Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen CC vs Toyota Camry
How the Volkswagen CC 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 CC vs Toyota Camry: The CC averages 62 complaints per year, with airbag issues dominating, while the Camry averages 214 complaints per year, with powertrain problems leading. The CC has 24 recalls, the Camry 31. Both have safety concerns, but the CC's fuel leaks and airbag failures are critical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen CC or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen CC
The Volkswagen CC, a stylish sedan, shows a reliability profile dominated by airbag system issues, particularly clock spring failures that trigger warning lights and disable steering wheel controls. Fuel system problems, including fuel pump flange recalls and fuel tank leaks, are also prominent, along with engine power loss and electrical gremlins like mechatronic unit failures in the DSG transmission. Owners report these issues at a rate of about 62 complaints per year, suggesting a vehicle that may require frequent attention to safety-critical systems.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a popular midsize sedan, has a higher total complaint count but spans more years, averaging 214 complaints per year. Its issues are spread across powertrain, engine, brakes, and electrical systems, with notable reports of transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, brake failure, and HVAC odors. While the Camry has more recalls and crash reports, its complaints reflect a broader range of problems, some of which are severe, but the vehicle's overall reliability reputation remains mixed.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen CC | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 370 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 61.7 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 12 Better | 163 |
| 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 CC
- 01AIR BAGS158
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM87
- 03ENGINE75
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM60
- 05STEERING20
Owners report clock spring failures that cause the airbag warning light to illuminate and steering wheel buttons to stop working, raising concerns about airbag deployment in a crash.
Fuel pump flange issues have led to recalls, but some owners report waiting for parts, and others experience strong fuel odors inside the cabin due to fuel tank leaks, posing fire and health risks.
Loss of motive power while driving, including failure to accelerate from a stop, is reported, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical failures include the clock spring (also listed under airbags) and catastrophic DSG transmission mechatronic unit failure, leading to loss of drive.
“My 2016 VW CC (VIN: [XXX]) has a clock spring failure. I brought my car in to Riverhead Bay Motors on 2/12/2019, with the hope of diagnosing and fixing the part. They had to order the part, so only diagnosis was done. Diagnosis confirmed that the clock spring…”
“AS I WAS MAKING A U-TURN I COULD HEAR A NOICE FROM MY STEELING WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND READ "ERROR: AIRBAG". I COULDN'T HELP BUT PANIC THINKING OF ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT CAN HAPPEN. I NOTICED THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WE…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission issues are common, with grinding noises and the need for full replacement reported, sometimes linked to recalls for certain model years.
Sudden unintended acceleration is a serious complaint, with one owner reporting a crash, and another citing a coolant valve bypass code that is not covered by recall for their VIN.
Brake failure, including no response when pressing the pedal, is reported, which is critical for safety.
Electrical issues include problems with the airbag occupant classification sensor and other components, though specific details are less prominent in the sample.
“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…”
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 CC — 24 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requi…
The risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2017 CC vehicles. Incorrect front seat head restraints (rests) may have been installed, possibly resulting in the seat occupant's head being inadequately restrained in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comp…
The risk: If the seat occupant's head is inadequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall i…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-…
Toyota Camry — 31 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 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…
Buyer analysis
Volkswagen CC or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen CC has fewer complaints per year (62 vs 214) and fewer recalls (24 vs 31), but its issues are heavily concentrated on airbags and fuel systems, which are safety-critical. The Camry's higher complaint rate reflects a broader range of problems, but its overall reliability may be more predictable. In practice, the CC may require more immediate attention to safety systems, while the Camry might have more frequent but less severe issues.
Key differences
- Volkswagen CC has a higher proportion of airbag complaints (158 out of 370) compared to Camry's top issue being powertrain (395 out of 2143).
- Camry has more reported crashes (181 vs 16) and injuries (163 vs 12), but also one death, while CC has none.
- CC's fuel system issues include fuel pump flange recalls and fuel tank leaks, while Camry's engine issues include sudden acceleration and coolant valve problems.
- Camry's brake complaints include total brake failure, which is not a top issue for CC.
- Check for any airbag warning lights and test all steering wheel buttons, as clock spring failure is common.
- Inspect for fuel odors inside the cabin and verify that any fuel pump recalls have been completed.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including on a hill, for any loss of response.
- Listen for grinding noises during acceleration and check for any transmission-related recalls.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and verify all recalls have been performed for the specific VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the airbag system and clock spring on the CC, and the brakes and transmission on the Camry.
- Ask for service records, especially for fuel system repairs on the CC and transmission work on the Camry.
- Test drive both vehicles, paying attention to warning lights, unusual noises, and acceleration/braking behavior.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a dealer or independent shop specializing in the brand.
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 | Volkswagen CC | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 736 |
| 2017 | 4 | 148 |
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 CC or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen CC vs Toyota Camry
- Volkswagen CC total complaints
- 370
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Volkswagen CC total recalls
- 24
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volkswagen CC avg complaints/year
- 61.7
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen CC
- Volkswagen CC top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN