Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Commander vs Toyota Camry
How the JEEP Commander 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
JEEP Commander vs Toyota Camry: The Commander averages 671 complaints per year with 8 deaths, while the Camry averages 214 per year with 1 death. The Commander has more electrical and stalling reports; the Camry has transmission and brake complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Commander or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Commander
The Jeep Commander is a large, truck-based SUV that tends to demand more owner attention as it ages. NHTSA data shows 3,357 complaints over 5 years—about 671 per year—with electrical problems dominating at 1,584 reports. Owners frequently describe stalling, transmission surprises, and electrical glitches that can affect safety systems. With 24 recalls and 8 deaths reported, this is a vehicle where a thorough pre-purchase inspection is critical.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream midsize sedan with a much lower complaint rate: 2,143 complaints over 10 years, or about 214 per year. Power train and brake issues appear in owner reports, including transmission grinding and sudden acceleration claims. There are 31 recalls and 181 crash-related complaints, but only 1 death reported. Overall, the Camry’s complaint pattern suggests fewer day-to-day reliability surprises than the Commander.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Commander | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 3,357 | 2,143 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 115 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 671.4 | 214.3 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 88 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 8 | 1 Better |
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.
JEEP Commander
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,584
- 02POWER TRAIN594
- 03ENGINE550
- 04ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING442
- 05STRUCTURE252
Owners report bizarre electrical behavior: remote starters that shut off after seconds, radios turning on and off, and displays going black. One owner was told their airbag light meant the airbag would not deploy in a crash, yet no recall covered it. These glitches can leave you unsure whether safety systems will work.
Complaints describe the transmission independently shifting into four-wheel drive at around 40 mph, or failing to shift into low range. This can happen while driving, potentially causing loss of control or unexpected deceleration. Multiple recalls for the transfer case suggest a known weakness.
Owners report the engine stalling and shutting off completely while driving, sometimes at traffic lights. One owner said it happened four times in four months, twice with their daughter in the car. Stalling in traffic is a serious safety concern and can be hard to diagnose.
This area has 442 complaints, often overlapping with stalling and overheating symptoms. While specific sample text is limited, the volume suggests cooling-related failures that can lead to engine damage if ignored. A buyer should check for coolant leaks and overheating history.
“THE REMOTE CAR STARTER STARTS MY VEHICLE? BUT 5-10 SECONDS LATER IT SHUTS BACK OFF AND MY RADIO TURNS ITSELF ON AND OFF EVEN WHILE ITS NOT ON. THE DISPLAY GOES BLACK, MAKES A CLICK, SHOWS THE JEEP LOGO, BARS WHERE THE TIME SHOULD BE, 12:00, THEN THE REAL TIME…”
“THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND AFTER TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WILL NOT RELEASE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I SEARCHED FOR A RECALL AS THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED AND FOUND NOTHING. SINCE I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WOULD SET THE AIR…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, which dealers have traced to transmission failure requiring replacement. Another complaint describes sudden acceleration while parking, leading to a crash. These are costly and potentially dangerous issues.
Many complaints involve air conditioning problems: a condenser damaged by a rock, or a persistent vinegar-like mildew smell from the vents. These are not safety-critical but are annoying and can be expensive to fix, especially if the condenser is punctured.
Reports include uncontrollable sudden acceleration, with one owner saying it happened three times and totaled the car. Another owner had a coolant valve bypass code that was covered by a recall for other Camrys but not their VIN. Sudden acceleration is a serious safety concern.
Owners describe brake pedal going to the floor with no response, including while driving down a steep hill. Another complaint notes that adding more force to the brake did not help when parking. Brake failure is a critical safety issue that demands immediate attention.
“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.
JEEP Commander — 24 recalls
The defect: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in a…
The risk: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysl…
The defect: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in a…
The risk: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysl…
The defect: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in a…
The risk: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysl…
The defect: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commander vehicles manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in a…
The risk: If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury.
The fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysl…
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
JEEP Commander or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has far fewer complaints per year (about 214) than the Jeep Commander (about 671), meaning you are less likely to face frequent repair visits. However, the Camry still has serious reported issues like sudden acceleration and brake failure, so neither vehicle is trouble-free. In practice, the Camry is the lower-risk choice for a buyer who wants fewer overall problems, but both need careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Jeep Commander averages about 671 complaints per year, while the Toyota Camry averages about 214 per year—roughly three times fewer for the Camry.
- Commander owners frequently report stalling, transmission shifting into 4WD unexpectedly, and electrical glitches; Camry owners report transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake failure.
- The Commander has 8 deaths reported in NHTSA data versus 1 for the Camry, though these figures depend on many factors and do not prove one is safer.
- The Commander has 24 recalls over 5 years, while the Camry has 31 recalls over 10 years—so the Camry has fewer recalls per year.
- Check for any signs of electrical gremlins: test the radio, display, remote starter, and ensure the airbag light is not on. A lit airbag light could mean the airbag will not deploy.
- Test the four-wheel-drive system thoroughly, including shifting into low range, and listen for unusual noises from the transmission. Also ask about any stalling history and check for coolant leaks.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, which can indicate transmission problems. Also test the brakes on a downhill slope to ensure the pedal feels firm and responsive.
- Check the air conditioning for a mildew or vinegar smell, and inspect the AC condenser for damage from road debris. Ask if any sudden acceleration incidents have occurred.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls using the VIN on the NHTSA website.
- Have a certified mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the specific problem areas: electrical and transmission for the Commander; transmission, brakes, and AC for the Camry.
- During the test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, stalling, unusual noises, or warning lights, and test all electrical features.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake repairs.
- For the Commander, verify that the transfer case recalls have been completed; for the Camry, confirm any recall work on airbags, seats, or wheels.
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 JEEP Commander or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Commander vs Toyota Camry
- JEEP Commander total complaints
- 3,357
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- JEEP Commander total recalls
- 24
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- JEEP Commander avg complaints/year
- 671.4
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- JEEP Commander top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN