Head-to-head reliability
Volvo VNL vs Toyota Camry
How the Volvo VNL 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 VNL vs Toyota Camry: The VNL has 21 complaints and 67 recalls over 10 years, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls. The VNL reports steering pull and brake defects; the Camry reports key-stuck and hesitation issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo VNL or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo VNL
The Volvo VNL is a heavy-duty commercial truck, so its 21 complaints over 10 years (about 2.1 per year) reflect a smaller, business-focused owner base. Owners report serious issues like power train warnings, steering pull, and brake defects, often on new trucks. With 67 recalls in the same period, many for air bags and brakes, living with a VNL means staying on top of safety recalls. It's a work vehicle where downtime is costly, and the complaint pattern suggests electrical and steering gremlins can appear early.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular family sedan, and its 2,056 complaints over 10 years (about 206 per year) reflect a huge number of owners. Reports include power train hesitation, engine shuddering, and brake noises, plus 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries. With 31 recalls, including seat and air bag sensor issues, it's a mainstream car with a broad range of minor to moderate problems. For a first-time buyer, the volume of complaints means many are common annoyances rather than rare defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo VNL | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 21 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 67 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 2.1 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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 VNL
- 01POWER TRAIN6
- 02STEERING6
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
- 04SERVICE BRAKES4
- 05ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
Owners report messages like 'Stop Vehicle - Apply Parking Brake Only While at Stand Still' at highway speed, and rear axle smoking with intermittent check engine lights. These can indicate drivetrain failures that may leave a truck disabled or cause a fire risk.
Complaints include the steering wheel pulling to the passenger side and loss of control at highway speeds. This is a serious safety concern because it affects the driver's ability to keep the truck in its lane.
Owners describe multiple electrical module failures after only 10,600 miles, plus carbon monoxide inside the cab and DEF system warnings. Electrical faults can cascade into many systems, making diagnosis expensive and unpredictable.
Reports include a brake defect on a new truck with 22,000 miles and loss of motive power with a low coolant warning. Brake problems on a heavy truck are critical because stopping distance and control are essential.
“The contact owns a 2026 Volvo VNL(4). The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the message "Stop Vehicle - Apply Parking Brake Only While at Stand Still" was displayed, with three unknown warning lights were illuminated, with a continuous a…”
“The contact owned a 2019 Volvo Truck VNL. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated intermittently. The contact stated that while the driver was driving approximately 50 mph when they noticed the rear axle smoking. They pulled to…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring a battery disconnect, and hesitation/shuddering with the check engine light on. These issues can strand a driver or cause delayed acceleration in traffic.
Complaints include several-second delayed throttle response when pressing the gas, and shuddering at various speeds. This matters because delayed acceleration can be dangerous when merging or crossing intersections.
The electronic parking brake may not disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking/vibrating noise from the brake pedal area is reported as common. Brake issues affect everyday safety and can lead to costly repairs.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping malfunctioned at once. When many electronic aids fail together, the car may be harder to control and less safe in an emergency.
“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 VNL — 67 recalls
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Truck) is recalling certain 2022-2024 VNL and VHD vehicles equipped with RollTek driver seats. A missing circuit will prevent the side air bag from deploying during a crash.
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy, increases the risk of an injury.
The fix: Dealers will connect a jumper harness between the seat and main cab harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 4, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Tr…
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2022-2023 VNL vehicles. The air tank bracket fasteners were excessively tightened and may have broken.
The risk: Broken fasteners may allow the air tank to detach from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo Trucks' number for this recall is RVXX2205.
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 2022 VNL vehicles equipped with Alcoa Mirror Polish Wheels, part number ULT 391, and wheel size 22.5 x 8.25. Under certain circumstances, these wheels may not be able to support the load, which can cause the wheels to bend or break whil…
The risk: Bent or broken wheels can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: The affected vehicles have been contained by the manufacturer, and therefore no owners will be notified. Dealers will replace the wheels, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service a…
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 VNL or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volvo VNL has far fewer complaints per year (about 2.1) than the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the VNL is a commercial truck with a smaller owner pool. In practice, the Camry's higher complaint count means many owners experience issues, while the VNL's lower count still includes severe safety defects. The difference is volume versus severity: the Camry has more widespread but often less catastrophic problems, while the VNL has fewer but potentially more disabling failures.
Key differences
- The Volvo VNL has 21 complaints over 10 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056, but the VNL is a commercial truck with fewer owners.
- Volvo VNL owners report steering pull and brake defects that can cause loss of control, while Camry owners report key-stuck and brake noise issues that are annoying but less likely to be catastrophic.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, compared to 2 crash-related and 3 injuries for the VNL, though exposure differs by vehicle type.
- Both have electrical complaints, but VNL reports include carbon monoxide inside the cab, a unique and serious health risk.
- Check for any steering pull to the passenger side during a test drive, as owners report this as a safety issue.
- Inspect brake function and look for warning lights related to the parking brake or low coolant, which owners link to loss of power.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park; if it sticks, it may require a battery disconnect to remove.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area and check if the electronic parking brake disengages properly.
Before you buy
- For the Volvo VNL, verify all recalls are completed, especially air bag and brake recalls, and ask for service records on steering and electrical repairs.
- For the Toyota Camry, test drive at various speeds to feel for hesitation or shuddering, and check that the key releases easily from Park.
- On both vehicles, scan for stored trouble codes and check that all warning lights illuminate and then go out after starting.
- For the Camry, test the electronic parking brake and listen for abnormal brake noises during a slow stop.
- For the VNL, inspect for any exhaust or carbon monoxide smell inside the cab and confirm the DEF system operates without warnings.
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 VNL | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 163 |
| 2024 | 0 | 50 |
| 2023 | 1 | 64 |
| 2022 | 2 | 61 |
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
| 2019 | 4 | 395 |
| 2018 | 8 | 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 VNL or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo VNL vs Toyota Camry
- Volvo VNL total complaints
- 21
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Volvo VNL total recalls
- 67
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volvo VNL avg complaints/year
- 2.1
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Volvo VNL
- Volvo VNL top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN