Head-to-head reliability
Volvo VNX vs Toyota Camry
How the Volvo VNX 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 VNX vs Toyota Camry: The VNX has 0 complaints and 9 recalls over 10 years, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints, 31 recalls, and 171 crash-related reports. The Camry's higher complaint rate and injury reports suggest more reported safety issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo VNX or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo VNX
The Volvo VNX 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 0 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which suggests either very few are on the road or owners report issues through other channels. However, it has 9 recalls covering structure, brakes, steering, and parking brake components, so safety-related defects have been identified. For a buyer, this means there is little owner-reported failure data to go on, but the recall history points to areas that may need attention.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a high number of owner complaints: 2,056 over 10 years, averaging about 206 per year. These complaints include 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and 1 death, which indicates that some issues may have serious consequences. The most common problem areas are the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical system. Owners describe symptoms like a stuck ignition key, shuddering while driving, delayed acceleration, and brake noises, so a used Camry should be inspected carefully for these patterns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo VNX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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 VNX
No component data available.
Recalls have been issued for structure and body issues, though no owner complaints describe specific symptoms. This means there could be hidden rust or crashworthiness concerns that a buyer should check during an inspection.
An air brake system recall exists, but no complaint text explains what owners experience. For a heavy truck, brake problems can be dangerous, so verifying that recall repairs were done is important.
A steering-related recall is on record, again without owner complaint details. Steering failure in a large vehicle is a serious safety risk, so a buyer should confirm the recall was addressed.
A recall involving the parking brake driveline hydraulic actuator suggests a risk of the parking brake not holding. This could cause the truck to roll when parked, so it should be tested and the recall repair verified.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving with the check engine light on. These issues can leave you stranded or cause delayed acceleration.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This lag can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic, and it may be linked to engine or transmission software problems.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Another common complaint is a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which dealers attribute to the ABS system. These issues can affect braking confidence and lead to costly repairs.
Multiple safety systems—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—have malfunctioned at once. This suggests electrical or software glitches that could disable driver aids without warning.
“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 VNX — 9 recalls
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2015 and 2016 VNX and VNL trucks manufactured from May 20, 2014, through March 6, 2015, equipped with certain Haldex Life Seal Type 30/30 Long Stroke Air Brake Actuators manufactured January 9, 2014, to October 28, 2014. The affecte…
The risk: If the diaphragm is not completely attached, there may be internal leakage from the service section past the diaphragm, potentially trapping air pressure in the parking brake section. This air pressure in turn, if not vented, may prevent f…
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator and replace, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 20, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo's number for this recall i…
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2015 VNL and VNX trucks manufactured January 7, 2014, to June 5, 2014, and equipped with a D16 engine. Due to the engine control unit having an incorrect parameter setting in the software, the engine may stall.
The risk: An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine control unit software, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-528-6586. Volvo's number for this recall is RVXX1404.
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo Trucks) is recalling certain 2018-2020 VNL and VNX vehicles configured as 740 and 760 sleeper models. The sleeper bunk window may detach and fall from the vehicle.
The risk: If a window detaches from the vehicle, it may strike another vehicle or pedestrian, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Volvo Trucks has notified owners, and dealers will replace the window hinge, free of charge. Owners were notified of the recall on April 8, 2019 and will be sent a second notice when the remedy parts are available. The recall began August…
The defect: Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 VNL, VNX, and VNM trucks manufactured from May 11, 2015, through April 18, 2016. The trucks may have been manufactured without a roll pin on the steering shafts. If the roll pin is missing, the lower steering shaft may dis…
The risk: Separation of the steering shaft will result in complete loss of steering which may lead to a vehicle crash.
The fix: Volvo is strongly recommending that the affected vehicles not be driven until the interim remedy is applied. An interim notice was sent to Volvo owners on March 16, 2016, and an interim repair is available now. A second notice was mailed o…
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 VNX or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volvo VNX has far fewer reported issues per year (0 complaints/year vs. about 206 for the Camry), but it also has 9 recalls and no owner complaint details to understand real-world failures. The Camry's high complaint count, including 171 crash-related reports and 158 injuries, means buyers should be aware of potentially serious safety defects. In practice, the VNX may have fewer reported problems, but the lack of data makes it harder to know what to expect.
Key differences
- The Volvo VNX has 0 owner complaints over 10 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056, showing a huge difference in reported problems.
- The Camry's complaints include 171 crash-related reports, 158 injuries, and 1 death, whereas the VNX has 0 in all those categories.
- The VNX has 9 recalls covering structure, brakes, steering, and parking brake, while the Camry has 31 recalls including air bag sensors and seats.
- Camry owners describe specific symptoms like stuck ignition keys, shuddering, delayed acceleration, and brake noise; VNX has no complaint text, so failure patterns are unknown.
- Check for any unrepaired recalls, especially on structure, brakes, steering, and parking brake, by using the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup.
- Inspect the air brake system and parking brake operation, as recalls suggest potential failure points that could affect safety.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and look for any sticking or need to disconnect the battery, a reported power train issue.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal and check if the electronic parking brake engages and disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Run a VIN check on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they have been repaired.
- Take a test drive that includes braking, accelerating from a stop, and parking to check for shuddering, delayed response, or brake noise.
- For the Camry, test all electrical features like blind spot monitoring, lane keeping, and stability control to ensure they work.
- For the VNX, have a commercial truck mechanic inspect the air brakes, steering, and parking brake system.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and any recall repair paperwork to verify that known issues have been 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 VNX | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 50 |
| 2023 | 0 | 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 VNX or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo VNX vs Toyota Camry
- Volvo VNX total complaints
- 0
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Volvo VNX total recalls
- 9
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volvo VNX avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Volvo VNX
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN