Head-to-head reliability
Subaru BRZ vs Toyota Camry
How the Subaru BRZ 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
Subaru BRZ vs Toyota Camry: The BRZ averages 2.5 complaints per year with 4 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. BRZ owners report engine stalling and turn signal failures; Camry owners report key-stuck issues and brake noises. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru BRZ or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru BRZ
The Subaru BRZ is a low-volume sports coupe, averaging just 2.5 complaints per year over the past decade. The most common owner-reported issues involve the engine, with some complaints describing sudden stalling or warning lights, and a few noting sealant clogging the oil pickup. There are also reports of fuel pump problems and turn signals that fail in bright sunlight. Overall, the complaint volume is low, but the engine-related reports are worth noting for a used-car buyer.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan, averaging about 206 complaints per year over the same period. Owner reports cover a wide range of systems, including the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical components. Some complaints describe hesitation, shuddering, or warning lights, while others mention brake noises or key-removal problems. With 31 recalls and over 150 injury reports, the data shows a more complex ownership picture than the BRZ.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru BRZ | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 25 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.5 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 158 |
| 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.
Subaru BRZ
- 01ENGINE11
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
- 05POWER TRAIN2
Owners report sudden stalling, all warning lights illuminating, and the car becoming unable to move, sometimes within months of purchase. Another complaint describes excess sealant from the oil pan and timing cover clogging the oil pickup tube, which can lead to engine damage if not addressed.
One owner reported the car stalling three times on the freeway with a check engine light and white smoke from the engine, later traced to a valve spring issue. This suggests that fuel delivery or engine management problems can cause sudden loss of power.
Multiple owners report that rear turn signals fail to activate when the sun is behind the car, causing rapid flashing and no signal. This is a safety concern because other drivers may not see the turn signal in bright conditions.
Complaints include a crash-related incident and Bluetooth audio cutting out intermittently. While not mechanical, these issues can affect daily usability and resale value.
“This is a new car. There’s was only 31 miles when I purchased. One day, there’s some sound when I driving the vehicle. Once I parked, all the warning lamps was on, then my car wasn’t able to move. When the incident happened, it was only 4 months of using it a…”
“These particular vehicles (and their Toyota counterpart, the GR86) have been experiencing issues with excess RTV sealant used on the oil pan and timing cover getting into the oil. Once this RTV sealant is in the oil, it clogs the oil pickup tube filter. As th…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent key-stuck issues where the ignition key cannot be removed even though the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often accompanied by a check engine light.
Complaints include delayed throttle response, where pressing the accelerator results in a several-second delay before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
Some owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow. Others hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which dealers attribute to the ABS system.
One complaint describes multiple systems malfunctioning at once, including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping. This suggests potential electrical or sensor issues that could affect 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.
Subaru BRZ — 4 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2018 Legacy, Outback, and BRZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, a software issue may cause the audio display system to not initialize, resulting in the camera display remaining blank. If this occurs, the rearview image will not display while b…
The risk: Failure to display the rearview image while backing up increases the risk of crash.
The fix: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the audio system display software, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall i…
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2018 Forester, 2018-2020 Impreza, Legacy, Outback, 2018-2019 BRZ, WRX, and Toyota 86 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2021. Subaru and Toyota owners may call customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRG-21.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2022 BRZ and Toyota GR86 vehicles. The rear turn signals may intermittently become inoperative.
The risk: Inoperative rear turn signals may not notify other drivers of a turning vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace both rear combination lamp assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Subaru owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Toyota owners may contact Toyota cus…
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
Subaru BRZ or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Subaru BRZ has far fewer complaints per year (2.5 vs. 205.6) and fewer recalls (4 vs. 31), but both vehicles have reports of engine and power train issues. In practice, the BRZ's lower volume means fewer overall problems, but any single engine failure can be costly. The Camry's higher complaint count reflects its much larger sales volume, yet the variety of issues means buyers should be diligent about inspections.
Key differences
- The BRZ averages 2.5 complaints per year, while the Camry averages 205.6, but the Camry sells in much higher numbers.
- BRZ owners report engine stalling and oil-pickup clogging from sealant; Camry owners report key-stuck issues and delayed throttle response.
- The BRZ has 4 recalls, including fuel pump and turn signal issues; the Camry has 31 recalls, covering air bags, seats, and wheels.
- Camry complaints include 158 injuries and 1 death, while the BRZ has 0 injuries and 0 deaths in the provided data.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or warning lights, and ask if the oil pan or timing cover sealant has been inspected or replaced.
- Test the rear turn signals in bright sunlight to see if they fail to activate, as this is a reported safety issue.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park to ensure it does not stick, and check for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and confirm the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine for oil leaks, sealant debris, and proper oil pressure, especially on the BRZ.
- During a test drive, accelerate firmly to check for delayed throttle response or hesitation, especially on the Camry.
- Test all electrical features, including turn signals, brake lights, and infotainment, in various lighting conditions.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and confirm that any recall repairs have been completed.
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 | Subaru BRZ | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 3 | 50 |
| 2023 | 1 | 64 |
| 2022 | 10 | 61 |
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 2 | 274 |
| 2019 | 1 | 395 |
| 2018 | 1 | 744 |
| 2017 | 7 | 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 Subaru BRZ or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru BRZ vs Toyota Camry
- Subaru BRZ total complaints
- 25
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Subaru BRZ total recalls
- 4
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Subaru BRZ avg complaints/year
- 2.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Subaru BRZ
- Subaru BRZ top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN