Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ S Class vs Toyota Camry
How the Mercedes BENZ S 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 S Class vs Toyota Camry: The S-Class has 174 complaints (17.4/year) and 0 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. Both report 1 death, but the Camry has more crash-related complaints (171 vs. 6). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ S Class or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ S Class
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a luxury sedan with complex electronics and advanced driver aids. Over 10 years, it has 174 complaints (17.4 per year) and no recalls, but owners report issues with the electrical system, forward collision avoidance, engine, and brakes. These problems can cause sudden deceleration, blank instrument clusters, engine misfires, and brake pedal interference, which may be costly and frustrating.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan known for reliability, but data shows 2,056 complaints (205.6 per year) and 31 recalls over 10 years. Common trouble spots include the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical system, with reports of stuck keys, hesitation, brake noise, and multiple system malfunctions. The higher complaint volume suggests more frequent owner-reported issues, though many may be less severe than S-Class electronic faults.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ S Class | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 174 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 6 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 17.4 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 7 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 S Class
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE31
- 03ENGINE23
- 04SERVICE BRAKES23
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
Owners report cruise control decelerating without input, misreading speed limit signs, and digital instrument clusters cutting out or going blank. These glitches can distract the driver and undermine trust in the car's electronics.
Complaints include the vehicle shutting off at stop lights in eco mode, followed by warning signals and a 20-30 second restart delay. This can leave you stranded briefly in traffic and may affect safety systems.
Reports of engine light, sluggish throttle, misfires, shaking, and power loss during acceleration. These symptoms can appear intermittently and may require expensive diagnostics and repairs.
Some owners describe brake pedal entanglement with the foot and unexpected vehicle behavior after tire sensor recalibration. Brake issues are safety-critical and should be inspected immediately.
“While driving on highways using cruise control and adaptive cruise control the vehicle decelerates without driver input. The system also misreads or fails to update speed limit signs causing incorrect cruise speeds and sudden speed changes. This behavior has…”
“The control unit in my 2024 Mercedes 2580e triggers an increased number of system resets as part of fallback behavior. The increased number of resets resulted in the digital instrument cluster's display temporarily cutting out, and I had an entirely blank clu…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report ignition keys stuck in the ignition even when in Park, requiring battery disconnect to remove. Others note hesitation and shuddering with check engine light, pointing to transmission or engine management problems.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with several seconds 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 some owners hear clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area due to ABS operation. Brake problems can affect daily usability and safety.
Multiple systems such as stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping can malfunction simultaneously. This suggests complex electrical faults that may be hard to diagnose.
“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 S 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 S Class or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has far fewer complaints per year (17.4 vs. 205.6) and no recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 31 recalls and many more owner complaints. In practice, the S-Class may have fewer reported issues overall, but its problems often involve advanced electronics that can be expensive to fix. The Camry's higher complaint count suggests more frequent visits to the dealer, though many issues may be covered by recalls or simpler repairs.
Key differences
- The S-Class has 174 complaints over 10 years with no recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls, indicating more frequent owner-reported problems and recall campaigns for the Camry.
- S-Class owners report electronic glitches like cruise control decelerating and blank instrument clusters; Camry owners report mechanical issues like stuck ignition keys and transmission hesitation.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, compared to 6 crash-related and 7 injuries for the S-Class, though these numbers don't prove fault.
- Both have 1 death reported, but the S-Class has far fewer total complaints, suggesting a lower overall rate of reported issues per year.
- Check for any history of electrical system faults, especially cruise control or instrument cluster malfunctions, by test-driving and verifying all driver aids work smoothly.
- Listen for engine misfires or hesitation during acceleration and scan for stored check engine codes; also test brake pedal feel for any interference or unusual behavior.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and ensure it releases freely; also check for transmission shudder or hesitation during a test drive.
- Verify the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially for the Camry.
- Have a mechanic inspect the specific systems mentioned in complaints: electronics and brakes for the S-Class; power train and brakes for the Camry.
- During a test drive, simulate stop-and-go traffic and highway driving to check for hesitation, deceleration, or warning lights.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and any warranty coverage, as luxury repairs can be costly.
- Verify that all safety features (forward collision avoidance, lane keeping, etc.) function correctly without error messages.
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 S Class | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 6 | 50 |
| 2023 | 12 | 64 |
| 2022 | 48 | 61 |
| 2021 | 34 | 157 |
| 2020 | 7 | 274 |
| 2019 | 16 | 395 |
| 2018 | 29 | 744 |
| 2017 | 22 | 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 S Class or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ S Class vs Toyota Camry
- Mercedes BENZ S Class total complaints
- 174
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mercedes BENZ S Class total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercedes BENZ S Class avg complaints/year
- 17.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ S Class
- Mercedes BENZ S Class top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN