Head-to-head reliability
Suzuki Gsx250r vs Toyota Camry
How the Suzuki Gsx250r 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
Suzuki Gsx250r vs Toyota Camry: The Suzuki has 0 complaints and 3 recalls over 9 years, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints and 31 recalls over 10 years. Camry owners report stuck keys, hesitation, and brake noises; the Suzuki has no complaint text. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Suzuki Gsx250r or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Suzuki Gsx250r
The Suzuki GSX250R is a small-displacement sport motorcycle with a clean NHTSA record: zero owner complaints over nine years. That means no reported pattern of breakdowns, crashes, injuries, or deaths in the data. The only documented issues are three recalls for exterior lighting, covering brake lights and headlights. For a buyer, this suggests a simple, low-drama ownership experience, but it also means there is no complaint history to reveal common real-world problems.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a much larger data footprint: 2,056 complaints over ten years, plus 31 recalls. Owners report issues across the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical systems, with some complaints describing hesitation, shuddering, stuck ignition keys, and brake noises. There are also 171 crash-related complaints, 158 injuries, and one death in the data. This does not mean the Camry is unsafe, but it shows that some owners have experienced serious problems that buyers should be aware of.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Suzuki Gsx250r | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 0 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.0 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.
Suzuki Gsx250r
No component data available.
Two recalls involve the brake lights. A brake light that fails can reduce your visibility to drivers behind you, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision. Buyers should confirm the recall work was done.
One recall covers the headlights. A headlight failure can hurt your ability to see the road at night and make you less visible to others. Check that this recall has been addressed.
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with the check engine light on. These can leave you stranded or make the car feel unreliable.
Complaints include delayed throttle response, where pressing the gas pedal does not move the car for several seconds. This can be dangerous when merging or pulling out into traffic. The same hesitation and shuddering complaints also appear under engine issues.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow. Others hear a clicking or vibrating sound from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer says comes from the ABS system. Brake problems can affect stopping confidence and lead to costly repairs.
Multiple driver-assist systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping, and secondary collision brake—have malfunctioned at once in some complaints. Losing these aids suddenly can be alarming and may indicate a broader electrical fault.
“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.
Suzuki Gsx250r — 3 recalls
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2018-2019 GSX250R motorcycles. Water intrusion may corrode the rear brake light switch causing the rear brake light to fail to illuminate or remain illuminated continuously when the brake is not applied.
The risk: A failure of the brake light to illuminate, or continued illumination when the brakes are not being applied, can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake stop light switch, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is 2A90.
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2018 GSX250R and GSX250RZ motorcycles. The low and/or high beam headlight may fail.
The risk: The sudden loss of low and/or high beams can reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headlight bulb and install a bulb retention spring clip, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2021. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-844-352-4921.
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2018-2019 GSX250R motorcycles. Water intrusion may corrode the rear brake light switch causing the rear brake light to fail to illuminate or remain illuminated continuously when the brake is not applied.
The risk: A failure of the brake light to illuminate, or continued illumination when the brakes are not being applied, can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake stop light switch, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is 2A90.
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
Suzuki Gsx250r or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Suzuki GSX250R has far fewer issues per year: 0 complaints per year versus about 206 for the Toyota Camry. In practice, the Suzuki’s record shows no owner-reported failure patterns, while the Camry has thousands of complaints covering major systems. That does not guarantee the Suzuki is problem-free, but the data suggests a much lower risk of recurring, serious issues.
Key differences
- The Suzuki GSX250R has zero owner complaints, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints over ten years, including 171 crash-related reports and 158 injuries.
- Suzuki’s only documented issues are three lighting recalls (brake lights and headlights); the Camry has 31 recalls covering wheels, seats, air bag sensors, and more.
- Camry owners report real driving problems like stuck ignition keys, hesitation, shuddering, and brake noises; the Suzuki has no complaint text describing such failures.
- The Camry’s complaint volume is about 206 per year, compared to 0 per year for the Suzuki, meaning a Camry buyer is far more likely to encounter a reported defect.
- Confirm that all three lighting recalls (brake lights and headlights) have been completed by checking the VIN with a Suzuki dealer or NHTSA.
- Test the brake light and headlight operation, including high beams, to ensure they work correctly.
- Test the ignition key: make sure it turns freely and can be removed easily when the car is in Park, since stuck keys are a reported issue.
- During a test drive, feel for hesitation or shuddering when accelerating, and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Ask for the full recall history and proof that all open recalls have been fixed on the specific vehicle you are considering.
- For the Camry, have a mechanic scan for stored trouble codes and check the electronic parking brake, ABS, and driver-assist systems.
- For the Suzuki, verify the brake light and headlight recalls were performed and test all lights before buying.
- Take a thorough test drive that includes highway merging and braking to feel for hesitation, shuddering, or unusual brake noises.
- Review the NHTSA complaint database for the exact model year to see if the issues described here apply to that year.
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 | Suzuki Gsx250r | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 | 163 |
| 2024 | 0 | 50 |
| 2023 | 0 | 64 |
| 2022 | 0 | 61 |
| 2021 | 0 | 157 |
| 2020 | 0 | 274 |
| 2019 | 0 | 395 |
| 2018 | 0 | 744 |
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 Suzuki Gsx250r or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Suzuki Gsx250r vs Toyota Camry
- Suzuki Gsx250r total complaints
- 0
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Suzuki Gsx250r total recalls
- 3
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Suzuki Gsx250r avg complaints/year
- 0.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Suzuki Gsx250r
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN