Head-to-head reliability
Nissan LEAF vs Toyota Camry
How the Nissan LEAF 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 LEAF vs Toyota Camry: The LEAF has 753 complaints over 10 years (75.3/yr) with battery fires and degradation, while the Camry has 2,077 complaints (207.7/yr) including key-stuck and brake issues. The LEAF's battery problems are more severe, but the Camry has more frequent varied issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan LEAF or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan LEAF
The Nissan LEAF is an electric compact hatchback that, based on NHTSA data, has a high complaint rate concentrated in the electrical system, particularly the high-voltage battery. Owners report battery failures causing fires, rapid heating during fast charging, and physical degradation that can leave the vehicle undriveable. With 30 recalls and 753 complaints over 10 years, the LEAF's ownership experience is heavily defined by battery-related anxiety and service visits.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a higher total complaint count (2,077) but a broader spread across powertrain, engine, and brakes. Owners report issues like the key getting stuck in the ignition while in drive, unintended brake activation, and spontaneous moonroof shattering. Despite 27 recalls, the Camry's problems are more varied and less concentrated on a single critical system, suggesting a more typical used-car risk profile.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan LEAF | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 753 Better | 2,077 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 | 27 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 37 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 75.3 Better | 207.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 16 Better | 161 |
| 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.
Nissan LEAF
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM465
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER162
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM125
- 04POWER TRAIN52
- 05SERVICE BRAKES51
The high-voltage battery is the primary failure point, with owners reporting defects that cause fires, rapid heating during Level 3 fast charging, and physical degradation (e.g., 40.07% Hx). This can leave the car inoperable and subject to recall restrictions limiting DC fast charging.
Many complaints reference the same high-voltage battery issues, including lithium deposits causing increased resistance and heating. Owners describe the battery as a fire risk and note that insurance may total the vehicle after a battery fire.
The 62kWh lithium-ion battery pack shows physical degradation linked to cell defects from Recall 25V655. Owners report that the battery's deterioration significantly limits safe and practical operation, especially for long trips.
“*High Voltage Battery defect/failure - this is what was believed to be the issue when it was towed to the dealership. What is left of it is available for inspection at the dealership for now, however the insurance may take it to a salvage yard since the fire…”
“The error occurred on [XXX]. The car got me to my destination. Error occurred past the 1/2 way point. The next day was busy w/ personal issues. Later in the afternoon, I was by the vehicle, I called the Nissan Roadside Assistance number. It was at this point…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN383
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER331
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
Owners report that the vehicle can be turned off and the key removed while still in drive, allowing it to roll away without warning. Another issue is the ignition key getting stuck even when the dashboard shows Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove.
The moonroof can spontaneously shatter while driving, sounding like a gunshot, with no external factors. Also, some hybrid models have driver-assist features that may malfunction, such as unintended braking or lane-keeping errors.
Owners report excessive engine noise, musty smells in the trunk, and rust spots. A vibration sound occurs when the brake is pressed or depressed, and dealers often cannot replicate or fix the issue.
Brakes can produce grinding noises and thumping sounds. More critically, the braking system may erroneously activate while driving, causing unintended deceleration, which poses a safety risk.
“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…”
“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…”
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 LEAF — 30 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal…
The risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nis…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
The risk: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
The risk: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to use Level 3 quick charging until the remedy is completed. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 16, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's Customer Service at 1-800-86…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear V…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
Toyota Camry — 27 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 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner…
The risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charg…
Buyer analysis
Nissan LEAF or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Nissan LEAF has 75.3 complaints per year versus the Camry's 207.7, but the LEAF's issues are heavily concentrated on the high-voltage battery, which can be a deal-breaker for reliability. The Camry has more complaints overall but a wider distribution, meaning fewer single-point failures. In practice, the LEAF's battery problems are more severe and costly, while the Camry's issues are more varied and often less critical.
Key differences
- The LEAF's high-voltage battery can fail catastrophically (fire, rapid heating), while the Camry's top issues are key-stuck and unintended brake activation.
- The LEAF has 30 recalls vs. Camry's 27, but LEAF recalls often involve the battery, which is expensive to replace.
- Camry owners report moonroof shattering and engine noise, which are less likely to strand you than a dead battery.
- The LEAF's complaint rate is lower per year, but the severity of battery failures makes it riskier for long-term ownership.
- Check for any signs of battery degradation or swelling, and verify that recall 25V655 (battery cell defects) has been performed.
- Ask if the car has ever been restricted from DC fast charging due to the recall, as that limits usability.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park; if it sticks, the vehicle may have a powertrain defect.
- Listen for grinding brakes or thumping noises, and check if the moonroof has been replaced or shows cracks.
Before you buy
- For the LEAF: Obtain a battery health report (Hx value) and confirm recall 25V655 completion.
- For the LEAF: Ask about any history of overheating or fire incidents.
- For the Camry: Test the key removal in all gear positions and check for unintended brake activation.
- For the Camry: Inspect the moonroof for cracks or previous shattering, and listen for engine vibrations.
- For both: Review the full NHTSA complaint history for the specific model year you're considering.
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 | Nissan LEAF | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 97 |
| 2025 | 7 | 138 |
| 2024 | 8 | 46 |
| 2023 | 19 | 60 |
| 2022 | 176 | 57 |
| 2021 | 51 | 154 |
| 2020 | 159 | 263 |
| 2019 | 251 | 387 |
| 2018 | 64 | 727 |
| 2017 | 14 | 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 Nissan LEAF or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan LEAF vs Toyota Camry
- Nissan LEAF total complaints
- 753
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,077
- Nissan LEAF total recalls
- 30
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 27
- Nissan LEAF avg complaints/year
- 75.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 207.7
- More reliable overall
- Nissan LEAF
- Nissan LEAF top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN