Head-to-head reliability

Rolls Royce Phantom vs Toyota Camry

How the Rolls Royce Phantom and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Rolls Royce Phantom0 complaints · 8 recalls Fewer issues per year
Toyota Camry2,143 complaints · 31 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Rolls Royce Phantom vs Toyota Camry: The Phantom has 0 complaints and 8 recalls over 10 years, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints, 31 recalls, and 181 crash-related reports. The Camry also shows 163 injuries and 1 death in complaint data. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The picture

Is the Rolls Royce Phantom or Toyota Camry more reliable?

A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.

Rolls Royce Phantom

The Rolls Royce Phantom is a low-volume luxury car that, over the past 10 years, has generated zero owner complaints to NHTSA. However, it has been subject to 8 recalls, mostly for backup camera and seat belt issues. With no crash, injury, or death reports tied to complaints, the main ownership concern is recall repairs rather than recurring breakdowns. For a buyer, this means fewer reported day-to-day problems but potential hassle from safety recalls.

Toyota Camry

The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with 2,143 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 214 per year. Owners report issues across the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical systems, with some complaints describing sudden acceleration, transmission failure, and brake loss. There are also 181 crash-related complaints, 163 injuries, and 1 death reported. This suggests a wide range of potential problems that a used-car buyer should carefully inspect.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryRolls Royce PhantomToyota Camry
Total complaintsAll model years combined0 Better2,143
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns8 Better31
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints0 Better181
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years0.0 Better214.3
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints0 Better163
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints0 Better1

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.

Rolls Royce Phantom

No component data available.

What these mean
Back Over Prevention

Recalls cover backup camera display and sensing system failures. Owners may find the rearview camera image missing or distorted, making it harder to see behind the car when reversing.

Seat Belts

A recall exists for seat belt issues, though no owner complaints describe the exact symptom. A buyer should verify that all seat belts latch and retract properly, as a faulty belt could fail in a crash.

Toyota Camry

  1. 01POWER TRAIN395
  2. 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
  3. 03ENGINE315
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES290
  5. 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
What these mean
Power Train

Owners report grinding noises from the front during acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission failure that requires replacement. Some also describe sudden, uncontrollable acceleration, which can lead to crashes.

Engine

Complaints include sudden acceleration episodes and a coolant valve bypass issue that triggers a maintenance warning. These can cause loss of control or unexpected repair costs.

Service Brakes

Drivers report the brake pedal going unresponsive, especially on slopes, with no braking force when pressed. This is a serious safety concern that could lead to a crash.

Electrical System

While not detailed in the sample complaints, electrical problems are among the top complaint categories. Issues could include sensor failures or infotainment glitches that affect daily use.

In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

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.

Rolls Royce Phantom — 8 recalls

Back Over Prevention — Display Function
#21V855000Mar 2021

The defect: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd. (Rolls-Royce) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Rolls-Royce Phantom vehicles. The Central Information Display may not raise to the correct position, resulting in a rearview camera image that is partially blocked from view.

The risk: A partially blocked rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 28, 2021. Owners may contact Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877-3735.

Seat Belts
#21V554000

The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (…

The risk: During a crash, a seat belt retractor that does not function as intended increases the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will inspect the seat belt retractors (including the seat belts) and, if necessary, replace the retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-8…

Back Over Prevention — Display Function
#21V855000Mar 2021

The defect: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd. (Rolls-Royce) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Rolls-Royce Phantom vehicles. The Central Information Display may not raise to the correct position, resulting in a rearview camera image that is partially blocked from view.

The risk: A partially blocked rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 28, 2021. Owners may contact Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877-3735.

Back Over Prevention — Display Function
#21V855000Mar 2021

The defect: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Ltd. (Rolls-Royce) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Rolls-Royce Phantom vehicles. The Central Information Display may not raise to the correct position, resulting in a rearview camera image that is partially blocked from view.

The risk: A partially blocked rearview camera image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

The fix: Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 28, 2021. Owners may contact Rolls Royce customer service at 1-877-877-3735.

Toyota Camry — 31 recalls

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification
#23V865000

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…

Seats
#24V128000

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…

Wheels — Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
#23V432000

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…

Seats
#24V128000

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

Rolls Royce Phantom or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?

The Rolls Royce Phantom has far fewer complaints per year (0 vs. about 214 for the Camry) and no reported crashes, injuries, or deaths tied to complaints. The Camry, by contrast, has thousands of complaints and hundreds of crash-related reports. In practice, the Phantom appears less likely to generate owner-reported problems, but both have recalls that need attention.

Recommendation. If you prioritize a low volume of reported owner problems and can handle recall visits, the Phantom may be the choice. If you need a widely available sedan with easy service and are willing to thoroughly inspect for transmission, brake, and acceleration issues, the Camry could work. Always get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the specific complaints for either car.

Key differences

  • The Phantom has 0 complaints and 8 recalls, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints and 31 recalls, showing a huge gap in owner-reported issues.
  • Camry owners report serious safety problems like sudden acceleration, transmission failure, and brake loss; Phantom complaints are absent, so no such patterns are documented.
  • The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints, 163 injuries, and 1 death; the Phantom has none of these in the complaint data.
  • Phantom recalls focus on backup camera and seat belts; Camry recalls include air bag sensors, seats, wheels, and labels, suggesting a broader range of safety fixes.
Watch on Rolls Royce Phantom
  • Check for open recalls on the backup camera display and sensing system—confirm the recall work was done and the camera works clearly.
  • Inspect seat belts for proper latching and retraction, as a recall exists for seat belt issues.
Watch on Toyota Camry
  • Listen for grinding noises from the front during acceleration and test-drive at various speeds; a failing transmission may need replacement.
  • Test the brakes on a slope or empty road for any unresponsive pedal feel, and ask about any sudden acceleration incidents.

Before you buy

  • Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were fixed.
  • For the Camry, take a long test drive including hills and stop-and-go traffic to check for transmission grinding, brake response, and unintended acceleration.
  • For the Phantom, test the backup camera and all seat belts, and verify recall repairs for those systems.
  • Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on the complaint areas listed.
  • Request service records to see if any transmission, brake, or engine repairs were already done.

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.

YearRolls Royce PhantomToyota Camry
20260119
20250153
2024048
2023062
2022059
20210155
20200270
20190393
20180736
20170148
Years to scrutinize: the 2018 Toyota Camry drew the most (736). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 Rolls Royce Phantom or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Rolls Royce Phantom vs Toyota Camry — comparison facts
Comparison
Rolls Royce Phantom vs Toyota Camry
Rolls Royce Phantom total complaints
0
Toyota Camry total complaints
2,143
Rolls Royce Phantom total recalls
8
Toyota Camry total recalls
31
Rolls Royce Phantom avg complaints/year
0.0
Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
214.3
More reliable overall
Rolls Royce Phantom
Toyota Camry top complaint area
POWER TRAIN