Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Metro vs Toyota Camry
How the Chevrolet Metro 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 Metro vs Toyota Camry: The Metro has 3 complaints and 0 recalls over 2 years, while the Camry has 2,143 complaints and 31 recalls over 10 years. The Metro's issues center on rust and one low-speed acceleration report; the Camry's include transmission, engine, and brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Metro or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Metro
The Chevrolet Metro is a small, older economy car with very few owner complaints filed with NHTSA—just 3 over 2 years. The pattern centers on rust in the body structure and one report of sudden acceleration at low speed. With no recalls on record, living with a Metro means watching for corrosion and being aware of a rare but serious speed-control glitch.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a much larger complaint history: 2,143 complaints over 10 years and 31 recalls. Owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission grinding and sudden acceleration to brake failure and air conditioning problems. The high volume of complaints and recalls means a used Camry needs a thorough check of its recall history and major systems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Metro | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 1.5 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 163 |
| 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 Metro
- 01STRUCTURE2
- 02VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
Owners report rust under the rear doors and on the rocker panels beneath the front doors. This corrosion can weaken the body and may lead to costly repairs or safety concerns if left unchecked.
One owner reported that while pulling into a driveway at about 3 mph, the car accelerated on its own and crashed into a garage door and wall. No injuries occurred, but this suggests a rare risk of unintended acceleration at low speeds.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET METRO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION UNDER THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR SWAY BAR ASSEMBLY WOULD HA…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET METRO. THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE ROCKER PANELS UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS EXHIBITED RUST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners describe grinding noises from the front during acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission problems that may require replacement. Some also report sudden acceleration while braking or parking, which can lead to crashes.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration that in one case led to a crash and total loss. Another owner cited a coolant valve bypass code and noted a related recall for some 2022 Camrys, but their VIN was not covered.
One owner reported no brake response while driving down a steep hill with curves, requiring emergency action. Another described needing extra brake force when slowly entering a parking lot, suggesting inconsistent brake performance.
Owners report air conditioning problems, including a condenser damaged by a rock and a persistent vinegar-like or mildew odor from the vents in warm weather. These issues affect comfort and can be expensive to fix.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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 Metro
No recalls on record.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
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…
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…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Metro or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Metro has far fewer issues per year (1.5 complaints/year) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3 complaints/year). In practice, a Metro owner is much less likely to face frequent repair visits, but the Camry's larger complaint volume reflects its much higher sales and longer time on the road. The Metro's main concerns are rust and a rare acceleration glitch, while the Camry has a broader range of reported problems including transmission, engine, and brake issues.
Key differences
- The Chevrolet Metro has only 3 complaints and 0 recalls, while the Toyota Camry has 2,143 complaints and 31 recalls—a massive difference in reported problem volume.
- Metro complaints focus on rust (structure) and one low-speed acceleration incident; Camry complaints cover power train, engine, brakes, electrical, and AC issues.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 163 injuries reported, plus 1 death, whereas the Metro has 1 crash-related complaint and no injuries or deaths.
- Camry owners report transmission grinding and sudden acceleration, while Metro owners mainly report corrosion under doors and rocker panels.
- Check for rust under the rear doors and on the rocker panels beneath the front doors—this is the most common complaint and can indicate structural weakness.
- Test the accelerator at very low speeds, such as pulling into a driveway, to watch for any unintended acceleration, as one owner reported a crash.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front during acceleration, which may signal transmission problems that could require replacement.
- Test the brakes on a downhill slope and at low speeds to ensure consistent response, as owners reported brake failure and needing extra force.
Before you buy
- For either car, run the VIN through NHTSA to check for open recalls—especially important for the Camry with 31 recalls.
- On the Metro, inspect the underbody and door bottoms for rust; on the Camry, check transmission fluid and listen for grinding on a test drive.
- Test the Camry's air conditioning for cooling and any vinegar-like or mildew odor, as owners reported condenser damage and persistent smells.
- For the Camry, ask for maintenance records related to the coolant valve bypass and any transmission repairs.
- On both cars, perform a low-speed acceleration and braking test in a safe area to check for sudden acceleration or brake issues.
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 Metro or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Metro vs Toyota Camry
- Chevrolet Metro total complaints
- 3
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Chevrolet Metro total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Chevrolet Metro avg complaints/year
- 1.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Metro
- Chevrolet Metro top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN