IllustrationFAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER, SHUDDERS AT 20-40 MPH. SLUGGISH ON GEAR CHANGES FROM 3 TO 4, TOYOTA HAS A WARRENTY EXTENSION FOR 5/20 OR 150000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. THIS CAR DIDN'T FAULT UNTIL 9/20 AND 87,000, WELL UNDER MILEAGE, BUT TOYOTA IS IN WILLING TO STAND BY AND REPAIR THIS FAULTY PART
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camry years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1500–25K
9325–50K
6150–75K
4875–100K
60100–150K
19150K+
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
Power Train complaints
142 reportsTORQUE CONVERTER IS FAULTY. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ON MY 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF. THE RECALL WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA AND ONLY COVERED 5 YEARS 60,000 MILES. I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING IN WRITING ABOUT THIS RECALL AND THERE ARE MANY CONSUMERS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ONLINE. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE AN…
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TORQUE CONVERTER IS FAULTY. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ON MY 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF. THE RECALL WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA AND ONLY COVERED 5 YEARS 60,000 MILES. I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING IN WRITING ABOUT THIS RECALL AND THERE ARE MANY CONSUMERS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ONLINE. I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW VEHICLE AND NEED THIS REPAIRED BY TOYOTA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND WHILE CHANGING GEARS, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES SEVERAL TIMES ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOW DEALER TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND WHILE CHANGING GEARS, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES SEVERAL TIMES ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOW DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE WAS WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE WARRANTY REPAIR WAS GOOD FOR 8 YEARS OR 160,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
2012 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS ACCELERATION HESITATION PROBLEMS BETWEEN 35 MPH -45 MPH. THERE IS ALSO A SHUDDER ASSOCIATED WITH IT. AFTER A PAUSE, THE CAR THEN PICKS UP TO NORMAL SPEED. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR TRIES TO ACCELERATE FROM 25 MPH
2012 TOYOTA CAMRY HAS ACCELERATION HESITATION PROBLEMS BETWEEN 35 MPH -45 MPH. THERE IS ALSO A JITTER ASSOCIATED WITH IT. AFTER A PAUSE, THE CAR THEN PICKS UP TO NORMAL SPEED. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR TRIES TO ACCELERATE FROM 25 MPH
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 …
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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.
CAR WAS TAKEN FOR BUSINESS AND DAMAGE TO THE CLIP OF MY FRONT BUMPER AND PASSENGER BOTTOM FRONT AIR DEFLECTOR AND BEEN NEEDING REPAIR FOR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR
WHILE ACCELERATING THE TRANS SHUTTERS BETWEEN 30 AND 45 MPH. AND HAS BEEN DOIN SO FOR ABOUT 15,000 MILES. JUST RECENTLY NOW IT HESITATES THE SHIFT UP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. WITH ONLY 99,600 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THERE SHOULD NOT BE PROBLEMS LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY FROM TOYOTA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL *LN *DT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHUTTER AND VIBRATE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL *LN *DT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO SHUTTER AND VIBRATE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT CAUSING THE SPEED TO ABRUPTLY REDUCE AND THE VEHICLE TO SHUTTER AND VIBRATE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER THOMPSON TOYOTA (122 WEST SWAMP RD, DOYLESTOWN PA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. *JB CONSUMER STATED DEALER FAILED TO DISCLOSE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO CONSUMER.*JB
CAR STARTS TO SHUTTER AND ACCELERATION DECREASED BETWEEN 15-45 MPH, THE SHUDDER CAUSES THE CAR TO LAG AT THIS TIME. WE BEGAN TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 30,000 MILES FOR THE ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT SEE A PROBLEM AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A SERVICE ORDER TO CARS SOFTWARE BUT THAT STILL DID NOT FIX THE IS…
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CAR STARTS TO SHUTTER AND ACCELERATION DECREASED BETWEEN 15-45 MPH, THE SHUDDER CAUSES THE CAR TO LAG AT THIS TIME. WE BEGAN TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 30,000 MILES FOR THE ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT SEE A PROBLEM AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A SERVICE ORDER TO CARS SOFTWARE BUT THAT STILL DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. WE LATER FOUND OUT THAT PROBLEM WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER BUT INSTEAD OF RECALLING THIS TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE ORDER, BUT NO NOTICE EVER CAME AND THE DEALER NEVER MENTIONED WHEN CAR WAS TOOK IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. TOYOTA SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE CAR AND THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $4000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. FOR THIS CAR, COMPLAINTS FROM NUMEROUS CUSTOMER SHOW THAT HALF OF THE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE NEEDED REPLACED EVEN AFTER THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. TOYOTA HAS HAD TO RECALL OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM BUT STILL HAVE NOT RECALLED THE 2012-2014 CAMRY. THE LAG AND POTENTIAL MOTOR MOUNT BREAKS ARE A DANGER WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE FORCED TO MAKE THIS RIGHT AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO THE LAG ON THIS CAR.
Official recalls
213V442000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.