Head-to-head reliability
JEEP Renegade vs Toyota Camry
How the JEEP Renegade 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 Renegade vs Toyota Camry: The Renegade averages 245 complaints per year, the Camry 206. The Camry has more crash-related reports (171 vs. 79) and one death, while the Renegade has none. Both have recalls and safety issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the JEEP Renegade or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
JEEP Renegade
The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact SUV that has been on the road for 9 years, accumulating 2,202 owner complaints—about 245 per year. The most common trouble spots are the engine, electrical system, and power train, with owners describing hard shifts, sudden bangs, and stalling. There are 24 recalls and 79 crash-related reports, but no deaths. For a used buyer, this suggests a vehicle that may need frequent attention, especially as it ages.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a 10-year history and 2,056 complaints—roughly 206 per year. Power train, engine, and brake issues are the most frequent, with owners reporting hesitation, shuddering, and brake noises. It has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related reports, including one death. While the Camry has a strong reputation, the data shows it is not immune to problems, particularly with the power train and brakes.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | JEEP Renegade | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,202 | 2,056 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 24 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 79 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 244.7 | 205.6 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 62 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.
JEEP Renegade
- 01ENGINE850
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM616
- 03POWER TRAIN424
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER419
- 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM286
Owners report sudden bangs from underneath during acceleration or turns, shuddering, lurching, and hesitation. Some also have difficulty starting. These symptoms can make the vehicle feel unpredictable and may lead to costly repairs.
Complaints include false lane-keeping and blind-spot warnings that trigger on curves, and in some cases headlights and daytime running lights fail. Electrical glitches can be annoying and may affect safety features.
Reports include strong fuel odors, vehicle shutdowns, and loss of headlights. These issues can leave a driver stranded or create safety hazards, especially if the vehicle shuts down while moving.
Owners describe fuel vapor odors inside and outside the vehicle, which could indicate leaks. This is a potential fire risk and should be inspected immediately.
“First NO WARNINGS Signs of Any Kind were shown at time of 1st & 3rd issues, 1st under hard acceleration or deceleration and sometimes while in turns under acceleration & deceleration you get a Large Bang from underneath the vehicle and it’s not only the sound…”
“The contact owns a 2022 Jeep Renegade. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing difficulty starting. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered, lurched, and hesitated to res…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove, and hesitation/shuddering with check engine lights. These issues can prevent the car from starting or driving smoothly.
Complaints include delayed throttle response—pressing the gas and waiting several seconds for the car to move—and shuddering with check engine lights. This lag can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area due to the ABS system. Brake problems directly affect stopping ability.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring can malfunction simultaneously. This can overwhelm the driver and reduce vehicle 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.
JEEP Renegade — 24 recalls
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, an…
The risk: The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this rec…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, an…
The risk: The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this rec…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Renegade vehicles. The incorrect bumper reverse light assembly may have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, an…
The risk: The incorrect reverse lights may have reduced visibility, and not alert pedestrians and other drivers that the vehicle is backing up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bumper reverse light assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this rec…
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.
The risk: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.
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
JEEP Renegade or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (about 206 vs. 245 for the Jeep Renegade), but it has more recalls and crash-related reports. In practice, the Camry may have fewer day-to-day annoyances, but both vehicles have notable safety-related issues. Buyers should weigh the frequency of problems against the severity.
Key differences
- The Jeep Renegade has more engine and electrical complaints, with reports of sudden bangs and stalling, while the Camry's top issues are power train and brakes, including key stuck and brake noise.
- The Camry has more crash-related reports (171 vs. 79) and one death, while the Renegade has none, though both have safety concerns.
- The Renegade has 24 recalls, the Camry 31, but the Camry's recalls include air bag sensors and seats, which are critical safety items.
- The Renegade's fuel/propulsion complaints include strong fuel odors, a potential fire risk, while the Camry's electrical issues can disable multiple safety systems at once.
- During a test drive, listen for loud bangs from underneath during acceleration or turns, and check for shuddering or hesitation.
- Inspect for fuel odors inside and outside the vehicle, and test all lights, including headlights and daytime running lights.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park—if it sticks, it could be a recurring power train defect.
- Check the electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine and transmission for the Jeep Renegade, focusing on mounts and shifting.
- For the Camry, test the key removal, throttle response, and electronic parking brake during a test drive.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and brake repairs.
- Scan for stored trouble codes with an OBD-II scanner to reveal hidden issues.
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 | JEEP Renegade | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 64 |
| 2022 | 26 | 61 |
| 2021 | 67 | 157 |
| 2020 | 62 | 274 |
| 2019 | 79 | 395 |
| 2018 | 442 | 744 |
| 2017 | 565 | 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 JEEP Renegade or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- JEEP Renegade vs Toyota Camry
- JEEP Renegade total complaints
- 2,202
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- JEEP Renegade total recalls
- 24
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- JEEP Renegade avg complaints/year
- 244.7
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Toyota Camry
- JEEP Renegade top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN