Head-to-head reliability
GMC Safari vs Toyota Camry
How the GMC Safari 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
GMC Safari vs Toyota Camry: The Safari has 207 complaints over 6 years (34.5/year) and 15 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. Safari issues center on brakes and hydraulics; Camry issues span power train, engine, and electrical systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the GMC Safari or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
GMC Safari
The GMC Safari is a full-size van with a modest complaint volume: 207 complaints over 6 years, averaging about 34.5 per year. The pattern is dominated by brake and hydraulic issues, which together account for 146 of those complaints. Owners describe ABS engaging at low speeds and increasing stopping distance, plus wheel bearing and idler arm wear that can make the van hard to control. With 15 recalls and 64 injuries reported, this is a vehicle that demands a thorough brake and steering inspection before purchase.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 2,056 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 205.6 per year. The complaints spread across power train, engine, brakes, and electrical systems, with owners reporting stuck ignition keys, hesitation and shuddering, and multiple driver-assist systems failing at once. There are 31 recalls and 1 death reported in the data. The sheer number of complaints means a used Camry should be checked for the specific issues owners describe, especially in newer model years.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | GMC Safari | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 207 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 21 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 34.5 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 64 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.
GMC Safari
- 01SERVICE BRAKES77
- 02HYDRAULIC69
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22
- 04STEERING21
- 05STRUCTURE14
Owners report the ABS engaging at low speeds, which greatly increases stopping distance. One 2003 Safari owner described this as a safety issue. This matters because it can make the van harder to stop in everyday driving.
Complaints often pair brake problems with hydraulic issues, including charging system failures that leave the vehicle unable to start. A 2002 Safari owner had a leaking battery and repeated dead starts. These faults can strand you and are costly to diagnose.
Owners describe dash lights going out, the steering wheel locking, and the brakes failing while driving. One contact lost control at 55 mph. Electrical gremlins like these can affect critical systems and are hard to predict.
Reports include wheel bearing and idler arm wear that require replacement, plus shaking in the steering wheel and poor response in U-turns. A 2002 Safari owner needed 40-50 feet to stop from 5-6 mph. Steering wear makes the van feel loose and can worsen stopping distances.
“MY 2002 GMC SAFARI WOULD NOT START. I WENT AND REPLACED THE 2.5 YEAR OLD BATTERY (IT WAS LEAKING AT THE TERMINALS) IT STARTED ONE TIME AND THEN ABOUT 45 MINUTES LATER IT WAS DEAD AGAIN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. I WAS FIRST INFORMED THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM…”
“I OWN A 2003 GMC SAFARI WHICH I PURCHASED IN UTAH. EARLIER THIS YEAR I EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BAKING SYSTEM WHERE THE ABS WOULD ENGAGE AT LOW SPEEDS, INCREASING MY STOPPING DISTANCE GREATLY. I CONTACTED GM AS THIS SEEMED TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND WA…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent ignition key sticking, where the key cannot be removed even in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others describe hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on. These issues can leave you stranded or cause delayed acceleration.
Complaints include a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, and repeated hesitation and shuddering. A 2023 Camry owner experienced this three times. Delayed acceleration can be a safety concern when merging or pulling out.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that Toyota says is common. These problems can prevent the car from moving or indicate ABS issues.
Multiple driver-assist systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction at once. One owner had several systems fail while driving home at night. This can reduce driver awareness and control.
“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.
GMC Safari — 15 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON C…
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON C…
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D…
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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
GMC Safari or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The GMC Safari has far fewer complaints per year (34.5) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), but the Safari's issues cluster around brakes and steering, which are critical safety systems. The Camry's higher volume reflects a much larger number of vehicles on the road and a wider range of reported problems. In practice, a Safari buyer should focus on brake and steering health, while a Camry buyer should check for power train and electrical faults.
Key differences
- The GMC Safari averages 34.5 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages 205.6 per year, but the Camry's total is over 10 years versus 6 for the Safari.
- Safari complaints are concentrated in brakes and hydraulics (146 of 207), with owners reporting ABS engaging at low speeds and increased stopping distance.
- Camry complaints are spread across power train, engine, brakes, and electrical, with owners reporting stuck ignition keys, hesitation, and multiple driver-assist failures.
- The Safari has 15 recalls and 64 injuries; the Camry has 31 recalls and 158 injuries, though the Camry's larger population likely influences these counts.
- Test the brakes at low speeds for unexpected ABS engagement or a soft pedal, as owners report increased stopping distance.
- Inspect the steering for play, shaking, or noise, and check wheel bearings and idler arms for wear, which owners say require replacement.
- Check that the ignition key can be removed easily in Park, as owners report it sticking and requiring battery disconnection.
- Test the electronic parking brake and listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area, which owners say indicates ABS issues.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been addressed, especially fuel system and lighting recalls on the Safari and seat and air bag recalls on the Camry.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brakes, steering, and suspension on the Safari, and the power train, engine, and electrical systems on the Camry.
- Test drive at various speeds, including low-speed braking and acceleration, to feel for ABS engagement, hesitation, or shuddering.
- Check for any warning lights on the dashboard and ensure all driver-assist features work if equipped.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for brake and electrical repairs, and budget for potential fixes based on the reported 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 GMC Safari or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Safari vs Toyota Camry
- GMC Safari total complaints
- 207
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- GMC Safari total recalls
- 15
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- GMC Safari avg complaints/year
- 34.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- GMC Safari
- GMC Safari top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN