Head-to-head reliability
Mclaren P1 vs Toyota Camry
How the Mclaren P1 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
Mclaren P1 vs Toyota Camry: over 10 years, the P1 has 0 complaints and 4 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints, 31 recalls, 171 crash-related reports, and 158 injuries. The P1's recalls cover airbag inflators and hood latches; Camry owners report power train, engine, brake, and electrical symptoms. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mclaren P1 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mclaren P1
The Mclaren P1 is a limited-production plug-in hybrid hypercar, so ownership is defined by rarity and specialized service rather than daily-driver reliability. Over 10 years, NHTSA shows 0 owner complaints, 0 crash-related reports, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths, but 4 recalls. The recalls cover passenger frontal airbag inflator modules and hood latches, meaning the main documented safety actions are airbag and hood-securing issues. With no complaint text on record, buyers should rely on recall completion and a specialist inspection rather than owner-reported failure patterns.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mass-market sedan with a very different ownership profile: 2,056 complaints over 10 years, about 205.6 per year, plus 31 recalls, 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and 1 death. Owner complaints cluster around the power train, engine, service brakes, electrical system, and unknown/other areas. Reported symptoms include a stuck ignition key, hesitation and shuddering with a check engine light, delayed throttle response, electronic parking brake failure, and brake pedal clicking or vibration. These are real ownership annoyances and safety concerns that a used-car buyer should take seriously.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mclaren P1 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Mclaren P1
No component data available.
The P1 has recalls for the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator module. An unrepaired inflator can affect airbag deployment in a crash, so buyers should confirm the recall was completed.
The P1 also has recalls for hood latch linkages. A faulty hood latch could allow the hood to open unexpectedly, so the latch should be inspected and the recall verified.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key becoming stuck and unable to be removed even when the dashboard shows Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others report hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, which can point to drivability and transmission concerns.
Complaints describe delayed throttle response, where pressing the accelerator produces a several-second delay before the car moves. This matters because it can affect merging, pulling out into traffic, and overall confidence in the car.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow and a new switch that did not always fix the problem. Others hear a clicking or vibrating sound from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer attributes to the ABS system.
Complaints mention multiple driver-assistance and stability systems malfunctioning at once, including smart stop, vehicle stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping. This matters because several safety aids can become unavailable together.
“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.
Mclaren P1 — 4 recalls
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2012-2013 MP4-12C, 2014-2016 650s, 2015-2016 675 LT, 2014-2015 P1 and 2015-2017 570 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or r…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bags, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 P1 hybrid vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to October 31, 2015. The affected vehicles have a secondary hood latch that may not properly re-engage. As a result, if the primary latch is released inadvertently, the…
The risk: If the hood opens while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood latch with a newly-designed latch, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2016. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain 2012-2013 MP4-12C, 2014-2016 650s, 2015-2016 675 LT, 2014-2015 P1 and 2015-2017 570 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or r…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bags, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
The defect: McLaren Automotive Incorporated (McLaren) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 P1 hybrid vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to October 31, 2015. The affected vehicles have a secondary hood latch that may not properly re-engage. As a result, if the primary latch is released inadvertently, the…
The risk: If the hood opens while driving it may increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: McLaren will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood latch with a newly-designed latch, free of charge. The recall began on January 18, 2016. Owners may contact McLaren customer service at 1-646-429-8916.
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
Mclaren P1 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mclaren P1 has far fewer reported issues per year: 0 complaints per year versus about 205.6 per year for the Toyota Camry. In practice, the P1's main documented safety actions are four recalls, while the Camry has thousands of owner complaints and many more recalls. That does not automatically make either vehicle safe or unsafe, but it means a Camry buyer should expect more reported problems and should check recall and repair history carefully.
Key differences
- The Mclaren P1 has 0 owner complaints and 4 recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls over the same 10-year window.
- P1 recalls focus on passenger frontal airbag inflators and hood latches, while Camry recalls include wheels, seats, and occupant classification airbag sensors.
- Camry owners report real driving symptoms such as stuck ignition keys, hesitation and shuddering, delayed throttle response, electronic parking brake failure, and brake pedal clicking or vibration.
- The P1 has no complaint text on record, so its known issues are recall-based, while the Camry has detailed owner reports that help a buyer know what to look for.
- Confirm the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator recall has been completed, since an unrepaired inflator can affect airbag performance.
- Inspect the hood latch and linkage, and verify the hood latch recall was performed, because a faulty latch could let the hood open unexpectedly.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and watch for hesitation, shuddering, or a check engine light during a test drive.
- Check the electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area, which owners report as ABS-related.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN through NHTSA to confirm all open recalls are completed on the specific vehicle.
- For the Camry, test the ignition key, throttle response, transmission behavior, parking brake, and brake pedal feel during a cold start and a road test.
- For the P1, ask a marque specialist to inspect the airbag system and hood latch, and confirm recall repairs were done.
- Request full service and repair records, and compare them with the reported complaint areas before negotiating.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection done by a mechanic familiar with the specific model, not just a generic used-car check.
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 | Mclaren P1 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
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 Mclaren P1 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mclaren P1 vs Toyota Camry
- Mclaren P1 total complaints
- 0
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mclaren P1 total recalls
- 4
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mclaren P1 avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Mclaren P1
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN