Head-to-head reliability
Mazda MX 5 vs Toyota Camry
How the Mazda MX 5 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 MX 5 vs Toyota Camry: The MX-5 averages 5 complaints per year with 13 recalls, while the Camry averages 214 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 1 death, versus 4 crashes and 0 deaths for the MX-5. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda MX 5 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda MX 5
The Mazda MX-5 is a two-seat sports car with a low annual complaint rate of about 5 per year over the past decade. Owner reports cluster around the manual transmission, electrical quirks, and steering feel, with some air bag and crash-related complaints. It's a niche vehicle where driving enjoyment is high, but you should expect occasional mechanical and electronic issues.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 214 per year—reflecting its huge sales numbers. Complaints span the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical systems, with some reports of sudden acceleration and brake failure. While many issues are isolated, the sheer number of reports means certain problems are more common than in a low-volume sports car.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda MX 5 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 50 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 13 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 4 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.0 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 MX 5
- 01POWER TRAIN15
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
- 03STEERING5
- 04AIR BAGS5
- 05VISIBILITY/WIPER5
Owners report manual transmission synchronizer failures that cause erratic shifting or inability to change gears, with one owner group citing a 10% failure rate. This can lead to expensive repairs and potential safety risk if gears won't engage.
Complaints include warning lights, stalling or unintended acceleration sensations when shifting in and out of drive, and stability control not activating during tire spin. These issues can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Drivers describe a sticky steering feel at higher speeds that requires extra pressure to break free, and some have had ABS and brake warning lights traced to a steering angle sensor. This affects steering predictability and could indicate sensor or rack problems.
A few reports mention air bag warning lights or air bags not deploying in crashes, including one where a vehicle hit a pole and the air bags did not deploy. This is a critical safety concern if the system is faulty.
“The contact owns a 2024 Mazda MX-5. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an unknown warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The contact stated that while driving at 60 M…”
“Manual transmission synchronizers fail, causing erratic gear shift operation and the inability to change gears, which could result in an accident. The ND Mazda Miata Owners Group on Facebook has polled its owners and found a 10% failure rate of manual transmi…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the transmission upon acceleration, sometimes requiring replacement, and sudden unintended acceleration incidents that led to crashes. These are serious and can be costly or dangerous.
Complaints include sudden acceleration, coolant valve bypass issues triggering maintenance codes, and engine problems that may not be covered by recalls for certain VINs. This can lead to unexpected repair bills and safety risks.
Some drivers experienced a complete lack of brake response when pressing the pedal, such as on a steep hill, which could result in a crash. Brake failure is a critical safety issue.
Reports include HVAC odors (like vinegar or mildew) and AC condenser damage from road debris, which are comfort and reliability annoyances rather than safety hazards. These can be expensive to fix and recur.
“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 MX 5 — 13 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mazda MX-5 vehicles. The Traction Control System (TCS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) indicator light may fail to illuminate as intended due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehi…
The risk: An indicator light that does not illuminate may fail to warn the driver of a TCS or DSC system issue, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the DSC unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 7425E.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2019 MX-5 (Miata) vehicles with automatic transmissions. Due to incorrect programming of the Transmission Control Module (TCM), certain conditions may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift and abruptly decelerate.
The risk: If the vehicle abruptly downshifts, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the TCM with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began March 14, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is…
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 MX 5 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mazda MX-5 has far fewer complaints per year (about 5) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 214), but the Camry's higher volume explains much of the difference. In practice, the MX-5 may have fewer overall issues, but the Camry's problems are more widely reported and include some severe safety defects.
Key differences
- The Mazda MX-5 has about 5 complaints per year versus about 214 for the Toyota Camry, but the Camry sells in much higher numbers.
- MX-5 owners frequently report manual transmission synchronizer failures and sticky steering, while Camry owners report transmission grinding and sudden acceleration.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 163 injuries over 10 years, compared to 4 crashes and 4 injuries for the MX-5, though the Camry's larger fleet size contributes.
- Both have air bag and electrical complaints, but the Camry also has brake failure reports, which are less common in the MX-5 data.
- Test the manual transmission for smooth shifting and any grinding or difficulty engaging gears, especially when cold or at higher RPMs.
- Check for sticky steering at highway speeds and ensure no ABS or brake warning lights are on, as these may indicate a steering angle sensor issue.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration and test for any hesitation or sudden acceleration surges.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including on a slope, for any sponginess or lack of response, and check for AC odors or condenser damage.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the MX-5's fuel pump and air bag software, and the Camry's air bag and seat recalls.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds, sharp turns, and braking from speed to feel for steering stickiness, transmission issues, or brake failure.
- Have a mechanic inspect the manual transmission (MX-5) or automatic transmission (Camry) for wear, and check for updated software or known defects.
- For the Camry, specifically ask about any unintended acceleration incidents and check for coolant valve bypass issues if the engine light is on.
- For the MX-5, verify the air bag system has no warning lights and that the steering feels normal at all speeds.
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 MX 5 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 119 |
| 2025 | 3 | 153 |
| 2024 | 5 | 48 |
| 2023 | 7 | 62 |
| 2022 | 5 | 59 |
| 2021 | 1 | 155 |
| 2020 | 3 | 270 |
| 2019 | 11 | 393 |
| 2018 | 3 | 736 |
| 2017 | 11 | 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 Mazda MX 5 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda MX 5 vs Toyota Camry
- Mazda MX 5 total complaints
- 50
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mazda MX 5 total recalls
- 13
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mazda MX 5 avg complaints/year
- 5.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mazda MX 5
- Mazda MX 5 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN