Head-to-head reliability
Subaru Uncharted vs Toyota Camry
How the Subaru Uncharted 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 Uncharted vs Toyota Camry: The Uncharted has 40 complaints per year, mostly about headlight shaking and 12V battery drain, while the Camry has 214 per year, including transmission and brake failures. The Camry has 31 recalls; the Uncharted has none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru Uncharted or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru Uncharted
The Subaru Uncharted is a new model with a short ownership history, but the complaint pattern is already clear: owners report a persistent headlight stability issue where the LED beams oscillate or shake over normal road bumps, creating a distracting strobing effect at night. Additionally, there are reports of the 12-volt battery draining, leaving the vehicle inoperable after a few days of inactivity, a problem shared with related Toyota/Subaru EVs. While the total complaint count is low, the concentration in exterior lighting and electrical system suggests these are the primary reliability concerns for early buyers.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has a long production history with a high volume of complaints, reflecting its popularity and years on the road. The top problem areas are powertrain, engine, and service brakes, with owners reporting transmission grinding, sudden acceleration incidents, and brake failures. There are also numerous complaints about HVAC odors and AC condenser damage. With 31 recalls and 181 crash-related complaints, the Camry shows a broader range of issues, but many are isolated to specific model years or components, and the high complaint count is partly due to its large sales volume.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru Uncharted | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 40 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 40.0 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Subaru Uncharted
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING31
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
- 04STRUCTURE1
- 05ENGINE1
Owners report that the LED headlights oscillate or shake excessively over normal road impacts, causing a distracting flickering effect at night. Some note the headlight housing moves when pushed, indicating poor mounting inside the bumper.
Multiple owners report that the 12-volt battery drains completely if the car is not driven for a few days, leaving the vehicle inoperable and requiring a jump start. This issue is linked to the connected services app and affects related models.
Complaints in this category echo the battery drain issue, with owners describing the car as 'bricked' after sitting for a short time. This suggests a systemic electrical parasitic drain problem.
One owner reports that the headlight jitter is due to poor mounting inside the bumper, which can be felt by pushing on the housing. This structural issue contributes to the lighting problem.
“While driving at night, the LED headlight beams on my 2026 Subaru Uncharted GT exhibit excessive vertical oscillation/shaking after normal road impacts and bumps. The movement is significant enough to create a distracting flickering/bouncing effect within the…”
“I am reporting a headlight stability issue on my 2026 Subaru Uncharted. While driving at night, the LED headlights produce a severe oscillating/strobing effect over normal road imperfections and bumps. The beam pattern rapidly shifts up and down, creating alt…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end upon acceleration, with dealerships confirming transmission issues that may require replacement. Some mention recalls for similar problems on other model years.
There are reports of sudden unintended acceleration, leading to crashes, as well as engine maintenance warnings related to a coolant valve bypass recall that may not apply to all VINs.
Several owners describe brake failure, such as no response when pressing the pedal on a hill, or brakes not engaging properly in low-speed situations, increasing crash risk.
Common complaints include recurring HVAC odors (vinegar/mildew) from the vents and AC condensers damaged by rocks, indicating design vulnerabilities in the cooling system.
“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.
Subaru Uncharted
No recalls on record.
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
Subaru Uncharted or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Subaru Uncharted has far fewer complaints per year (40.0/yr) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3/yr), but the Uncharted's issues are concentrated in headlights and battery drain, which can be immediately annoying or leave you stranded. The Camry's higher complaint count reflects a longer history and more widespread issues, but many are not life-threatening. In practice, the Uncharted may have fewer problems overall, but the Camry's issues are more varied and some are safety-critical.
Key differences
- The Uncharted's headlight oscillation is a unique, common complaint, while the Camry has no such lighting issue.
- The Uncharted suffers from 12V battery drain that can leave you stranded, a problem not reported on the Camry.
- The Camry has a much higher rate of powertrain and brake complaints, including sudden acceleration and brake failure, which are safety concerns.
- The Camry has 31 recalls, while the Uncharted has none, but the Uncharted's issues are newer and may not yet have recalls.
- Inspect the headlight mounting and test drive over bumps at night to check for beam oscillation.
- Check the 12V battery health and ask about any software updates related to parasitic drain.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on hills, and listen for grinding noises during acceleration.
- Check for any open recalls and verify if the VIN is included in the coolant valve bypass recall.
Before you buy
- For the Uncharted: ask the seller if the headlight issue has been addressed and if the battery drain fix has been applied.
- For the Camry: obtain a full recall history and ensure all recalls are performed.
- For the Camry: have a mechanic inspect the transmission and brakes before purchase.
- For the Uncharted: verify the 12V battery is new or recently replaced and test the car after it has sat for a few days.
- For both: check for any open NHTSA investigations or service bulletins.
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 Uncharted | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 40 | 119 |
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 Uncharted or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru Uncharted vs Toyota Camry
- Subaru Uncharted total complaints
- 40
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Subaru Uncharted total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Subaru Uncharted avg complaints/year
- 40.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Subaru Uncharted
- Subaru Uncharted top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN