Head-to-head reliability
Mercedes BENZ Sprinter vs Toyota Camry
How the Mercedes BENZ Sprinter 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 Sprinter vs Toyota Camry: The Sprinter has 413 complaints over 10 years (41/year) and 10 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints (206/year) and 31 recalls. Sprinter issues include rollaway and engine shutdown; Camry issues include stuck keys and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mercedes BENZ Sprinter or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mercedes BENZ Sprinter
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a commercial van often used for work or conversion, and its 413 complaints over 10 years (about 41 per year) suggest a moderate but steady stream of owner-reported problems. The top issues involve unknown or other, engine, and electrical systems, with some reports of dangerous rollaway after parking and sudden engine shutdown. With 10 recalls and 13 crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that demands careful maintenance and pre-purchase inspection.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular family sedan with a reputation for reliability, but NHTSA data shows 2,056 complaints over 10 years (about 206 per year), far more than the Sprinter. The most common problem areas are power train, unknown or other, and engine, with owners reporting stuck ignition keys, hesitation, and brake issues. Despite the higher complaint count, the Camry has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints, indicating that many issues are addressed through recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mercedes BENZ Sprinter | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 413 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 13 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 41.3 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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 Sprinter
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER85
- 02ENGINE84
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM70
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE62
- 05POWER TRAIN53
Owners report that the van can roll away after being parked on a mild slope, even after shifting into park. This is a serious safety concern because it can happen shortly after leaving the vehicle, potentially causing a crash.
Complaints include sudden engine shutdown and limp mode, as well as idle dropping to 400 rpm with no throttle response. These issues can leave a driver stranded or unable to accelerate in traffic, which is dangerous.
Owners describe electrical burning odors and a steering wheel that becomes extremely hot to the touch. Such symptoms suggest potential wiring or component failures that could lead to fire or loss of control.
The crosswind assist feature has been reported to activate unexpectedly, making the van difficult to drive on the freeway. This can frighten drivers and reduce confidence in the vehicle's safety systems.
“In August 2025, I had taken the van for a drive to charge things up, got home, put it in park and parked it in my driveway, which has a mild slope. ~ 30 seconds - 1 minute after me leaving the vehicle, it rolled backward out of the driveway, across a busy str…”
“In August 2025, I had taken the van for a drive to charge things up, got home, put it in park and parked it in my driveway, which has a mild slope. ~ 30 seconds - 1 minute after me leaving the vehicle, it rolled backward out of the driveway, across a busy str…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the car is in Park. Another complaint describes hesitation and shuddering while driving, which can affect acceleration and smoothness.
Multiple systems—smart stop, stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. This cluster of failures can overwhelm a driver and compromise safety.
Some owners experience a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator from a stop. This lag 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 common. These issues can prevent the car from moving or indicate ABS problems.
“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 Sprinter — 10 recalls
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The airbag systems may not have been activated after vehicle production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbe…
The risk: An inactive airbag system can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to determine if the airbag systems have been activated, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on November 22, 2019. The rec…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Sprinter and Metris vehicles. The vehicles left the reassembly plant without the final quality inspection of safety-relevant parts or bolt connections, resulting in possible unknown safety risks.
The risk: Failure to identify loose safety related parts can increase the risk of crash and injury.
The fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and vehicles will be returned to the reassembly plant for comprehensive inspection and, if necessary, corrective action, free of charge. The recall began November 15, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer servic…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 1500, 2500, 3500 and 4500 vehicles. The rear side windows may be single-pane safety glass instead of laminated safety glass.
The risk: In the event of a side impact crash or vehicle rollover, the fitted side windows may not adequately protect the rear occupants from being ejected, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner dealers will replace the single-pane safety glass with laminated safety glass., free of charge. DVUSA issued owners an interim notification on August 16, 2019. The recall began Ja…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The spare tire label may indicate the maximum speed at 55 kilometers per hour (kph) rather than as 34 miles per hour (mph).
The risk: With only the metric speed listed on the spare tire label, the driver could misinterpret the kph as mph and operate the vehicle with the spare tire installed at higher speeds than the tire can withstand, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: DVUSA will notify owners, and Mercedes-Benz or Freightliner Sprinter dealers will replace it with the label with the correct maximum speed information indicated in miles per hour, free of charge. The recall began May 15, 2020. Owners may c…
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 Sprinter or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter has far fewer complaints per year (about 41) than the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the Sprinter's issues include severe safety defects like rollaway and engine shutdown. The Camry's higher complaint volume is partly offset by more recalls, but owners still report significant power train and brake problems. In practice, the Sprinter may have fewer overall complaints, but the potential for sudden, dangerous failures makes it a higher-risk choice for some buyers.
Key differences
- The Sprinter has reports of rollaway after parking, while the Camry has reports of stuck ignition keys and brake issues.
- Sprinter owners complain of engine shutdown and limp mode; Camry owners report hesitation and delayed throttle response.
- Electrical burning odors and hot steering wheels are Sprinter-specific, whereas Camry electrical issues often involve multiple system malfunctions.
- The Camry has far more complaints per year but also more recalls, suggesting some issues are addressed through recalls.
- Check for any signs of rollaway risk: test parking on a mild slope and ensure the vehicle stays put after shifting into park.
- Inspect the electrical system for burning odors or unusually hot steering wheel, and ask about any history of engine shutdown or limp mode.
- Test the ignition key to ensure it can be removed easily when in Park, and check for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and verify that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the Sprinter for rollaway risk, electrical issues, and engine performance.
- For the Camry, test the ignition key, brake system, and throttle response during a thorough test drive.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission and brake services.
- Search NHTSA complaints for the specific model year you are considering to see if common issues apply.
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 Sprinter | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 1 | 50 |
| 2023 | 140 | 64 |
| 2022 | 258 | 61 |
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
| 2019 | 0 | 395 |
| 2018 | 14 | 744 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Sprinter or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter vs Toyota Camry
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter total complaints
- 413
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter total recalls
- 10
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter avg complaints/year
- 41.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN