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 averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Mercedes BENZ Sprinter has 215 complaints and 90 recalls on record; Toyota Camry has 2,034 complaints and 28 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
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 | 215 Better | 2,034 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 90 | 28 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 26 Better | 175 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 21.5 Better | 203.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 Better | 160 |
| 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
- 01POWER TRAIN45
- 02STEERING37
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER34
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32
- 05SERVICE BRAKES31
“My EIS module rendered my vehicle inoperable and left me stranded in the winter and left me stranded 54 miles away from the closest repair shop. Only because this is a know issue (see below) AND I had cell phone service enough to research this problem AND I h…”
“The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500. The contact stated while an employee was moving the vehicle out of the garage into the parking lot, the employee shifted the vehicle into PARK with the engine running. The contact exited the vehicle and whi…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN375
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER318
- 03ENGINE307
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM225
“The vehicle allows the engine to be turned off, key removed, while the vehicle is still in drive with no warning lights or sounds. I have tested and the vehicle can roll away. Complained to the toyota dealership and they said the service tech consulted with t…”
“Transmission (UB80E) 2023 Toyota Camry; when pushing on the gas pedal there is a whining/whistling sound: vehicle shutters and all at once takes off like an airplane; gear shifting is not right. Inspected 0n 6/8/2026 by Toyota Dealer - noise coming from the t…”
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 — 90 recalls
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter vehicles equipped with a manual parking brake and 7-speed automatic transmission. The guide bushing on the parking pawl may fatigue, which can cause the parking pawl not to engage and resul…
The risk: Vehicle rollaway increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the software of the electronic stability, transmission control, direct select module, and electronic ignition switch control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2023. Owners may co…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vehicles equipped with electrically adjustable front swivel-seats. The wiring harnesses for the swivel-seats may have been incorrectly installed and may become damaged, which can cause the front side air bags not to depl…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reattach the wiring harnesses, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is 549…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2019-2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The instrument cluster may fail to display any information when the vehicle is started.
The risk: A blank instrument panel will not show critical information, such as vehicle speed, fuel gauge, warning messages, and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2023. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall i…
The defect: Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2021 Freightliner Sprinter vehicles. The topcoat paint formula may cause the windows and interior lashing rails to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle.
The risk: An insufficiently bonded window can detach during a crash, and objects secured to an insufficiently bonded interior lashing rail can detach, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the paint adhesion and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Depending on the extent of any damage, DVUSA may offer to repurchase the vehicle. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were m…
Toyota Camry — 28 recalls
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 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…
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 | 76 |
| 2025 | 0 | 133 |
| 2024 | 0 | 45 |
| 2023 | 0 | 57 |
| 2022 | 0 | 56 |
| 2021 | 0 | 151 |
| 2020 | 0 | 262 |
| 2019 | 215 | 380 |
| 2018 | 0 | 726 |
| 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
- 215
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,034
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter total recalls
- 90
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 28
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter avg complaints/year
- 21.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 203.4
- More reliable overall
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter
- Mercedes BENZ Sprinter top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN