Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu FRR vs Toyota Camry
How the Isuzu FRR 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
Isuzu FRR vs Toyota Camry: The FRR has 1 complaint over 5 years (0.2/year) and 4 electrical recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. Camry owners report stuck keys, hesitation, and brake issues; the FRR's lone complaint is about steering. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu FRR or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu FRR
The Isuzu FRR is a commercial truck with very few owner complaints filed with NHTSA—just one over five years, about 0.2 per year. That single complaint is about a dealer refusing to fix a steering issue, but no specific safety defect is described. The four recalls all involve the electrical system, suggesting that area may need attention. Overall, the data shows a low complaint volume, but the sample is too small to draw broad conclusions about long-term reliability.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular passenger car with a much larger complaint record: over 2,000 complaints in ten years, averaging about 206 per year. Owners report issues across the power train, engine, brakes, electrical system, and other areas, with 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries. Specific problems include stuck ignition keys, hesitation and shuddering, multiple driver-assist systems malfunctioning at once, delayed throttle response, and parking brake or ABS noises. The 31 recalls cover wheels, seats, and air bag sensors, indicating a wide range of potential fixes.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu FRR | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.2 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 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.
Isuzu FRR
- 01STEERING1
The only complaint mentions a dealer refusing to fix an unspecified steering issue and trying to force delivery. No safety defect is listed, so it's unclear what exactly fails, but any steering problem is serious for a commercial truck.
All four recalls are for the electrical system, though the recall subjects don't specify the exact failure. Buyers should check whether recall repairs were completed, as electrical faults can affect lights, starting, or other critical functions.
“DEALER REFUSES TO FIX AND IS TRYING TO FORCE ME TO TAKE DELIVERY. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report an intermittent defect where the ignition key gets stuck and can't be removed even though the car is in Park; disconnecting the battery is a workaround. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving with the check engine light on. These issues can leave you stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include delayed throttle response—pressing the accelerator and waiting several seconds before the car moves—and repeated hesitation and shuddering with the check engine light. Such behavior can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking/vibrating noise from the brake pedal area is linked to the ABS system. Brake problems directly affect stopping ability and should be inspected immediately.
One owner reported that multiple systems—smart stop, stability control, electric power steering, blind spot monitoring, secondary collision brake, and lane keeping—all malfunctioned at once. Another complaint lists front and rear subframe, driveline, and stability/traction control components. These widespread failures suggest complex electronic issues that can be hard to diagnose.
“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.
Isuzu FRR — 4 recalls
The defect: Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2001-2013 Isuzu N-Series; model year 2001-2010 Chevrolet and GMC W-Series; model year 2001-2004 Isuzu FRR and model year 2001-2004 Chevrolet and GMC WT5500 trucks. The affected vehicles are equipped with an option…
The risk: Overheating of the extension cord could melt the oil pan heater plug and/or block heater plug, resulting in an increased risk of fire.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners and dealers will inspect the trucks. The extension cord and damaged components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2013. Owners may contact Isuzu at 1-866-441-9638.
The defect: Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2001-2013 Isuzu N-Series; model year 2001-2010 Chevrolet and GMC W-Series; model year 2001-2004 Isuzu FRR and model year 2001-2004 Chevrolet and GMC WT5500 trucks. The affected vehicles are equipped with an option…
The risk: Overheating of the extension cord could melt the oil pan heater plug and/or block heater plug, resulting in an increased risk of fire.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners and dealers will inspect the trucks. The extension cord and damaged components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2013. Owners may contact Isuzu at 1-866-441-9638.
The defect: Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2001-2013 Isuzu N-Series; model year 2001-2010 Chevrolet and GMC W-Series; model year 2001-2004 Isuzu FRR and model year 2001-2004 Chevrolet and GMC WT5500 trucks. The affected vehicles are equipped with an option…
The risk: Overheating of the extension cord could melt the oil pan heater plug and/or block heater plug, resulting in an increased risk of fire.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners and dealers will inspect the trucks. The extension cord and damaged components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2013. Owners may contact Isuzu at 1-866-441-9638.
The defect: Isuzu Manufacturing Services of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain model year 2001-2013 Isuzu N-Series; model year 2001-2010 Chevrolet and GMC W-Series; model year 2001-2004 Isuzu FRR and model year 2001-2004 Chevrolet and GMC WT5500 trucks. The affected vehicles are equipped with an option…
The risk: Overheating of the extension cord could melt the oil pan heater plug and/or block heater plug, resulting in an increased risk of fire.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners and dealers will inspect the trucks. The extension cord and damaged components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2013. Owners may contact Isuzu at 1-866-441-9638.
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
Isuzu FRR or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Isuzu FRR has far fewer complaints per year (0.2 vs. 205.6), but that's partly because it's a low-volume commercial truck. The Camry's much higher complaint rate reflects its huge population and reveals specific, recurring problems in the power train, engine, and brakes. In practice, the Camry owner is more likely to encounter a reported defect, while the FRR's data is too sparse to predict common failures.
Key differences
- The Camry has over 2,000 complaints in 10 years, while the FRR has just 1 in 5 years—but the Camry is far more common, so raw counts aren't directly comparable.
- Camry owners report specific failures like stuck ignition keys, hesitation/shuddering, and electronic parking brake problems; the FRR's single complaint is about a dealer refusing to fix an unspecified steering issue.
- All four FRR recalls are for the electrical system, while Camry recalls cover wheels, seats, and air bag sensors, indicating different areas of concern.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, whereas the FRR has none—though the FRR's low volume makes such comparisons unreliable.
- Check for any open electrical system recalls and confirm they were repaired; all four FRR recalls are electrical.
- Test the steering thoroughly for any looseness, noise, or difficulty, and ask for service records related to steering repairs.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park multiple times; if it sticks, disconnecting the battery is not a permanent fix.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area and check that the electronic parking brake engages and disengages smoothly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and verify all recalls were completed, especially electrical recalls on the FRR and air bag/seat recalls on the Camry.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who specializes in the model—commercial truck for FRR, passenger car for Camry.
- For the Camry, test drive at various speeds and check for hesitation, shuddering, and delayed throttle response.
- For the FRR, test the steering and all electrical accessories (lights, wipers, radio) and ask about the dealer service history.
- Ask the seller for any NHTSA complaint or repair records and confirm the vehicle's identification number for open recalls.
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 Isuzu FRR or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu FRR vs Toyota Camry
- Isuzu FRR total complaints
- 1
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Isuzu FRR total recalls
- 4
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Isuzu FRR avg complaints/year
- 0.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu FRR
- Isuzu FRR top complaint area
- STEERING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN