Head-to-head reliability
Nissan CUBE vs Toyota Camry
How the Nissan CUBE 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
Nissan CUBE vs Toyota Camry: The CUBE averages 36.2 complaints per year with 7 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 per year with 31 recalls. The CUBE's issues often involve sudden power loss and door lock failures, whereas the Camry sees more key-stuck and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan CUBE or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan CUBE
The Nissan CUBE is a small, boxy hatchback with a polarizing look and a relatively low number of complaints per year (about 36). However, the complaints that do exist cluster around serious areas like electrical gremlins, power loss, and steering, which can leave you stranded or worse. With only 7 recalls and a handful of crash-related reports, it's not a disaster, but you need to go in eyes open and check the specific trouble spots.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a huge complaint volume—over 2,000 in 10 years, averaging about 206 per year. That's partly because there are so many on the road, but the pattern shows recurring issues with the power train, brakes, and electronics, including some that affect drivability. Recalls are frequent (31), and crash-related complaints are high (171), so while it's a popular choice, it's not immune to frustrating and potentially costly problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan CUBE | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 217 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 36.2 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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.
Nissan CUBE
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM52
- 02POWER TRAIN49
- 03STEERING42
- 04AIR BAGS24
- 05ENGINE21
Owners report door lock actuators failing simultaneously (often three out of four), which can lock people inside or out. There are also persistent no-start issues with push-button ignition, leaving the car dead without warning.
Complaints describe sudden loss of power or delayed acceleration after stopping from highway speeds, with the engine barely responding even with the gas pedal floored. This can happen at any time and creates a dangerous situation in traffic.
One owner reported the engine mount ('dogbone') breaking while driving, causing the engine to drop and damaging the axle and transmission bracket—a $1,100 repair. Such failures can affect steering control and lead to costly fixes.
The front passenger air bag warning light may illuminate even when the seat is occupied and the belt is latched, meaning the air bag might not deploy in a crash. Another owner reported air bags failing to deploy in an actual collision.
“Problem # 1- is 3 out of 4 door lock actuators all of a sudden stopped working at the exact same time, except the driver door. This is a huge safety issue and causes the door to remain locked. This causes someone getting locked inside the vehicle or locked ou…”
“SINCE NOV OF 2014 I HAVE DEALT WITH PERSISTENT START-UP ISSUE WITH MY 2011 NISSAN CUBE. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY CAN FAIL TO START AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT WARNING. IT HAS PUSH BUTTON IGNITION. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM JACKIE COOPER & NISSAN NORTH…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck and unable to be removed even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect to release it. Others describe hesitation and shuddering during driving, often with a check engine light.
Complaints include a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator from a stop, which can be alarming in traffic. This delayed reaction has been reported multiple times on the same vehicle.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer and sometimes a new switch that doesn't fix the problem. Owners also report a clicking/vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer calls 'common' but feels abnormal.
Multiple systems—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously, leaving the driver with a dashboard full of warnings and reduced safety features.
“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.
Nissan CUBE — 7 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Sedan vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013, to January 29, 2014, 2013-2014 Cube vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 21, 2013, and 2013-2014 Juke vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 22, 2013. When exp…
The risk: If the engine start/stop button gets stuck in the housing, road vibrations may cause the engine to shut off unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the start/stop switch housing, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Versa Sedan vehicles manufactured July 16, 2013, to January 29, 2014, 2013-2014 Cube vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 21, 2013, and 2013-2014 Juke vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to October 22, 2013. When exp…
The risk: If the engine start/stop button gets stuck in the housing, road vibrations may cause the engine to shut off unexpectedly while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the start/stop switch housing, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 NISSAN CUBE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 30, 2009 THROUGH JULY 30, 2010. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ROTATED FOLLOWING A REAR MOVING…
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL DEVELOP A SPECIAL PROTECTOR AND ATTACH IT TO THE GASOLINE RECIRCULATION TUBE AT THE LOCATION OF THE FILLER NECK CONNECTOR. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MA…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Cube vehicles. The driver’s air bag inflator may rupture or detach from the steering wheel during air bag deployment.
The risk: A driver's air bag that ruptures or detaches can strike the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the front air bag inflator serial number, and replace the inflator as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan…
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
Nissan CUBE or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Nissan CUBE has far fewer complaints per year (36 vs. 206), but its issues tend to be severe and safety-related, like sudden power loss and door locks failing. The Camry's higher volume means you're more likely to encounter problems, but many are drivability annoyances or electronic glitches. In practice, the CUBE demands a very careful inspection, while the Camry offers more data to spot trends but still requires vigilance.
Key differences
- The CUBE's electrical complaints often involve door locks and ignition no-starts, while the Camry's electrical issues are part of multi-system malfunctions.
- Power train problems in the CUBE include sudden power loss at speed, whereas Camry power train complaints focus on key removal and hesitation.
- Steering failures in the CUBE (like engine mount breakage) are structural, while Camry steering issues appear as part of electronic glitches.
- The Camry has far more recalls (31 vs. 7) and crash-related complaints (171 vs. 10), suggesting broader safety concerns despite the CUBE's lower volume.
- Test all door locks repeatedly—if any actuator is slow or dead, expect a costly repair and potential lock-in risk.
- Check for intermittent no-start with the push-button ignition; try starting multiple times and listen for any hesitation.
- Verify the ignition key can be removed smoothly in Park; if it sticks, it may strand you.
- Test the electronic parking brake engagement and disengagement; listen for abnormal clicking or vibration from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- During a test drive, accelerate hard from a stop and at highway speeds to check for hesitation or power loss.
- Inspect all door locks and windows for smooth operation, especially on the CUBE.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored trouble codes, even if no warning lights are on.
- For the Camry, test every electronic feature (blind spot monitor, lane keeping, stability control) to ensure they activate without errors.
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 Nissan CUBE or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan CUBE vs Toyota Camry
- Nissan CUBE total complaints
- 217
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Nissan CUBE total recalls
- 7
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Nissan CUBE avg complaints/year
- 36.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Nissan CUBE
- Nissan CUBE top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN