Head-to-head reliability
Suzuki Verona vs Toyota Camry
How the Suzuki Verona 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 Verona vs Toyota Camry: The Verona has 216 complaints over 5 years (43.2/yr) with frequent engine stalling and transmission failures, while the Camry has 2143 over 10 years (214.3/yr) but with a lower per-unit risk. The Camry is generally more reliable. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Suzuki Verona or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Suzuki Verona
The Suzuki Verona is a discontinued compact sedan that, based on NHTSA data, shows a high rate of complaints relative to its sales volume. Owners report frequent engine stalling, electrical gremlins, and transmission troubles, making it a risky choice for a first-time buyer. The pattern suggests a vehicle that may require frequent repairs and could leave you stranded.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular midsize sedan with a much larger sample of complaints, but the rate per year is lower than the Verona's. While it has its share of issues, including transmission noises and brake problems, the overall pattern is less severe and more typical of a high-volume vehicle. It generally offers better reliability and lower ownership risk.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Suzuki Verona | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 216 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 43.2 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 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 Verona
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING80
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37
- 03POWER TRAIN31
- 04FUEL SYSTEM25
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL22
Owners report the engine stalling without warning, sometimes in traffic, and failing to restart. This is a serious safety concern as it can lead to accidents.
Problems include the daytime running light module failing and electrical issues causing stalling. These can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Transmission issues are common, with reports of loud clunks and even multiple transmission replacements. This indicates a major reliability problem.
Stalling during deceleration and throttle body failures are reported, leading to check engine lights and costly repairs.
“I PURCHASED THE 2004 SUZUKI VERONA LAST YEAR FROM A THIRD PARTY. THE ENGINE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT COMPLETELY STOPS. LAST YEAR IT STOPPED COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. LUCKILY NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME. I HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK AND FIX IT.…”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI VERONA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR, BUT T…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the transmission, sometimes requiring replacement. There are also complaints about sudden acceleration, which is alarming.
Engine issues include sudden acceleration and coolant valve problems that trigger maintenance lights. These can be safety-related.
Brake failure has been reported, where the pedal goes to the floor with no response, leading to potential crashes.
Electrical problems are less frequent but include issues with sensors and other components that can affect safety systems.
“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 Verona — 9 recalls
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Verona vehicles manufactured June 2003 to October 2005. In the affected vehicles, there may be heat generated within the DRL module located in the instrument panel, which could melt the DRL module.
The risk: If the DRL module melts due to the heat generation, it could cause a vehicle fire.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the DRL module in the instrument panel, free of charge. The recall began on November 5, 2014. Owners can contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY MAY SEPARATE FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO INADEQUATE WALL THICKNESS OF THE PULLEY.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DRIVE BELT TO DISCONNECT RESULTING IN HEAVY STEERING, AND CAN LEAD TO ENGINE OVERHEATING OR TO BATTERY DISCHARGE AND ENGINE STALL.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Verona vehicles manufactured June 2003 to October 2005. In the affected vehicles, there may be heat generated within the DRL module located in the instrument panel, which could melt the DRL module.
The risk: If the DRL module melts due to the heat generation, it could cause a vehicle fire.
The fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the DRL module in the instrument panel, free of charge. The recall began on November 5, 2014. Owners can contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY MAY SEPARATE FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP DUE TO INADEQUATE WALL THICKNESS OF THE PULLEY.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DRIVE BELT TO DISCONNECT RESULTING IN HEAVY STEERING, AND CAN LEAD TO ENGINE OVERHEATING OR TO BATTERY DISCHARGE AND ENGINE STALL.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
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 Verona or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Toyota Camry has fewer complaints per year (214.3) compared to the Suzuki Verona (43.2), but when adjusted for sales volume, the Verona's rate is much higher. In practice, the Camry is likely to be more reliable and cheaper to maintain, while the Verona poses a higher risk of breakdowns and costly repairs.
Key differences
- The Verona has a higher complaint rate per year relative to its sales, indicating more frequent problems.
- The Verona's engine stalling is a common and dangerous issue, while the Camry's engine problems are less frequent.
- Transmission failures are more severe in the Verona, with multiple replacements reported, whereas Camry transmission issues are less common.
- The Camry has more complaints overall but over a longer period and for a much higher sales volume, so the per-unit risk is lower.
- Check for any history of engine stalling or hesitation, and have the throttle body and fuel system inspected.
- Listen for transmission clunks during test drive and check service records for transmission replacements.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially at low speeds, for any loss of pedal pressure.
- Ask about any transmission noise or shudder, and verify if any recalls have been performed.
Before you buy
- Get a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic familiar with these models.
- Check NHTSA recall status for both vehicles and ensure all recalls are completed.
- Review service records for transmission, engine, and electrical repairs.
- Test drive on varied roads to check for stalling, transmission behavior, and brake response.
- Consider a vehicle history report to see if the car was in any accidents.
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 Verona or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Suzuki Verona vs Toyota Camry
- Suzuki Verona total complaints
- 216
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Suzuki Verona total recalls
- 9
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Suzuki Verona avg complaints/year
- 43.2
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Suzuki Verona
- Suzuki Verona top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN