Head-to-head reliability
Maserati MC20 vs Toyota Camry
How the Maserati MC20 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 MC20 vs Toyota Camry: The MC20 has zero owner complaints over 4 years, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints over 10 years, including 181 crash-related incidents. The Camry's top issues are power train and engine problems, whereas the MC20's recalls are mostly software. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Maserati MC20 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Maserati MC20
The Maserati MC20 is a low-volume exotic sports car, and its reliability record is remarkably clean: zero owner complaints over four model years. This means owners have not reported any specific mechanical or electrical failures to NHTSA, which is unusual for any vehicle. However, the car has had nine recalls, mostly for software and labeling issues, indicating that while the car may be reliable in day-to-day use, it has had some factory-level oversights that were addressed proactively.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with a much longer history, and its complaint record is extensive: over 2,100 complaints in ten years, averaging more than 200 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission grinding and sudden acceleration to brake failures and HVAC odors. While many Camrys are trouble-free, the sheer volume of complaints, including serious safety-related ones, suggests that some model years have significant problems that buyers should investigate.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Maserati MC20 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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.
Maserati MC20
No component data available.
There are no owner complaints on file for the Maserati MC20, so there are no specific failure patterns to describe. This is a positive sign for reliability, but it also means that any issues that do arise are not well-documented.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end upon acceleration, with dealerships confirming transmission issues that require replacement. Some mention recalls for the same issue on 2021 Camrys, and transmissions are on backorder, indicating a widespread problem.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration, leading to crashes and total loss of the vehicle. Also, engine maintenance lights come on with codes like P268115 related to a coolant valve bypass, which may be a recall issue but not covered for all VINs.
Owners describe brake pedal failure with no response when pressing the brake, especially on hills or in parking lots. This is a critical safety issue that could lead to accidents.
Recurring HVAC/air conditioning odor problems produce a strong vinegar-like or mildew smell from vents, especially in warmer weather. Also, AC condensers are damaged by rocks going through the shield, which the dealer says is not uncommon.
“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.
Maserati MC20 — 9 recalls
The defect: Maserati North America, Inc. (Maserati) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maserati MC20, and 2023-2024 MC20 Cielo vehicles. The Vehicle Capacity Weight (VCW) on the tire label may state incorrect information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
The risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install corrected labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2024. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-969-2737. Maserati's number for this recall is 730.
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 2022 MC20 vehicles. The brake lights may malfunction by unintentionally flickering due to faulty rear tail lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, R…
The risk: Flickering brake lights may confuse other drivers, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the tail lights, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Maserati customer service at 1-877-696-2737. Maserati's number for this r…
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
Maserati MC20 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Maserati MC20 has zero complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages over 214 complaints per year. In practice, this means the MC20 has a much cleaner reliability record based on owner reports, but the Camry's higher volume of complaints reflects its larger population and longer history. Buyers should weigh the MC20's lack of reported issues against the Camry's documented problems, especially in transmission and brakes.
Key differences
- The MC20 has zero owner complaints, while the Camry has over 2,100, including serious safety issues like sudden acceleration and brake failure.
- The Camry's most common problems are in the power train (395 complaints) and engine (315), with transmission grinding and engine codes being frequent.
- The MC20's recalls are mostly for software and labels, not mechanical failures, whereas the Camry has recalls for air bags, seats, and wheels.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 1 death, while the MC20 has none, indicating a higher safety risk in the Camry based on reported incidents.
- Since there are no owner complaints, there are no specific red flags to inspect, but check that all recalls have been performed, especially software updates for backup prevention and labels.
- Inspect the transmission for any grinding noises during acceleration, and check if the vehicle has had any transmission recalls or replacements.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on slopes, and look for any signs of brake failure or warning lights. Also, check for HVAC odors and condenser damage.
Before you buy
- For the Maserati MC20, verify that all nine recalls have been completed by a dealer, particularly the software updates for backup prevention.
- For the Toyota Camry, check the VIN for open recalls, especially those related to air bags, seats, and wheels.
- On a Camry test drive, accelerate gently and listen for grinding noises from the front end, and brake hard from a moderate speed to ensure pedal response.
- Ask for the Camry's service history to see if the transmission has been replaced or if there are any notes about engine codes.
- For either vehicle, consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic who can check for signs of sudden acceleration or brake 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 MC20 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 153 |
| 2024 | 0 | 48 |
| 2023 | 0 | 62 |
| 2022 | 0 | 59 |
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 MC20 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Maserati MC20 vs Toyota Camry
- Maserati MC20 total complaints
- 0
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Maserati MC20 total recalls
- 9
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Maserati MC20 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Maserati MC20
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN