Head-to-head reliability
Nissan Titan vs Toyota Camry
How the Nissan Titan 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 Titan vs Toyota Camry: The Titan averages 75 complaints per year, mostly engine and powertrain, while the Camry averages 214, with transmission and brake issues. The Titan has 33 recalls, the Camry 31. Choose based on your tolerance for specific failure modes. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Nissan Titan or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan, particularly the diesel XD variant, shows a pattern of engine and powertrain issues that can surface soon after purchase, with owners reporting check engine lights and hesitation. Electrical system complaints often tie back to the same engine wiring harness recall, suggesting a systemic issue. While the Titan has fewer complaints per year than the Camry, the nature of the problems—affecting power and control—can be more concerning for a buyer.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, despite its reputation, has a higher complaint volume, with frequent reports of transmission grinding and replacement needs, as well as brake failures that can be sudden and dangerous. Owners also describe persistent HVAC odors and occasional sudden acceleration incidents, which are alarming. The Camry's issues are spread across multiple systems, making it a mixed bag for reliability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Nissan Titan | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 753 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 33 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 34 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 75.3 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 17 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 Better |
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 Titan
- 01ENGINE298
- 02POWER TRAIN213
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM111
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM76
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER75
Owners report check engine lights and hesitation, often linked to a wiring harness issue (recall PC773). This can cause power loss and stalling, which is a safety risk.
Transmission and engine control problems lead to hesitation and lack of smooth acceleration, as described in complaints. Dealerships sometimes fail to diagnose or fix the issue.
Electrical failures are frequently tied to the same engine wiring harness, causing intermittent issues that are hard to reproduce, leaving owners without a permanent fix.
Fuel system complaints include acceleration hesitation and power control failures, which can be dangerous in traffic. Some owners report the problem persists despite dealer visits.
“The problem I am writing about concerns this vehicle and recall #PC773 EGI HARNESS. Reference must also be made to Nissan #NTB20-89 dated December 8, 2020. I purchased this vehicle from Bates Nissan (5501 East Central Texas Expressway, Killeen TX 76543, 254-7…”
“Worst dealership my husband and I ever dealt with. We purchased a 2019 Nissan XD Titan Diesel with warranty. Two days after purchase, the check engine light came on. I called Spencer from the service department to let them know. They took the truck the very n…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission grinding and failure are common, with some owners needing full replacements. This is a costly repair and can leave you stranded.
Sudden acceleration incidents have been reported, leading to crashes. Also, engine maintenance lights may come on due to a coolant valve issue that isn't covered by recall for all VINs.
Brake failure, such as no response when pressing the pedal, has been reported, especially on hills. This is a critical safety concern.
Electrical issues manifest as HVAC odors and other malfunctions, but the more serious ones involve sudden acceleration, which may be electronic in nature.
“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 Titan — 33 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012-2017 NV Cargo and NV Passenger Van, 2013-2015 Titan and Armada and 2011-2012 Infiniti QX56 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the air bag inflator may not function properly or may rupture during deployment.
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-62…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Altima and 2018-2021 Titan vehicles equipped with Continental tires. On the affected vehicles, it is possible that one or more tires were cured for too long during tire production.
The risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall, resulting in sudden air loss or belt edge separation which could lead to tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, and replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's nu…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Titan and Titan XD pickup trucks. The engine wiring harness could contain an exposed wire that can cause an electrical short or arcing if it contacts another wire.
The risk: An electrical short can impair the performance of the engine, transmission, or fuel pump, increasing the risk of an engine stall and a crash. An electrical short or arcing increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine harness, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 27, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Titan, Titan XD, and Versa vehicles. The front right and/or left turn signal bulb can crack and fail to illuminate.
The risk: Inoperable front turn signals cannot alert on-coming drivers and/or pedestrians that the vehicle will be turning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bulbs as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 20, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PM986 and P…
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 Titan or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Nissan Titan has fewer complaints per year (75.3 vs 214.3), but its issues are more likely to affect engine and drivability. The Camry's higher volume includes serious safety concerns like brake failure and sudden acceleration. Neither is without risk, but the Titan's lower frequency may be preferable if you can handle potential powertrain quirks.
Key differences
- Titan has fewer complaints per year (75 vs 214) but its issues are concentrated in engine and powertrain, often linked to a known wiring harness recall.
- Camry has more frequent transmission problems, including grinding and need for replacement, which can be very expensive.
- Camry reports sudden acceleration and brake failures, which are immediate safety hazards, whereas Titan's issues are more about hesitation and loss of power.
- Titan's electrical problems are often tied to the same root cause, while Camry's issues span multiple unrelated systems.
- Check for any open recalls, especially the engine wiring harness (PC773). Ask if the dealer has performed the fix and if any symptoms like check engine light or hesitation have been reported.
- Test drive at various speeds and listen for hesitation or surging, which could indicate the powertrain control issue.
- Inspect the transmission by accelerating from a stop and listening for grinding or unusual noises. Ask for service records to see if the transmission has been replaced or repaired.
- Test the brakes on a slight downhill slope to ensure they respond immediately. Also, check for any HVAC odors that might indicate a condenser issue.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN-specific recall check for both vehicles and confirm all recalls have been addressed.
- For the Titan, ask about the engine wiring harness fix and any related warranty extensions.
- For the Camry, request a transmission fluid service history and consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.
- Take both on a test drive that includes highway speeds and stop-and-go traffic to feel for hesitation or brake issues.
- Check for any pending service bulletins or technical service bulletins (TSBs) that address common problems.
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 Titan | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 30 | 48 |
| 2023 | 52 | 62 |
| 2022 | 26 | 59 |
| 2021 | 110 | 155 |
| 2020 | 21 | 270 |
| 2019 | 46 | 393 |
| 2018 | 90 | 736 |
| 2017 | 172 | 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 Titan or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Nissan Titan vs Toyota Camry
- Nissan Titan total complaints
- 753
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Nissan Titan total recalls
- 33
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Nissan Titan avg complaints/year
- 75.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Titan
- Nissan Titan top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN