Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 70 vs Toyota Camry
How the Mazda CX 70 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
Mazda CX 70 vs Toyota Camry: The CX-70 has 56 complaints over 2 years (28/year) and 4 recalls, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints over 10 years (214/year) and 31 recalls. CX-70 issues often involve lane departure and forward collision systems; Camry issues include power train and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 70 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda CX 70
The Mazda CX-70 is a newer model with only two years of complaint data, averaging 28 complaints per year. Owners frequently report issues with lane departure and forward collision avoidance systems, often describing false alerts or failures to alert when a car is present. Power train and engine complaints include jerky transmission at low speeds and involuntary acceleration. These are serious safety concerns that can affect daily driving confidence.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has a long history with over 2,100 complaints across ten years, averaging about 214 per year. Common problem areas are power train, engine, and service brakes, with reports of transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake failure. While the Camry is a popular sedan, the volume of complaints suggests a range of persistent issues. Buyers should be aware of these patterns when considering a used model.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 70 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 56 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 28.0 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 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.
Mazda CX 70
- 01LANE DEPARTURE23
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE9
- 03POWER TRAIN7
- 04ENGINE5
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
Owners report the collision avoidance system malfunctioning, alerting when no car is near or failing to alert when a car is in the blind spot. Some also experience intermittent steering that stiffens and pulls the vehicle left or right without driver input, which can be dangerous at speed.
Complaints describe driver assistance system failures, such as adaptive cruise control not maintaining distance or failing to brake. These defects often persist despite software updates and repairs, undermining trust in the system's reliability.
At low speeds (10-20 mph), the motor or transmission can be jerky and sluggish, making it slow to accelerate from stops or in traffic. This hesitation can be frustrating and potentially hazardous when merging or crossing intersections.
Some owners report involuntary acceleration at very low speeds (1-5 mph), where the engine revs and the car lurches forward unexpectedly. This can cause loss of control in tight spaces like garages or parking lots.
“Within 100 days of purchasing the CX70 new ,we noticed that the collision avoidance system was malfunctioning . It would alert when no car was near us . It did not alert every time a car was actually in our right blind spot or moving through our right blind s…”
“I purchased a Certified Pre-Owned Mazda CX-70 that exhibits intermittent and unpredictable steering behavior, creating a significant safety concern. The steering will intermittently stiffen and then pull the vehicle left or right without driver input, at time…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end upon acceleration, often diagnosed as transmission failure requiring replacement. Some also experience sudden acceleration, which has led to crashes. These issues can be costly and dangerous.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration and engine maintenance codes related to coolant valve bypass recalls. These problems can cause unexpected acceleration or engine damage, posing safety risks.
Some drivers report a complete lack of brake response when pressing the pedal, such as when driving downhill or in parking lots. This can lead to collisions and is a critical safety concern.
Issues include AC condenser damage from road debris and persistent mildew odors from the HVAC system. While not safety-critical, these problems affect comfort and can be expensive to fix.
“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.
Mazda CX 70 — 4 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 vehicles equipped with a Dash Electrical Supply Unit (ESU). During vehicle startup, the defroster, seat belt warning, 360° view monitor functions, and the PHEV high-voltage battery cooling system may not fun…
The risk: An ESU that does not function properly, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the Dash ESU with improved software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 vehicles. The powertrain control module (PCM) and engine control modules (ECM) software may cause malfunction indicator lights to illuminate and a loss of drive power.
The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the PCM and ECM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7024J.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Improper inverter software may cause the malfunction indicator lights to illuminate, and a loss of drive power may occur while in electric vehicle (EV) mode.
The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install improved inverter software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7024J.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-90 and 2025 CX-70 mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEV). The fuel gauge in the instrument cluster may display an inaccurate fuel reading.
The risk: An inaccurate fuel gauge may result in the vehicle unexpectedly running out of fuel and stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the body control module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 24, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. The manufacturer'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
Mazda CX 70 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-70 has far fewer complaints per year (28 vs. 214 for the Camry), but its issues often involve advanced driver-assistance systems and low-speed acceleration. The Camry's higher complaint volume reflects a longer history and a broader range of problems, including serious brake and transmission failures. In practice, the CX-70 may have fewer reported problems overall, but the nature of its complaints can be just as concerning.
Key differences
- The Mazda CX-70 has 56 complaints over 2 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,143 over 10 years, indicating a much higher annual complaint rate for the Camry.
- Mazda CX-70 complaints often involve lane departure and forward collision avoidance malfunctions, whereas Camry complaints frequently cite power train, engine, and brake problems.
- The CX-70 has 4 recalls, including electrical system and power train software issues; the Camry has 31 recalls, covering air bags, seats, wheels, and more.
- Camry complaints include reports of sudden acceleration and brake failure leading to crashes, while CX-70 complaints include involuntary acceleration at low speeds and steering pull.
- Test the lane departure and forward collision avoidance systems during a test drive; watch for false alerts or failures to alert when a car is present.
- Check for any signs of jerky transmission or involuntary acceleration at low speeds, especially when pulling out from stops or in parking lots.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, which may indicate transmission problems requiring replacement.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including on slopes, and be alert for any lack of response or unusual pedal feel.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned for each model.
- During a test drive, deliberately test all driver-assistance features and brakes in various conditions.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for software updates or transmission repairs.
- Consider an extended warranty if purchasing a model with known expensive repairs, such as transmission replacement.
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 | Mazda CX 70 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 119 |
| 2025 | 50 | 153 |
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 Mazda CX 70 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 70 vs Toyota Camry
- Mazda CX 70 total complaints
- 56
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mazda CX 70 total recalls
- 4
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mazda CX 70 avg complaints/year
- 28.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 70
- Mazda CX 70 top complaint area
- LANE DEPARTURE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN