Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Cruze vs Toyota Camry
How the Chevrolet Cruze 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 Cruze vs Toyota Camry: The Cruze averages 372 complaints per year and has 44 recalls, while the Camry averages 206 complaints per year with 31 recalls. Both have brake and power train issues, but the Cruze reports more engine and electrical problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Cruze or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a compact car that has generated a high volume of owner complaints over its 10-year run, averaging 372 complaints per year. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and power train, with owners reporting issues like engine misfires, oil leaks, transmission slipping, and infotainment freezes. With 44 recalls and 292 crash-related complaints, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection and a thorough maintenance history before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a lower complaint rate than the Cruze, averaging 206 complaints per year. Owner reports cluster around power train, engine, and brake issues, including key-stuck problems, hesitation, and electronic parking brake failures. While it has fewer recalls (31) and crash-related complaints (171), some reported problems can still be serious and costly.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Cruze | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,722 | 2,056 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 44 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 292 | 171 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 372.2 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 200 | 158 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 Better |
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 Cruze
- 01ENGINE1,260
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM760
- 03POWER TRAIN678
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER469
- 05SERVICE BRAKES382
Owners report engine misfires, violent vibrations, and significant oil leaks, often accompanied by warning lights like Stabilitrak and ABS. These symptoms can lead to costly repairs and potential breakdowns if ignored.
Complaints include infotainment touchscreen freezes and error screens, as well as shuddering and abnormal engine noises that may be electrical in nature. These issues can affect daily usability and may indicate deeper electronic faults.
Drivers describe clutch failure with the pedal sticking to the floor, loss of gear engagement, and transmission slipping that causes shaking and difficulty steering. Such problems can compromise control and safety, especially at highway speeds.
Brake-related complaints are common, though specific symptoms aren't detailed in the sample. Given the Cruze's recall history for brake calipers, buyers should have the braking system thoroughly checked.
“Purchased new in 2019 – 32k miles - Oil changes every 6 months. Lightly driven, no modifications, all original engine components and tune. Engine developed a significant miss. Several warnings on Stabilitrak, ABS, and P0300. Significant oil leak at front of e…”
“I got my vehicle through a local dealership in town, in July of 2020 and only a couple months later my problems started. The vehicle started to vibrate violently and almost jerk back and forth on its own whenever I would drive it. And whenever I did come to a…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent ignition key stuck issues even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove the key. Others experience hesitation and shuddering with check engine lights, pointing to potential transmission or engine management faults.
Complaints include delayed throttle response, where pressing the accelerator results in a several-second lag before the car moves. This can be a safety concern when merging or crossing intersections.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also report clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, attributed to the ABS system, which can be annoying and may indicate a need for repair.
Multiple systems—including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously, as reported by one owner. Such widespread electronic failures can be alarming and expensive to diagnose.
“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 Cruze — 44 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. Th…
The risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increa…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267,…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insu…
The risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrole…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Cruze LS vehicles, equipped with a gasoline engine and a tire inflator kit instead of a spare tire. The vehicles may leak gasoline following a rear-impact crash and a rollover. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requireme…
The risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a lock-ring on the fuel tank that will shield the fuel tank vapor pressure sensor from damage in a rear-impact crash, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrol…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. Th…
The risk: Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increa…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267,…
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 Cruze or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (206 vs. 372) and fewer recalls (31 vs. 44) than the Chevrolet Cruze. In practice, this suggests the Camry may have a lower likelihood of frequent repair visits, but both vehicles have reported issues that require attention.
Key differences
- The Cruze has a higher complaint rate (372/year) compared to the Camry (206/year), indicating more frequent owner-reported problems.
- Engine issues are the top complaint for the Cruze, with reports of misfires and oil leaks, while the Camry's top complaint is power train, including key-stuck and hesitation issues.
- The Cruze has more crash-related complaints (292) and injuries (200) than the Camry (171 crashes, 158 injuries), though these figures don't establish fault.
- Both have brake-related complaints, but the Cruze has recalls for brake calipers, while the Camry has electronic parking brake and ABS noise issues.
- Check for engine misfires, oil leaks, and warning lights like check engine or Stabilitrak during a test drive and ask for maintenance records.
- Test the transmission for slipping, shuddering, or difficulty shifting, especially in manual models where clutch failure is reported.
- Verify that the ignition key can be removed easily when the car is in Park; if it sticks, it could be a recurring power train defect.
- Test the electronic parking brake and listen for abnormal noises from the brake pedal area, which may indicate ABS or EPB issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the engine, transmission, and electrical systems, focusing on the specific complaints noted.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, shuddering, or unusual noises from the engine, transmission, or brakes.
- For the Cruze, specifically test the infotainment system and ensure all electronic features work without freezing.
- For the Camry, check that all advanced safety systems (blind spot monitoring, lane keeping, etc.) function correctly and that no warning lights are on.
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 Cruze | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 22 | 395 |
| 2018 | 109 | 744 |
| 2017 | 201 | 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 Cruze or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
No VIN yet? Ask the seller.
A genuine seller should be happy to share it. Send this, then paste the VIN into the box above when it comes back.
Going to see one?
Get the Chevrolet Cruze inspection checklist by email, so you know what to look for when you're standing next to it.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Cruze vs Toyota Camry
- Chevrolet Cruze total complaints
- 3,722
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Chevrolet Cruze total recalls
- 44
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Chevrolet Cruze avg complaints/year
- 372.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Chevrolet Cruze top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN