Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ CLS Class vs Toyota Camry
How the Mercedes BENZ CLS 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 CLS Class vs Toyota Camry: The CLS averages 5.5 complaints per year with 0 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The CLS has 3 injuries and 0 deaths; the Camry has 158 injuries and 1 death. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ CLS Class or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ CLS Class
The Mercedes-Benz CLS Class is a luxury four-door coupe that shows a relatively low complaint rate of about 5.5 per year over the past decade, with no recalls on record. However, the complaints that do exist cluster around expensive, recurring problems: wheels that crack or develop bubbles, a 48-volt electrical system that can shut off the engine in hot weather, and power steering failures. These are not minor annoyances—they can leave you stranded or facing costly repairs, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is critical.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 206 per year—but that reflects its enormous sales volume. The complaints cover a wide range of systems, from power train hesitation and stuck ignition keys to brake noises and electrical glitches, and there are 31 recalls. While many issues are less severe than the CLS's, the sheer number of reports means you should check for open recalls and test-drive carefully.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ CLS Class | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 55 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 5.5 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 CLS Class
- 01WHEELS18
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
- 03STEERING7
- 04ENGINE6
- 05POWER TRAIN4
Owners report tires becoming prematurely bald, developing bubbles, or shredding, and wheels cracking with slow leaks. These failures can lead to blowouts and costly replacements, so inspect wheels and tires closely.
The 48-volt battery system can fail, causing a '48V Battery malfunction' warning and potentially shutting off the engine, especially in hot climates. This is a serious safety risk because the car may lose power while driving.
Power steering malfunctions can occur within 20 minutes of driving, making the vehicle hard to control. Owners also report total electrical failures that affect the command system, windows, and mirrors while driving.
Some owners see frequent low coolant warnings without visible leaks, which can indicate a slow coolant loss that may lead to overheating if ignored. This requires regular monitoring and potential repair.
“I purchased my 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 with approximately 12,000 miles on 08/16/2022. Throughout the course of my ownership the vehicle has had multiple sets of tires replaced due to them either being prematurely bald, developing multiple bubbles, or shred…”
“I had a slow leak in the rear passenger tire for a few weeks now so I took it to the neighborhood tire shop. No nail or puncture was discovered but a hairline crack in the rear wheel. The tire shop manager advised me to call the dealership and ask the part to…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others experience hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, which can affect drivability.
Delayed throttle response is a common complaint—pressing the gas pedal results in a several-second delay before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area is often attributed to the ABS system. These issues can affect braking confidence.
Multiple driver-assist systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. This sudden loss of safety aids is alarming and needs dealer diagnosis.
“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 CLS 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 CLS Class or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz CLS Class has far fewer complaints per year (5.5 vs. 205.6), but its issues tend to be severe and expensive, such as wheel cracks and 48V electrical failures. The Toyota Camry has many more complaints, but they are spread across a huge number of vehicles and often involve less critical problems. In practice, the CLS may be more reliable in frequency but riskier in cost and safety when something goes wrong.
Key differences
- The CLS has 0 recalls and 55 complaints over 10 years, while the Camry has 31 recalls and 2,056 complaints—but the Camry sells in far greater numbers.
- CLS owners frequently report wheel cracks and 48V electrical failures that can shut off the engine; Camry owners report stuck ignition keys, hesitation, and brake noises.
- The CLS has 2 crash-related complaints and 3 injuries; the Camry has 171 crash-related complaints, 158 injuries, and 1 death, though again volume matters.
- CLS problems often involve expensive luxury components (wheels, 48V system), while Camry problems are more varied and include many driver-assist glitches.
- Inspect all wheels for hairline cracks or bends, especially on the rear, and check tires for premature wear, bubbles, or shredding.
- Test the 48V electrical system by driving in hot weather if possible and watch for any battery malfunction warnings; also check for power steering assist within the first 20 minutes of driving.
- Check that the ignition key releases smoothly when the car is in Park; if it sticks, it could be a sign of a power train defect.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the Camry.
- For the CLS, have a mechanic inspect wheels, tires, and the 48V battery system, and scan for stored electrical fault codes.
- For the Camry, test-drive at various speeds to check for hesitation, shuddering, and delayed throttle response.
- Test all driver-assist features (blind spot monitoring, lane keeping, stability control) on both cars to ensure they function.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for coolant flushes on the CLS and brake system service on the Camry.
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 CLS Class | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | 64 |
| 2022 | 3 | 61 |
| 2021 | 1 | 157 |
| 2020 | 6 | 274 |
| 2019 | 20 | 395 |
| 2018 | 0 | 744 |
| 2017 | 2 | 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 CLS Class or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ CLS Class vs Toyota Camry
- Mercedes BENZ CLS Class total complaints
- 55
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mercedes BENZ CLS Class total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercedes BENZ CLS Class avg complaints/year
- 5.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ CLS Class
- Mercedes BENZ CLS Class top complaint area
- WHEELS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN