Head-to-head reliability
Honda Civic TYPE R vs Toyota Camry
How the Honda Civic TYPE R 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 Civic TYPE R vs Toyota Camry: The Civic TYPE R averages about 124 complaints per year over 9 years, while the Camry averages about 206 per year over 10 years. The Civic has 10 recalls and 46 crash-related reports; the Camry has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related reports. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Civic TYPE R or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Civic TYPE R
The Honda Civic TYPE R is a sporty compact that, based on NHTSA data, has averaged about 124 complaints per year over nine years. The most common owner-reported trouble spots are steering, electrical, engine, and fuel system issues. Many complaints describe a steering wheel that sticks or feels locked, especially at higher speeds, and air conditioning failures. With 10 recalls and 46 crash-related reports, it's a car that demands a careful pre-purchase inspection.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan that has averaged about 206 complaints per year over ten years, with power train, engine, and brake issues leading the list. Owners report problems like a stuck ignition key, hesitation and shuddering, and brake noises. It has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related reports, so while it's a popular choice, it's not immune to significant safety-related defects.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Civic TYPE R | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,119 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 46 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 124.3 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 31 Better | 158 |
| 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.
Honda Civic TYPE R
- 01STEERING357
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER258
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM150
- 04ENGINE111
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM100
Owners of 2017 Civics report the steering wheel sticking or feeling 'locked' in place, often at speeds above 40 mph after driving for a while. This can make it hard to steer and is a serious safety concern.
Complaints include the engine start/stop button not turning off the car properly, leaving the radio and dash on. This can drain the battery and cause confusion.
Some owners report fuel injector failures that cause stalling at stop lights or in traffic, along with faulty emissions warnings. This can leave you stranded or create a dangerous situation.
There are complaints about fuel pump issues, which can lead to engine stalling or failure to start. This is a critical safety issue that should be addressed immediately.
“I have owned my 2017 Honda Civic LX since it was new and have maintained the car consistently since purchasing it; the car is lightly driven and while over seven years old, only has 28,000 miles on it. In recent months, I had experienced some odd occurrences…”
“The steering wheel is sticking in my 2017 Civic. This problem happens more frequently after I have been driving for a while and is more common at speeds above 40 mph. The steering wheel will feel "locked" in place and require force to turn the wheel. It feels…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park. The only fix is disconnecting the battery, which is inconvenient and could leave you stuck.
Complaints describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on. Some also report a delayed throttle response when pressing the gas pedal, which can be dangerous when merging.
The electronic parking brake may not disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Others hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area, which Toyota says is normal but owners find concerning.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring can malfunction at once. This can make the car unpredictable and hard to 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.
Honda Civic TYPE R — 10 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have b…
The risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers f…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have b…
The risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers f…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
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
Honda Civic TYPE R or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Honda Civic TYPE R has fewer complaints per year (about 124) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 206). In practice, this means you're less likely to encounter frequent problems with the Civic, but the severity of issues like steering lock-up and stalling should not be ignored. The Camry's higher complaint rate suggests more overall owner frustration, but both need a thorough inspection.
Key differences
- The Civic TYPE R has about 124 complaints per year, while the Camry has about 206, indicating more frequent owner-reported issues with the Camry.
- Steering problems are a top concern for the Civic, with reports of the wheel sticking or locking, whereas the Camry's top issue is power train, including a stuck ignition key.
- The Camry has 31 recalls versus 10 for the Civic, meaning more manufacturer-issued safety fixes for the Camry.
- Both have 1 death reported, but the Camry has more crash-related reports (171 vs 46), though this doesn't necessarily mean it's less safe.
- During a test drive, check for any sticking or locking of the steering wheel, especially at speeds above 40 mph after the car is warmed up.
- Ask if the fuel injectors or fuel pump have been replaced, and look for any signs of stalling or rough idling.
- Test the ignition key to ensure it can be removed easily when the car is in Park; if it sticks, that's a red flag.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area and check if the electronic parking brake engages and disengages smoothly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the steering system on the Civic TYPE R for any binding or stiffness.
- For the Camry, test the ignition key removal and the electronic parking brake operation.
- Scan for any stored trouble codes, especially related to the engine, transmission, and ABS systems.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for fuel system and brake repairs.
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 Civic TYPE R | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 0 | 50 |
| 2023 | 0 | 64 |
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
| 2019 | 0 | 395 |
| 2018 | 601 | 744 |
| 2017 | 518 | 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 Honda Civic TYPE R or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Civic TYPE R vs Toyota Camry
- Honda Civic TYPE R total complaints
- 1,119
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Honda Civic TYPE R total recalls
- 10
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Honda Civic TYPE R avg complaints/year
- 124.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Honda Civic TYPE R
- Honda Civic TYPE R top complaint area
- STEERING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN