Head-to-head reliability
Mazda Millenia vs Toyota Camry
How the Mazda Millenia 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 Millenia vs Toyota Camry: The Millenia averaged 24 complaints per year over 3 years with 0 recalls, while the Camry averaged 214.3 complaints per year over 10 years with 31 recalls. Camry owners more often report transmission, brake, and acceleration issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda Millenia or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda Millenia
The Mazda Millenia is a used sedan that averaged 24 owner complaints per year over a three-year span, with no recalls on record. The most common trouble spots are the engine and power train, where owners describe stalling, fuel-system work, and gear-shift failures. Air bag and electrical complaints also appear, including repeated air bag light issues and battery acid fumes. For a buyer, this suggests a car that may need frequent attention to engine and transmission health.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a used sedan that averaged about 214 complaints per year over a ten-year span, with 31 recalls. Power train, engine, brake, and electrical complaints are common, and owners report grinding transmissions, sudden acceleration, brake failure, and AC problems. The higher complaint volume reflects a much larger number of vehicles on the road and a longer reporting period. A buyer should expect a well-known model with a wide range of reported issues to check.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda Millenia | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 72 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 6 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 24.0 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 Millenia
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING19
- 02POWER TRAIN13
- 03AIR BAGS8
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
- 05SUSPENSION6
Owners report fuel-system problems, repeated decarbon and injector cleaning, spark plug replacement, and a shorted knock sensor. One owner also described the car stalling at about 40 mph while the door locks cycled on their own. These issues matter because stalling and repeated engine repairs can leave a buyer stranded.
Complaints include a car that kept going in reverse after being shifted into drive, and another that lurched forward at full throttle from idle. These are serious drivability and control concerns that could lead to a crash in a parking lot or on the road.
Owners report the air bag light coming on repeatedly, with dealers replacing the air bag, cable harness, and control module without a lasting fix. Another owner had trouble finding a correct replacement part. A buyer should treat an air bag warning light as a sign that the system may not work in a crash.
One owner reported battery acid fumes spilling into the engine compartment, corroding components and sometimes entering the cabin through the air vents. This is a health and corrosion concern that could affect both the car's electronics and the people inside.
“PROBLEMS WITH FUEL SYSTEM PRACTICALLY SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. NOTIFIED MAZDA MOTORS BUT WAS BRUSHED ASIDE. 1/13/03-ENGINE DECARBON/FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER;12/17/03-REPLACE ALL SPARK PLUGS;02/06/04 - REPLACED SHORTED OUT KNOCK SENSOR; 07/23/04 - ENGINE DECARBON/…”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA MILLENIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY THEMSELVES REPEATEDLY. HE TOOK TH…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners describe grinding noises from the front during acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission problems and recommending replacement. Another complaint involved a car that did not stop as expected when braking in a parking lot. Transmission repairs are expensive and can make the car undrivable.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration that led to a crash, and a coolant valve bypass code that one owner said was covered by a recall for other Camrys but not their VIN. Sudden acceleration is a serious safety concern, and recall coverage gaps can leave a buyer paying out of pocket.
One owner reported no brake response at all while driving down a steep hill with curves, and another had a similar issue in a parking lot. Brake failure is a critical safety issue that should be checked immediately on any used Camry.
Owners report AC condenser damage from road debris and a recurring mildew or vinegar smell from the vents when the air conditioning is used. These are comfort and repair-cost issues rather than immediate safety risks, but they can be annoying and 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 Millenia
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
Mazda Millenia or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mazda Millenia has far fewer complaints per year (24.0) than the Toyota Camry (214.3), but the Camry's numbers cover a much larger fleet and a longer period. In practice, the Millenia's lower volume may mean fewer reported problems, but the Camry has more recalls and a wider range of documented issues. Neither should be assumed trouble-free.
Key differences
- The Mazda Millenia has 0 recalls and 72 complaints over 3 years, while the Toyota Camry has 31 recalls and 2,143 complaints over 10 years.
- Millenia owners report stalling, reverse-gear engagement, and air bag light problems; Camry owners report transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake failure.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 163 injuries, compared with 6 crash-related and 3 injuries for the Millenia.
- The Camry's recall subjects include air bag sensors, seats, wheels, and labels, while the Millenia has no recalls on record.
- Check for any history of stalling or rough running, and ask whether the fuel injectors, spark plugs, or knock sensor have been replaced.
- Test the air bag warning light and ask if the air bag module, harness, or control module has been replaced without a lasting fix.
- Listen for grinding or whining from the transmission during a test drive and ask if the transmission has been replaced or is on backorder.
- Test the brakes on a downhill slope and at low speed, and ask about any sudden acceleration incidents or coolant valve recall coverage for the specific VIN.
Before you buy
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who can scan for engine, transmission, and air bag codes on both cars.
- For the Millenia, specifically check for fuel-system service records and whether the air bag light stays off after starting.
- For the Camry, test the transmission for grinding and confirm whether any open recalls apply to the VIN.
- On both cars, test the brakes at low speed and on a slope, and check for any unusual acceleration or lurching.
- Review the NHTSA complaint history for the exact model year you are considering, since patterns can vary by year.
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 Millenia or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda Millenia vs Toyota Camry
- Mazda Millenia total complaints
- 72
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mazda Millenia total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mazda Millenia avg complaints/year
- 24.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mazda Millenia
- Mazda Millenia top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN