Head-to-head reliability
Suzuki RENO vs Toyota Camry
How the Suzuki RENO 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 RENO vs Toyota Camry: The RENO averaged 43.3 complaints per year over 4 years, while the Camry averaged 214.3 over 10 years. The RENO had 10 recalls and 8 crash-related complaints; the Camry had 31 recalls and 181 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Suzuki RENO or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Suzuki RENO
The Suzuki RENO is a compact car that, based on owner complaints, can be a headache to live with. Over four years, it averaged 43.3 complaints per year, with the most common issues in the power train, air bags, and electrical system. Owners report problems like jerking during gear shifts, engine lights that stay on, and headlights that suddenly fail. These are not just minor annoyances; some complaints describe safety-related failures like air bags not deploying or headlights going out while driving.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mid-size sedan with a much longer complaint history: 2,143 complaints over ten years, averaging 214.3 per year. While that sounds high, the Camry is far more common on the road, so the rate per vehicle may be lower. Owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission grinding and sudden acceleration to brake failure and air conditioning odors. Some complaints involve serious safety concerns like crashes and injuries, but many are about comfort or durability.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Suzuki RENO | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 173 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 43.3 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 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.
Suzuki RENO
- 01POWER TRAIN66
- 02AIR BAGS48
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING25
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL20
Owners frequently report the car jerking when shifting gears, even with an automatic transmission, and some say it gets worse over time. There are also complaints of trouble accelerating from a stop and the check engine light coming on, which can indicate transmission or engine problems.
Complaints describe air bags failing to deploy in crashes, including one where a tire blew and the car was thrown, but the air bag did not go off. This is a critical safety concern because air bags are supposed to protect you in a collision.
The check engine light coming on repeatedly is a common complaint, often linked to issues like a loose gas cap or wiring problems. Owners also report headlights suddenly going out, which can make driving at night dangerous.
Headlights failing to illuminate is a recurring problem, with some owners finding that only the high beams work. This is a safety risk because you may not be able to see the road or be seen by others.
“FROM DAY ONE, MY ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES IE, IT'S THE GAS CAP, THE MAN WHO SOLD ME THE CAR, (THE DEALER) TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED,SO MUCH, THEN HE TOOK OFF, AND LEFT MASSACHUSETTS AFTER SELLI…”
“I GOT MY CAR IN MAY, 2006. IT WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT, BUT IT WAS IN THE SHOP ONLY SIX DAYS AFTER. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY CAR WOULD JERK WHEN IT WAS SHIFTING GEARS (ALTHOUGH IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC). OVER ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME, IT GOT MUCH WORSE AND I HAD…”
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 diagnosed as transmission problems requiring replacement. Some also describe sudden, uncontrollable acceleration that has led to crashes.
Sudden acceleration is a serious complaint, with one owner reporting three incidents that ended in a crash. Others mention engine maintenance codes related to coolant valve bypass recalls, even when their VIN is not covered.
There are reports of brakes not responding when pressed, such as while driving down a steep hill. This can lead to a loss of control and is a major safety issue.
Some complaints involve air conditioning malfunctions, including a condenser damaged by a rock and a persistent mildew or vinegar smell from the vents. These are more comfort issues but can be costly to fix.
“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.
Suzuki RENO — 10 recalls
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module whi…
The risk: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners ma…
The defect: Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connec…
The risk: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.
The risk: INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN THREE PHASES, STARTING AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007 AND CONCLUDING BY THE END OF JANUARY 2008;. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SU…
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module whi…
The risk: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.
The fix: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners ma…
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
Suzuki RENO or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Suzuki RENO has far fewer complaints per year (43.3) than the Toyota Camry (214.3), but the Camry is a much more popular car, so the raw numbers don't tell the whole story. In practice, the RENO's complaints often point to serious safety defects like air bag and headlight failures, while the Camry's issues are more varied and include some severe problems like sudden acceleration. A buyer should weigh the frequency of complaints against the severity and the model's overall reputation.
Key differences
- The Suzuki RENO has a much lower annual complaint average (43.3 vs. 214.3), but its complaints are concentrated in safety-critical areas like air bags and headlights.
- The Toyota Camry has more recalls (31 vs. 10) and a higher number of crash-related complaints (181 vs. 8), though it also has more vehicles on the road.
- RENO owners frequently report transmission jerking and headlight failure, while Camry owners report transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake failure.
- The Camry has a fatal complaint (1 death) while the RENO has none, but the RENO has 10 injuries compared to the Camry's 163, again reflecting different exposure rates.
- Check for transmission jerking or hesitation during test drive, especially when shifting from a stop; this is a common complaint.
- Test all exterior lights, including headlights on both low and high beams, and look for any signs of electrical gremlins like a persistent check engine light.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, which may indicate transmission problems requiring replacement.
- Test the brakes on a downhill slope or in a parking lot to ensure they respond properly; some owners report complete brake failure.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for recalls and accident damage.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a certified mechanic, focusing on transmission, brakes, and electrical systems.
- Verify that all open recalls have been addressed, especially for the RENO's headlights and the Camry's air bags and seats.
- Test drive the car in various conditions, including highway, city, and parking lot, to feel for transmission issues or brake problems.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and check for any recurring check engine lights or warning messages.
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 RENO or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Suzuki RENO vs Toyota Camry
- Suzuki RENO total complaints
- 173
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Suzuki RENO total recalls
- 10
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Suzuki RENO avg complaints/year
- 43.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Suzuki RENO
- Suzuki RENO top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN