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 2,056 complaints over 10 years (about 206 per year) and 31 recalls, while the Altima has 1,195 complaints (about 120 per year) and 23 recalls. Camry owners often report power train and brake issues, while Altima owners report electrical and stalling problems. 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 is a mainstream midsize sedan with a strong reputation for dependability, but NHTSA data shows 2,056 complaints over 10 years (about 206 per year) and 31 recalls. Owners most often report power train, engine, and brake issues, including hesitation, shuddering, and electronic parking brake failures. While many complaints are nuisance-type problems, some can leave you stranded or affect drivability.
Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima is a popular midsize sedan that has drawn 1,195 complaints over 10 years (about 120 per year) and 23 recalls. The most common trouble spots are electrical system, power train, and engine problems, with reports of stalling, sudden loss of steering, and shifter detachment. Backup camera complaints are also frequent and can affect visibility.
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 | 2,056 | 1,195 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 31 | 23 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 171 | 98 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 205.6 | 119.5 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 158 | 74 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 TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on, which can point to transmission or engine control issues.
A repeated complaint is a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the gas pedal from a stop, making the car feel unresponsive and potentially unsafe in traffic. This hesitation can be intermittent and may not always trigger a warning light.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also report a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that is attributed to the ABS system, which can be annoying and costly to diagnose.
Multiple driver-assist systems—such as stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction at once, often with warning lights. This can reduce safety features without much notice, leaving the driver with reduced assistance.
“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…”
Nissan Altima
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER238
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM208
- 03POWER TRAIN193
- 04ENGINE158
- 05SERVICE BRAKES151
Owners report the car stalling while driving, especially in cold weather, with all dashboard lights coming on. Others describe a near-catastrophic failure of multiple systems like anti-lock brakes, emissions, and windows, which can be frightening and dangerous.
There are complaints of sudden loss of steering control leading to a collision, as well as the gear shifter detaching from its housing and leaving the car stuck in Drive. These are serious mechanical failures that can strand you or cause a crash.
Stalling while driving at speed is a recurring theme, often with no warning and all warning lights illuminating. This can happen in cold or snowy conditions and may leave you unable to restart the vehicle immediately.
Many owners complain about cloudy, low-resolution backup and surround-view cameras that make it hard to see behind the car, especially in bad weather. This can increase the risk of backing into objects or people.
“Recently purchased a NISSAN Altima 2024. Found the backup/camera safety component as well as front and side cameras extremely cloudy whether its in the day or night. Not to mention during inclement weather it gets worse. It is to the point I cannot see clearl…”
“Recently purchased a new 2024 Nissan Altima SL in December 2023. Found the backup camera safety component display to have a poor-quality, low resolution, distorted image. Guidelines are not sharp and objects in the backup path are obscured and practically inv…”
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 — 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…
Nissan Altima — 23 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 2025 Altima vehicles. The front passenger air bag and front passenger knee air bag may have been installed with incorrect mounting fasteners, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the air bag mounting fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 25, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan’s customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall i…
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.…
Buyer analysis
Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima: which should you buy?
The Nissan Altima has fewer complaints per year (about 120 vs. 206 for the Camry) and fewer recalls (23 vs. 31), but its reported issues include more severe safety-related failures like stalling and loss of steering. The Camry’s problems are more often drivability annoyances, though some can still be costly. In practice, the Altima may have fewer total complaints, but the ones it has can be more dangerous.
Key differences
- The Camry has more complaints per year (about 206) than the Altima (about 120), but the Altima’s complaints include more reports of stalling and sudden loss of steering.
- Camry owners frequently report ignition key sticking, throttle hesitation, and electronic parking brake failures; Altima owners report cloudy backup cameras, stalling, and shifter detachment.
- The Altima has fewer recalls (23) than the Camry (31), but Altima recalls include steering rack and backup camera issues, while Camry recalls include air bag sensors and wheel studs.
- Both have 1 reported death, but the Camry has more crash-related complaints (171) and injuries (158) than the Altima (98 crashes, 74 injuries), though these numbers don’t prove fault.
- Check that the ignition key releases smoothly when the car is in Park; if it sticks, it could be a sign of the reported power train defect.
- Test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area that may indicate ABS issues.
- Inspect the backup camera display for clarity; cloudy or low-resolution images are a common complaint and can affect safety.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, stalling, or warning lights, and check that the gear shifter moves smoothly without feeling loose or detached.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Test all driver-assist features, including backup camera, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping, to ensure they work properly.
- During a test drive, simulate stop-and-go traffic and cold starts to check for hesitation, stalling, or warning lights.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake service, as these can affect reliability.
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 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 163 | 7 |
| 2024 | 50 | 41 |
| 2023 | 64 | 29 |
| 2022 | 61 | 20 |
| 2021 | 157 | 70 |
| 2020 | 274 | 179 |
| 2019 | 395 | 232 |
| 2018 | 744 | 225 |
| 2017 | 148 | 391 |
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
- 2,056
- Nissan Altima total complaints
- 1,195
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Nissan Altima total recalls
- 23
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- Nissan Altima avg complaints/year
- 119.5
- More reliable overall
- Nissan Altima
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Nissan Altima top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER