Head-to-head reliability
Honda Cb300r vs Toyota Camry
How the Honda Cb300r 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
Honda CB300R vs Toyota Camry: The CB300R has only 3 complaints over 8 years (0.4/yr) but a serious transmission recall; the Camry has 2143 complaints over 10 years (214.3/yr) with brake and engine failures. The CB300R is lower-risk if recall is fixed, but the Camry offers more space. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Cb300r or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Cb300r
The Honda CB300R is a lightweight naked bike that, in ownership terms, is a low-mileage, low-stress machine—but the data shows a small but serious issue concentrated in the powertrain. Over eight years, owners filed just three complaints, all tied to a single recall about a transmission circlip that can detach, causing gears to slip or pop out. One rider reported the bike dropping from second to neutral mid-turn, leading to a low-side crash. With only 0.4 complaints per year, the CB300R is generally quiet, but that one failure mode is a safety-critical thing to check.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume family sedan with a much longer and more varied complaint history—2143 complaints over ten years, or about 214 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission grinding and sudden acceleration to brake failure and HVAC odors. The top problem areas are powertrain, engine, and brakes, with several crashes and injuries linked to these failures. While the Camry is a reliable workhorse for many, the sheer number of reports and the severity of some incidents (including one death) mean buyers should be vigilant about specific model years and maintenance history.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Cb300r | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.4 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 163 |
| 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.
Honda Cb300r
- 01POWER TRAIN2
- 02ENGINE1
- 03STRUCTURE1
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
The main issue is a transmission mainshaft circlip that can detach, causing gear misalignment and shifting problems. Owners report the bike popping out of gear, which can lead to loss of control, as one rider experienced when it dropped from second to neutral in a turn.
Engine complaints are essentially the same transmission issue, as the recall affects the engine's power delivery. No separate engine failures were reported, but the risk of sudden gear disengagement is a serious safety concern.
One owner reported a crash caused by the gear issue, resulting in a fall and road rash. This highlights how a mechanical failure can lead to structural damage and personal injury, even at low speeds.
“I am submitting a complaint regarding a 2019 Honda CB300R with approximately 1,225 miles. This vehicle is subject to an open recall (NHTSA Recall 19V-412) involving a transmission mainshaft circlip that can detach and cause gear misalignment and shifting issu…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HONDA CB300R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V412000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT CALLED STATION PARK HONDA AT 502-587-8496 (LOCATED AT 830 S 9TH ST, LOUISVILLE, KY 40203) AND WAS INFORMED TH…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end on acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission failures that often require replacement. Some 2021 Camrys have recalls for this, but not all VINs are covered, leaving some owners with costly repairs.
There are reports of sudden, uncontrollable acceleration, which in one case led to a crash and totaled the car. Another owner got a code for a coolant valve bypass recall that wasn't applied to their VIN, causing a safety warning.
Several owners describe brake failure, such as pressing the pedal with no response on a downhill slope, leading to a crash. This is a critical safety issue that can cause accidents and injuries.
Common complaints include AC condenser damage from rocks and recurring mildew smells from the HVAC system. While not safety-critical, these affect comfort and can be costly to fix.
“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.
Honda Cb300r — 8 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2025 CB300R motorcycles. The headlights may flicker or shut off while driving.
The risk: Loss of headlight illumination can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the headlight assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KS0.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2025 CB300R motorcycles. The headlights may flicker or shut off while driving.
The risk: Loss of headlight illumination can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the headlight assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KS0.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2025 CB300R motorcycles. The headlights may flicker or shut off while driving.
The risk: Loss of headlight illumination can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the headlight assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KS0.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2025 CB300R motorcycles. The headlights may flicker or shut off while driving.
The risk: Loss of headlight illumination can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the headlight assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is KS0.
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
Honda Cb300r or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Honda CB300R has far fewer issues per year (0.4 vs 214.3), making it a lower-risk choice in terms of complaint frequency. However, the single serious transmission issue on the CB300R is a safety concern, whereas the Camry's problems are more varied and include multiple crash-related incidents. In practice, the CB300R's low complaint rate suggests a generally reliable bike, but you must address the recall; the Camry's higher rate means more potential for encountering a problem, but many are non-critical.
Key differences
- The CB300R has a single dominant issue (transmission circlip) that is covered by a recall, while the Camry has multiple problem areas including powertrain, brakes, and engine.
- The Camry has 181 crash-related complaints and 163 injuries, whereas the CB300R has zero crash-related complaints in the data, though one owner did crash due to the gear issue.
- The CB300R's complaints are all from 2019 models, suggesting a model-year-specific problem, while the Camry's issues span many years and include both mechanical and comfort-related failures.
- The Camry's brake failure reports are particularly alarming, as they involve sudden loss of braking, which is a critical safety risk.
- Check if the transmission recall (19V-412) has been performed on the specific bike you're considering; if not, have it done before riding.
- Test ride the bike and shift through all gears, especially 2nd, to ensure it doesn't pop out of gear under acceleration.
- Ask for service records and check if the transmission has been replaced or repaired, especially on 2021 models with known issues.
- Test the brakes at low speed and on a hill to ensure they respond properly, and listen for any grinding noises from the front end.
Before you buy
- For the CB300R: verify the VIN against the recall list and get written proof of the transmission fix.
- For the Camry: run a VIN check for open recalls, especially for powertrain and brake issues.
- For the Camry: have a mechanic inspect the transmission and brakes before purchase.
- For the CB300R: take a test ride and shift aggressively to check for gear slippage.
- For both: review the NHTSA complaint history for the specific model year you're considering.
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 | Honda Cb300r | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 119 |
| 2025 | 0 | 153 |
| 2024 | 0 | 48 |
| 2023 | 0 | 62 |
| 2022 | 0 | 59 |
| 2021 | 0 | 155 |
| 2020 | 0 | 270 |
| 2019 | 3 | 393 |
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 Honda Cb300r or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Cb300r vs Toyota Camry
- Honda Cb300r total complaints
- 3
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Honda Cb300r total recalls
- 8
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Honda Cb300r avg complaints/year
- 0.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Honda Cb300r
- Honda Cb300r top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN