Head-to-head reliability
Chrysler 300C vs Toyota Camry
How the Chrysler 300C 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
Chrysler 300C vs Toyota Camry: The 300C averages 3.6 complaints per year with 0 crash-related reports, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year with 171 crash-related reports. The 300C has 7 recalls versus 31 for the Camry. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chrysler 300C or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chrysler 300C
The Chrysler 300C is a full-size sedan with a lower complaint rate—about 3.6 per year over seven years—but owners report recurring electrical gremlins, engine noises, and fuel odors. The sample complaints show stalling, loss of power steering, and a 'Hemi tick' from hydraulic lifters, which can be expensive. With only 1 injury and no crash-related complaints in the data, it may be less likely to be involved in a reported crash, but the electrical and fuel issues can leave you stranded or smelling fuel.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has a much higher complaint rate—about 205.6 per year over ten years—and the data includes 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries. Owners report power train hesitation, brake problems like the electronic parking brake not disengaging, and multiple system malfunctions. While the Camry is a popular sedan, the volume of complaints and crash-related reports suggests a wider range of serious issues that buyers should investigate.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chrysler 300C | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 25 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 3.6 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 1 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.
Chrysler 300C
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
- 02ENGINE6
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
- 04AIR BAGS3
- 05ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2
Owners report grinding noises from the front wheel wells, multiple warning lights (check engine, stabilitrak, hazard), smoke odors, and stalling with loss of power steering. These can require jumpstarts and dealer visits, making the car unreliable for daily driving.
The 5.7 HEMI engine often develops a loud 'Hemi tick' from hydraulic lifters, which owners describe as obnoxious and annoying. Another complaint mentions a 'continental system' causing poor driving, no-start conditions, and even unintended acceleration, though that report is vague.
After filling the tank, owners smell fuel vapors inside the cabin, especially after the car sits. One report notes a cracked fuel pump at only 11,300 miles, with fuel sitting on top of the tank under the back seat—a potential fire risk.
Air bag warning lights illuminate, and some owners received Takata recall notices but parts were unavailable for months. The recalls involve frontal driver-side inflator modules, which if not fixed can increase injury risk in a crash.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHRYSLER 300C. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, A GRINDING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL WELLS. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, STABILITRAK, AND HAZARD WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A SMOKE ODOR…”
“The contact owns a 2011 Chrysler 300C. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled and lost power steering on several occasions. The contact stated that the vehicle required to be jumpstarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck and not releasing even when in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others experience hesitation, shuddering, and check engine lights, which can affect drivability and safety.
Multiple systems—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. One owner also cited subframe, driveline, and traction control issues, suggesting complex electronic failures.
A delayed throttle response of several seconds after pressing the accelerator is reported, causing the car to hesitate before moving. This lag can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake (EPB) may fail to disengage, requiring a tow and manual release. Owners also hear clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which dealers say is common but owners find abnormal.
“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.
Chrysler 300C — 7 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal…
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
Chrysler 300C or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Chrysler 300C has far fewer complaints per year (3.6 vs. 205.6) and no crash-related complaints in the data, while the Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries. In practice, the 300C may have fewer reported problems overall, but its electrical and fuel issues can still be costly; the Camry's higher volume suggests more frequent visits for a wider range of issues.
Key differences
- The Chrysler 300C averages 3.6 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages 205.6 per year—a massive difference in reported problem frequency.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries in the data; the 300C has 0 crash-related complaints and 1 injury.
- Chrysler 300C owners report fuel odors and cracked fuel pumps, while Camry owners report electronic parking brake failures and throttle hesitation.
- The 300C has 7 recalls, mostly for air bag inflators; the Camry has 31 recalls, including seats, air bag sensors, and wheel studs.
- Check for fuel odors inside the cabin after filling the tank, especially after the car sits—this could indicate a cracked fuel pump or vapor leak.
- Listen for a loud ticking noise from the engine, especially when parked against a building or on startup, which may signal the 'Hemi tick' from hydraulic lifters.
- Test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly; if it doesn't, it may require a tow and new switch.
- Check for delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator from a stop—if the car hesitates for several seconds, it could be a power train issue.
Before you buy
- Ask for the recall history and confirm that all open recalls, especially air bag inflator recalls, have been repaired.
- Take a test drive that includes stopping and starting the engine multiple times to check for stalling, warning lights, and key removal issues.
- Inspect under the back seat or ask a mechanic to check the fuel pump area for cracks or fuel smell on the Chrysler 300C.
- For the Camry, test the electronic parking brake and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
- Request a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic who can scan for stored error codes and check for transmission or engine hesitation.
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 Chrysler 300C or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chrysler 300C vs Toyota Camry
- Chrysler 300C total complaints
- 25
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Chrysler 300C total recalls
- 7
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Chrysler 300C avg complaints/year
- 3.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Chrysler 300C
- Chrysler 300C top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN