Head-to-head reliability
GMC Sierra vs Toyota Camry
How the GMC Sierra 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 Sierra vs Toyota Camry: The Sierra averages 434.5 complaints per year and 86 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints and 31 recalls. Sierra owners report engine and power train failures like glow plug and fuel rail issues; Camry owners report stuck ignition keys and brake noise. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the GMC Sierra or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
GMC Sierra
The GMC Sierra is a full-size pickup that owners rely on for heavy hauling and towing, but NHTSA data shows a high volume of complaints—434.5 per year on average—with engine and power train problems dominating. Owners frequently report glow plug failures, fuel rail issues, and sudden power loss or shaking while driving, which can be alarming and expensive. Electrical gremlins and brake concerns also appear, making it a truck that demands diligent maintenance and a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan known for everyday commuting, and its complaint rate is roughly half that of the Sierra at 205.6 per year. However, owners report intermittent power train quirks like a stuck ignition key or shuddering, plus electrical glitches affecting multiple safety systems. Brake noises and delayed throttle response also show up, so while it may be less troublesome overall, it still has its own set of owner-reported frustrations.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | GMC Sierra | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,345 | 2,056 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 86 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 107 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 434.5 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 68 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 Sierra
- 01ENGINE1,552
- 02POWER TRAIN949
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM665
- 04SERVICE BRAKES576
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER439
Owners report constant glow plug failures, fuel rail and fuel pressure failures, and diesel injector connector issues that can cause extreme shaking, emissions warnings, and speed limiting. These problems often require repeated dealer visits and can leave the truck undrivable.
Complaints include abnormal shaking at speeds over 30 mph, stalling while driving, and sudden power loss with chugging that can nearly cause rear-end collisions. Such symptoms suggest transmission or driveline faults that are both dangerous and costly to fix.
Owners describe persistent 'Service Trailer Brake System' warnings that reappear seconds after dismissal, and in one case a parked truck caught fire. Electrical faults can be intermittent, hard to diagnose, and may pose a fire risk.
Reports include brake failure while towing, such as a pedal going to the floor when slowing a loaded trailer, and brake issues on long downhill grades. For a truck used for hauling, brake reliability is critical to safety.
“Constant issues with glow plug failures, fuel rail failure, fuel pressure failure. Truck has been in the Gmc service regarding these issues constantly for the last year with a total of five repairs and replacement of glow plugs with releaning learning new plu…”
“GM Duramax L5P diesel engine electrical connector for #4 fuel injector. This failure caused the Diesel exhaust brake, which controls downhill speed, to disengage, extreme shaking of the vehicle, emissions system warning and speed limiting. This occurred while…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others note hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light on, pointing to transmission or engine management issues.
Complaints describe multiple systems failing at once—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—which can leave the driver without key safety aids. Such widespread electrical failures are concerning for a modern sedan.
Owners report a several-second delay in throttle response when pressing the accelerator, making the car feel unresponsive when trying to move. This can be a safety issue when merging or pulling out into traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer calls normal. Brake problems can strand a driver or undermine confidence in stopping.
“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 Sierra — 86 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The hood-latch striker wires may not have been heat-treated properly, possibly causing them to fracture.
The risk: If a striker wire fractures, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hood assembly, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for…
The defect: General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with a 17" spare tire (RPO ZHQ or ZXT) and either the 20" accessory road tire (RPO REM) or the 18" accessory road tire (RPO Q2V). Operating the spare tire with other 20" or 18" ti…
The risk: An ABS system that cannot control the rear wheels independently increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will provide the appropriate spare tire and apply a new spare tire information label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; GMC…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame…
The risk: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC cus…
The defect: General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly cr…
The risk: If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, or…
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 Sierra or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer issues per year on average (205.6 vs. 434.5 for the GMC Sierra), and its complaints are less likely to involve severe engine or driveline failures. In practice, the Camry may demand fewer repair visits, while the Sierra’s higher complaint rate suggests a greater chance of recurring, costly problems—especially if used for heavy towing.
Key differences
- The GMC Sierra has more than double the annual complaint rate of the Toyota Camry (434.5 vs. 205.6), with engine and power train issues being the most common.
- Sierra owners report severe failures like glow plug and fuel rail problems, sudden power loss, and brake failure while towing; Camry owners report stuck ignition keys, hesitation, and electronic parking brake faults.
- The Sierra has 86 recalls over 10 years versus 31 for the Camry, covering items like hood latches, seat belts, and air bag inflators.
- The Camry has more crash-related complaints (171) and injuries (158) than the Sierra (107 crashes, 68 injuries), though the Sierra’s complaints are more often about mechanical breakdowns.
- Check for glow plug and fuel injector issues by asking for service records and scanning for engine codes; repeated repairs may indicate ongoing problems.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially if the truck was used for towing, and listen for abnormal shaking or power loss during a test drive.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park—if it sticks, it could be a recurring power train defect requiring battery disconnection.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal and check that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages smoothly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and all available service records, focusing on engine, transmission, and brake repairs.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, including a scan for stored trouble codes and a test of all electrical systems.
- For the Sierra, specifically ask about glow plug, fuel rail, and trailer brake system repairs; for the Camry, ask about ignition key, transmission shudder, and parking brake fixes.
- Test drive on both city streets and highways, paying attention to shifting, hesitation, brake feel, and any warning lights.
- Verify that all open recalls have been addressed by checking the NHTSA recall database using the VIN.
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 | GMC Sierra | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 84 | 0 |
| 2025 | 152 | 163 |
| 2024 | 525 | 50 |
| 2023 | 545 | 64 |
| 2022 | 1250 | 61 |
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
| 2019 | 1122 | 395 |
| 2018 | 66 | 744 |
| 2017 | 601 | 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 GMC Sierra or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Sierra vs Toyota Camry
- GMC Sierra total complaints
- 4,345
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- GMC Sierra total recalls
- 86
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- GMC Sierra avg complaints/year
- 434.5
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- GMC Sierra top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN