Head-to-head reliability
Volkswagen Touareg vs Toyota Camry
How the Volkswagen Touareg 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 Touareg vs Toyota Camry: Over 10 years, the Touareg had 237 complaints (24/year) and 16 recalls, while the Camry had 2,056 complaints (206/year) and 31 recalls. The Touareg’s issues often involve power loss, whereas the Camry’s include key and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volkswagen Touareg or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volkswagen Touareg
The Volkswagen Touareg is a luxury SUV that can be costly to maintain as it ages. Over 10 years, owners filed 237 complaints, averaging about 24 per year, with 16 recalls and 13 injuries reported. The most common trouble spots are the engine, fuel system, and steering, often leading to limp mode or power loss. Buyers should expect a vehicle that demands regular attention and a healthy repair budget.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a strong reputation for dependability, but it is not trouble-free. In 10 years, owners filed 2,056 complaints, averaging about 206 per year, with 31 recalls and 158 injuries reported. The most frequent issues involve the power train, engine, and brakes, including hesitation, shuddering, and electronic parking brake failures. While many Camrys run well for years, the volume of complaints shows that some owners face persistent problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volkswagen Touareg | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 237 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 16 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 23.7 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 13 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 Touareg
- 01ENGINE83
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM42
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER34
- 04STEERING29
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
Owners report coolant or fluid leaks under the front right area, and some experience random limp-home mode at low speeds, where the car crawls at about 8 mph and may lose braking power. These symptoms can leave you stranded or in a dangerous situation, so a pre-purchase inspection should check for leaks and stored fault codes.
Complaints describe sudden power loss and inability to accelerate at highway speeds, often accompanied by a warning light. This is a serious safety concern because it can happen without warning, making highway driving risky.
Many owners report dramatic steering wheel shake at highway speeds (60–75 mph) that persists even after tire balancing and replacement. This constant vibration is annoying and may indicate worn suspension or steering components that are expensive to fix.
Some owners experience intermittent jerking and power loss at various speeds, including highway speeds, which can cause near-collisions. Others report stalling during rain storms and rough idling, pointing to electrical or fuel delivery gremlins that are hard to diagnose.
“FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WE NOTICED A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE FRONT RIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE. WE ASSUMED IT WAS A CRACKED WASHER FLUID TANK. TOOK TO DEALER THEY FOUND NOTHING DURING SERVICE APPOINTMENT. TECHNICIAN MENTIONED NOTHING OF THE WATER IN THE FILTER ARE…”
“THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, AT LOW SPEEDS, CAR GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE RANDOMLY AND CREAKS ALONG AT 8 MILES AN HOUR, MOST RECENTLY LOST BRAKING POWER AND MESSAGE COMES UP "HYBRID ERROR, PULL OVER IN A SAFE LOCATION." THEN WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF AND ON AG…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect to remove it. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with a check engine light, which can indicate transmission or engine management issues.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, sometimes taking several seconds before the car moves. This lag can be dangerous when merging or pulling out into traffic, and it may be a sign of electronic throttle or sensor problems.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) 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 often attribute to the ABS system but owners find abnormal and concerning.
Multiple safety systems—including stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. This cluster of failures suggests electrical or software issues that could compromise driver assistance features.
“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 Touareg — 16 recalls
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period ma…
The risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer se…
The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 Touareg vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin may be missing a securing clip, allowing the pivot pin to move and the brake pedal to dislodge.
The risk: If the brake pedal dislodges, the driver may not be able to apply the brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake pedal assembly to verify the presence of the securing clip and install any missing securing clips, free of charge. The recall began on April 27, 2016. Owners may contact Vol…
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 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period ma…
The risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer se…
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 Touareg or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volkswagen Touareg has far fewer complaints per year (about 24) than the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the Touareg’s issues often involve severe power loss and limp mode. The Camry’s higher complaint volume means you are more likely to encounter problems, though many are less crippling. In practice, the Touareg may need fewer visits to the shop, but when it breaks, it can be more dangerous and expensive.
Key differences
- The Touareg averages about 24 complaints per year, while the Camry averages about 206, meaning you are statistically more likely to file a complaint as a Camry owner.
- Touareg owners frequently report sudden power loss and limp mode, which can be life-threatening; Camry owners more often report key stuck, hesitation, and brake noise.
- The Camry has 31 recalls versus 16 for the Touareg, but the Touareg’s recalls include brake pedal linkage issues that could affect stopping.
- Steering wheel shake at highway speeds is a common Touareg complaint, while Camry complaints often involve electronic parking brake failure and multiple safety system malfunctions.
- Check for fluid leaks under the front right area and ask if the engine has ever gone into limp mode or lost power.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for steering wheel shake, and have the suspension and steering components inspected.
- Test the ignition key to ensure it releases smoothly from Park, and check for any hesitation or shuddering during acceleration.
- Verify the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- During the test drive, include highway speeds to check for steering shake (Touareg) and acceleration hesitation (Camry).
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for oil changes, transmission service, and any recall repairs.
- Scan the vehicle for stored diagnostic trouble codes, even if no warning lights are on, to uncover hidden issues.
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 Touareg | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 744 |
| 2017 | 24 | 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 Touareg or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volkswagen Touareg vs Toyota Camry
- Volkswagen Touareg total complaints
- 237
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Volkswagen Touareg total recalls
- 16
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volkswagen Touareg avg complaints/year
- 23.7
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Volkswagen Touareg
- Volkswagen Touareg top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN