Head-to-head reliability
Jaguar XJ vs Toyota Camry
How the Jaguar XJ 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
Jaguar XJ vs Toyota Camry: The XJ averaged 11.4 complaints per year with 20 recalls, while the Camry averaged 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The XJ's issues include engine stalling and unintended acceleration, whereas the Camry's include key sticking and brake noise. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Jaguar XJ or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Jaguar XJ
The Jaguar XJ is a luxury sedan that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over 10 years, it averaged 11.4 complaints per year, with 20 recalls and 18 crash-related reports. Owners frequently mention engine and electrical gremlins, including throttle body failures that cause shaking and stalling, and random alarm triggers. These issues suggest that living with an XJ requires patience and a budget for repairs.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream family sedan known for dependability, but it is not trouble-free. It averaged 205.6 complaints per year over 10 years, with 31 recalls and 171 crash-related reports. Owners report power train problems like hesitation and shuddering, plus brake noises and electronic glitches. While the volume of complaints is higher, many are for newer models and may reflect the Camry's much larger sales volume.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Jaguar XJ | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 114 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 20 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 18 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 11.4 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 20 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.
Jaguar XJ
- 01ENGINE33
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER20
- 04POWER TRAIN12
- 05SERVICE BRAKES12
Owners report throttle body failures that cause the car to shake, show stability control warnings, and shut down while driving. Some had the throttle body replaced multiple times without a permanent fix. This is a serious safety concern because a sudden stall can leave you stranded or cause a crash.
Complaints include a faulty alarm that goes off randomly, slow touch screen responses, and sticky control buttons. One owner also reported unintended acceleration while parking. These electrical quirks can be annoying and expensive to diagnose, and the acceleration report is particularly alarming.
The same unintended acceleration incident was also filed under power train, where the car accelerated while the brake was pressed. This suggests a potential link between engine and transmission controls. For a buyer, any history of sudden acceleration or transmission misbehavior is a major red flag.
There are 12 brake complaints, though specific details are not provided in the sample. Given the unintended acceleration report, brake performance is worth scrutinizing. A test drive should include hard braking to check for unusual noises or pedal feel.
“THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS"UNUSUAL" ISSUES FROM "STICK-TO-YOUR-FINGERS" CONTROL BUTTONS THAT WERE CHANGED UNDER WARRANTY TO A FAULTY ALARM SYSTEM THAT GOES OFF RANDOMLY ONCE ACTIVATED,TO EXCEPTIONALLY SLOW TOUCH SCREEN FUNCTIONS THAT CAN ONLY BE CONTROLLED…”
“A SERIS OF ISSUES PLAQUE THIS MODEL. CHANGED THROTTLE BODY TWICE BUT CAR KEEP SHOWING STABILITY CONTROL NOT AVAILABLE, THROTTLE BODY ACTUATION ISSUES WITH P2119,P2118 CODES AMONG SEVERAL OTHERS. CAR SHAKES AND SHUTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. AT IDLE, THE…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck in the ignition even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on. These issues can leave you unable to secure or start the car reliably.
Complaints include delayed throttle response where pressing the gas pedal results in a several-second lag before the car moves. This happened multiple times for one owner. Such hesitation can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer calls normal for the 2023 Camry. The parking brake issue can immobilize the car, while the noise may indicate ABS activity.
One owner reported multiple system malfunctions at once: smart stop, stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assist. Another mentioned subframe and driveline components along with stability control sensors. These electronic failures can affect steering and braking aids, so they are safety-relevant.
“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.
Jaguar XJ — 20 recalls
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2019 Jaguar F-Pace, F-Type, and XJ vehicles equipped with V6 or V8 gasoline engines. The crankshaft pulley retaining bolt may have been improperly manufactured, possibly causing the crankshaft pulley bolt to fracture, potentially re…
The risk: Engine failure may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Jaguar has notified owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft pulley center retaining bolt, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2019. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this re…
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2010-2011 and 2017 XJ vehicles. The Restraint Control Module (RCM) software may cause the frontal air bags to deploy improperly in the event of a frontal impact crash.
The risk: Failure of the air bags to deploy properly increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will update the RCM software, free of charge. The recall began October 7, 2020. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-369-1000. Jaguar's number for this recall is H294.
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2010-2011 XJ vehicles. If, while servicing the vehicle, the vehicle does not successfully receive an update to the Restraint Control Module (RCM) software, the default air bag calibration settings may be incorrect.
The risk: In the event of a crash, the incorrect calibration may not activate the air bag deployment as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will update the RCM with the latest software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2017. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar's number for this recall is H034.
The defect: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2010-2011 and 2017 XJ vehicles. The Restraint Control Module (RCM) software may cause the frontal air bags to deploy improperly in the event of a frontal impact crash.
The risk: Failure of the air bags to deploy properly increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will update the RCM software, free of charge. The recall began October 7, 2020. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-369-1000. Jaguar's number for this recall is H294.
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
Jaguar XJ or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Jaguar XJ has far fewer complaints per year (11.4 vs. 205.6), but the Camry's higher count is partly due to its much larger sales volume. In practice, the XJ's low volume means each complaint represents a higher proportion of owners, and its issues often involve stalling or unintended acceleration. The Camry's problems are more numerous but tend to be less severe, such as key sticking or brake noise.
Key differences
- The Jaguar XJ has 11.4 complaints per year on average, while the Toyota Camry has 205.6, but the Camry sells in far greater numbers.
- Jaguar XJ owners report engine stalling and unintended acceleration, which are severe safety risks; Camry owners report key sticking and brake noise, which are less likely to cause a crash.
- The XJ has 20 recalls and 18 crash-related reports; the Camry has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related reports, but again volume matters.
- Electrical gremlins in the XJ include random alarms and slow touch screens, while Camry electrical issues involve multiple driver-assist systems failing at once.
- Check for any history of throttle body replacement or engine stalling; test drive at various speeds and let it idle to see if it shakes or shuts down.
- Test all electronics: alarm, touch screen, and control buttons. Also, during a test drive, ensure the car does not accelerate unexpectedly when braking.
- Try removing the key from the ignition after parking to ensure it does not stick; also listen for brake pedal clicking or vibrating noises.
- Test the electronic parking brake by engaging and disengaging it several times; if it fails to release, it may need a costly repair.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website for the specific VIN.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the engine, transmission, and electrical systems, focusing on the known problem areas for each model.
- During a test drive, pay attention to throttle response, transmission shifting, and any warning lights on the dashboard.
- For the Jaguar XJ, specifically test the throttle body function and look for signs of unintended acceleration; for the Camry, test the ignition key and parking brake.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for any repairs related to the complaints listed here.
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 | Jaguar XJ | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 395 |
| 2018 | 2 | 744 |
| 2017 | 4 | 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 Jaguar XJ or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Jaguar XJ vs Toyota Camry
- Jaguar XJ total complaints
- 114
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Jaguar XJ total recalls
- 20
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Jaguar XJ avg complaints/year
- 11.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Jaguar XJ
- Jaguar XJ top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN