Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Camry vs Nissan Altima
How the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Toyota Camry vs Nissan Altima: The Camry has 208 complaints per year vs Altima's 117.5, but Altima's issues include sudden stalling and gear shifter detachment, while Camry's include roll-away risk and moonroof shattering. Both have serious defects. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry shows a mixed reliability picture. While it has a high complaint volume (208 per year), many issues are non-critical, like moonroof shattering and key-sticking. However, power train complaints about roll-away risk and unintended braking are serious safety concerns. Overall, the Camry has many minor annoyances but a few potentially dangerous defects.
Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima has fewer complaints per year (117.5) but a higher proportion of severe issues. Owners report sudden stalling at highway speeds, dashboard warning lights, and gear shifter detachment—all of which can cause loss of control. Electrical system failures are common, often leading to complete power loss while driving.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Camry | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,081 | 1,175 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 28 | 22 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 177 | 96 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 208.1 | 117.5 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 161 | 73 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN384
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER332
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
Owners report the engine can be turned off and key removed while still in Drive, allowing the car to roll away. Also, the ignition key gets stuck even when in Park, requiring battery disconnect to remove.
The moonroof can shatter spontaneously while driving, sounding like a gunshot, with no external cause. This poses a risk of injury from glass debris.
Some owners report excessive engine noise and vibration when braking, along with musty smells and rust in the trunk, indicating possible water intrusion or exhaust issues.
Brakes can erroneously activate, causing unintended deceleration. Also, thumping and grinding noises from the brakes are common, suggesting premature wear or defect.
“The vehicle allows the engine to be turned off, key removed, while the vehicle is still in drive with no warning lights or sounds. I have tested and the vehicle can roll away. Complained to the toyota dealership and they said the service tech consulted with t…”
“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…”
Nissan Altima
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER235
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM205
- 03POWER TRAIN192
- 04ENGINE156
- 05SERVICE BRAKES148
Multiple dashboard lights illuminate simultaneously, and the car can suddenly veer into barriers at highway speeds, indicating a loss of control or sensor malfunction.
The vehicle can stall without warning, even in cold weather, with all dashboard lights coming on. Some owners report the car dying in parking lots and needing battery manipulation to restart.
The gear shifter can detach from its housing, leaving the car stuck in Drive and unable to shift to Park or Reverse. Also, the car may turn off mid-drive and then restart on its own.
Engine revs high on startup and transmission shifts hard, almost causing skidding. Combined with stalling, this suggests serious powertrain control issues.
“I was driving to work. As I was doing so multiple lights came on my dashboard and it started dinging. At the same time my car immediately shot left so hard into the concrete median barrier at 70 mph. It all happened so fast I was not able to see what lights c…”
“When I first start the car the engine revs and the tachometer or the RPM reader stays above 2 while reving for over a minute which is too long. The needle eventually goes to 1 but it seems like when I change gears to drive it "hits hard" then almost skids out…”
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.
Toyota Camry — 28 recalls
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…
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…
Nissan Altima — 22 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima, Sentra, 2025-2026 Frontier, and 2026 Kicks vehicles. The door strikers may have been improperly welded and break, allowing the door to open while moving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot…
The risk: A door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the door strikers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD185 and PMA61. Vehicle Iden…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Altima vehicles. The bolts connecting the electronic power steering unit to the steering rack may loosen, resulting in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
The risk: A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC997.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Altima and 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
The risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge.…
Buyer analysis
Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima: which should you buy?
The Nissan Altima has fewer complaints per year (117.5 vs 208.1), but its issues are more severe, including sudden stalling and loss of control. The Camry has more complaints but many are less critical, though roll-away and unintended braking are serious. In practice, the Altima may pose higher safety risks.
Key differences
- Camry has more complaints (208/yr) but Altima's are more severe (stalling, veering).
- Camry's power train issues involve roll-away risk; Altima's involve gear shifter detachment and stalling.
- Camry's moonroof shatters spontaneously; Altima's electrical system causes sudden power loss.
- Camry's brakes can activate erroneously; Altima's dashboard lights and veering suggest sensor failures.
- Check for moonroof cracks or shatter risk by inspecting glass for stress marks.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and Drive to ensure it doesn't stick or allow key removal while in gear.
- Test drive at highway speeds and watch for sudden dashboard warning lights or veering.
- Check gear shifter for looseness or detachment by shifting through all positions.
Before you buy
- Test the Camry's ignition key removal in both Park and Drive to check for sticking or roll-away risk.
- Inspect the Camry's moonroof for any cracks or signs of stress.
- Test drive the Altima at highway speeds and monitor for dashboard warning lights or sudden stalling.
- Check the Altima's gear shifter for secure attachment and smooth operation.
- Review the vehicle's recall history and ensure all open recalls have been performed.
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 | Toyota Camry | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 97 | 0 |
| 2025 | 140 | 6 |
| 2024 | 46 | 40 |
| 2023 | 60 | 29 |
| 2022 | 57 | 20 |
| 2021 | 154 | 69 |
| 2020 | 264 | 176 |
| 2019 | 387 | 225 |
| 2018 | 728 | 223 |
| 2017 | 148 | 387 |
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 Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Camry vs Nissan Altima
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,081
- Nissan Altima total complaints
- 1,175
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 28
- Nissan Altima total recalls
- 22
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 208.1
- Nissan Altima avg complaints/year
- 117.5
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Altima
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Nissan Altima top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER