Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ SLC Class vs Toyota Camry
How the Mercedes BENZ SLC 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 SLC Class vs Toyota Camry: The SLC Class has 8 complaints over 4 years (2.0/yr) and 0 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/yr) and 31 recalls. The Camry also reports 171 crash-related incidents and 158 injuries; the SLC reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ SLC Class or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ SLC Class
The Mercedes-Benz SLC Class is a low-volume two-seat roadster, and its complaint record reflects that: only 8 complaints over 4 years, with no recalls, crashes, injuries, or deaths reported. Owners describe a mix of electrical glitches, a roof panel that detached at speed, engine smoke and hesitation, and a backup camera that sometimes fails to display. Living with it means watching for occasional electronic and trim failures rather than widespread mechanical problems.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume sedan with 2,056 complaints over 10 years, 31 recalls, and reports of 171 crash-related incidents, 158 injuries, and 1 death. The complaint pattern centers on power train hesitation and key-stuck issues, engine throttle delay, brake noises and parking-brake faults, and multiple electrical system malfunctions. It is a mainstream car with many reported problems, but the volume of vehicles on the road also inflates the counts.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ SLC Class | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 8 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.0 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.
Mercedes BENZ SLC Class
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 03ENGINE2
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION1
- 05STRUCTURE1
Owners report recall-related communication and electrical issues, including a case where the recall remedy part was not yet available. This matters because unresolved electrical faults can affect warning systems and leave you waiting for a fix.
One owner reported the front roof panel detaching completely at highway speed, and another noted that safety warnings like steering-wheel shake and blind-spot alarms were not detectable under normal driving. These are serious because they involve structural separation and missed safety alerts.
A 2019 SLC with only 42,000 miles showed a check engine light, heavy exhaust smoke, and hesitation, with a fault code pointing to a specific engine issue. Hesitation and smoke can leave you vulnerable in traffic, as the owner nearly was rear-ended.
The backup camera failed to display randomly several times. A non-working camera makes reversing less predictable, especially in tight spots.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SLC300. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V058000 (COMMUNICATION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck in the ignition even when the dashboard shows Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on. These issues can strand you or make the car feel unreliable.
Complaints include a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, and repeated hesitation and shuddering at various speeds. A delayed throttle can be dangerous when merging or pulling out.
The electronic parking brake sometimes fails to disengage, requiring a tow and a new switch that did not always fix the problem. Owners also report a clicking, vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer calls common. Brake faults directly affect stopping confidence.
One owner reported multiple systems—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, secondary collision brake, and lane keeping—all malfunctioning at once. Another cited front and rear subframe, driveline, and stability/traction control components. Widespread electronic failures can compromise several safety aids simultaneously.
“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 SLC 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 SLC Class or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz SLC Class has far fewer issues per year (2.0 vs. 205.6 complaints per year) and no recalls, crashes, injuries, or deaths on record, while the Camry has 31 recalls and reports of 171 crash-related incidents. In practice, the SLC's low volume means fewer reported problems, but the Camry's high volume means more data and more frequent owner complaints.
Key differences
- The SLC Class has 8 complaints over 4 years with 0 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years with 31 recalls.
- SLC owners report a roof panel detaching at speed and backup camera failures; Camry owners report key-stuck and throttle-delay problems.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and 1 death; the SLC has none of these reported.
- Camry complaints cluster around power train, engine, and brakes, while SLC complaints are spread across electrical, engine, and body/trim areas.
- Inspect the roof panel and latches for any signs of looseness or prior detachment, especially on 2017-era models.
- Check the backup camera display and all electrical warning systems, including blind-spot and lane-keep alerts, for intermittent failures.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and look for any sticking or battery-disconnect workarounds mentioned by owners.
- Listen for brake pedal clicking or vibration and confirm the electronic parking brake engages and disengages smoothly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm whether any open recalls remain, especially for the Camry.
- Test-drive at highway speed and check for hesitation, shuddering, or delayed throttle response.
- Verify all warning lights, cameras, and driver-assist systems work during the test drive.
- For the SLC, inspect the roof panel and latches; for the Camry, test the ignition key and parking brake.
- Ask for maintenance records and have a independent mechanic inspect the engine and electrical systems.
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 SLC Class | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | 274 |
| 2019 | 1 | 395 |
| 2018 | 1 | 744 |
| 2017 | 4 | 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 SLC Class or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ SLC Class vs Toyota Camry
- Mercedes BENZ SLC Class total complaints
- 8
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mercedes BENZ SLC Class total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercedes BENZ SLC Class avg complaints/year
- 2.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ SLC Class
- Mercedes BENZ SLC Class top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN