Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti M56 vs Toyota Camry
How the Infiniti M56 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 M56 vs Toyota Camry: The M56 averaged 8 complaints per year with 0 crash-related reports, while the Camry averaged about 206 complaints per year with 171 crash-related reports and 158 injuries. Both have open recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti M56 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti M56
The Infiniti M56 is a low-volume luxury sedan that averaged 8 owner complaints per year over three years, with no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data. The complaint pattern centers on power train hesitation and engine issues, plus electrical and fuel-system problems. Several owners describe waiting on recall parts, which can mean downtime even after a fix is identified. For a used-car buyer, this suggests a car that may need patience and a pre-purchase inspection focused on the drive line and engine.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan that averaged about 206 complaints per year over ten years, with 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and 1 death in the data. Owners report a wide range of issues, from power train hesitation and key-stuck problems to brake noises and multiple electronic system malfunctions. The volume of complaints is partly a reflection of how many Camrys are on the road, but the presence of crash and injury reports is worth noting. A used Camry buyer should expect a well-known car with a broad set of reported problems to check.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti M56 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 24 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 8.0 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 158 |
| 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 M56
- 01POWER TRAIN10
- 02ENGINE6
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
- 05AIR BAGS3
Owners report severe hesitation when accelerating right after slowing or stopping, which can make merging or pulling out feel unpredictable. Some also mention a recall for the propeller shaft, and at least one owner said parts were not yet available, so the fix may be delayed.
Complaints include a failed solenoid switch that caused a squealing noise, and one owner described low oil and a destroyed fusible link that prevented the engine from seizing. These are signs of engine-management or lubrication problems that can be costly if ignored.
A common report is the passenger seat belt light staying on after the passenger gets up, traced to a defective passenger occupancy sensor. This can be annoying and may affect how the airbag system reads the seat.
Owners link fuel-system complaints to the same low-oil and fusible-link issue, and one dealer refused a recall repair because parts and procedure were unavailable. That means a known safety fix might not be done yet on a car you are considering.
“WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM THROUGH INFINITI SERVICE CENTER SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR 10 MONTHS AGO WITH ONLY 28K MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SLOWING OR STOPPING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS…”
“The contact owns a 2011 Infiniti M56. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V755000 (Power Train) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that w…”
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 dash shows Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, which points to transmission or engine-control trouble.
Complaints include delayed throttle response where pressing the gas does not move the car for several seconds, and hesitation with shuddering. These symptoms can be dangerous in traffic and often need a dealer diagnosis.
Owners report the electronic parking brake not disengaging, requiring a tow, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer calls normal for the ABS system. A brake that will not release can leave you stuck.
One owner described multiple systems failing at once, including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping. That kind of widespread electronic fault can affect steering and safety aids.
“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.
Infiniti M56 — 8 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Infiniti M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, and 2014 Q70 and Q70 Hybrid vehicles. These models, equipped with 2WD and with a hybrid or VK56 powertrain, have a driveshaft that may break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash, or may disable the parking brake, increasing the risk of a rollaway and injury.
The fix: Infiniti will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2021. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Nissan Juke, 2012-2013 Infiniti M56, QX56, and 2014-2015 Infiniti Q70 (V8 engine vehicles only), and QX80 vehicles. The fuel pressure sensors may not have been sufficiently tightened during production. As a result, the fu…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could cause a vehicle fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-torque the fuel pressure sensors free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, 2014-2018 Q50, Q70 Hybrid, 2014-2019 Q70, and 2015-2019 Q70L two-wheel drive vehicles. The driveshaft can fatigue and break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power, or a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 13, 2024. Owners may contact INFINITI's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's numbers for this recall are R24A5 and R24A7.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Infiniti M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, and 2014 Q70 and Q70 Hybrid vehicles. These models, equipped with 2WD and with a hybrid or VK56 powertrain, have a driveshaft that may break.
The risk: A broken driveshaft can cause a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash, or may disable the parking brake, increasing the risk of a rollaway and injury.
The fix: Infiniti will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2021. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
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
Infiniti M56 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Infiniti M56 has far fewer complaints per year (8.0) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), but the Camry is sold in much higher numbers, so raw counts are not directly comparable. In practice, the M56 owner reports fewer but still serious power train and engine issues, while the Camry owner reports a wider variety of problems, including brakes and electronics, plus crash and injury reports in the data. Neither car is problem-free; the difference is in the type and volume of reported issues.
Key differences
- The Infiniti M56 averaged 8 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averaged about 206 per year, but the Camry sells in far higher numbers, so the comparison is not apples-to-apples.
- Infiniti M56 complaints cluster around power train hesitation and engine solenoid or oil issues, while Camry complaints span power train, brakes, and multiple electronic systems.
- The Camry data includes 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and 1 death, while the M56 data shows 0 in each of those categories.
- Both cars have open recalls: the M56 has a propeller shaft recall with parts sometimes unavailable, and the Camry has recalls for seats and airbag occupant sensors.
- During a test drive, accelerate immediately after slowing or stopping to check for severe hesitation, which owners report as a power train problem.
- Ask for proof that the propeller shaft recall and any fuel-system recall have been completed, since some owners were told parts were not available.
- Test the ignition key removal and the electronic parking brake, because owners report the key sticking and the brake not disengaging.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area and check for delayed throttle response, both of which owners describe.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall site and confirm all open recalls are repaired before you buy.
- Take a long test drive that includes stop-and-go traffic, hard acceleration, and parking brake use.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the engine, transmission, brakes, and electrical systems for the specific symptoms owners report.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially oil changes, since the M56 has reports of low oil and engine damage.
- For the Camry, check that the seat and airbag occupant sensor recalls are done, as those are listed recall subjects.
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 M56 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti M56 vs Toyota Camry
- Infiniti M56 total complaints
- 24
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Infiniti M56 total recalls
- 8
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Infiniti M56 avg complaints/year
- 8.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti M56
- Infiniti M56 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN