Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet CITY Express vs Toyota Camry
How the Chevrolet CITY Express 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
Chevrolet CITY Express vs Toyota Camry: The CITY Express averaged 3.5 complaints per year over 4 years, while the Camry averaged 205.6 per year over 10 years. The CITY Express had 7 recalls and 1 crash-related complaint; the Camry had 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet CITY Express or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet CITY Express
The Chevrolet CITY Express is a small commercial van, so it's often bought for work duty rather than family hauling. Over four years, owners filed only 14 complaints, but the pattern is concerning: airbag sensor failures, fuel pump relay failures, and gasoline odors. Several complaints mention parts being discontinued, meaning repairs may be difficult or impossible.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream family sedan with a long history, but over ten years it has generated 2,056 complaints—about 206 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission hesitation and stuck ignition keys to brake problems and multiple electronic system malfunctions. While many Camrys are reliable, the volume of complaints suggests that some model years have recurring, sometimes serious, defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet CITY Express | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 14 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.5 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 2 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.
Chevrolet CITY Express
- 01AIR BAGS6
- 02FUEL SYSTEM2
- 03GASOLINE2
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
Owners report the airbag readiness light blinking and the passenger presence module failing. In one case, the dealer said the part is discontinued and no repair is available, which means the airbag may not deploy correctly in a crash.
Complaints describe a gasoline odor inside the cabin, especially during turns, and fuel pump relay failure that can cause the engine to stall. One owner had the relay fail at under 20,000 miles, leaving the van unable to run.
The same airbag sensor issue often shows up as an electrical problem, with the airbag light blinking and no trouble codes. A separate complaint notes the fuel pump relay failed, cutting power to the engine.
Owners report a strong gasoline smell inside the van, sometimes accompanied by a loss of power. This can be a fire risk and is tied to a recall for the fuel system.
“My vehicle was never corrected for the Recall described below, from my recollection. My understanding is that the 2015 Chevrolet City Express van was recalled due to an issue with the passenger-side airbag sensor, which could incorrectly classify an adult pas…”
“My Airbag Readiness Light started blinking. I took vehicle to dealer for service. No trouble codes were found. Issue was found with Passenger Presence Module. Dealer advised that this is part of the seat that has been discontinued and that no repairs are avai…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck in the ignition even when the car is in Park, requiring a battery disconnect to remove it. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on.
Complaints include delayed throttle response—pressing the gas pedal and waiting several seconds for the car to move. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also report a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer says is normal but owners find concerning.
Multiple safety systems—including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction at once. This leaves the driver without key aids and can be alarming.
“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.
Chevrolet CITY Express — 7 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Muran…
The risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra veh…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2021 NV200 Van, 2014-2017, 2019 NV200 Taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express vehicles. The Fuel Tank Temperature (FTT) sensor harness may have been incorrectly routed, damaging wires and causing a short circuit in the fuel pump fuse.
The risk: A blown fuel pump fuse can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the FTT sensor harness or replace the fuel pump assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbe…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Nissan NV200, Sentra, NV3500 Van, NV3500 Bus, NV200 Taxi, NV1500, NV2500 Van, Chevrolet City Express, 2017-2018 Frontier, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan vehicles that have a mechanical (physical) key ignition system. In these models, over t…
The risk: If the vehicle stalls, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch, and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 1, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2021 NV200 Van, 2014-2017, 2019 NV200 Taxi, and 2015-2018 Chevrolet City Express vehicles. The Fuel Tank Temperature (FTT) sensor harness may have been incorrectly routed, damaging wires and causing a short circuit in the fuel pump fuse.
The risk: A blown fuel pump fuse can cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and reroute the FTT sensor harness or replace the fuel pump assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's numbe…
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
Chevrolet CITY Express or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet CITY Express has far fewer complaints per year (3.5) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), but the CITY Express issues often involve unavailable parts and potential safety risks like airbag and fuel problems. The Camry's higher complaint count reflects its much larger sales volume, but it also has more diverse and recurring defects. In practice, the CITY Express may be simpler but harder to fix, while the Camry may be easier to service but more likely to have electronic or powertrain gremlins.
Key differences
- The CITY Express has only 14 complaints over 4 years, while the Camry has 2,056 over 10 years—but the CITY Express complaints include airbag sensor failures with discontinued parts, which can be a safety risk.
- CITY Express owners report fuel pump relay failures causing engine stalls, while Camry owners report transmission hesitation and stuck ignition keys.
- The CITY Express has 7 recalls, including fuel pump and airbag issues; the Camry has 31 recalls, covering seats, airbags, and wheels.
- Camry complaints include multiple electronic safety systems failing at once, while CITY Express complaints are more focused on airbags and fuel delivery.
- Check if the passenger-side airbag sensor recall was performed; if not, the airbag may not deploy correctly, and the part may be discontinued.
- Test drive and listen for a gasoline odor, especially during turns, and ask if the fuel pump relay or fuel pump control module has been replaced.
- Try removing the key from the ignition after parking; if it sticks, it could be a sign of a power train defect that may require battery disconnection.
- Test the electronic parking brake and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal; these may indicate brake system issues.
Before you buy
- Ask for proof that all open recalls have been completed, especially the airbag and fuel system recalls on the CITY Express and the seat and airbag recalls on the Camry.
- For the CITY Express, have a mechanic inspect the airbag system and fuel delivery components, including the fuel pump relay.
- For the Camry, test the ignition key removal, transmission shifting, and electronic parking brake operation during a test drive.
- Check for any warning lights on the dashboard, especially airbag, check engine, and brake lights.
- Request a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic who can scan for hidden trouble codes.
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 | Chevrolet CITY Express | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 744 |
| 2017 | 3 | 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 Chevrolet CITY Express or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet CITY Express vs Toyota Camry
- Chevrolet CITY Express total complaints
- 14
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Chevrolet CITY Express total recalls
- 7
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Chevrolet CITY Express avg complaints/year
- 3.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet CITY Express
- Chevrolet CITY Express top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN