Head-to-head reliability
Chrysler Prowler vs Toyota Camry
How the Chrysler Prowler 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 Prowler vs Toyota Camry: The Prowler has 14 complaints over 2 years (7 per year) and no recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (206 per year) and 31 recalls. Prowler owners report suspension and latch failures; Camry owners report power train and brake issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chrysler Prowler or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chrysler Prowler
The Chrysler Prowler is a low-volume, niche vehicle, so its 14 complaints over 2 years (7 per year) come from a small owner pool. Owners report suspension issues like lower ball joint failures and rusted strut towers that can affect steering, plus latch problems such as the tailgate opening while driving and hood struts failing. With no recalls on record, getting parts for these specific failures may be difficult, and the 1 death and 3 injuries in the data highlight that some problems can be serious.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with 2,056 complaints over 10 years (about 206 per year), so many owners report issues. The most common complaints involve the power train (hesitation, shuddering, key stuck), engine (delayed throttle), and service brakes (EPB not disengaging, ABS noise). There are also 31 recalls covering wheels, seats, and air bag sensors, and the 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries suggest that some problems may contribute to crashes.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chrysler Prowler | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 14 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 0 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 1 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.0 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 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.
Chrysler Prowler
- 01SUSPENSION3
- 02LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES2
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
- 05EQUIPMENT1
Owners report lower ball joint failures and rusted front strut towers that can lead to strut failure and loss of steering. This is a critical safety concern because a sudden suspension failure could cause a crash.
Complaints include the tailgate opening while driving and hood struts failing so the hood comes down on the owner's head. These issues can be dangerous and annoying, especially if the hood opens at speed.
One owner reported problems with the vehicle's 'brain' (likely the computer or control module) after buying a used model. Electrical gremlins can be hard to diagnose and expensive to fix.
Complaints include cruise control engaging unexpectedly and other unspecified issues. These can be distracting and may indicate broader electronic or software problems.
“TL* - THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL 2W125384-F23 FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH AND CHRYSLER HAS TOLD HER THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THEY ONLY GET ENOUGH PART…”
“FRAME/STRUCTURE OVER THE RIGHT SIDE STRUT HAS RUSTED. THIS COULD RESULT IN STRUT FAILURE AND VEHICLE LOSING STEERING. *AK THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE UPDATED ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE COMPLAINT. *SCC”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent ignition key stuck in Park, hesitation and shuddering while driving, and check engine lights. These can leave you stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, sometimes taking several seconds to move. This lag can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
Owners report the electronic parking brake not disengaging, requiring a tow, and clicking or vibrating noises from the ABS system. Brake problems directly affect your ability to stop safely.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping can malfunction at once. This can overwhelm the driver and reduce 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.
Chrysler Prowler
No recalls on record.
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 Prowler or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Chrysler Prowler has far fewer complaints per year (7 vs. 206 for the Camry), but it is a low-production specialty car, so even a small number of serious issues like suspension failures can be significant. The Camry's higher volume means more reported problems overall, but many are common to high-volume vehicles and may be addressed by recalls. In practice, the Prowler may be harder to live with due to parts scarcity and potential for severe suspension failures, while the Camry has more widespread but often less catastrophic issues.
Key differences
- The Prowler has suspension complaints about ball joints and rusted strut towers that can cause loss of steering, while the Camry's top issue is power train problems like hesitation and key stuck.
- The Prowler has no recalls on record, so fixes may come out of pocket, whereas the Camry has 31 recalls covering wheels, seats, and air bag sensors.
- The Prowler's complaints include latches like tailgate opening while driving and hood struts failing, which are not common in the Camry's data.
- The Camry has many complaints about electronic parking brake and ABS noise, while the Prowler's electrical complaint is about the vehicle's computer.
- Inspect the front suspension for rust around the strut towers and check lower ball joints for wear or looseness, as these can fail and cause loss of steering.
- Test the tailgate and hood latches to ensure they stay closed while driving, and check hood struts for weakness.
- Check for delayed throttle response or hesitation during a test drive, and listen for any shuddering or check engine lights.
- Test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially for the Camry's air bag and seat issues.
- Have a mechanic inspect the Prowler's suspension and latches, and the Camry's power train and brakes.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, unusual noises, or warning lights.
- For the Prowler, verify that parts for known issues like ball joints are available before buying.
- For the Camry, ask about any software updates or repairs related to the electronic parking brake and throttle response.
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 Prowler or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chrysler Prowler vs Toyota Camry
- Chrysler Prowler total complaints
- 14
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Chrysler Prowler total recalls
- 0
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Chrysler Prowler avg complaints/year
- 7.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Chrysler Prowler
- Chrysler Prowler top complaint area
- SUSPENSION
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN