Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen Cabrio vs Toyota Camry
How the Volkswagen Cabrio and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Volkswagen Cabrio vs Toyota Camry: The Cabrio averaged 29 complaints per year over 3 years, while the Camry averaged 206 per year over 10 years. The Cabrio has 2 recalls; the Camry has 31. Both show electrical and power train issues, but the Camry's higher volume means lower per-vehicle risk. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen Cabrio or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen Cabrio
The Volkswagen Cabrio is a compact convertible that demands patience and a budget for ongoing repairs. Over three years, owners filed 87 complaints—about 29 per year—with electrical gremlins, power train faults, and engine issues leading the list. Many reports describe warning lights, failing gauges, and window regulators that break without warning. This is not a car for someone who wants trouble-free daily driving.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a much larger owner base, generating 2,056 complaints over ten years—roughly 206 per year. Power train, engine, and brake issues dominate, but the volume reflects how many Camrys are on the road. Recalls are frequent (31), covering seats, air bag sensors, and wheel studs. Still, the per-vehicle complaint rate is far lower than the Cabrio's.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen Cabrio | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 87 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 11 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 29.0 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 11 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 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.
Volkswagen Cabrio
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- 02POWER TRAIN12
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING12
- 04VISIBILITY11
- 05AIR BAGS10
Owners report speedometers freezing, air conditioning failing to start, and warning lights for check engine, ABS, and trunk coming on intermittently. One complaint describes a short under the hood that sparked and smoked, suggesting fire risk if ignored.
Complaints include check engine lights appearing within miles of purchase and transmission failure linked to computer overheating. A owner reported sparks and smoke from electrical shorts that also damaged the transmission and gauges.
Reports include a completely rusted exhaust system from the manifold back, with vibrating heat shields and pipes. Another owner noted the temperature gauge stopped working at just over 13,000 miles, a sign of cooling sensor or wiring faults.
The driver's side window regulator can fail suddenly, causing the window to crash down loudly. This is a common convertible-specific issue that can leave the car exposed to weather and theft.
“I HAVE HAD VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THE SPEEDOMETER FREEZING OR THE SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. SOMETIMES MY AIR CONDITIONER WON'T START. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS OR THE CHECK TRUNK COMES ON HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANT…”
“TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: IN MARCH, 2003, MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A NEW 2000 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO CONVERTIBLE. WHEN THE CAR HAD 13,611 MILES ON IT, WE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NOT OPERATING. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS AT THE TIME, SUCH AS THE…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners describe intermittent ignition key sticking even when the dashboard shows Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove the key. Others report hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on.
A delayed throttle response of several seconds after pressing the accelerator is reported, creating a safety risk when merging or pulling out. This lag has occurred multiple times for some owners.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which dealers attribute to the ABS system and call 'common' for this model.
Multiple safety systems—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. One owner reported all these failing while driving home at night.
“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…”
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.
Volkswagen Cabrio — 2 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUA…
The risk: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
The fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL B…
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUA…
The risk: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
The fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL B…
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…
Buyer analysis
Volkswagen Cabrio or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has far fewer complaints per year (about 206) than the Volkswagen Cabrio (about 29), but the Camry's larger sales volume means the per-vehicle rate is much lower for the Camry. In practice, the Cabrio is more likely to leave you stranded with electrical or transmission problems, while the Camry's issues are more often annoying but less frequent per car.
Key differences
- The Cabrio averages 29 complaints per year, while the Camry averages 206 per year—but the Camry sold in far higher numbers, so per-vehicle reliability is better for the Camry.
- Cabrio owners report electrical shorts that can cause smoke and fire, plus transmission failure from computer overheating; Camry owners report key sticking and delayed throttle response.
- The Cabrio has only 2 recalls (both for owner's manual issues), while the Camry has 31 recalls covering seats, air bag sensors, and wheel studs.
- The Cabrio's window regulator failure is a common visibility complaint; the Camry's electronic parking brake and ABS noise are frequent brake complaints.
- Check all electrical functions: speedometer, air conditioning, warning lights (check engine, ABS, trunk), and listen for any clicking or sparking under the hood.
- Test the driver's side window regulator by rolling it up and down several times—listen for crunching or sudden drops.
- Test the ignition key: start the car, shift to Park, and try to remove the key without disconnecting the battery.
- Press the brake pedal and listen for clicking or vibrating; also test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages smoothly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Camry's seat and air bag sensor recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Cabrio's electrical system, transmission, and exhaust for rust and shorts before purchase.
- For the Camry, test drive at various speeds to feel for hesitation or shuddering, and check throttle response from a stop.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for the Cabrio's timing belt and the Camry's brake system.
- Budget for immediate repairs: Cabrio may need window regulators or electrical fixes; Camry may need brake switch or software updates.
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 Volkswagen Cabrio or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen Cabrio vs Toyota Camry
- Volkswagen Cabrio total complaints
- 87
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Volkswagen Cabrio total recalls
- 2
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volkswagen Cabrio avg complaints/year
- 29.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen Cabrio
- Volkswagen Cabrio top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN