Head-to-head reliability
Saturn Astra vs Toyota Camry
How the Saturn Astra 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
Saturn Astra vs Toyota Camry: The Astra averages 82 complaints per year with 2 recalls, while the Camry averages 214 complaints per year with 31 recalls. Astra issues cluster in air bags and electrical failures; Camry issues span power train, engine, and brakes. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Saturn Astra or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Saturn Astra
The Saturn Astra is a compact car sold for only a couple of model years, so parts and recall fixes can be slow to arrive. Owners report a high rate of air bag inflator recalls, plus electrical gremlins that cause stalling and repeated accelerator pedal failures. Power train complaints include the car rolling in park and sudden loss of steering and acceleration. With 82 complaints per year on average, it is a vehicle that demands patience and careful pre-purchase checks.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a long-running family sedan with a much larger owner base, so total complaints are higher but spread over ten years. The most common owner-reported problems involve the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical system, including transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake pedal failures. There are also many recalls for air bag sensors, seats, wheels, and labels. At about 214 complaints per year, it still has more reported issues per year than the Astra, but the types of failures vary widely.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Saturn Astra | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 164 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 5 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 82.0 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 7 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.
Saturn Astra
- 01AIR BAGS97
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22
- 03POWER TRAIN18
- 04ENGINE8
- 05STEERING6
Owners report Takata frontal driver-side air bag inflator recalls, with parts unavailable for many months. This means the air bag may not deploy correctly in a crash, and buyers should confirm the recall repair was completed.
Owners describe problems starting the car, stalling while driving, and repeated accelerator pedal failures (code P2138) requiring multiple replacements. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause sudden loss of power.
Complaints include the vehicle rolling forward or backward when shifted into park, and warning lights illuminating with steering wheel seizure and failure to accelerate. These are serious drivability and safety concerns.
Some owners report stalling while driving and difficulty starting the car, often linked to the same electrical or sensor problems. This can make the car unreliable for daily use.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN ASTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V063000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE FRONTAL DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR; HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED TH…”
“TAKATA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 16V063. WE GOT NOTIFIED OF THE SATURN ASTRA RECALL IN FEBRUARY OF 2016, WE GOT THE LETTER STATING THE FIX HAS ARRIVED IN APRIL OF 2017. THAT'S 14 MONTHS OF NO WORD AND DRIVING AN UN-SAFE VEHICLE, THAT THE RECALL NOTICE ITSELF…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front during acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission failure and recommending replacement. Some also describe sudden acceleration or braking issues in parking situations.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration leading to crashes, and coolant bypass valve failures (code P268115) that may not be covered by recall for certain VINs. These can be costly and dangerous.
Owners describe brake pedal going to the floor with no response, especially on hills or when trying to stop gently. This is a critical safety issue that needs immediate attention.
Some complaints involve AC condenser damage from road debris and recurring HVAC odors. While less severe, these can lead to expensive repairs and unpleasant driving conditions.
“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.
Saturn Astra — 2 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deploy…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Saab 9-3 vehicles manufactured May 31, 2002, to February 15, 2011, 2006-2009 Saab 9-5 vehicles manufactured June 7, 2005, to May 28, 2009, and 2008-2009 Saturn Astra vehicles manufactured April 11, 2007, to July 24, 2008. Upon deploy…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator on Saab 9-3 and 9-5 vehicles and will replace the driver's frontal airbag module on Saturn Astra vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on March 1, 2…
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
Saturn Astra or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Saturn Astra has far fewer complaints per year (82 vs. 214 for the Camry), but its issues are concentrated in air bags, electrical, and power train failures that can be severe. The Camry has more total complaints and recalls, but many are spread across different systems and model years. In practice, the Astra may have fewer overall problems, but the ones it has can be harder to fix due to parts shortages and limited dealer support.
Key differences
- The Astra has 82 complaints per year on average, while the Camry has 214 per year, but the Astra's complaints are heavily concentrated in air bags and electrical failures.
- Astra owners report repeated accelerator pedal failures and stalling, while Camry owners report transmission grinding and sudden acceleration.
- The Astra has only 2 recalls, both for Takata air bag inflators, while the Camry has 31 recalls covering air bags, seats, wheels, and labels.
- Camry complaints include brake pedal failure with no response, a serious safety issue, while Astra complaints include the car rolling in park and steering seizure.
- Check if the Takata air bag inflator recall (campaign 16V063) has been completed; if not, the driver-side air bag may not work in a crash.
- Test drive and scan for code P2138 or symptoms of stalling, hesitation, or repeated accelerator pedal replacement, which owners report as common.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front during acceleration, which owners say can indicate transmission failure requiring replacement.
- Test the brakes on a hill or slope for any pedal going to the floor or lack of response, a reported safety issue.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall site to confirm all open recalls are repaired, especially the Takata air bag recall on the Astra and any seat, wheel, or air bag sensor recalls on the Camry.
- Ask for service records showing accelerator pedal replacements on the Astra and transmission or brake repairs on the Camry.
- Have a mechanic scan for stored trouble codes, especially P2138 on the Astra and P268115 on the Camry.
- Test drive both cars in stop-and-go traffic, on hills, and in parking lots to feel for stalling, sudden acceleration, or brake issues.
- Check for unusual odors from the AC vents in the Camry and any electrical gremlins like warning lights or hard starting in the Astra.
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 Saturn Astra or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Saturn Astra vs Toyota Camry
- Saturn Astra total complaints
- 164
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Saturn Astra total recalls
- 2
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Saturn Astra avg complaints/year
- 82.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Saturn Astra
- Saturn Astra top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN