Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S40 vs Toyota Camry
How the Volvo S40 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
Volvo S40 vs Toyota Camry: The S40 averages 30.6 complaints per year with 26 recalls, while the Camry averages 214.3 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The S40 has 15 injuries and 0 deaths; the Camry has 163 injuries and 1 death. Both have brake and electrical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S40 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S40
The Volvo S40 is a compact luxury sedan with a relatively low complaint volume—about 31 per year over a decade—but owners report serious issues like brake fires, electrical failures that can cause stalling, and cooling system breakdowns. With 26 recalls and 15 injuries reported, it demands careful maintenance. For a first-time buyer, it can be affordable but may carry higher repair risks if neglected.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream family sedan with a much higher complaint rate—over 214 per year—but many are for less critical issues like AC odors and transmission noises. However, there are also reports of sudden acceleration, brake failure, and engine problems, plus 31 recalls and 1 death. Its popularity means more data, but also more potential for widespread problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S40 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 306 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 22 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 30.6 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 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.
Volvo S40
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM78
- 02SERVICE BRAKES40
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING31
- 04HYDRAULIC30
- 05AIR BAGS29
Owners report serpentine belt failures causing sudden loss of acceleration and stalling, as well as water pouring in from the sunroof and dome area during rain. These can lead to dangerous highway situations and costly repairs.
A reported brake fire between the pad and rotor on a 2009 S40, requiring replacement of rotor, caliper, and pads. This indicates a potential fire risk if brakes overheat or seize.
Complaints include burning smells and smoke from the engine bay, often due to a failed AC compressor clutch that shuts down cooling and defrost. This can lead to expensive repairs and safety issues in hot weather.
The same brake fire complaint also falls under hydraulic, highlighting that hydraulic brake components can fail and cause fires. Buyers should inspect the brake system thoroughly.
“MY SERPENTINE BELT BROKE ON 6/6/2014 AND WAS REPLACED. ON 6/20/2014 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE INTERSTATE IN CHICAGO, IL WHEN MY VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED. THIS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PUL…”
“ON OR ABOUT 12/04/2019 DURING A FLASH RAIN STORM LAST WINTER, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS HEADED HOME ON THE 215 FWY NORTHBOUND IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA WHEN THE CENTER DOME AREA AND THE ELECTRIC SUNROOF INSIDE OUR CAR BEGIN POURING IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF VERY COLD RAIN WA…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the transmission upon acceleration, sometimes requiring full replacement. There are also complaints of unintended acceleration when braking, such as in parking lots, which can cause crashes.
Sudden and uncontrollable acceleration has been reported multiple times, leading to crashes. Additionally, coolant valve bypass issues trigger engine maintenance codes, but some VINs are not covered by recalls.
One owner reported total brake failure while driving down a steep hill, with no response from the pedal. Another complaint describes unintended acceleration when braking in a parking lot, suggesting possible brake override issues.
While not detailed in the sample, electrical system complaints are among the top five, often related to various sensors and infotainment glitches. These can be annoying and costly to diagnose.
“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.
Volvo S40 — 26 recalls
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The fix: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED…
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. THE FRONT SEAT RAIL'S DETECTION SYSTEM WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND MAY PERMIT THE PASSENGER TO FORWARD THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM.
The risk: POSITIONING OF THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT POWER SEAT STOPS FOR BOTH FRONT SEATS FOR THE PRESENCE OF AN "END STOP" AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458…
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING MY 2008-2009 VEHICLES. A SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY VULCANIZED (CURED) AND DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FAILS, A SUDDEN RUPTURE OF THE HOSE CAN OCCUR.
The risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A RAPID DRAINAGE OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE SYSTEM AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The fix: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED…
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
Volvo S40 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volvo S40 has far fewer complaints per year (30.6 vs. 214.3), but the nature of its issues—like brake fires and stalling—can be severe. The Camry's higher volume includes many minor complaints, but also serious ones like sudden acceleration. In practice, the S40 may need fewer visits to the shop, but when problems occur, they can be dangerous and expensive.
Key differences
- The Volvo S40 has 306 complaints over 10 years, while the Camry has 2143—about seven times more, but the S40's issues include brake fires and stalling.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 1 death, versus 22 crash-related and 0 deaths for the S40, indicating different safety profiles.
- Volvo S40 owners report electrical failures like serpentine belt breakage causing sudden stops, while Camry owners report transmission grinding and sudden acceleration.
- Both have brake concerns: S40 has a brake fire, Camry has total brake failure and unintended acceleration when braking.
- Check for signs of brake overheating or fire damage around the rear calipers and rotors, especially on 2009 models.
- Inspect the serpentine belt and electrical system for wear or previous replacements, and test the sunroof for leaks.
- Test drive at low speeds and during braking to detect any unintended acceleration or transmission grinding.
- Check for coolant leaks or engine codes related to the coolant valve bypass, and verify if recalls apply to the VIN.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brake system, including calipers, rotors, and hydraulic lines, for both models.
- For the Volvo S40, specifically check the serpentine belt, sunroof seals, and AC compressor operation.
- For the Toyota Camry, test the transmission for grinding and the brakes for responsiveness, and scan for engine codes.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for brake and electrical repairs, and consider a pre-purchase inspection.
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 Volvo S40 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S40 vs Toyota Camry
- Volvo S40 total complaints
- 306
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Volvo S40 total recalls
- 26
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volvo S40 avg complaints/year
- 30.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S40
- Volvo S40 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN