Head-to-head reliability
GMC Sonoma vs Toyota Camry
How the GMC Sonoma 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 Sonoma vs Toyota Camry: The Sonoma averages 65.8 complaints per year, with top issues in structure and brakes, while the Camry averages 214.3 per year, led by powertrain and engine problems. Both have had recalls, but the Camry's include airbag and seat issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the GMC Sonoma or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
GMC Sonoma
The GMC Sonoma is a compact pickup that, in ownership terms, shows its age through a high rate of complaints concentrated in structure and brakes. Owners report broken tailgate cables, a repeatedly failing third-door handle, and ABS that misbehaves over bumps, which points to a vehicle that may need frequent repairs and attention to safety-critical systems.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher total complaint count but over twice the model years, averaging about 214 complaints per year. The issues span powertrain, engine, and brakes, with reports of transmission failures, sudden acceleration, and brake loss, suggesting that while the Camry is generally reliable, some model years have significant problems 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 | GMC Sonoma | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 329 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 7 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 65.8 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 19 Better | 163 |
| 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.
GMC Sonoma
- 01STRUCTURE89
- 02SERVICE BRAKES72
- 03HYDRAULIC62
- 04POWER TRAIN28
- 05LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES25
Owners report broken tailgate support cables and a plastic third-door handle that breaks repeatedly, potentially trapping rear passengers inside the cab.
The ABS can malfunction when hitting bumps or potholes, causing a loss of braking confidence; one owner reported the engine stalling while driving, which could affect brake assist.
Brake system issues include sudden loss of power assist and pulsation, with one owner describing a scary incident on a rainy night where brakes worked only after years of problems.
Transmission and clutch failures are reported, including a clutch that stopped engaging on the freeway, leaving the driver unable to shift gears.
“THE SUPPORT CABLES FOR THE TAILGATE ON MY 2004 GMC SONOMA BROKE. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS BUT GM AND THE DEALER BOTH STATE IT DOESN'T COVER MY TRUCK. THE PARTS ARE THE EXACT SAME PARTS, SAME PART NUMBER AND ALL. CAMPAIGN - TAILGATE CABLE REPLA…”
“I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2002, BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES, TODAY IT BROKE AGAIN. IF SOMEONE WERE IN THE BACK OF THE CAB AND HAD TO GET OUT, THEY COULD NOT. THIS HANDLE IS PLASTIC AND BREAKS CONTINUOUSLY. THE CH…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission issues are common, with grinding noises and the need for full replacement; some owners report sudden acceleration or hesitation when braking, which can be dangerous.
Engine problems include sudden unintended acceleration and a coolant bypass valve issue that triggers a maintenance light, but not all VINs are covered by a recall.
Brake failure is reported, including a complete lack of response when pressing the pedal on a downhill curve, forcing the driver to use emergency measures.
Electrical gremlins can affect various systems, though specific complaints are less detailed; one owner mentioned an AC condenser damaged by a rock, which may be a design vulnerability.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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 Sonoma — 7 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
The risk: SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.
The fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
The defect: CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
The risk: SOME OF THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE INCORRECT STATEMENTS ON ONE OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS.
The fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
The defect: CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
The risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT PAYLOAD INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE CERTIFICATION LABEL. THE PAYLOAD SHOWN ON THE LABEL IS GREATER THAN THE MAXIMUM VALIDATED PAYLOAD. IF THE VEHICLE WERE LOADED TO THE INCORREC…
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OR AN INABILITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHIN EXPECTED STOPPING DISTANCES.
The fix: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A NEW LABEL FOR INSTALLATION ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR OF THE VEHICLE.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
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…
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…
Buyer analysis
GMC Sonoma or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The GMC Sonoma has fewer complaints per year (about 66) compared to the Camry (about 214), but the Sonoma's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like brakes and structure. In practice, the Sonoma may require more immediate repairs, while the Camry's higher volume reflects a broader range of problems but also a larger owner base.
Key differences
- The Sonoma has a high rate of structural complaints (89) including tailgate cables and door handles, while the Camry's top issue is powertrain (395 complaints).
- Brake complaints are significant in both, but the Sonoma's are more about ABS malfunction over bumps, whereas the Camry's include total brake failure.
- The Camry has more recalls (31) than the Sonoma (7), but the Sonoma's recalls are mostly labels and fuel system, while the Camry's include airbags and seats.
- The Sonoma's complaints are from a shorter period (5 years) and fewer total, but the Camry's longer history (10 years) shows a persistent pattern of transmission and engine issues.
- Inspect the tailgate cables for rust or fraying, and test the third-door handle for cracks or weakness.
- Test the ABS on a bumpy road to ensure it doesn't pulse or disengage unexpectedly.
- Check for transmission shudder or grinding during test drive, and verify if any powertrain recalls apply to the VIN.
- Test the brakes on a steep hill to ensure they respond firmly without delay.
Before you buy
- For the Sonoma: check the tailgate cables and third-door handle operation; have a mechanic inspect the ABS and brake lines.
- For the Camry: verify the VIN against open recalls for transmission and engine; test drive at highway speeds to feel for transmission issues.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for brake and transmission services.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic for either vehicle.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recalls on the specific model year you're considering.
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 Sonoma or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- GMC Sonoma vs Toyota Camry
- GMC Sonoma total complaints
- 329
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- GMC Sonoma total recalls
- 7
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- GMC Sonoma avg complaints/year
- 65.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- GMC Sonoma
- GMC Sonoma top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN