to [XXX], Hyundai, the only code that is showing up on th…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners describe an intermittent issue where the ignition key gets stuck and cannot be removed unless the battery is disconnected, as well as hesitation and shuddering while driving. These problems can leave you unable to secure or start the car reliably.
Complaints include delayed throttle response, where pressing the accelerator results in a several-second lag before the car moves. This hesitation could be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
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, attributed to the ABS system. Brake issues directly impact safety and can be costly to fix.
Multiple systems—including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—have malfunctioned simultaneously in some vehicles. Such widespread electronic failures can compromise safety features you rely on.
“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 Tucson — 27 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles. The circuit board in the motor-driven power steering assembly may short circuit, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
The risk: A loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the motor-driven power steering electric power pack, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Tucson vehicles. The tire and loading information label may incorrectly indicate information about a spare tire. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selectio…
The risk: A label that incorrectly states spare tire pressure when there is no spare tire on-board may cause confusion during an emergency tire replacement, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the tire and loading information label, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbe…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause…
The risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to par…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
The risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starti…
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 Tucson or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (about 206 vs. 311 for the Tucson) and a lower overall complaint total, suggesting it may be less troublesome on average. However, both vehicles have significant reported issues, so the difference means you might spend less time at the repair shop with a Camry, but you still need to check for the specific problems owners describe.
Key differences
- The Tucson has more than double the engine complaints (1,315 vs. 315 for the Camry), with owners reporting stalling and knocking that can lead to major repairs.
- Camry owners more often report power train issues like stuck ignition keys and hesitation, while Tucson power train complaints include steering column lockups and catalytic converter failures.
- The Tucson has a higher rate of brake complaints (387 vs. 285), with symptoms like hissing noises and soft pedals, whereas Camry brake issues involve electronic parking brake failures and ABS noises.
- Both have electrical problems, but Camry reports often involve multiple safety systems failing at once, while Tucson reports focus on AC system failures.
- During a test drive, listen for engine knocking or ticking, especially after acceleration, and check for a flashing check engine light—these are signs of the stalling and knocking issues owners report.
- Test the steering column: ensure it unlocks and turns freely after starting, as some owners experienced a locked column that prevented driving.
- Try removing the ignition key after parking; if it gets stuck, that's a known power train complaint that may require battery disconnection to fix.
- Test the electronic parking brake by engaging and disengaging it several times; failure to release could leave you stranded, as reported by some owners.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls, especially for the Tucson's steering and brake recalls and the Camry's air bag and seat recalls.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on engine compression, transmission function, and brake system integrity.
- Scan for stored trouble codes, particularly for engine misfires, catalytic converter efficiency, and ABS faults.
- Test all electronic features, including AC, infotainment, driver-assist systems, and power windows, to catch electrical gremlins.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any previous recall repairs were completed by a dealership.
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 | 90 | 0 |
| 2025 | 287 | 163 |
| 2024 | 97 | 50 |
| 2023 | 134 | 64 |
| 2022 | 383 | 61 |
| 2021 | 79 | 157 |
| 2020 | 178 | 274 |
| 2019 | 380 | 395 |
| 2018 | 396 | 744 |
| 2017 | 1088 | 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
- 3,112
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Hyundai Tucson total recalls
- 27
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Hyundai Tucson avg complaints/year
- 311.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Tucson top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN