Head-to-head reliability
Isuzu Hombre vs Toyota Camry
How the Isuzu Hombre 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 Hombre vs Toyota Camry: The Hombre has 7 complaints per year versus about 206 for the Camry, but Hombre reports include air bags failing to deploy in 2 crash cases. The Camry has 31 recalls and 158 injuries reported, while the Hombre has 1 recall and no injuries. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Isuzu Hombre or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Isuzu Hombre
The Isuzu Hombre is a compact pickup truck with a very small complaint footprint: just 7 complaints over one year, averaging 7 per year. The pattern is dominated by air bag non-deployment in crashes and brake hydraulic failures, with a few electrical and engine cooling issues. For a buyer, this suggests that while overall complaint volume is low, the failures that do occur are serious safety concerns that should be checked carefully.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a much larger complaint record: 2,056 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 206 per year. Owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission shuddering and key-stuck problems to brake noise and electrical glitches. The volume reflects a far larger vehicle population, but the variety of systems involved means a used Camry needs a thorough inspection of several areas.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Isuzu Hombre | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 7 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 1 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 2 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 7.0 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 Hombre
- 01AIR BAGS2
- 02SERVICE BRAKES2
- 03HYDRAULIC2
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
- 05POWER TRAIN1
Owners report air bags failing to deploy in frontal and side collisions at speeds around 45 mph, even when the vehicle was totaled. This is a critical safety concern because the restraint system may not protect occupants in a crash.
Complaints describe the brake pedal going straight to the floor at low speed, requiring master cylinder replacement. This indicates a sudden loss of braking ability that could happen without warning.
One owner reported dashboard lights dimming, headlights shutting off intermittently, and the transmission not shifting into first gear, along with catalytic converter issues. These electrical and drivability faults can make the truck unreliable and hard to diagnose.
“I WAS IN A COLLISION AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR SQUARELY WITH THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE AIRBAGS IN MY VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE DEFECTIVE PRIOR T…”
“WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE INVOLVED IN FRONTAL AND SIDE COLLISIONS. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of 2023 Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck in the ignition even when the car is in Park, sometimes requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering at various speeds with the check engine light on, pointing to transmission or engine control problems.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This lag can be a safety risk when merging or pulling out into traffic.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking/vibrating noise from the brake pedal area that the manufacturer attributes to the ABS system. These issues affect everyday usability and brake confidence.
Multiple safety systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—malfunctioned simultaneously in one report. Such widespread electronic failures can leave the driver without key aids and are hard to repair.
“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 Hombre — 1 recall
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 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 Hombre or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Isuzu Hombre has far fewer complaints per year (7 vs. about 206 for the Camry), but its issues are concentrated in severe safety areas like air bag non-deployment and brake failure. The Camry’s higher volume reflects a larger population and a broader mix of problems, many of which are drivability and electronic annoyances rather than immediate crash risks. In practice, the Hombre’s low count does not mean it is trouble-free—each complaint is potentially serious.
Key differences
- The Hombre’s complaints center on air bags failing to deploy in crashes and brake pedals going to the floor, while the Camry’s top issues are transmission shuddering, stuck ignition keys, and brake noise.
- The Hombre has only 7 complaints over one year, but 2 are crash-related with air bag non-deployment; the Camry has 171 crash-related complaints out of 2,056 over 10 years.
- The Camry has 31 recalls covering seats, air bag sensors, and wheel studs, while the Hombre has 1 recall for equipment labels.
- Camry owners report modern electronic features (blind spot monitoring, lane keeping) malfunctioning, whereas Hombre complaints are mostly mechanical and electrical basics.
- Check the air bag system history and ensure no open recalls; ask if the air bags have ever been replaced or inspected after a collision.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including a hard stop from low speed, and look for a spongy or sinking pedal that could indicate a failing master cylinder.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and listen for transmission shuddering during a test drive at various speeds.
- Check for electronic parking brake operation and any clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area when braking.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and confirm all recalls have been performed, especially air bag and seat recalls on the Camry.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brake system, including master cylinder and ABS, on both vehicles.
- For the Hombre, verify air bag readiness and scan for any stored crash or air bag codes.
- For the Camry, test the ignition key removal, transmission shifting, and all electronic safety systems during a test drive.
- Ask for maintenance records and check for any repeated repairs related to the complaints listed.
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 Hombre or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Isuzu Hombre vs Toyota Camry
- Isuzu Hombre total complaints
- 7
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Isuzu Hombre total recalls
- 1
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Isuzu Hombre avg complaints/year
- 7.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Isuzu Hombre
- Isuzu Hombre top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN