Head-to-head reliability
Toyota Camry vs Toyota RAV4
How the Toyota Camry and Toyota RAV4 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 RAV4: The Camry has 209.9 complaints per year, while the RAV4 has 304.9. Camry owners report transmission failures and sudden acceleration, while RAV4 owners face electrical glitches and engine stalling. Both have recalls, but the Camry's issues are more safety-critical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Toyota Camry or Toyota RAV4 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a midsize sedan, shows a reliability picture dominated by powertrain and engine complaints, with owners reporting grinding noises from the transmission and sudden acceleration incidents. Brake issues also appear, including a report of no response when pressing the pedal. While the total complaint count is lower than the RAV4's, the nature of these issues—especially those affecting acceleration and braking—can be alarming for a buyer.
Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4, a compact SUV, has a higher complaint volume, with significant issues in the electrical system and engine. Owners report problems with the blind spot monitoring system and navigation inaccuracies, as well as engine stalling and reduced power, particularly in wet conditions. Fuel system complaints include a failure to accelerate when turning, which can be dangerous in traffic. These issues suggest a vehicle with more frequent and varied electronic and drivetrain concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Toyota Camry | Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,099 Better | 3,049 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 27 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 177 Better | 214 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 209.9 Better | 304.9 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 161 Better | 179 |
| 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 require replacement. This can lead to costly repairs and potential loss of power while driving.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration, leading to crashes, and engine maintenance warnings related to a coolant valve bypass recall that may not cover all VINs. These issues pose serious safety risks.
Some owners describe a complete lack of brake response when pressing the pedal, especially on hills, which can result in loss of control. This is a critical safety concern.
“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 RAV4
- 01UNKNOWN OR OTHER634
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM624
- 03ENGINE580
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM414
- 05AIR BAGS293
Complaints include malfunctioning blind spot monitoring and other sensors, leading to warnings and potential failure of safety features. This can reduce driver confidence and increase accident risk.
Owners report the engine running poorly, stalling, and displaying 'Reduced Engine Power' messages, especially after driving in rain. This can leave drivers stranded or unable to accelerate.
There are instances where the vehicle fails to accelerate when making a left turn, causing it to roll into intersections. This is a serious safety hazard in traffic.
“I apologize if this does not meet the NHTSA bar of a safety hazard. It does reduce the ability for hands free navigation and acts as a distraction for drivers. Toyota Rav4s have very poor GPS tracking which makes the directions in the integrated head unit and…”
“The Apple CarPlay/navigation system in our 2024 Toyota RAV4 consistently drifts and displays incorrect vehicle location while driving. Navigation apps (Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze) provide inaccurate positioning and incorrect directions. This creates a dist…”
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 RAV4 — 27 recalls
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 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2025 RAV 4 vehicles. The front seat brackets for the seat rails may be welded improperly.
The risk: Improperly welded seat brackets can prevent the seat from adequately restraining an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the seat bracket welds as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are…
The defect: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…
The risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is S…
Buyer analysis
Toyota Camry or Toyota RAV4: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (209.9) compared to the RAV4 (304.9), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Camry's problems include sudden acceleration and brake failure, which are more severe in nature. The RAV4's higher volume is driven by electrical and engine issues that, while less catastrophic, are more common and can be frustrating.
Key differences
- The Camry has a higher proportion of powertrain and brake complaints, including sudden acceleration and brake failure, while the RAV4's issues are more spread across electrical, engine, and fuel systems.
- The RAV4 has more complaints overall, but the Camry's complaints are more likely to involve loss of control or braking, which are more dangerous.
- The RAV4's electrical issues include problems with safety features like blind spot monitoring, which can be a distraction and reduce safety, whereas the Camry's electrical complaints are less prominent.
- The Camry's transmission problems are a major concern, with owners needing replacements, while the RAV4's engine stalling and acceleration failure are more common.
- Inspect the transmission for any grinding noises or hesitation during acceleration, as owners report the need for replacement.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on slopes, to ensure there is no loss of pedal response.
- Check the blind spot monitoring and other sensors for proper operation, as owners report malfunctions.
- Test the engine's behavior in wet conditions, as there are reports of stalling and reduced power after driving in rain.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic inspect the transmission on the Camry for any signs of wear or unusual noises.
- On the RAV4, verify that all electronic safety features (blind spot, lane departure) are functioning correctly.
- Take both vehicles for a test drive that includes hills and turns to check for acceleration and braking issues.
- Check for any open recalls and ensure they have been addressed for the specific VIN.
- Review the vehicle's service history for any previous complaints or repairs related to the issues mentioned.
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 RAV4 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 106 | 16 |
| 2025 | 141 | 75 |
| 2024 | 46 | 165 |
| 2023 | 60 | 145 |
| 2022 | 58 | 135 |
| 2021 | 154 | 380 |
| 2020 | 267 | 627 |
| 2019 | 388 | 873 |
| 2018 | 731 | 330 |
| 2017 | 148 | 303 |
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 RAV4 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Toyota Camry vs Toyota RAV4
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,099
- Toyota RAV4 total complaints
- 3,049
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 26
- Toyota RAV4 total recalls
- 27
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 209.9
- Toyota RAV4 avg complaints/year
- 304.9
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota RAV4 top complaint area
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER