Head-to-head reliability
Maserati Levante vs Toyota Camry
How the Maserati Levante 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
Maserati Levante vs Toyota Camry: The Levante has 28 complaints over 8 years (3.5/year) and 12 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. Levante owners report stalling and brake failure; Camry owners report key-stuck and hesitation. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Maserati Levante or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Maserati Levante
The Maserati Levante is a luxury SUV that demands patience and a healthy repair budget. Over 8 years, it has 28 complaints (3.5 per year) and 12 recalls, with electrical and engine issues dominating. Owners frequently report stalling, sudden neutral engagement, and brake failures, often requiring repeated dealer visits. Living with a Levante means expecting intermittent electronic gremlins that can leave you stranded.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a much higher complaint volume—2,056 over 10 years (205.6 per year)—but that reflects its huge sales numbers. The most common trouble spots are power train, engine, and brakes, with reports of hesitation, shuddering, and key-stuck issues. While recalls are numerous (31), many are for smaller safety items. Overall, the Camry is a more predictable ownership proposition, but it is not immune to serious defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Maserati Levante | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 28 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.5 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Maserati Levante
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
- 02ENGINE12
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
- 04SERVICE BRAKES3
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
Owners report the vehicle unexpectedly shifting into neutral and shutting off while driving, often accompanied by an electronic throttle control warning light. This can happen in traffic or at low speeds, creating a dangerous loss of power.
Complaints describe the engine shutting off while in traffic or at yield signs, sometimes linked to a known recall (e.g., Recall 338). Some owners also report persistent check engine lights and stalling shortly after purchase.
Drivers report brake failure and a reverberating recoil sound when hitting a bump or pothole at low speeds, leading to loss of braking control. Another complaint mentions the entire instrument cluster going chaotic, followed by power steering and brake failure.
Several complaints duplicate electrical and engine stalling issues, indicating that owners often cannot pinpoint the exact cause. This suggests intermittent, hard-to-diagnose problems that may require multiple dealer visits.
“MY VEHICLE HAS TWO FAULTS THAT I BELIEVE ARE UNSAFE. FIRST, WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS PUT ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE MOST RECENT…”
“MY CURRENT VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP STILL BEING WORKED ON FOR THE INITIAL AND PAST ISSUES NOT CORRECTED. I HAD TO BRING MY LOANER VEHICLE OF SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR BECAUSE THE LOANER HAD SIMILAR ISSUES TO MY OWN VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH MY WIF…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent issues such as the ignition key becoming stuck and unable to be removed even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with a check engine light.
Complaints include delayed throttle response—pressing the accelerator results in a several-second delay before the car moves. This can happen repeatedly and may be a sign of electronic throttle or transmission programming issues.
Some owners experience the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Others hear a clicking or vibrating sound from the brake pedal area, which dealers attribute to the ABS system but owners find abnormal.
Multiple systems—smart stop, vehicle stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. Another complaint involves front and rear subframe, driveline, and stability control components.
“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.
Maserati Levante — 12 recalls
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Grecale, 2023-2025 MC20 Cielo, 2024 Granturismo, GranCabrio, 2021-2024 Levante, Ghibli, Quattroporte, and 2022-2025 MC 20 vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The radio software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 10, 2025. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is…
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2021 Quattroporte, Ghibli, 2021-2022 Levante, and 2022 MC20 vehicles. The fuel line sensor housing may crack and leak fuel.
The risk: A fuel leak may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A fuel leak also increases the risk of fire in the presence of an ignition source.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel line sensor housing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2021. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is 442.
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Grecale, 2023-2025 MC20 Cielo, 2024 Granturismo, GranCabrio, 2021-2024 Levante, Ghibli, Quattroporte, and 2022-2025 MC 20 vehicles. The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail…
The risk: A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The radio software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 10, 2025. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is…
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2018 Maserati Quattroporte, Ghibli, and Levante vehicles. The welds on the front sub frame may be incomplete, which can result in the welds breaking.
The risk: If the welds fracture, it can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Maserati will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sub frame for incomplete welds, replacing the sub frame, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2…
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
Maserati Levante or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Maserati Levante has far fewer complaints per year (3.5 vs. 205.6), but that is partly because it sells in much lower numbers. The Camry's higher complaint count reflects its massive fleet, yet its issues are often less severe and more varied. In practice, the Levante's low-volume, high-severity problems may be more disruptive per owner.
Key differences
- The Levante has 28 complaints over 8 years (3.5/year) versus the Camry's 2,056 over 10 years (205.6/year), but the Levante's issues often involve stalling and brake failure, which are immediate safety concerns.
- Levante complaints cluster around electrical and engine stalling, while Camry complaints span power train, engine, brakes, and electrical systems with symptoms like key-stuck and hesitation.
- The Levante has 12 recalls, including back-over prevention software and fuel system issues; the Camry has 31 recalls, many for air bag sensors and seats.
- Crash-related complaints are much higher for the Camry (171 vs. 2 for the Levante), but this likely reflects the far larger number of Camrys on the road.
- Check for any history of the vehicle shutting off or shifting into neutral while driving—ask for service records related to electronic throttle control or recall 338.
- Test the brakes at low speeds over bumps or potholes; listen for a recoiling sound and feel for any loss of braking power, which owners report.
- Try removing the key from the ignition after parking; if it sticks, this is a known power train complaint that may require battery disconnection.
- Test the electronic parking brake engagement and disengagement; if it fails to release, it could indicate a faulty switch or actuator.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Levante's recall 338 and the Camry's air bag sensor recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system and scan for stored fault codes, particularly for throttle control and transmission issues.
- During a test drive, simulate low-speed stops and bumps to check for brake anomalies, and test acceleration for any hesitation or delay.
- Verify that all keys work and that the ignition key can be easily removed when the car is in Park.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and specifically inquire about any repeated stalling, warning lights, or dealer visits for unresolved issues.
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 | Maserati Levante | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 50 |
| 2023 | 1 | 64 |
| 2022 | 1 | 61 |
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 2 | 274 |
| 2019 | 5 | 395 |
| 2018 | 4 | 744 |
| 2017 | 15 | 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 Maserati Levante or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Maserati Levante vs Toyota Camry
- Maserati Levante total complaints
- 28
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Maserati Levante total recalls
- 12
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Maserati Levante avg complaints/year
- 3.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Maserati Levante
- Maserati Levante top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN