Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti Q45 vs Toyota Camry
How the Infiniti Q45 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 Q45 vs Toyota Camry: The Q45 averages 7.6 complaints per year with 10 recalls, while the Camry averages 214.3 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 1 death; the Q45 has 4 crashes and 0 deaths. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti Q45 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti Q45
The Infiniti Q45 is a low-volume luxury sedan with an average of 7.6 complaints per year over eight years, suggesting that while problems are relatively rare, they can be serious when they occur. Owners frequently report stalling and no-start conditions, as well as electrical and lighting failures that may leave the car undrivable. With 10 recalls and 4 crash-related complaints, it demands careful inspection before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with an average of 214.3 complaints per year over ten years, reflecting its popularity and the sheer number on the road. Complaints span major systems like power train, engine, and brakes, with reports of sudden acceleration, transmission grinding, and brake failure. Despite 31 recalls and 181 crash-related complaints, many issues are addressed through recalls, but buyers should verify all work is completed.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti Q45 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 61 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.6 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 Q45
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
- 02ENGINE8
- 03EXTERIOR LIGHTING7
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
- 05WHEELS7
Owners report repeated stalling and failure to restart, sometimes with family in the car, creating dangerous situations. These electrical gremlins can be intermittent and hard to diagnose, potentially leaving you stranded.
Complaints include the engine shutting off without warning while driving, losing all power, and requiring multiple attempts to restart. This can happen every few days, making the car unreliable for daily use.
Low beam headlamps, particularly HID ballasts, fail during nighttime driving, reducing visibility. This is a safety concern and can be costly to repair.
Owners describe delayed acceleration, hesitation, and cruise control that bucks or fails to respond when accelerating. This unpredictability can be frustrating and potentially hazardous in traffic.
“2004 INFINITI Q45 LEMON THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS AN IN-SERVICE DATE OF 12-17-04, PURCHASED BY ME ON 02-08-08 AT 26,670 MILES WITH 10 MONTHS REMAINING ON THE TIME WARRANTY THAT'S EXPIRED. IT WAS RETURNED TO MAJOR INFINITI ON 09-29-10 WITH 42,171 MILES ^0,000 WARRAN…”
“MY 2003 INFINITI Q45 REPEATEDLY STALLS [SO FAR, 15+ TIMES] AND OFTEN WILL NOT RESTART [10+ TIMES]. WITH MY FAMILY AND ME IN THE CAR, THE STALLING OF THE CAR PUTS US REPEATEDLY IN JEOPARDY OF A REAR-END COLLISION OR VANDALISM OR BODILY INJURY IN DANGEROUS AREA…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Reports include grinding noises from the transmission upon acceleration, sometimes requiring replacement. Sudden acceleration incidents have also been reported, leading to crashes.
Sudden and rapid acceleration without driver input has been reported multiple times, resulting in crashes. Coolant valve bypass issues may trigger maintenance warnings, but not all VINs are covered by recalls.
Owners report brake pedal failure, such as no response when pressing the brake on a downhill curve. This is a critical safety issue that could lead to loss of control.
Recurring HVAC odors (like vinegar or mildew) and AC condenser damage from road debris are common annoyances. These are not safety-critical but affect comfort and can be expensive to 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 Q45 — 10 recalls
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 INFINITI Q45 VEHICLES. A WIRING CONNECTOR FOR THE SEAT MOUNTED AIRBAG MAY EXPERIENCE INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE, RESULTING IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS.
The risk: NON-DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAGS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
The fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE WIRING CONNECTOR, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 19, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.
The risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE STOP LAMP AND REFLEX REFLECTOR REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk: THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE CRASHES, INJURIES AND DEATHS BY PROVIDING ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION OF THE ROADWAY, AND BY ENHANCING THE CONSPICUITY OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON THE PUBLIC ROADS SO THAT THEIR PRESENCE IS PERCEIVED AND THEIR SIGNALS UNDERST…
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR COMBINATION LAMP ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH ALLOY WHEELS, THE WHEELS MAY HAVE A CASTING DEFECT FROM WHICH CRACKS COULD PROPAGATE AS THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
The risk: IF A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF CRACKS DEVELOP, THE WHEEL COULD FAIL AND SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING HUB, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WHEELS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 28, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT IN…
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 Q45 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Infiniti Q45 has far fewer complaints per year (7.6 vs. 214.3), but its issues often involve stalling and electrical failures that can strand you. The Toyota Camry's higher complaint volume reflects its much larger population, yet it has more crash-related reports and injuries. In practice, the Q45 may be less troublesome overall, but the Camry's problems are more widely documented and sometimes addressed by recalls.
Key differences
- The Infiniti Q45 averages 7.6 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages 214.3, but the Camry's higher volume explains much of the difference.
- Q45 owners report stalling and no-start problems, whereas Camry owners report sudden acceleration and transmission grinding.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 163 injuries, compared to 4 crashes and 3 injuries for the Q45.
- Both have recalls, but the Camry's 31 recalls cover major systems like air bags and seats, while the Q45's 10 recalls include lighting and wheels.
- Check for any history of stalling or no-start conditions; test drive extensively and ask for service records related to electrical or engine repairs.
- Inspect HID headlamps for proper function, as ballast failures are reported and can be expensive to replace.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration and test for any hesitation or sudden acceleration.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on inclines, and check for any recalls related to brake or acceleration issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the electrical system and engine for the Q45, and the transmission and brakes for the Camry.
- Test drive the Q45 for at least 30 minutes, including highway and stop-and-go traffic, to check for stalling.
- For the Camry, test the brakes on hills and check for any unusual acceleration behavior.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and specifically inquire about any recurring problems mentioned in complaints.
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 Q45 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti Q45 vs Toyota Camry
- Infiniti Q45 total complaints
- 61
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Infiniti Q45 total recalls
- 10
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Infiniti Q45 avg complaints/year
- 7.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti Q45
- Infiniti Q45 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN