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2012 Toyota Camry

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

431 reports with mileage · 158 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

84 crash reports6 fire reports44 injury reports

Engine complaints

59 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 23, 2018
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT NOTICED ABNORMAL SPUTTERING AND A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20 TO 50 MPH. THE DEALER (ADVANTAGE TOYOTA VALLEY STREAM, 400 W SUNRISE HIGHWAY, VALLEY STREAM, NEW YORK 11581, 516-887-3200) DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE P…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT NOTICED ABNORMAL SPUTTERING AND A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 20 TO 50 MPH. THE DEALER (ADVANTAGE TOYOTA VALLEY STREAM, 400 W SUNRISE HIGHWAY, VALLEY STREAM, NEW YORK 11581, 516-887-3200) DETERMINED THAT THE INTAKE VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS REPLACED BUT, WITHIN A MONTH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK FOR A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT CHECK WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR A SERVICE CAMPAIGN CONCERNING SPUTTERING AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER (HILLSIDE TOYOTA, 139-65 QUEENS BLVD, JAMAICA, NY 11435, (718) 571-8211) WERE CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE IF THEY WOULD APPROVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11097558

72,000 miles · Dec 29, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING ON ANY ROAD BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH, 3RD AND 4TH SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS AND WHILE PRESSING THE GAS, THE VEHICLE HESITATES. SOMETIMES IT IS SOMEWHAT CLEAR TO ACCELERATE, OTHER TIMES IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE FIGHTING A WALL THAT WILL NOT MOVE. I BELIEVE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ECU AND …

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WHILE DRIVING ON ANY ROAD BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH, 3RD AND 4TH SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS AND WHILE PRESSING THE GAS, THE VEHICLE HESITATES. SOMETIMES IT IS SOMEWHAT CLEAR TO ACCELERATE, OTHER TIMES IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE FIGHTING A WALL THAT WILL NOT MOVE. I BELIEVE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ECU AND A POSSIBLE FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY THE NHTSA PROACTIVELY, AND NOT LEFT TO THE INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER TO SEE IF THE ISSUE RESOLVES ITSELF. IF THE CAR FAILS IN MOVING TRAFFIC, SOMEONE COULD HIT ME FROM BEHIND. AT THIS TIME, I AM HAVING TO GO FROM 2ND SPEED TO 4TH SPEED BY 40 MPH TO GO AROUND 3RD GEAR ALTOGETHER. THIS IS NOT THE WAY THE CAR SHOULD OPERATE. VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON ANY ROAD AT ANY TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11057333

6,800 miles · Dec 8, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineStructureCrashInjury

CAR TOTALED IN SEVERE ACCIDENT AFTER OWNERSHIP OF EIGHT MONTHS. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON MCLOUGHLIN BLVD IN PORTLAND OR AND MY TOYOTA WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A CHRYSLER WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT HIT SEVERAL OTHER CARS (BELIEVE THE POLICE OFFICER SAID 6.)

NHTSA ODI #11053581

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2017
Engine

CAR HAD NO PROBLEMS TIL I REACHED THE 120000 MILE MARK NOW THE CAR SHUTS OFF WITHOUT NOTICE,BURNING OIL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON

NHTSA ODI #11000541

55,000 miles · Mar 27, 2017
EnginePower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER AND LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT FAILURE HAD BEEN PRESENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER AND LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT FAILURE HAD BEEN PRESENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10968685

5,000 miles · Oct 11, 2016
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

VERY BSD HESITATION ON ACCELERATION VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ODI #10915382

104,610 miles · Sep 28, 2016
Engine

AC WOULD TAKE ITS TIME COMING ON, FELT LIKE IT WAS STRUGGLING TO BLOW. NOW ITS COMPLETELY BROKEN. FOUL SMELLING ORDER WHEN AC TURNED ON.

NHTSA ODI #10910302

26,000 miles · May 19, 2016
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR HESITATES FOR THREE TO FIVE SECONDS AFTER DECELERATING, OR WHEN TURNING A CORNER, TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND TOLD ME THERE ISN'T ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARE. THEY LIE. OVER 200 PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS ON ONE …

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THE CAR HESITATES FOR THREE TO FIVE SECONDS AFTER DECELERATING, OR WHEN TURNING A CORNER, TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND TOLD ME THERE ISN'T ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARE. THEY LIE. OVER 200 PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM WITH TOYOTAS ON ONE SITE ALONE.

NHTSA ODI #10865895

100,000 miles · Apr 5, 2016
Engine

I AM GETTING A FLUTTER WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AS I AM DRIVING ON THE ROAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE WHEEL, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA THE SECOND TIME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, A MECHANIC RODE WITH ME TO HEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE STATED IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACE…

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I AM GETTING A FLUTTER WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AS I AM DRIVING ON THE ROAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE WHEEL, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA THE SECOND TIME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, A MECHANIC RODE WITH ME TO HEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE STATED IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED A FEW OF THEM. HE SAID THEY WOULD DO A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND THEN REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER LATER THAT WEEK. I RECEIVED A CALL BACK LATER THAT DAY STATING MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL OF THE TORQUE CONVERTERS AND HE WOULD CONTACT TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD STILL COVER IT, BECAUSE THEY HAD COVERED OTHER VEHICLES. I RECEIVED A CALL BACK OVER A WEEK LATER TO STATE TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD ONLY COVER HALF OF THE COST. THIS DEFECT IS SOMETHING TOYOTA IS FULLY AWARE OF AND SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THE COSTS FOR THE CUSTOMER. I HAVE GOOGLED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND A LOT OF 2012 CAMRY'S ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COVER THE COSTS OF A MALFUNCTION THAT TOYOTA CAUSED. IF THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS, THEY MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS. MY CAR WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED AND I HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. TOYOTA DIDN'T SELL DEFECTIVE ENGINES BEFORE, BUT NOW THEY DO. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. REGARDLESS IF MY VIN NUMBER DIDN'T FALL IN LINE WITH THE RECALL LIST, I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM SO SOMEONE NEEDS TO INCLUDE IT AND HAVE TOYOTA FIX MY CAR. I'M IN THE LAST YEAR OF PAYING FOR MY CAR AND I HAVE TO PUT OUT ALMOST $5,700.00 OUT FOR AN ENGINE? THIS IS NOT HAPPENING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND COVER THEIR DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #10853522

67,000 miles · Mar 21, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineStructureCrashInjury

I REAR ENDED A JEEP WRANGLER GOING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE. THE JEEP WAS STATIONARY AND MY CAR WAS IN MOTION MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I HIT MY FOREHEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH CAUSED A LARGE KNOT AND CUT ON MY FOREHEAD.

NHTSA ODI #10850798

Official recalls

2

13V442000 · Air Bags; Electrical System; Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner

Oct 17, 2013

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.

Consequence: A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Air Bags

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.

Consequence: A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

Electrical System

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning condenser may become clogged causing water to accumulate at the bottom of the air conditioning condenser unit housing. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.

Consequence: A short circuit may cause the air bags to become disabled or inadvertently deploy. An inadvertent airbag deployment can increase the risk of injury or the possibility of a crash. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

13V014000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seats

Jan 16, 2013

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seats

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Toyota Camry problems