Head-to-head reliability
Tesla SEMI vs Toyota Camry
How the Tesla SEMI 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
Tesla SEMI vs Toyota Camry: The SEMI has 3 complaints over 4 years (0.8/year) and 0 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. The Camry also reports 171 crashes and 158 injuries; the SEMI reports none. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Tesla SEMI or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Tesla SEMI
The Tesla SEMI is a heavy-duty electric truck with very few owner complaints on file—just 3 over 4 years, averaging 0.8 per year. The reported issues cluster around structure (door latch), steering, electrical system, and speed control, often tied to early ownership problems like charging failures. With no recalls and no crash-related reports, the complaint pattern suggests that when problems do occur, they tend to be mechanical or electrical rather than safety-critical in the data provided.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a much larger complaint history: 2,056 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 206 per year, plus 31 recalls and reports of 171 crashes, 158 injuries, and 1 death. Owners frequently describe power train hesitation, engine shuddering, brake noises, and multiple electronic system malfunctions. This volume of reports means a used Camry buyer should expect a higher chance of encountering documented issues, though many are common to high-volume vehicles.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Tesla SEMI | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.8 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.
Tesla SEMI
- 01STRUCTURE2
- 02STEERING1
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 04VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
- 05LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
Owners report the driver door striker latch coming loose and nearly detaching from the body, creating a panel gap and the possibility of the door opening while driving. This matters because a door that can open in motion is a serious safety concern.
One owner described taking delivery of the truck 4 days earlier and driving about 250 miles before experiencing an issue, though the exact steering symptom is not detailed in the sample. Any steering problem on a heavy vehicle demands immediate attention.
The same owner reported that their home charger would fail 20 seconds after each charging attempt, though it worked at a Supercharger. This points to potential charging compatibility or electrical faults that could strand a buyer.
The sample complaint tied to speed control comes from the same early-ownership report, suggesting a possible link between electrical/charging issues and speed control behavior. Buyers should verify that speed control functions correctly after charging.
“The driver door striker latch came loose and was close to completely disconnecting from the vehicle body. This led to a body panel gap and the possibility of the door opening while in motion. Elon Musk on twitter is saying that a number of vehicles from the f…”
“The contact owns a 2024 Tesla Cyber Truck. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed during daylight, the dashboard accent would reflect in the side mirrors. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and taken to a local dealer…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key becoming stuck and unable to be removed even when the dashboard shows Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others describe hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, which can indicate transmission or engine management problems.
Complaints include a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, sometimes occurring multiple times. This lag can be dangerous when merging or pulling out into traffic.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking/vibrating sound from the brake pedal area that dealers attribute to the ABS system. Brake issues directly affect stopping ability and should be inspected.
Multiple electronic safety systems—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—malfunctioned simultaneously in one report. Such widespread failures could leave a driver without key safety aids.
“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.
Tesla SEMI
No recalls on record.
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
Tesla SEMI or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Tesla SEMI has far fewer issues per year (0.8 vs. 205.6) and no recalls, while the Toyota Camry has a much larger complaint and recall history. In practice, a used Camry buyer is more likely to encounter documented problems, but the SEMI's low complaint count may also reflect limited real-world data. The difference means the Camry requires more diligence, while the SEMI's issues, though rare, can be severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The Tesla SEMI has 3 complaints over 4 years and 0 recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years and 31 recalls.
- Camry owners report power train problems like stuck ignition keys and hesitation, while SEMI owners report structural door latch and charging issues.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and 1 death; the SEMI has 0 in each category.
- Camry complaints often involve multiple electronic safety systems failing together, whereas SEMI complaints are fewer and more isolated.
- Inspect the driver door striker latch and surrounding body panel for looseness or gaps, as owners report it coming detached.
- Test the home charging setup and verify the vehicle charges reliably, since one owner reported charger failure after 20 seconds.
- Check that the ignition key can be removed easily when the car is in Park, as owners report it getting stuck.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating 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 confirm all recalls have been performed, especially for the Camry.
- For the Camry, test drive at various speeds to check for hesitation, shuddering, and delayed throttle response.
- For the SEMI, inspect door latches, hinges, and body panels for any signs of loosening or misalignment.
- Have a qualified mechanic inspect the brake system, including ABS and parking brake, on either vehicle.
- Verify that all electronic safety systems (stability control, blind spot monitoring, etc.) function correctly during a test drive.
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 | Tesla SEMI | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 3 | 50 |
| 2023 | 0 | 64 |
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 Tesla SEMI or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Tesla SEMI vs Toyota Camry
- Tesla SEMI total complaints
- 3
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Tesla SEMI total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Tesla SEMI avg complaints/year
- 0.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Tesla SEMI
- Tesla SEMI top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN