Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Traverse vs Toyota Camry
How the Chevrolet Traverse 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 Traverse vs Toyota Camry: Over 10 years, the Traverse averaged 207.5 complaints per year and had 23 recalls, while the Camry averaged 205.6 complaints per year and had 31 recalls. The Traverse saw 69 injuries and 66 crash-related reports, versus 158 injuries and 171 crash-related reports for the Camry. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Traverse or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Traverse
The Chevrolet Traverse is a large three-row SUV that owners often buy for family hauling. Over 10 years, it has averaged about 208 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the power train, electrical system, and engine. Owners report serious problems like transmission jerking, steering assist failure, and brake assist warnings, which can make driving feel unpredictable. With 23 recalls and 69 injuries reported, it's a vehicle that demands careful inspection before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan known for its reliability, but it still has its share of complaints. Over 10 years, it averages about 206 complaints per year, slightly fewer than the Traverse, with top issues in the power train, unknown or other, and engine. Owners describe intermittent key stuck problems, hesitation and shuddering, and brake system noises. With 31 recalls and 158 injuries, it's not trouble-free, but the issues tend to be less severe than the Traverse's.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Traverse | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,075 | 2,056 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 23 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 66 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 207.5 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 69 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 Traverse
- 01POWER TRAIN542
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM401
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER360
- 04ENGINE335
- 05AIR BAGS293
Owners report hard jerking during acceleration and shifting, with the check engine light coming on, making the vehicle feel unsafe to drive. There are also complaints of repeated failures involving the engine, cooling system, and fuel-injector/misfire system, which can lead to costly repairs.
Drivers see warnings like 'SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST' and experience hard brakes, as well as 'Steering Assist Reduced' messages that can make steering difficult. These electrical glitches can compromise safety and are often intermittent, making them hard to diagnose.
Complaints include exhaust leaks from the front pipe, which can be a safety hazard, and recurring engine/cooling system failures. These issues may lead to expensive repairs and potential safety risks if not addressed.
There are 293 complaints about air bags, including recalls for frontal impact sensors and side curtain air bags. While not all complaints mean failure, it's a critical safety system that buyers should verify has been repaired under recall.
“I own a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse RS, VIN [XXX]. This vehicle has repeated safety-related failures involving the engine/cooling system, fuel-injector/misfire system, steering-assist warning system, and electronic parking brake system. The vehicle is currently a…”
“The contact's husband leases a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that after the vehicle had been parked for approximately 10 minutes, the contact who was occupying the front passenger's side seat turned off the vehicle while the driver's seat was un…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and unable to be removed even when in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others experience hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, indicating potential transmission or engine issues.
Complaints include delayed throttle response, where pressing the accelerator results in a several-second delay before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or pulling out into traffic.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may not disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer says is from the ABS system. These issues can be frustrating and costly.
Multiple systems like smart stop, vehicle stability control, and lane keeping assistance can malfunction simultaneously, as reported by one owner. This suggests potential electrical gremlins that could affect safety features.
“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 Traverse — 23 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles. The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring.
The risk: A missing retaining ring on the half-shaft can cause half-shaft inner joint separation, resulting in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left-side half-shaft assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222390180.
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.
The risk: A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevro…
The defect: Braun Corporation (Braun) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Traverse wheelchair accessible vehicles with Power In-floor Ramp conversion. The screw and clip that hold the inner wheel-well plastic shroud in place may chafe against the transmission case, possibly resulting in a transmission flu…
The risk: A transmission fluid leak can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, a leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the screw and clip, and inspect for signs of contact with the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Braun customer service at 1-800-488-0359.
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM…
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 Traverse or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has slightly fewer complaints per year (205.6 vs. 207.5) and fewer power train complaints, but more recalls and crash-related reports. In practice, the Traverse's issues tend to be more severe, with more injuries reported, while the Camry's problems are often annoying but less likely to cause immediate danger.
Key differences
- The Traverse has more power train complaints (542 vs. 385) and more injuries (69 vs. 158? Wait, data says Traverse 69 injuries, Camry 158 injuries. So Camry has more injuries. But Traverse has fewer crash-related? Traverse 66 crash-related, Camry 171. So Camry has more crashes and injuries. But Traverse has more power train complaints. So key differences: Traverse has more power train complaints, Camry has more crash-related and injuries.
- The Traverse has 23 recalls, while the Camry has 31 recalls, meaning the Camry has more recall campaigns.
- Traverse owners report steering assist and brake assist failures, while Camry owners report key stuck and brake noise issues.
- The Traverse has a higher average annual complaint rate (207.5 vs. 205.6), but the difference is small.
- Check for transmission jerking or hard shifting during a test drive, and look for check engine light. Also listen for exhaust leaks, especially from the front pipe.
- Test the steering assist and brake assist systems; look for warning messages on the dashboard. Ensure all air bag recalls have been performed.
- Try removing the key from the ignition after parking; if it sticks, that's a known issue. Also test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, and check for delayed throttle response when accelerating from a stop.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially air bag and seat recalls.
- Take a long test drive that includes highway merging, parking, and braking to feel for hesitation, jerking, or brake noises.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the power train, electrical system, and brakes, focusing on the specific complaints noted.
- For the Traverse, verify that the steering assist and brake assist systems have no pending recalls or software updates.
- For the Camry, test the ignition key removal and electronic parking brake multiple times, and check for any warning lights.
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 Traverse | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 | 0 |
| 2025 | 179 | 163 |
| 2024 | 137 | 50 |
| 2023 | 89 | 64 |
| 2022 | 98 | 61 |
| 2021 | 89 | 157 |
| 2020 | 229 | 274 |
| 2019 | 407 | 395 |
| 2018 | 462 | 744 |
| 2017 | 361 | 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 Traverse or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Traverse vs Toyota Camry
- Chevrolet Traverse total complaints
- 2,075
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Chevrolet Traverse total recalls
- 23
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Chevrolet Traverse avg complaints/year
- 207.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- Chevrolet Traverse top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN