Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Camry vs Toyota 4runner
How the Toyota Camry and Toyota 4runner 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 Toyota 4runner: The Camry has 209.9 complaints per year, with major issues in powertrain and brakes, while the 4Runner has only 36 per year, with steering and brake problems. The 4Runner is more reliable, but both have safety concerns. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Camry or Toyota 4runner more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, with over 2,000 complaints in a decade, shows a pattern of powertrain and engine issues, including transmission failures and sudden acceleration reports. Brake problems and electrical glitches also appear, making it a vehicle that may require frequent repairs and vigilance. Despite its popularity, owners report serious safety concerns that could affect daily driving.
Toyota 4runner
The Toyota 4Runner, with far fewer complaints, still exhibits notable issues, particularly with steering wheel shake at highway speeds and brake pedal problems. Suspension and airbag concerns are also present, but the overall lower complaint rate suggests a more reliable ownership experience, though not without its quirks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Camry | Toyota 4runner |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,099 | 360 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 | 23 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 177 | 36 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 209.9 | 36.0 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 161 | 26 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
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 TRAIN389
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER336
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report grinding noises from the front end on acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission issues that often require replacement. This can lead to costly repairs and potential safety hazards if the transmission fails while driving.
Sudden unintended acceleration has been reported, leading to crashes and total loss of the vehicle. Additionally, engine maintenance lights come on due to coolant valve bypass issues, which may not be covered by recall for all VINs, leaving owners with repair costs.
Brake failure is reported, with the pedal going to the floor or no response when pressed, especially on slopes. This is a critical safety issue that can lead to accidents.
While specific electrical complaints are not detailed, the high number suggests issues with sensors or other electronic components, potentially causing warning lights or system malfunctions.
“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…”
Toyota 4runner
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER75
- 02SERVICE BRAKES62
- 03STEERING48
- 04SUSPENSION34
- 05AIR BAGS32
A persistent steering wheel shake at highway speeds (58-64 mph) is a common complaint, with dealers unable to fix it despite multiple attempts. This can be annoying and potentially dangerous at high speeds.
Brake pedal goes to the floor after sitting overnight, requiring pumping to restore function. This indicates a possible master cylinder or brake line issue, which is a serious safety concern.
The X-REAS suspension system in Limited trims has been reported to fail at around 45,000 miles, leading to a rough ride and potential handling issues.
While specific airbag complaints are not detailed, the presence of 32 complaints suggests potential issues with airbag deployment or sensors, which could affect safety in a crash.
“**Vehicle:** 2026 Toyota 4Runner SR5- -700Miles I am reporting a persistent vibration issue that appears to come from the engine bay and is transmitted through the driver's side floorboard into the driver's left foot and leg. The vibration is most noticeable…”
“Took the vehicle in 3/19/2021 @ 6076 Mileage for a steering wheel shake, the dealer has tried numerous times to fix it by trying to balance the tire and rotate the tires, it only masks the problem and the steering wheel shake comes back. The shake can happen…”
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 — 26 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 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner…
The risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charg…
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…
Toyota 4runner — 23 recalls
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2020-2022 4Runner vehicles equipped with 20-inch Black Gunner Wheels. The load carrying capacity modification labels are incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard num…
The risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: SET will mail replacement labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 4, 2022. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 954-429-2000. SET's number for this recall is SET22A.
The defect: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain Toyota 2023 GR Supra, 2024 4 Runner, Corolla, Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Land Cruiser Hybrid, Tacoma, Tacoma Hybrid, 2023-2024 BZ4X, Corolla Cross Hybrid, GR Corolla, GR86, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius Prime, Sequoia…
The risk: A vehicle with an incorrect maximum capacity weight value may be overloaded, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GST will mail new labels to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2024. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 24R2.
The defect: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2026 4Runner vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and…
The risk: An incorrect load carrying capacity label may lead to improper loading of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GST will mail a new modification label to owners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2026. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 26R1.
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota 4Runner vehicles. The load carrying capacity modification label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M…
The risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC will mail a new modified label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2023. Owners may contact SET's customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET23A.
Buyer analysis
Toyota Camry or Toyota 4runner: which should you buy?
The Toyota 4Runner has significantly fewer complaints per year (36 vs 209.9), indicating a more reliable vehicle overall. In practice, this means fewer visits to the repair shop and lower risk of major failures, though both have their issues.
Key differences
- The Camry has a much higher complaint rate, especially for powertrain and engine issues, including sudden acceleration and transmission failures.
- The 4Runner's main issues are steering wheel shake and brake pedal problems, which are less frequent but still concerning.
- The Camry has more crash-related complaints (177 vs 36) and injuries (161 vs 26), suggesting more severe incidents.
- The 4Runner has fewer recalls (23 vs 26) and no reported deaths, while the Camry has one death.
- Inspect the transmission for any signs of grinding or slipping, and check for any open recalls related to powertrain.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on slopes, for any loss of pedal pressure or delayed response.
- Take the 4Runner for a highway test drive to see if the steering wheel shakes at 55-65 mph.
- Check the brake pedal for any softness or if it goes to the floor after the car has been sitting.
Before you buy
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles using their VINs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission and brakes on the Camry, and the steering and brakes on the 4Runner.
- Ask for service records to see if any of the common issues have been addressed.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for vibrations or shakes.
- Consider the age and mileage, as issues may be more prevalent in higher-mileage examples.
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 | Toyota 4runner |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 106 | 6 |
| 2025 | 141 | 54 |
| 2024 | 46 | 8 |
| 2023 | 60 | 30 |
| 2022 | 58 | 39 |
| 2021 | 154 | 34 |
| 2020 | 267 | 31 |
| 2019 | 388 | 64 |
| 2018 | 731 | 58 |
| 2017 | 148 | 36 |
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 Toyota 4runner in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Camry vs Toyota 4runner
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,099
- Toyota 4runner total complaints
- 360
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 26
- Toyota 4runner total recalls
- 23
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 209.9
- Toyota 4runner avg complaints/year
- 36.0
- More reliable overall
- Toyota 4runner
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota 4runner top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER