Head-to-head reliability
Lexus UX vs Toyota Camry
How the Lexus UX 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
Lexus UX vs Toyota Camry: The UX has 11 complaints and 0 recalls over 8 years, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints and 31 recalls over 10 years. The Camry also reports 163 injuries and 1 death, versus none for the UX. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus UX or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus UX
The Lexus UX is a small luxury SUV with very few owner complaints—just 11 over 8 years, averaging 1.4 per year. There are no recalls on record, and the complaints that do exist cluster around vehicle speed control, brakes, power train, and tires. Owners report issues like unintended acceleration or braking during parking, stalling at low speeds, and tires chunking or peeling at low mileage. Overall, the data suggests a low-volume problem profile, but the few complaints are serious enough to warrant attention.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 2,143 over 10 years, averaging 214.3 per year, plus 31 recalls. The most common problem areas are power train, engine, service brakes, and electrical system. Owners describe transmission grinding and replacement, sudden acceleration, brake failure, and AC problems. The data shows a wide range of issues, including 163 injuries and 1 death, indicating that some failures can have severe consequences.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus UX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 11 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.4 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.
Lexus UX
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
- 02SERVICE BRAKES3
- 03POWER TRAIN2
- 04TIRES2
- 05VISIBILITY1
Owners report unintended acceleration or braking during low-speed maneuvers like parallel parking, sometimes leading to crashes. One complaint describes a brake malfunction causing a crash into a restaurant. This matters because it can happen in everyday driving situations.
Complaints include brake malfunction that caused a crash, and another incident during parking where the vehicle reversed unexpectedly. These are serious safety concerns that a buyer should verify through a pre-purchase inspection.
Owners report stalling at low speeds (around 30 MPH) and transmission issues, often accompanied by a check engine light. This can leave a driver stranded or cause sudden loss of power.
Front tires chunk or peel at low mileage (under 2,000 miles in one case), with chunks falling off the tread. This affects handling and safety, and may require premature tire replacement.
“I am [XXX] old, have been driving since I was 16, and until this incident, have never been in an accident. On [XXX], I was parallel parking in my friend's quiet suburban neighborhood, as we do yoga together every Sunday morning. I reversed into the space. The…”
“This is a new vehicle. It had been serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations at 5000 miles, around 3 weeks prior to the date of this incident. While driving on the freeway, I got an alert that the check engine light came on and there was a “mal…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, leading to transmission replacement. Some mention recalls for the same issue on 2021 models, but parts are on backorder. This can be costly and leave the car undrivable.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration, sometimes resulting in crashes, and engine maintenance codes like P268115 for a coolant valve bypass. These issues can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
Owners describe brake pedal going to the floor with no response, especially on steep hills, and brake issues during parking. This is a critical safety failure that could lead to a crash.
Recurring AC problems include a strong vinegar or mildew smell from vents and condenser damage from road debris. These are comfort and potential health issues, and repairs may be needed.
“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.
Lexus UX
No recalls on record.
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
Lexus UX or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Lexus UX has far fewer issues per year (1.4 vs. 214.3) and no recalls, while the Toyota Camry has many more complaints and 31 recalls. In practice, the UX is likely to have fewer problems overall, but the Camry's higher volume means more data and more reported failures, including serious safety issues.
Key differences
- The Lexus UX has 11 complaints and 0 recalls over 8 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,143 complaints and 31 recalls over 10 years.
- Lexus UX complaints center on speed control, brakes, power train, and tires; Camry complaints focus on power train, engine, brakes, and electrical system.
- Camry owners report serious issues like transmission replacement and sudden acceleration leading to crashes; UX owners report unintended acceleration during parking and tire chunking.
- The Camry has 163 injuries and 1 death reported, while the UX has 0 injuries and 0 deaths, though the UX's lower volume may understate risk.
- Check for any signs of unintended acceleration or braking issues, especially during low-speed maneuvers like parking; test drive in a parking lot and note any hesitation or sudden movements.
- Inspect tires for chunking or peeling, particularly the front tires, even if they have low mileage; look for missing chunks of tread.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, which may indicate transmission problems; test drive and accelerate from a stop to check.
- Test the brakes on a steep hill or incline to ensure the pedal responds properly and does not go to the floor; also check for any sudden acceleration issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls, especially for the Camry (air bags, seats, wheels, equipment labels).
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on transmission, brakes, and engine for the Camry, and speed control, brakes, and tires for the UX.
- During the test drive, specifically test low-speed parking maneuvers and acceleration from a stop to feel for any hesitation, unintended acceleration, or grinding.
- Inspect tires on the UX for chunking or peeling, and on the Camry check for uneven wear or damage that could indicate brake or suspension issues.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any recall repairs have been completed, especially for the Camry's transmission and brake-related recalls.
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 | Lexus UX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 119 |
| 2025 | 2 | 153 |
| 2024 | 1 | 48 |
| 2023 | 0 | 62 |
| 2022 | 0 | 59 |
| 2021 | 4 | 155 |
| 2020 | 4 | 270 |
| 2019 | 0 | 393 |
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 Lexus UX or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus UX vs Toyota Camry
- Lexus UX total complaints
- 11
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Lexus UX total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Lexus UX avg complaints/year
- 1.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Lexus UX
- Lexus UX top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN