2022 Toyota Camry Safety Report

The 2022 Toyota Camry generally presents a strong safety profile, achieving a perfect 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with 5 stars in Frontal, Side, and Rollover crash tests. This indicates excellent performance in controlled crash scenarios. However, an analysis of 46 consumer complaints reveals several concerning patterns, particularly regarding airbag deployment and braking issues. Despite the high crash test ratings, there are multiple reports of airbags failing to deploy in crashes (e.g., 'My husband and I hit a deer. The airbags did not deploy.' and 'The car was deemed a total loss but none of the airbags deployed in the crash.') and, conversely, unintended deployment (e.g., 'all air bags literally exploded cause the driver to lose total control'). This suggests a potential inconsistency in real-world airbag system performance, which is further highlighted by the single recall for 'AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION' affecting earlier models that could lead to non-deployment. Braking system issues are also a recurring theme, with complaints describing 'brake pedal just sank,' 'brakes no longer were stiff and I heard rattling from brakes and felt loose/unable to brake properly,' and 'Brake booster failed almost making it almost impossible to stop the vehicle.' These reports, coupled with instances of 'Uncontrollable Sudden Acceleration' (reported 3 times, leading to a crash in one instance) and 'engine revs up while braking,' point to potential electronic or mechanical malfunctions that could compromise vehicle control. While the overall complaint count of 46 is relatively low for a popular model, the nature of these critical safety complaints warrants attention, especially concerning fundamental safety systems like airbags and brakes. Other notable issues include visibility problems, specifically 'wipers barely worked in a thunderstorm' and 'drastically slower than any other vehicle,' posing a significant hazard in adverse weather. There are also reports of transmission grinding noises requiring replacement, and infotainment system malfunctions. While the 2022 Camry excels in controlled crash tests, the real-world complaint data suggests potential vulnerabilities in critical active and passive safety systems that buyers should be aware of.

Our recommendation: While the 2022 Toyota Camry boasts excellent crash test ratings, potential buyers should be aware of recurring consumer complaints regarding airbag malfunctions, braking issues, and sudden unintended acceleration. Prioritize a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on these critical safety systems and ensure all recall-related repairs are completed.