Head-to-head reliability
Dodge Challenger vs Toyota Camry
How the Dodge Challenger 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
Dodge Challenger vs Toyota Camry: The Challenger averages 62.6 complaints per year with 30 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. The Challenger has fewer complaints but more severe electrical and engine failures; the Camry has more complaints but often less critical issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge Challenger or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is a rear-wheel-drive muscle car that averages about 63 complaints per year over the past decade, with 626 total complaints. The most common trouble spots are electrical gremlins, engine stalling, and power train issues, and owners describe sudden failures like electric steering loss and fuel pump failure. With 30 recalls and 69 crash-related complaints, it demands careful inspection before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream family sedan that averages about 206 complaints per year, totaling 2,056 over ten years. Owners report power train hesitation, brake problems, and engine shuddering, along with occasional electrical glitches. Despite 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints, the Camry remains a popular choice, but its higher complaint volume means buyers should be aware of recurring issues.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge Challenger | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 626 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 69 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 62.6 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 60 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.
Dodge Challenger
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM181
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER116
- 03ENGINE103
- 04POWER TRAIN84
- 05AIR BAGS60
Owners report multiple dashboard lights flashing at once, jerking during acceleration, and even electric steering rack failure that makes the car impossible to steer. These failures can happen without warning and may lead to accidents.
Complaints include catastrophic fuel pump failure within the first 1,000 miles, causing the car to stall while driving. Another owner described the vehicle momentarily powering off at 30 mph, which is a serious safety risk.
Some owners report buying used Challengers with undisclosed structural damage or drive shaft problems that nearly caused accidents. This suggests that prior abuse or poor repairs may not be obvious during a quick test drive.
With 60 air bag complaints, owners may experience issues with air bag deployment or warning lights. This is critical because air bags are a key safety feature, and any fault should be addressed immediately.
“The cars light notifications on instrument cluster panel turned on all of them at the same time while accelerating jerking the car on freeway I have video of that happening and can provide it upon request it did caused a minor accident but I settled the accid…”
“While operating my vehicle at road speed the electric steering rack failed. This rendered the steering inoperative. It was impossible to steer the vehicle. Not only is this situation extremely dangerous and deadly, there was no advanced warning. I received no…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck in the ignition even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering at various speeds, often with a check engine light.
Complaints include the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that dealers say is common. These issues can affect daily usability and brake confidence.
Some owners report a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, which can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic. This hesitation is often accompanied by shuddering and warning lights.
Multiple systems—including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction simultaneously. One owner described a frightening night drive when these aids failed together.
“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.
Dodge Challenger — 30 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor battery may fail prematurely and cause the sensor to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fede…
The risk: Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios…
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the TPMS sensors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z68.
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor battery may fail prematurely and cause the sensor to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Fede…
The risk: Inoperative TPMS sensors will not alert the driver to low tire pressure. In addition, a TPMS warning light that is already illuminated from a failed battery sensor will mask an actual tire pressure failure issue. Either of these scenarios…
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the TPMS sensors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 10, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB5. This…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, and Chrysler 300 vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of…
The risk: A windshield that separates from the vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will remove and replace the front windshield urethane sealant, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for thi…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Dodge Challenger vehicles. The affected vehicles do not illuminate their safety system status indicators sufficiently in both daylight and nighttime driving conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Veh…
The risk: Without visible safety system indicators, a driver may not receive information regarding vehicle safety, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
The fix: Dealers will re-program instrument clusters with the correct software version, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 5, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-140. FCA US LLC's number…
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
Dodge Challenger or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Dodge Challenger has far fewer complaints per year (about 63) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the Challenger's issues tend to be more severe, such as sudden steering loss or fuel pump failure. The Camry's higher volume includes many nuisance complaints, but it also has more crash-related reports and one death. In practice, the Challenger may have fewer problems overall, but when they occur, they can be more dangerous.
Key differences
- The Challenger has about one-third the complaints per year of the Camry, but its electrical and engine failures often cause sudden loss of control or stalling.
- The Camry's most common complaints involve power train hesitation and brake problems, which are annoying but less likely to cause immediate catastrophe.
- The Challenger has 69 crash-related complaints and 60 injuries, while the Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, plus one death.
- Recalls for the Challenger include tire pressure monitoring and windshield issues, while the Camry has recalls for seats and air bag occupant sensors.
- Test the electric power steering at low and high speeds for any hesitation or failure, as owners report sudden loss of steering.
- Check for a spare tire—many Challengers come with an inflator kit instead, which can leave you stranded.
- Try removing the key from the ignition after parking to ensure it doesn't stick, a reported issue on 2023 models.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which may indicate ABS or electronic parking brake problems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for prior structural damage or washed titles, especially on the Challenger.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including steering, dashboard lights, and infotainment, on both cars.
- For the Camry, test the electronic parking brake and listen for brake noises during a test drive.
- For the Challenger, verify the fuel pump and engine performance during a cold start and highway drive.
- Check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN before purchase.
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 | Dodge Challenger | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 43 | 64 |
| 2022 | 9 | 61 |
| 2021 | 19 | 157 |
| 2020 | 20 | 274 |
| 2019 | 58 | 395 |
| 2018 | 75 | 744 |
| 2017 | 49 | 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 Dodge Challenger or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge Challenger vs Toyota Camry
- Dodge Challenger total complaints
- 626
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Dodge Challenger total recalls
- 30
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Dodge Challenger avg complaints/year
- 62.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Dodge Challenger
- Dodge Challenger top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN