Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu FTR vs Toyota Camry
How the Isuzu FTR 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 FTR vs Toyota Camry: The FTR has only 3 complaints over 10 years (0.3/yr) versus the Camry's 2,143 (214.3/yr). FTR issues include loose steering and bright headlights; Camry reports transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake failure. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu FTR or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu FTR
The Isuzu FTR is a commercial truck, often used as a rental, with a very low complaint rate of about 0.3 per year over the last decade. Owner complaints focus on two areas: exterior lighting and steering. The lighting issue involves headlights that are too bright, causing glare for other drivers, while the steering issue describes a loose, wandering feel at highway speeds that persists even after alignment. These are isolated but potentially serious concerns for a vehicle that may be operated by various drivers.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular passenger sedan with a much higher complaint volume, averaging over 214 complaints per year. Complaints span multiple systems, including powertrain, engine, brakes, and electrical, with some involving crashes and injuries. Owners report issues like transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, brake failure, and HVAC odors. While the Camry has a higher absolute number of complaints, it also has a much larger owner base, and many complaints are about comfort or convenience rather than safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu FTR | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 42 | 31 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.3 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.
Isuzu FTR
- 01EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
- 02STEERING1
Owners report that the headlights are excessively bright, causing other drivers to flash their high beams or be temporarily blinded, which can lead to near-misses. This is a safety concern for both the FTR driver and other road users.
The steering is described as extremely loose, causing the truck to wander within the lane at highway speeds. Even after wheel alignment and balancing, the problem persists, indicating a potential issue with the steering mechanism or suspension components.
“This is a long term rental truck, 2024 Isuzu FTR, and not owned by me. The headlights are too bright. Other drivers flash me thinking I have the brights on but they are the regular headlights. My wife was driving in front of me in a car and almost crashed bec…”
“This was a rental truck and I am not the owner, just the operator. The headlights are too bright and I have almost been crashed onto when other drivers were blinded by the headlights. I am not sure but believe this is the first year this model truck has these…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, with dealerships confirming transmission issues that may require replacement. Some mention recalls for similar problems, but not all VINs are covered, leaving owners with costly repairs.
There are reports of sudden, uncontrollable acceleration that led to crashes, as well as engine maintenance lights related to a coolant valve bypass recall that may not apply to all vehicles. These issues can pose serious safety risks.
Brake failure has been reported, such as no response when pressing the pedal on a downhill slope, leading to potential loss of control. This is a critical safety concern that requires immediate attention.
While not detailed in the sample, electrical system complaints are frequent, potentially affecting various components like sensors or infotainment, adding to the overall reliability concerns.
“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.
Isuzu FTR — 42 recalls
The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Isuzu FTR and 2018-2021 Chevrolet 6500XD vehicles. A bolt on the left front steering knuckle may come loose, resulting in an increased turning radius and difficulty steering to the left.
The risk: An unexpected change in turning radius and difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace both right and left side stopper bolt jam nuts and clean or replace the extensions, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 28, 2022. Owners may contact Isuzu customer service a…
The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2018-2021 FTR and Chevrolet 6500XD vehicles. The ground cable connecting the starter motor to the vehicle frame may break at the starter-side eyelet, resulting in an engine no-crank or slow-crank condition, causing the vehicle not…
The risk: If the cable is broken and repeated attempts are made to start the vehicle, the starter may ground through the steel braiding of the power steering hose, allowing it to heat up and possibly rupture, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Isuzu and Chevrolet will notify their respective owners and dealers to replace the ground cable and to inspect and replace the power steering hose is damage exists, free of charge. The recall began October 9, 2020. Isuzu owners may contact…
The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2018-2020 FTR and Chevrolet 6500XD vehicles. The jam nut for the steering stopper bolt on the left front knuckle may loosen and allow the bolt to back away from the steering knuckle, increasing the turning radius of the vehicle in…
The risk: If the vehicle's turning radius is increased, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing left and right jam nuts with a Grade 8 jam nut, torque the nut to a new torque specification and apply Loctite to the nut and bolt, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2…
The defect: Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2018-2020 FTR and Chevrolet 6500XD vehicles. The chassis wire harness outside the relay box may have been improperly routed, potentially allowing the harness to contact the suspension's leaf spring hanger bracket, allowing the har…
The risk: Depending on which wires get damaged, the vehicle can experience stalling and/or reduced functionality of the ABS, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the existing wire harness, as necessary, and install additional clamps to ensure the wire harness is secured away from the hanger bracket, free of charge. The recall began May 15…
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
Isuzu FTR or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Isuzu FTR has far fewer complaints per year (0.3) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the FTR's complaints involve safety-critical areas like steering and lighting, while the Camry's higher volume includes many non-safety issues. In practice, the FTR may be more reliable in terms of frequency, but the Camry's issues are more varied and include serious safety incidents.
Key differences
- The Isuzu FTR has a very low complaint rate (0.3/yr) vs. the Camry's high rate (214.3/yr), but the FTR's complaints are about safety-critical steering and lighting.
- The Camry has numerous complaints about transmission grinding and sudden acceleration, which are not reported in the FTR.
- The FTR's lighting issue is about glare to others, while the Camry's brake failures are direct safety hazards to occupants.
- The Camry has a higher number of crash-related complaints (181) and injuries (163), whereas the FTR has none reported.
- Test drive the FTR at highway speeds to check for steering wander or looseness, as reported by owners.
- Inspect the headlights for proper aim and brightness; if they seem too bright, have them adjusted to avoid blinding other drivers.
- Listen for grinding noises during acceleration, which could indicate transmission problems; have the transmission inspected if any unusual sounds occur.
- Check the brake system thoroughly, especially if the vehicle has any history of brake issues; test brakes on a downhill slope to ensure responsiveness.
Before you buy
- For the Isuzu FTR: verify the steering feels tight and centered at highway speeds; check headlight alignment and brightness.
- For the Toyota Camry: ask for service records related to transmission, brakes, and engine recalls; have a mechanic inspect the transmission and brakes.
- Check for open recalls on both vehicles using the VIN and ensure they are addressed.
- For the Camry, ask about any history of sudden acceleration or brake failure; consider a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.
- For the FTR, if it's a rental, ask about maintenance history and any prior complaints.
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 | Isuzu FTR | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 119 |
| 2025 | 0 | 153 |
| 2024 | 2 | 48 |
| 2023 | 0 | 62 |
| 2022 | 0 | 59 |
| 2021 | 0 | 155 |
| 2020 | 1 | 270 |
| 2019 | 0 | 393 |
| 2018 | 0 | 736 |
| 2017 | 0 | 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 Isuzu FTR or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu FTR vs Toyota Camry
- Isuzu FTR total complaints
- 3
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Isuzu FTR total recalls
- 42
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Isuzu FTR avg complaints/year
- 0.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu FTR
- Isuzu FTR top complaint area
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN