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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the midsize sedan segment

2011 Ford Fusion vs 2011 Toyota Camry

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-08 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2011 Toyota Camry clearly comes out ahead on reliability data

Two trucks built for the same buyer, and the data tells a clear story. The 2011 Toyota Camry edges the 2011 Ford Fusion on reliability scoring (3.4 versus 2.5) with meaningful gaps in complaint volume and severity. Real differences, not noise.

2011 Ford Fusion

2.5/5
Reliability score
2,776 complaints
4 recalls (1 critical)
$13,900 repair exposure
vs
More reliable

2011 Toyota Camry

3.4/5
Reliability score
617 complaints
1 recalls (0 critical)
$14,050 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

If I'm picking between these two head-to-head, I'm taking the 2011 Toyota Camry. Reliability score's a solid 3.4 versus 2.5 on the 2011 Ford Fusion, and the complaint counts back it up — 617 versus 2,776. That's not noise, that's a real gap between rivals built for the same buyer.

If you lean 2011 Ford Fusion, know what you're getting into on steering and airbags. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2011 Toyota Camry sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2011 Toyota Camry? Watch the visibility and body. The 2011 Ford Fusion has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2011 Ford Fusion
2011 Toyota Camry
steering
1419 reports
critical · ~$700
33 reports
severe · ~$700
airbags
293 reports
severe · ~$1,100
64 reports
severe · ~$1,100
powertrain
232 reports
moderate · ~$2,500
43 reports
severe · ~$2,500
cruise control
158 reports
severe · ~$600
50 reports
severe · ~$600
brakes
161 reports
moderate · ~$450
35 reports
severe · ~$450
visibility
No reports
100 reports
moderate · ~$350
electrical
98 reports
severe · ~$850
No reports
engine
90 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
No reports
fuel system
57 reports
severe · ~$1,200
No reports
body
No reports
49 reports
severe · ~$1,500

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2011 Ford Fusion or the 2011 Toyota Camry?

Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2011 Toyota Camry comes out ahead with a reliability score of 3.4 versus 2.5. The margin is clear, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.

What goes wrong more often on the 2011 Ford Fusion?

Compared to the 2011 Toyota Camry, the 2011 Ford Fusion sees more reported issues in steering and airbags. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2011 Toyota Camry?

Compared to the 2011 Ford Fusion, the 2011 Toyota Camry has more complaints in visibility and body. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2011 Ford Fusion has more active recalls (4 vs 1). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $14,050 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2011 Ford Fusion on NHTSA · 2011 Toyota Camry on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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