Is the Toyota Camry more reliable than the Buick Regal?

Slightly, yes. Both rate good, but the Camry costs less to repair each year and has a much longer record across nine model years. The Regal has fewer shop visits per year, and the chance of a major repair is close between them, so the lead is small.

Which has more recalls, the Camry or the Regal?

The Camry has more. Federal recall records show 35 across its nine model years, against 8 across the Regal's three. The Camry has far more model years on the road, so the totals are not a fair head-to-head. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls.

Which costs less to repair, a Camry or a Regal?

The Camry. Independent repair-cost data estimates $388 a year for the Camry and $563 for the Regal. Over five years, that is roughly $875 saved with the Camry. The Regal does go to the shop less often, at 0.2 visits a year against 0.3.

What is the "Shift to Park" problem on the Buick Regal?

Some owners see a false "Shift to Park" or "Place in Park" message even with the shifter already in park. The car may then not shut off, so the battery drains and the car may not restart. Some owners clear it by moving the shifter back and forth. One dealer found a failed shifter unit and console.

What are the common Toyota Camry problems to check before buying?

Check the brakes, air bag warning light, and engine. Owners report a spongy brake pedal, air bags that did not deploy in crashes, and a failing coolant bypass valve with a check engine light and coolant smell. Some also say the engine can be shut off with the shifter in Drive.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Buick Regal vs Toyota Camry: Reliability Compared

Buick Regal

Good

More Reliable

Toyota Camry

Good

A slight edge goes to the Toyota Camry over the Buick Regal on reliability, mainly because its yearly repair costs are lower. Both sit in the good range. The Regal visits the shop less often, but each year of ownership costs more.

How Do the Buick Regal and Toyota Camry Generations Compare?

Most used Camrys a shopper will weigh fall in the eighth generation (XV70), which covered model years 2018 to 2023. That means one design, with the same basic car across those years. Later model years are newer and have had less time to collect complaints, so a clean record there proves little. For the Regal, the sixth generation began in 2018, and 2020 was the final production year, with a facelift that year. Every Regal on the used market is at least a few years old, and no newer one is coming.

Verdict

The Toyota Camry is more reliable than the Buick Regal, scoring 78/100 vs 74/100.

Edge goes to the Camry, and it is a slight one. Both cars land in the good range. The deciding fact is cost: independent repair-cost data puts the Camry well below the Regal each year. The Camry also draws far fewer owner complaints for every car sold. The Regal does better on shop visits, and the chance of a major repair is nearly the same. The Regal's small complaint count also reflects a short run of only three model years, so it tells you less than the Camry's long record.

Key Differences

1Toyota Camry costs $175 less per year to repair
2Buick Regal has 27 fewer total recalls
3Toyota Camry has 12.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

2Buick Regal

—

4Toyota Camry

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair Risk

Buick Regal vs Toyota Camry: Which Is More Reliable?

Buick Regal vs Toyota Camry at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Buick Regal	Toyota Camry
Reliability Score	74/100	78/100
Years Tracked	3	9
Total Recalls	8	35
Complaints per 10k Sold	14.5	2.1
Annual Repair Cost	$563/yr	$388/yr
Repair Frequency	0.2/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	12%	11%
Year Wins	2 (1 tied)	0 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Buick Regal and Toyota Camry?

Air bags, brakes, and the power train dominate the Camry's complaints. Owners report front air bags that did not deploy in crashes, a spongy brake pedal, and an engine that can be shut off while the shifter is in Drive. Engine reports center on a failing coolant bypass valve. Regal complaints are fewer but oddly specific: a false "Shift to Park" message that keeps the car from shutting off and drains the battery, and stop-start restarts that lag or jolt. The Regal's brake reports include a hard pedal and two crashes. Only the Camry has crash-linked reports in air bags, electrical, and engine.

Buick Regal vs Toyota Camry common problem areas comparison
Component	Buick Regal	Toyota Camry
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2.6Low	0.2Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1.9Low	0.2Very Low
POWER TRAIN	1.5Low	0.4Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	1.5Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.7Very Low	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	0.7Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	—None	0.2Very Low
ENGINE	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
STEERING	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Buick Regal or Toyota Camry?

Repairs run cheaper on the Camry. Independent repair-cost data estimates $388 a year for the Camry and $563 for the Regal. That gap is $175 a year, or about $875 over five years. The Regal does have fewer unscheduled shop visits, at 0.2 a year against 0.3 for the Camry. The chance that a repair is major is close, at 11% for the Camry and 12% for the Regal. The Regal visits the shop less often but costs more when it does.

How Does Buick Regal vs Toyota Camry Reliability Compare by Year?

Buick Regal vs Toyota Camry year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Buick Regal	Toyota Camry	Edge
2020	75/1002R / 2C	75/1005R / 253C	Tie
2019	73/1003R / 18C	70/1008R / 364C	Buick Regal
2018	74/1003R / 19C	65/1008R / 708C	Buick Regal

Best years to cross-shop: The 2020 Buick Regal scored 75/100 and the 2020 Toyota Camry scored 75/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Buick Regal vs the Toyota Camry?

Pick the Camry if you want the lower running cost and a deep pool of cars to choose from. Repair costs are lower, and the data covers many more model years. Target 2022 or newer within the range you can afford, and be cautious with 2018 and 2019, which are the weakest years. Do not treat 2026 as proven, because a new model year has had little time to collect complaints. Whichever year you pick, test the brake pedal feel and ask a dealer to check for open recalls. Pick the Regal if fewer unscheduled shop visits matter more to you than yearly repair cost. It suits a buyer who will drive it before buying and can tolerate quirks. Only 2018 to 2020 exist. Lean toward 2020, the final production year, over 2019, which shows up among the weakest. At any age, test the stop-start restart, the shifter, and the "Shift to Park" message, then check the brake recall status.

Buick Regal vs Toyota Camry: Common Questions

Is the Toyota Camry more reliable than the Buick Regal?: Slightly, yes. Both rate good, but the Camry costs less to repair each year and has a much longer record across nine model years. The Regal has fewer shop visits per year, and the chance of a major repair is close between them, so the lead is small.
Which has more recalls, the Camry or the Regal?: The Camry has more. Federal recall records show 35 across its nine model years, against 8 across the Regal's three. The Camry has far more model years on the road, so the totals are not a fair head-to-head. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls.
Which costs less to repair, a Camry or a Regal?: The Camry. Independent repair-cost data estimates $388 a year for the Camry and $563 for the Regal. Over five years, that is roughly $875 saved with the Camry. The Regal does go to the shop less often, at 0.2 visits a year against 0.3.
What is the "Shift to Park" problem on the Buick Regal?: Some owners see a false "Shift to Park" or "Place in Park" message even with the shifter already in park. The car may then not shut off, so the battery drains and the car may not restart. Some owners clear it by moving the shifter back and forth. One dealer found a failed shifter unit and console.
What are the common Toyota Camry problems to check before buying?: Check the brakes, air bag warning light, and engine. Owners report a spongy brake pedal, air bags that did not deploy in crashes, and a failing coolant bypass valve with a check engine light and coolant smell. Some also say the engine can be shut off with the shifter in Drive.

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How we score the Buick Regal and Toyota Camry

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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