Head-to-head reliability
Volvo VAH vs Toyota Camry
How the Volvo VAH 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 VAH vs Toyota Camry: The Volvo VAH has 1 complaint and 31 recalls over 10 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls. The Camry also reports 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries. The VAH's lone complaint is a transmission failure; the Camry's issues span power train, engine, and brakes. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo VAH or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo VAH
The Volvo VAH is a heavy-duty truck, not a typical family car, so its ownership experience is different from a passenger vehicle. Over 10 years, it has only 1 owner complaint, which is extremely low, but 31 recalls. The single complaint describes a complete transmission failure on a 2023 model, with the dealer blaming water contamination from the air system. This suggests that while complaints are rare, when problems occur they can be serious and expensive.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a very different reliability profile. It has 2,056 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 206 per year, plus 31 recalls. The complaints cover many systems, with the most common being power train, engine, and brakes. Some complaints are about intermittent issues like a stuck ignition key or delayed acceleration, which can be frustrating for owners.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo VAH | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 31 | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.1 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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 VAH
- 01POWER TRAIN1
The only reported complaint is a complete transmission failure on a 2023 Volvo VAH. The owner states the dealer blamed water contamination from the air system, even though the air dryer filter and entire air dryer unit had been replaced. This matters because a transmission failure can leave you stranded and lead to a costly repair.
“My 2023 Volvo VAH experienced complete transmission failure. Dealer claims failure was caused by water contamination from air system. However: • Air dryer filter had been replaced at authorized Volvo dealer. • Entire air dryer unit had been replaced with new…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent issues like the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, with the check engine light on. These can be annoying and may indicate deeper transmission or engine problems.
Some owners experience a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, making the car feel unresponsive. This can be a safety concern when merging or pulling out into traffic.
Complaints include the electronic parking brake not disengaging, requiring a tow, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer says is normal for the 2023 Camry. These issues can affect confidence in the braking system.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assistance malfunctioned at once in one report. Another mentions subframe, driveline, and stability control components. Such widespread electronic glitches can be hard to diagnose and fix.
“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 VAH — 31 recalls
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2023-2024 VN, VHD, and VAH trucks. The steering gear fasteners may not be properly tightened.
The risk: Loose steering gear fasteners may result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will tighten the steering gear fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 18, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this reca…
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2022-2024 VNR, VNL, VHD, and VAH trucks. The windshield wiper motor gears may wear prematurely, causing the motor to fail.
The risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks number for this recall is R…
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2020-2025 VN, VAH, VHD and VNRE trucks, equipped with Bendix EC80 Advanced Electronic Control Units (ECU). Electrical noise and low signal to the power line carrier may cause the ECU to incorrectly process commands or stop working.
The risk: Safety systems that depend on the ECU (Automatic Traction Control, ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Active Cruise Control, and Collison Mitigation System) may have diminished or lost functionality, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Truck's number for this recall is RVXX2409.
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2019-2026 VAH trucks. The passenger seat belt anchor may fail due to inadequate floor reinforcement. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly A…
The risk: A seat belt anchor that fails will not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will install a new weld nut and washer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2510…
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 VAH or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volvo VAH has far fewer complaints per year (0.1 vs. 205.6 for the Camry), but it is a heavy truck with only one complaint, so the comparison is not apples-to-apples. The Camry's higher complaint volume reflects its much larger number of owners and miles driven. In practice, the Camry has more reported issues, but they are spread across many vehicles, while the Volvo VAH's single complaint is severe.
Key differences
- The Volvo VAH has only 1 complaint in 10 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056, but the VAH is a heavy truck and the Camry is a passenger car, so the numbers are not directly comparable.
- The Volvo VAH's single complaint is a complete transmission failure linked to water contamination from the air system, a serious and costly issue.
- The Toyota Camry's complaints cover many systems, including power train (385), engine (315), and service brakes (285), with symptoms like stuck ignition keys, hesitation, and brake noise.
- Both vehicles have 31 recalls, but the Camry also has 171 crash-related complaints, 158 injuries, and 1 death reported, while the Volvo VAH has none of these.
- Check the air dryer and air system for proper function and any signs of water contamination, as the only complaint links transmission failure to water from the air system.
- Inspect the transmission for any slipping, delayed engagement, or unusual noises, especially on 2023 models, and ask for service records related to the air dryer.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park to ensure it does not stick, and check for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive, which could indicate power train issues.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and verify that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly, as these are reported problems.
Before you buy
- For the Volvo VAH, obtain a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the transmission and air system, and ask for proof that the air dryer has been serviced.
- For the Toyota Camry, test all electronic systems, including stability control, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping, and check for any warning lights.
- On the Camry, verify the ignition key can be removed easily when in Park, and test the electronic parking brake multiple times.
- For both vehicles, run a VIN check for open recalls and confirm they have been addressed, since both have 31 recalls.
- Ask for complete maintenance records and, for the Camry, check if the throttle response delay or brake noise has been reported and addressed.
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 | Volvo VAH | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 0 | 50 |
| 2023 | 1 | 64 |
| 2022 | 0 | 61 |
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
| 2019 | 0 | 395 |
| 2018 | 0 | 744 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Volvo VAH or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo VAH vs Toyota Camry
- Volvo VAH total complaints
- 1
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Volvo VAH total recalls
- 31
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volvo VAH avg complaints/year
- 0.1
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Volvo VAH
- Volvo VAH top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN