Which Toyota Camry years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2010, 2011, and 2012 as the worst Camry years, with 2011 topping the list at a complaint index of 100. 2018 is also flagged as Avoid, with 741 complaints and a complaint index of 93, mainly tied to transmission and powertrain issues.

Which Honda Civic years should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2022 as Avoid years. The 2022 Civic has the highest complaint index of any year covered, at 100, with 881 complaints, mostly steering-related.

Does the Camry or Civic have more complaints overall?

The Civic has more total complaints (6,551) than the Camry (4,856), and a higher average of 409 complaints per model year versus the Camry's 324. NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these totals aren't adjusted for how many of each were sold.

Which car gets better fuel economy?

The Honda Civic averages 32.1 MPG combined across its covered years, compared to 27.6 MPG combined for the Toyota Camry.

What are the top problem areas for each model?

For the Camry, Engine complaints lead at 23% of total complaints, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 18%. For the Civic, Steering complaints dominate at 35% of total complaints, far ahead of Electrical System at 11%.

Toyota Camry vs Honda Civic: Which Years to Avoid

Toyota Camry years to avoid are 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2018; Honda Civic years to avoid are 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2022. Camry logs 4,856 complaints and 32 recalls across 15 model years (324/year avg); Civic logs 6,551 complaints and 33 recalls across 16 model years (409/year avg). Camry averages 27.6 MPG combined vs Civic's 32.1 MPG.

Head to head

Toyota Camry

Model years: 2010–2024 (15)
NHTSA complaints: 4,856
Per model year: 324
Recall campaigns: 32
Years to avoid: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018
Best years: 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 27.6
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.9 ★

Honda Civic

Model years: 2010–2025 (16)
NHTSA complaints: 6,551
Per model year: 409
Recall campaigns: 33
Years to avoid: 2010, 2016, 2018, 2022
Best years: 2011, 2014, 2020, 2021
Top problem area: Steering
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 32.1
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.8 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	Camry				Civic
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2010	Avoid	595	8	26	Avoid	396	8	28.5
2011	Avoid	600	5	25	Best	168	9	28.5
2012	Avoid	589	2	26	Caution	455	3	31
2013	Caution	274	2	26.5	Good	319	0	31
2014	Caution	455	3	26.5	Best	291	2	31.5
2015	Good	271	1	26.5	Good	380	1	31.5
2016	Good	183	2	26.5	Avoid	1,080	5	34
2017	Best	148	3	25.5	Good	593	6	34
2018	Avoid	741	8	32	Avoid	741	6	34
2019	Caution	395	6	32	Caution	430	4	32.5
2020	Caution	274	3	28.5	Best	225	5	32
2021	Good	157	1	28	Best	144	4	32.5
2022	Best	60	1	28	Avoid	881	4	33
2023	Best	64	2	28.5	Caution	255	4	33
2024	Best	50	1	28	Good	123	3	33
2025	—	—	—	—	Caution	70	2	34

Complaint Index by year

Toyota Camry

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Honda Civic

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Frequently asked questions

Which Toyota Camry years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2010, 2011, and 2012 as the worst Camry years, with 2011 topping the list at a complaint index of 100. 2018 is also flagged as Avoid, with 741 complaints and a complaint index of 93, mainly tied to transmission and powertrain issues.
Which Honda Civic years should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2022 as Avoid years. The 2022 Civic has the highest complaint index of any year covered, at 100, with 881 complaints, mostly steering-related.
Does the Camry or Civic have more complaints overall?: The Civic has more total complaints (6,551) than the Camry (4,856), and a higher average of 409 complaints per model year versus the Camry's 324. NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these totals aren't adjusted for how many of each were sold.
Which car gets better fuel economy?: The Honda Civic averages 32.1 MPG combined across its covered years, compared to 27.6 MPG combined for the Toyota Camry.
What are the top problem areas for each model?: For the Camry, Engine complaints lead at 23% of total complaints, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 18%. For the Civic, Steering complaints dominate at 35% of total complaints, far ahead of Electrical System at 11%.