Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class vs Toyota Camry
How the Mercedes BENZ CLA Class 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
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class vs Toyota Camry: The CLA averaged 16.6 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the Camry averaged 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The CLA's 166 total complaints include sunroof explosions and power loss; the Camry's 2,056 include key-stuck and brake issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ CLA Class or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Class is a compact luxury car that averages about 16.6 complaints per year over the past decade, with no recalls on record. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins like a trunk that opens on its own or a blank instrument cluster, plus engine power loss and sunroof glass that shatters without warning. These issues can leave you stranded or distracted while driving, so a thorough inspection and service history check are essential.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan that generates about 205.6 complaints per year, far more than the CLA, but it also has 31 recalls covering items like wheels, seats, and airbag sensors. Owners describe transmission shuddering, delayed throttle response, and brake problems such as the electronic parking brake failing to disengage. The higher complaint volume partly reflects how many Camrys are on the road, but the pattern shows real powertrain and brake quirks to watch for.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ CLA Class | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 166 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 13 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 16.6 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 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.
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER32
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
- 03ENGINE25
- 04POWER TRAIN22
- 05AIR BAGS21
Owners report the trunk latch releasing unexpectedly and the instrument cluster going blank or showing wrong information while driving. These failures can compromise security and leave you without critical driving data.
Complaints include a yellow check engine light with poor initial acceleration and repeated loss of power to accelerate on the highway. Such power loss is dangerous in traffic and may require dealer fixes that aren't always immediately available.
A partial-load ventilation valve in the crankcase ventilation system has failed, and some owners report the car losing power to accelerate on multiple occasions. This can cause hesitation or stalling, affecting drivability and safety.
The sunroof can explode without warning, and the SOS emergency call system may become unresponsive. A shattered sunroof is a sudden safety hazard, and a dead SOS feature means no automatic help in a crash.
“On Friday, September 27, around 12 pm, while driving on i880S near Union City, California, something horrific happened. The sunroof of my 2021 Mercedes CLA 250, with just 49,000 miles, suddenly exploded without any warning. The sound was so loud and violent,…”
“My 2021 CLA 250 that I reached purchased as a used vehicle in the last three months and now is saying SOS unresponsive so in my vehicle where to get a motor vehicle accident, it will not be alerting any emergency personnel authorities and I think it’s really…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners describe the ignition key getting stuck in the ignition even when the car is in Park, and the vehicle hesitating or shuddering with the check engine light on. These issues can prevent you from securing the car or driving smoothly.
Complaints include a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the gas pedal, and hesitation with shuddering at various speeds. Delayed acceleration can be risky when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking or vibrating sound from the brake pedal area is common. Brake problems directly affect your ability to stop or park safely.
Multiple driver-assist systems—smart stop, stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction at once. Losing these aids suddenly can increase driver workload and risk.
“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.
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class
No recalls on record.
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
Mercedes BENZ CLA Class or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz CLA Class has far fewer complaints per year (16.6 vs. 205.6) and no recalls, while the Toyota Camry has more complaints and 31 recalls. In practice, the CLA may have fewer reported problems overall, but the Camry's higher volume partly reflects its much larger production. Neither is problem-free, so condition and maintenance history matter more than the raw counts.
Key differences
- The CLA has 0 recalls and 166 complaints over 10 years, while the Camry has 31 recalls and 2,056 complaints—but the Camry sells in far higher numbers, so per-vehicle rates are not directly comparable.
- CLA owners report sudden sunroof explosions and unresponsive SOS systems; Camry owners report key-stuck-in-ignition and electronic parking brake failures.
- CLA engine complaints include highway power loss and a failed crankcase ventilation valve; Camry engine complaints include delayed throttle response and shuddering.
- Camry complaints frequently involve multiple driver-assist systems failing together, while CLA electrical issues focus on the trunk latch and instrument cluster.
- Inspect the sunroof glass for cracks or prior replacement, and test the SOS emergency call button to ensure it connects—both are reported failure points.
- Check the trunk latch for unexpected opening and verify the instrument cluster displays correctly without flickering or blanking during a test drive.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and listen for hesitation or shuddering during acceleration; a stuck key or shudder can indicate power train problems.
- Verify the electronic parking brake engages and disengages smoothly, and listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area—both are common complaints.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls were performed, especially on the Camry (wheels, seats, airbag sensors).
- During a test drive, accelerate firmly to check for hesitation or power loss, and test all electrical features including sunroof, trunk, and instrument cluster.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brake system, including the electronic parking brake on the Camry, and the crankcase ventilation valve on the CLA.
- Check the sunroof glass and SOS system on the CLA, and test the key removal and driver-assist systems on the Camry.
- Ask for maintenance records and budget for potential repairs, since both models have reported component failures that may not be covered by warranty.
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 | Mercedes BENZ CLA Class | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 0 | 50 |
| 2023 | 6 | 64 |
| 2022 | 4 | 61 |
| 2021 | 7 | 157 |
| 2020 | 24 | 274 |
| 2019 | 52 | 395 |
| 2018 | 46 | 744 |
| 2017 | 27 | 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 Mercedes BENZ CLA Class or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class vs Toyota Camry
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class total complaints
- 166
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class avg complaints/year
- 16.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class
- Mercedes BENZ CLA Class top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN