Head-to-head reliability
Subaru XV Crosstrek vs Toyota Camry
How the Subaru XV Crosstrek 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 XV Crosstrek vs Toyota Camry: The Crosstrek averaged 75.8 complaints per year over 4 years, while the Camry averaged 205.6 over 10 years. The Camry has 31 recalls and 158 injuries, versus 3 recalls and 12 injuries for the Crosstrek. Both show powertrain and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Subaru XV Crosstrek or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Subaru XV Crosstrek
The Subaru XV Crosstrek is a compact SUV that owners often buy for its all-weather capability, but NHTSA data shows a pattern of powertrain and engine complaints that can make ownership frustrating. Over four model years, it averaged about 76 complaints per year, with many owners reporting oil consumption, slow starting, and stalling. Electrical issues like fan failures and sudden power loss also appear in the complaints. While it has only 3 recalls, the recurring nature of these problems means a used Crosstrek needs a careful inspection.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a reputation for dependability, yet NHTSA data reveals a high volume of complaints—over 2,000 across ten years—including 31 recalls and 158 injuries. Owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission hesitation and key removal problems to brake noise and multiple electronic system malfunctions. The sheer number of complaints suggests that even a well-regarded model can have persistent, varied problems. Buyers should weigh the Camry's overall reliability against the specific defects reported for the model year they are considering.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Subaru XV Crosstrek | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 303 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 21 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 75.8 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 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 XV Crosstrek
- 01POWER TRAIN66
- 02ENGINE66
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER63
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
- 05SERVICE BRAKES29
Owners report excessive oil consumption, slow starting, and the engine bogging or almost stalling when accelerating, especially with the air conditioning on. These symptoms can lead to costly repairs and unsafe driving conditions if the engine stalls in traffic.
Complaints include sudden power loss while driving, such as on a highway, where the car slows down unexpectedly and may stall. This can be dangerous, especially at high speeds, and points to potential engine management or fuel delivery issues.
The blower fan for heating and air conditioning can fail, causing windows to fog up and reducing visibility. In some cases, the entire electrical system shuts down while driving, leading to a stall and loss of power.
A common complaint is the inability to remove the key from the ignition when the car is in park, linked to a park-range switch problem. This can leave owners stranded and may require battery disconnection to release the key.
“I have been working with Subaru of America and Capital Subaru service in San Jose, CA for a 2013 Subaru Crosstrek XV 2.0 CVT automatic engine shortly after we bought it used for multiple faulty known engine problems with this specific make and model. Since we…”
“SLOW STARTING WHEN TURNING OVER FROM STOP/PARK/COLD/HOT. EXCESSIVE OIL USE AFTER EACH 3,000 MILES. NO LIGHT WARNING FOR LOW OIL DISPLAYS. ENGINE BOGS OR ALMOST STALLS WHEN GIVING GAS. USUALLY WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. THIS STARTED TO OCCUR AFTER I HAD…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when the dashboard shows the car is in Park, often requiring battery disconnection. Others describe hesitation and shuddering during acceleration, which can feel like the transmission is slipping.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This lag can be a safety concern when merging or pulling out into traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also report a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which dealers attribute to the ABS system but some owners find abnormal.
Multiple electronic safety systems—such as stability control, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assist—can malfunction simultaneously. This can disable critical driver aids and increase the risk of a crash.
“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 XV Crosstrek — 3 recalls
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Impreza Stationwagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, XV Crosstrek and Toyota Scion FR-S vehicles. The engine valve springs in these vehicles may fracture causing an engine malfunction or a possible engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Subaru will notify their owners. Toyota will notify the FR-S owners. Dealers will replace the valve springs, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota ow…
The defect: Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RE…
The risk: The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there i…
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
The defect: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2015 Legacy vehicles manufactured March 10, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Outback vehicles manufactured February 24, 2014, to April 16, 2015, Impreza vehicles manufactured September 9, 2014, to April 14, 2015, XV Crosstrek vehicles manufac…
The risk: If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the driver assist system, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQS-54.
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 XV Crosstrek or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Subaru XV Crosstrek has far fewer complaints per year (about 76) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the Crosstrek's issues often center on serious powertrain and engine problems. The Camry's higher complaint volume reflects its longer production run and greater sales, but it also has more recalls and injuries reported. In practice, the Crosstrek may have fewer overall problems, but the ones it has can be severe, while the Camry's issues are more varied and frequent.
Key differences
- The Subaru XV Crosstrek averages about 76 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages about 206, but the Camry's higher volume is partly due to a longer production span.
- Crosstrek owners frequently report engine oil consumption and sudden power loss, whereas Camry owners more often complain about transmission hesitation and electronic parking brake failures.
- The Camry has 31 recalls and 158 injuries reported, compared to the Crosstrek's 3 recalls and 12 injuries, indicating a wider range of safety-related defects.
- Both vehicles have electrical system complaints, but the Crosstrek's can cause the car to stall, while the Camry's often involve multiple driver-assist systems failing at once.
- Check the oil level and look for signs of excessive consumption, such as blue exhaust smoke or frequent oil top-offs; owners report using oil every 3,000 miles.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and listen for any erratic starter noises; a stuck key or slow starting can indicate a park-range switch or electrical fault.
- Test the electronic parking brake engagement and disengagement, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area; these can signal ABS or EPB issues.
- During a test drive, accelerate from a stop and note any hesitation or shuddering; also check that the key can be removed easily when in Park.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on engine compression, transmission operation, and electrical systems.
- For the Crosstrek, specifically ask the mechanic to check for oil consumption and inspect the park-range switch and blower fan.
- For the Camry, test all electronic safety features and the electronic parking brake, and scan for any stored trouble codes.
- Take a thorough test drive that includes highway speeds, stop-and-go traffic, and use of air conditioning to replicate common complaint conditions.
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 XV Crosstrek or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Subaru XV Crosstrek vs Toyota Camry
- Subaru XV Crosstrek total complaints
- 303
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Subaru XV Crosstrek total recalls
- 3
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Subaru XV Crosstrek avg complaints/year
- 75.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Subaru XV Crosstrek
- Subaru XV Crosstrek top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN