Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti FX45 vs Toyota Camry
How the Infiniti FX45 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
Infiniti FX45 vs Toyota Camry: The FX45 averaged 4.5 complaints per year over 6 years, while the Camry averaged 214.3 per year over 10 years. The Camry also had 181 crash-related complaints and 163 injuries, versus 1 crash-related and 0 injuries for the FX45. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti FX45 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti FX45
The Infiniti FX45 is a performance SUV that averaged 4.5 complaints per year over six years, with 40 recalls. Owner complaints center on exterior lighting, air bags, power train, and structure, including headlights aimed too low, air bag deployments in minor impacts, and driveshafts falling out. With only 27 total complaints and 1 crash-related, it shows fewer reported issues per year than the Camry, but the nature of the problems—like driveshaft separation—can be serious.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with 2,143 complaints over ten years, averaging 214.3 per year, plus 31 recalls. Owners report power train issues like transmission grinding and sudden acceleration, engine problems, brake failures, and electrical faults. The high complaint volume and 163 injuries indicate a wide range of recurring problems that affect many drivers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti FX45 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 27 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 40 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 4.5 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.
Infiniti FX45
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING6
- 02AIR BAGS5
- 03POWER TRAIN4
- 04STRUCTURE4
- 05FUEL SYSTEM3
Owners report headlights aimed too low, limiting visibility to about two car lengths ahead, and lights that sweat or fail in bad weather. This matters because poor lighting can make night driving hazardous.
Complaints describe side airbags and seat airbags deploying during minor grazes, and there are multiple recalls for passenger-side inflator modules. Buyers should verify recall repairs are done to avoid unexpected deployments.
Owners report loud noises on acceleration and driveshafts falling out while driving at 35–50 mph, requiring towing. This is a severe safety risk that can leave you stranded.
Reports include steering wheel peeling and cracking dashboards near the air bag, which are cosmetic but can signal age-related interior deterioration. These issues don't usually affect driving but may be costly to fix.
“I RECENTLY TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW INFINITY FX45. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 600 MILES ON IT. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED TOO LOW TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD. VISIBILITY IS SEVERELY LIMITED TO ABOUT 2+ CAR LENGTHS AHEAD. I CANNOT MAINTAIN MINIMAL SPEED ON AN UNLIT HIGHWAY…”
“ALL THE LIGHTS ARE SWEATING, POOR VISIBILITY. ACCORDING TO: NUMBER OF REVIEWS ON HTSA: 06V-328 REVIEW DATE: ABRYCT 3 2006 NUMBER REVOCATION MANUFACTURER: R0608 SUMMARY DURING CANADIAN COMPLIANCE TESTING SOME SPECIAL VEHICLES SPORTS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL ST…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the transmission requiring replacement, and sudden acceleration incidents that led to crashes. These are serious drivability and safety concerns.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration and coolant valve bypass issues triggering engine maintenance codes. These can lead to loss of control or expensive repairs.
Drivers report brake pedal failure with no response when decelerating on hills or in parking lots. This is a critical safety issue that could cause collisions.
Owners mention HVAC odors and AC condenser damage from road debris, which are comfort and reliability annoyances. While not safety-critical, they can be costly to diagnose and fix.
“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.
Infiniti FX45 — 40 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles ar…
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: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 o…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missis…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer s…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may caus…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2003-2005 FX35 and FX45, and 2006 M35 and M45 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registere…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-70…
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
Infiniti FX45 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Infiniti FX45 has far fewer issues per year (4.5 vs. 214.3) and fewer crash-related complaints (1 vs. 181). In practice, this means the Camry is likely to generate more frequent repair visits and safety complaints, while the FX45's lower volume may mean fewer but potentially severe problems like driveshaft failure.
Key differences
- The Infiniti FX45 averages 4.5 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages 214.3—a huge difference in reported problem frequency.
- Camry complaints include 181 crash-related and 163 injuries, versus 1 crash-related and 0 injuries for the FX45, suggesting more severe outcomes in the Camry data.
- FX45 owners report driveshafts falling out and airbags deploying in minor impacts; Camry owners report transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake failure.
- Both have recalls, but the FX45 has 40 recalls over 6 years (about 6.7 per year) and the Camry has 31 over 10 years (about 3.1 per year), so the FX45 has a higher recall rate.
- Check for driveshaft noise or vibration during acceleration, and inspect the driveshaft and undercarriage for signs of separation or repair.
- Verify that all air bag recalls (especially passenger-side inflator) have been performed, and test headlight aim and visibility at night.
- Test drive at various speeds and listen for transmission grinding or hesitation, and feel for sudden acceleration or brake pedal sponginess.
- Check for HVAC odors and inspect the AC condenser for damage from road debris, and confirm any engine coolant valve recalls are addressed.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to check for open recalls on both vehicles and confirm they were fixed.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds, braking on hills, and parking lot maneuvers to feel for transmission, brake, or acceleration issues.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the driveshaft and undercarriage on the FX45, and the transmission and brakes on the Camry.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the Camry and any driveshaft or air bag repairs on the FX45.
- Check for dashboard cracks and steering wheel peeling on the FX45, and AC odor or condenser damage on the Camry.
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 Infiniti FX45 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti FX45 vs Toyota Camry
- Infiniti FX45 total complaints
- 27
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Infiniti FX45 total recalls
- 40
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Infiniti FX45 avg complaints/year
- 4.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti FX45
- Infiniti FX45 top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN