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 78.2 complaints per year, mostly about battery defects causing fires and fast-charging restrictions, while the Camry has 214.3 per year, including transmission and brake failures. The LEAF's issues are more severe but less frequent. 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 all-electric compact hatchback, and its reliability picture is dominated by the high-voltage battery system. Owners report battery defects that can lead to fires, sudden acceleration, and restrictions on DC fast charging. The complaint pattern suggests that while the car may be fine for daily commuting, battery-related issues can be serious and disruptive, with some vehicles being towed or requiring inspection.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a conventional gasoline engine, and its complaints are spread across the powertrain, engine, brakes, and electrical systems. Owners report transmission grinding and failures, sudden acceleration incidents, brake failures, and HVAC odors. The higher complaint volume reflects its popularity, but the issues range from annoying to potentially dangerous, with some requiring major repairs like transmission replacement.
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 | 782 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 37 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 78.2 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 16 Better | 163 |
| 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 SYSTEM478
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER166
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM132
- 04POWER TRAIN57
- 05SERVICE BRAKES53
The most common issue involves the high-voltage battery, with reports of defects leading to fires, sudden acceleration when the car continues to accelerate after releasing the pedal, and restrictions on DC fast charging due to fire risk. These are serious safety concerns that can leave owners stranded or require towing.
Many complaints reference the same high-voltage battery problems, including physical degradation and cell defects. Owners also mention recall 25V655, which limits fast charging and can cause rapid battery heating, making the car less practical for long trips.
This category also points to the 62kWh battery pack, with owners reporting physical degradation and cell defects linked to recall 25V655. The restriction on DC fast charging due to fire risk significantly hampers the vehicle's usability for road trips.
Complaints here include the high-voltage battery recall restricting fast charging, and a separate incident where the car momentarily lost traction during acceleration, with the traction control system intervening. This suggests potential drivetrain control issues beyond just the battery.
“*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…”
“On Saturday, June 20, I was driving my son to soccer. We stopped at a stoplight. When the light turned green, I pressed the accelerator and we went forward. However, when I took my foot off the accelerator, the car continued to accelerate. Luckily it slowed d…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end upon acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission issues that often require replacement. Some mention recalls for the same issue, and transmissions may be on backorder, leading to long waits.
Complaints include AC condenser damage from rocks, and a recurring HVAC odor that produces a vinegar or mildew smell, which is unpleasant and can be difficult to eliminate. These are quality-of-life issues that affect comfort.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration, leading to crashes and total loss of the vehicle. Additionally, some owners get a code for a coolant valve bypass that is under recall for some VINs but not theirs, causing safety concerns.
Owners describe brake failure, such as pressing the pedal with no response, which is extremely dangerous. Another complaint involves difficulty braking in a parking lot, suggesting potential brake assist or modulation problems.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder 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 2026 LEAF vehicles. The outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent a child restraint system (CRS) from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fed…
The risk: An improperly secured child restraint system may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear outboard seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in Dece…
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
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…
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…
Buyer analysis
Nissan LEAF or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Nissan LEAF has fewer complaints per year (78.2) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), but the LEAF's issues are more concentrated on the battery and can be severe. In practice, the LEAF may have fewer overall problems, but the Camry's issues are more varied and include transmission and brake failures that could be costly to repair.
Key differences
- The LEAF's main issue is the high-voltage battery, which can cause fires and restrict fast charging, while the Camry's issues are spread across transmission, engine, and brakes.
- The LEAF has fewer complaints per year, but its problems can be more dangerous, such as sudden acceleration and battery fires.
- The Camry has more complaints overall, but many are non-safety issues like HVAC odors, though it also has serious brake and sudden acceleration reports.
- The LEAF is an EV, so battery health is critical, whereas the Camry's issues are more typical of internal combustion vehicles.
- Check the high-voltage battery for any signs of degradation or recall 25V655 status, as it may limit fast charging and pose a fire risk.
- Be alert for any unintended acceleration or loss of traction, which could indicate battery or drivetrain control issues.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration, which could indicate a failing transmission that needs replacement.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on slopes, for any loss of braking power or unusual behavior.
Before you buy
- For the LEAF, verify if recall 25V655 has been applied and if DC fast charging is unrestricted.
- For the Camry, check the transmission for any signs of grinding or slipping, and ask about any open recalls.
- Test drive both vehicles, paying attention to acceleration and braking behavior.
- Have a mechanic inspect the LEAF's battery health and the Camry's engine and transmission.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any previous repairs related to the common issues.
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 | 119 |
| 2025 | 14 | 153 |
| 2024 | 10 | 48 |
| 2023 | 19 | 62 |
| 2022 | 184 | 59 |
| 2021 | 54 | 155 |
| 2020 | 164 | 270 |
| 2019 | 253 | 393 |
| 2018 | 66 | 736 |
| 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
- 782
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Nissan LEAF total recalls
- 30
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Nissan LEAF avg complaints/year
- 78.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Nissan LEAF
- Nissan LEAF top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN