Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Camry vs Toyota Corolla
How the Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla 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 Corolla: The Camry averages 209.9 complaints per year, while the Corolla has 128.2. Both have serious issues, but the Corolla's lower rate may offer slightly better reliability. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Camry or Toyota Corolla more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, over the past decade, has accumulated a substantial number of complaints, averaging nearly 210 per year. The most frequent issues revolve around the powertrain, engine, and brakes, with owners reporting transmission failures, sudden acceleration, and brake loss. These are serious concerns that could affect safety and reliability, making it a vehicle that requires careful inspection before purchase.
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla, while having fewer complaints per year (about 128), still shows notable patterns in the engine, airbags, and powertrain. Owners report unexpected automatic braking, fuel smells, and transmission jerking, which are concerning for a compact car. The lower complaint count suggests it may be slightly more reliable, but the issues are still significant.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Camry | Toyota Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,099 | 1,282 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 | 24 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 177 Better | 182 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 209.9 | 128.2 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 161 | 149 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 4 |
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 upon acceleration, with dealerships confirming transmission issues that often require replacement. This is a costly repair and a major reliability concern.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration, leading to crashes and total loss of the vehicle. Additionally, some owners have experienced engine maintenance warnings related to a coolant valve bypass recall, but their VINs are not included, leaving them with unresolved safety issues.
Several owners describe a complete loss of brake response when descending steep hills, requiring multiple attempts to slow down. This is a critical safety issue that could lead to accidents.
“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 Corolla
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER252
- 02ENGINE250
- 03AIR BAGS222
- 04POWER TRAIN168
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM145
Owners report the automatic emergency braking engaging for no reason, causing the car to stop unexpectedly in the middle of an intersection. There are also fuel smell issues after refueling, with smoke tests revealing leaks from the fuel cell.
In some incidents, the airbags did not deploy in a collision, and the cabin filled with smoke, which is alarming. This suggests potential airbag system failures that could compromise occupant protection.
The vehicle can rev to 5,000-6,000 RPM unexpectedly and jerk violently, especially in a certified pre-owned model. This indicates transmission problems that affect drivability and safety.
“Volume of media from certain apps can't be adjusted. The vehicle says that if media is not playing, the volume can't be adjusted. This can cause distraction while driving and increase risk of a crash. Specific application where this is the case: Youtube audio…”
“Description of problem/issue: Dear Reader: I recently purchased a new (certified preowned) vehicle and ever since then I have been experiencing some concerns with its handling on the road. This letter seeks to communicate this matter to the proper establishme…”
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 Corolla — 24 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles. An electrical connection inside the…
The risk: A deactivated driver's air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this re…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Corolla and Corolla Hybrid vehicles. Due to cracks developed during the manufacturing process, the steering intermediate shaft assembly may fracture and possibly result in the shaft detaching from the steering column.
The risk: A steering shaft that detaches can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the intermediate steering shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24TB13/24TA13.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480…
The risk: A deactivated driver's air bag will not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Corolla vehicles. The front headlights may have missing headlight aim markings, which can result in improperly aimed headlights during service. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor V…
The risk: Incorrectly aimed headlights can reduce driver visibility or create a glare for oncoming traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace both front headlight assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 20, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 26TA05.
Buyer analysis
Toyota Camry or Toyota Corolla: which should you buy?
The Toyota Corolla has fewer complaints per year (128.2) compared to the Camry (209.9), suggesting it may be slightly more reliable. However, both have serious issues, so the difference is not huge. In practice, the Corolla might offer a bit more peace of mind, but neither is without risk.
Key differences
- The Camry has more complaints overall, especially in powertrain and brakes, with reports of transmission failure and brake loss.
- The Corolla has fewer complaints but still has serious issues like unexpected automatic braking and fuel leaks.
- The Camry has a higher number of crash-related complaints (177) compared to the Corolla (182), but the Corolla has more deaths (4 vs 1).
- The Corolla's airbag complaints are more prominent, with reports of non-deployment and smoke, while the Camry's airbag issues are less highlighted.
- Inspect the transmission for any grinding noises or hesitation, as owners report failures requiring replacement.
- Check the brake system thoroughly, especially if the car has been driven on hills, due to reports of brake loss.
- Test the automatic emergency braking system in a safe area to ensure it doesn't engage without reason.
- Check for fuel smells after refueling and have the fuel system inspected for leaks.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any open recalls or previous accident damage.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission, brakes, and engine.
- Test drive both vehicles on a variety of roads, including hills, to assess braking and acceleration behavior.
- Check the airbag system by verifying the SRS light is off and reviewing any service records.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake service.
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 Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 106 | 15 |
| 2025 | 141 | 27 |
| 2024 | 46 | 61 |
| 2023 | 60 | 72 |
| 2022 | 58 | 95 |
| 2021 | 154 | 184 |
| 2020 | 267 | 306 |
| 2019 | 388 | 201 |
| 2018 | 731 | 133 |
| 2017 | 148 | 188 |
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 Corolla in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Camry vs Toyota Corolla
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,099
- Toyota Corolla total complaints
- 1,282
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 26
- Toyota Corolla total recalls
- 24
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 209.9
- Toyota Corolla avg complaints/year
- 128.2
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Corolla top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER