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 31 complaints per year with 26 recalls, while the Camry averages 206 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The S40 has 15 injuries reported, compared to 158 for the Camry. Both have safety-related issues, so a pre-purchase inspection is essential. 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 that averages about 31 complaints per year over the past decade, with 26 recalls. Owners frequently report electrical gremlins, brake problems, and engine cooling failures. While the overall complaint count is lower than some rivals, the severity of issues like brake fires and sudden power loss means a thorough pre-purchase inspection is critical.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 206 per year—but that reflects its enormous sales volume. Common owner-reported issues include power train hesitation, brake noise, and various electrical malfunctions. Despite the higher count, the Camry's problems tend to be less severe on average, though there are still notable recalls and crash-related complaints.
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 | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 26 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 22 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 30.6 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 15 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.
Volvo S40
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM78
- 02SERVICE BRAKES40
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING31
- 04HYDRAULIC30
- 05AIR BAGS29
Owners report serpentine belt failures causing sudden loss of acceleration, and water pouring in from the sunroof area during rainstorms. These can lead to dangerous driving situations and costly repairs.
There are complaints of brake fires originating between the brake pad and rotor, particularly on the rear passenger side. This is a serious safety concern that could result in a wheel well fire.
Owners describe burning smells and smoke from the engine bay, often linked to cooling system failures such as a bad compressor clutch. These issues can lead to overheating and expensive repairs.
The hydraulic system, including power steering, has reports of leaks and failures. This can affect steering control and may require costly repairs to hoses and connections.
“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 TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent ignition key sticking, hesitation and shuddering during driving, and delayed throttle response. These issues can affect drivability and may indicate transmission or engine management problems.
Multiple system malfunctions are reported, including failures of stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assistance. These electronic glitches can be frustrating and potentially unsafe.
Complaints include delayed throttle response and hesitation, sometimes accompanied by a check engine light. This can make merging or accelerating feel unpredictable.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring towing, and clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area due to ABS system operation. These issues can lead to inconvenient breakdowns and costly repairs.
“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.
Volvo S40 — 26 recalls
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 S40 PASSENGER VEHICLES. A CRACK ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY HAVE DEVELOPED DURING THE FORMING PROCESS IN COMPONENT PRODUCTION.
The risk: THE CRACK COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE FRONT STRUCTURE AND MAY REDUCE THE CRASH PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKS ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SUPPORT MEMBER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IF NO CRACK IS FOUND, NO FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED. IF THE INSPECTION REVEALS THAT A VEHICLE HAS A CRACK IN THE SIDE SUPPORT MEM…
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 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
Volvo S40 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volvo S40 has far fewer complaints per year (about 31 vs. 206 for the Camry), but the Camry's higher volume is partly due to its much larger sales. In practice, the S40's issues tend to be more severe, such as brake fires and sudden power loss, while the Camry's problems are more numerous but often less critical. Buyers should weigh the lower frequency of S40 complaints against the potentially higher severity.
Key differences
- The Volvo S40 has about 31 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry has about 206 per year, but the Camry sells in much higher numbers.
- Volvo S40 owners report severe issues like brake fires and sudden power loss, whereas Camry owners more often report hesitation, key sticking, and electronic glitches.
- The S40 has 26 recalls and 15 injuries reported, while the Camry has 31 recalls and 158 injuries, though the Camry's higher volume must be considered.
- Camry complaints frequently involve power train and brake noise, while S40 complaints cluster around electrical, brake, and engine cooling failures.
- Check for signs of brake overheating or fire damage around the rear wheels, especially the passenger side, as owners reported brake fires.
- Inspect the sunroof and dome area for water leaks, and test the serpentine belt and electrical system for proper function.
- Test the ignition key operation to ensure it doesn't stick, and check for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and verify that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for recalls and accident damage.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the brakes, electrical system, and engine cooling for both models.
- For the Volvo S40, specifically check for brake fires, water leaks, and serpentine belt condition.
- For the Toyota Camry, test the ignition key, throttle response, and electronic parking brake.
- Verify that all open recalls have been addressed by the manufacturer.
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
- 2,056
- Volvo S40 total recalls
- 26
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volvo S40 avg complaints/year
- 30.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S40
- Volvo S40 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN