Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti Q70 vs Toyota Camry
How the Infiniti Q70 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 Q70 vs Toyota Camry: The Q70 averages 2.1 complaints per year over 9 years, while the Camry averages 214.3 per year over 10 years. Q70 owners report hesitation and airbag issues, while Camry owners report transmission and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti Q70 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti Q70
The Infiniti Q70 is a low-volume luxury sedan with a modest complaint history, averaging about 2 issues per year over nine years. Owners report a mix of powertrain hesitation, airbag concerns, visibility problems, and steering quirks, but the low frequency suggests most owners experience trouble-free operation. However, the serious nature of some airbag and acceleration complaints means buyers should verify all recalls are addressed.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with a much larger complaint count, averaging over 200 per year, reflecting its popularity. The top issues involve powertrain (including transmission grinding), engine (including sudden acceleration reports), brakes, and electrical systems. While many complaints are minor, the sheer volume and the presence of crash-related incidents indicate that some Camrys have significant reliability or safety concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti Q70 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 19 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.1 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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 Q70
- 01POWER TRAIN6
- 02AIR BAGS4
- 03VISIBILITY/WIPER3
- 04STEERING3
- 05ENGINE3
Owners report hesitation and sudden slowing during acceleration, especially in the morning or when passing, which can be dangerous in traffic. This points to potential transmission or engine management issues.
Complaints include the airbag warning light coming on without a clear cause, and one driver-side airbag deployed unexpectedly during a turn, causing injuries. This raises concerns about airbag system reliability.
Low-beam headlights provide poor illumination on hills, limiting visibility to 30-40 feet, and windshield wipers can seize in a snowstorm, leaving the driver without wipers. Both are safety hazards in poor conditions.
Some owners find the heated steering wheel too hot to hold comfortably, and one reported the steering wheel turning a full circle with an abnormal sound while reversing, suggesting possible steering system issues.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 INFINITI Q70. WHEN THE CONTACT FIRST DROVE THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, IT HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. INFINITI OF CORAL GABLES (2701 S LE JEUNE RD, CORAL GABLES, FL 33134, (786) 619-3009) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT M…”
“While attempting to accelerate my car hesitates and slows down to about 5 miles an hour. This mostly happens in the morning, but does happen in the afternoon while attempting to accelerate to pass. This issue has almost caused me to get in accidents on severa…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end on acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission issues that may require replacement. Some also describe unintended acceleration or braking problems in parking lots.
There are reports of sudden, uncontrollable acceleration leading to crashes, as well as engine maintenance warnings related to a coolant valve bypass that may not be covered by a recall for all VINs.
Several owners describe brake failure, such as no response when pressing the pedal on a hill, which can lead to loss of control. This is a critical safety concern.
Complaints include AC condenser damage from rocks and recurring HVAC odors, which affect comfort but also indicate potential electrical or component vulnerabilities.
“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 Q70 — 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. (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. (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. (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.
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 Q70 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Infiniti Q70 has far fewer complaints per year (about 2.1) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 214.3), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Camry's higher volume also means more data points, and its complaints include serious safety events. In practice, the Q70 may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, but the Camry's issues are more widespread.
Key differences
- The Q70 has a much lower complaint rate (2.1/yr) than the Camry (214.3/yr), suggesting fewer reported issues per vehicle.
- Q70 owners report hesitation and airbag deployment, while Camry owners report transmission grinding and sudden acceleration.
- Camry has more crash-related complaints (181) and injuries (163) compared to Q70's 1 crash and 1 injury.
- Q70's recalls focus on driveshaft issues, while Camry's recalls cover airbag sensors, seats, and wheel studs.
- Check for any open recalls related to the driveshaft, as multiple recalls exist for this component.
- Test the airbag warning light and have a mechanic inspect the airbag system for any signs of malfunction.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration and have it inspected if present.
- Verify that all recalls, especially those for airbag sensors and wheel studs, have been completed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed for both models.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic, focusing on the transmission and brakes.
- Test drive both vehicles in various conditions, including hills and highway speeds, to check for hesitation or braking issues.
- Check the headlights and wipers on the Q70 for proper operation, and the AC system on the Camry for odors or damage.
- Review NHTSA complaint data for the specific model year you are considering.
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 | Infiniti Q70 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 59 |
| 2021 | 0 | 155 |
| 2020 | 0 | 270 |
| 2019 | 2 | 393 |
| 2018 | 1 | 736 |
| 2017 | 2 | 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 Infiniti Q70 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti Q70 vs Toyota Camry
- Infiniti Q70 total complaints
- 19
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Infiniti Q70 total recalls
- 8
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Infiniti Q70 avg complaints/year
- 2.1
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti Q70
- Infiniti Q70 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN