2012 Toyota Camry
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 644 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 25 Camry model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 95 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 80 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical systemOct 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 13V442000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, sensor/control module-inactiveJan 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 13V014000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
67 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Seats, Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2026
I am noticing there is some wiggling and play with the driver’s seat. Every time I hop inside the car, I feel the seat wiggle back a little bit. I notice some movement back and forth when accelerating and braking and it is starting to get very annoying whenever I drive.
Electrical system, Oct 16, 2025
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale from AJ Sales & Services in Houston, TX. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 101,375. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 245,980. Upon further investigation, the contact became aware that the vehicle was an Auction vehicle that was purchased by the dealer on 08/06/2024. The mileage after the auction sale was 101,294. The contact had also purchased two other vehicles from the same dealer, and there were also discrepancies with the mileages. The contact first purchased a 2014 Kia Optima. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 112,610, and it was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 214,175. The second vehicle purchased was a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 101,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 198,826. The contact stated that the engines seized in the first and second vehicles five months after purchasing the vehicles.
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 10, 2025
Steering wheel is hard to turn
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 1, 2025
Abs light flashes randomly at me when driving and at a stop car shakes aggressively
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Jul 13, 2024
"I was driving when the passenger airbag light came on and wouldn't turn off. At the same time, my steering wheel locked up, and my car started making a whining/humming sound. The lights began blinking on and off, and the battery light came on, even though the battery was brand new. Finally, my car completely shut off while I was driving in the middle of the street." A few years ago, I encountered a similar situation when a new computer component was installed, but they had trouble identifying the issues. It ended up costing me over a thousand dollars for problems they weren't certain about. Each time they added more parts, it turned out that it wasn't the solution. I'm hesitant to take it back to the dealership for fear of facing the same issues again. I plan to file a formal complaint and seek advice or assistance regarding this issue. Upon reviewing previous complaints, I noticed several similarities. I was never contacted by anyone regarding the recall on the airbag issues, and I would like this to be rectified immediately.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2022
My car has a problem shifting into first gear and is jerking so bad I was driving and it actually was going super slow and going and secure and I almost got hit from behind it is stuttering and hesitating going into the lower gears it also keeps showing the traction light off and on and when it's on it causes It 2 sway a lot
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 5, 2022
I was driving about 70 mph on interstate 95 and all of a sudden my car shut off while going 70 mph my check engine light and the traction control light came on the car came back on while still going 70 mph picked up where it left off it was a bit Scary
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 2, 2021
I HAD TROUBLE STARTING MY CAR, SO I RECEIVED A JUMP. MY CAR STARTED UP JUST FINE AND WAS DRIVING NORMALLY. AFTER ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES, I HAD NOTICED THE EPS LIGHT POP UP ON MY DASH. AT THAT POINT, MY CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAD TO PULL THE WHEEL HARD TO CHANGE LANES A D EVEN HARDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ANY TURNS. AFTER ABOUT ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN MY DASH IT UP, AND THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO START IT AT THAT POINT OR TURN THE WHEEL. I RECEIVED A JUMP START AGAIN, AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED. THE CAR DROVE NORMAL FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE EPS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AGAIN. THEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASHED, AND THE CAR DIED AGAIN. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT ON A MAJOR ROAD EITHER TIME THAT IT HAD DIED.
Electrical system, Nov 24, 2020
THE CENTER ELECTRONIC 6 FUNCTION ETUNE CONSOLE, WHICH CONTAINS THE RADIO/CD PLAYER, GPS, CAR AND CELL PHONE OPERATIONS, DIED ON NOV 16, 2020. I MADE APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT TO DAYTONA TOYOTA THE NEXT DAY. THE TECH DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD ME THAT THE RADIO UNIT WAS FRIED. SM SAID A REPLACEMENT UNIT WOULD COST $827. I AGREED. I DROVE MY CAR HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE RADIO HAD REVIVED, BUT THE ONLY THING IN THE LCD PANEL WAS THE STATION # IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF SCREEN. NO OTHER FUNCTION WORKED AND I NOTICED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STEREO/MODE CONTROLS DID NOT WORK. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK 4 DAYS LATER TO HAVE THE RADIO REPLACED AND TOLD THEM THAT THE OLD RADIO AM/FM HAD BEEN WORKING, BUT NONE OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONS, AND THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTION BUTTONS DID NOT WORK. THE TECH DID A 2ND DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BECOME TWISTED AND SOME OF THE CONNECTORS PULLED LOOSE. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $650 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. THEY ORDERED THE PART AND REPLACED IT TWO DAYS LATER. HAS ANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNER REPORTED THIS PROBLEM?
Steering, Electrical system, Oct 16, 2020
I RECENTLY TOOK MY 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY SE IN FOR THE REPAIR ON MY SWAY BARS AND I HEARD A RATTLING NOISE IN/NEAR MY STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN. I THEN TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT REPLACE BUT THE RATTLING NOISE WAS THERE AND WAS GETTING WORSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION AND HE SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE AND GET OVERLY ANXIOUS WHEN I DRIVE BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET TO AT LEAST 30 MPH IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS GOING TO COME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID FOR ME TO BRING IT BACK IN BUT THEY HAVE TRIED TO DIAGNOSIS THREE TIMES. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I ALSO HAD THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER STRUT AND SHOCK, AND MOUNT ASSEMBLY REPAIRED.
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 9, 2020
EPS LIGHT IS COMING ON. I SEE THAT OTHER CARS THAT IS ON RECALL ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UPS
Electrical system, Jul 17, 2020
DRIVER SIDE MIRROR ADJUSTMENT SWITCH IS NOT WORKING.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Mar 17, 2020, crash
ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 OR 2 MINUTES, LEADING TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING. THEN IT AUTOMATICALLY TURNED BACK ON, AND I COULD CONTINUE DRIVING. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20KMS PER HOUR, AND I WAS MAKING A TURN. ON THE 2ND OCCASION, THE CAR WENT UPONTO THE SIDEWALK AND CRASHED INTO A TALL STEP THAT PROECTED THE CAR FROM GOING THROUGH THE DISPLAY WINDOW. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE AGENCY IN CUERNAVACA, MEXICO AND THEY RAN A SCAN THAT INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD IN FACT TURNED OFF WHILE GOING 19KMS PER HOUR, BUT THEY KEPT THE REPORT AND REFUSED TO TURN IT OVER TO ME. THIS IS THE ONLY 'PROOF' OR SUPPORTING INFORMATION THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Dec 13, 2019
AS I WAS DRIVING, ALL OF THE LIGHTS (OIL, BRAKE, ABS, CHECK ENGINE) ALL OF IT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND MADE A NOISE AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN , WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT WITH A COMMUTE, AND THANK GOD I WAS NEAR A NEIGHBORHOOD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY. I TRIED WAITING 10 MINUTE TO RESTART, AND IT WOULD NOT EVEN START BECAUSE THE WHOLE THING WAS DEAD AND THE LIGHTS WERE ON. THIS NEARLY KILLED ME.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 28, 2019
MY EPS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF SOMETIME I'M DRIVING AND WHEN IT DOES THAT MY RADIO GOES OUT AND WHEEL HARD TO STEER.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 5, 2019
PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 5, 2019
TAKATA RECALL, MY CAR HAS BEEN SHOOTING ICE FROM THE VENTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SOMETIMES THE DRIVER SIDE. ALSO, WHEN THE GREEN ECO LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR STARTS SHAKING. I'VE HAVE SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE ON THE CAR AND THERE ARE NO CODES APPEARING. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE CAR IF THE AC WAS ON BEFORE I BRIEFLY TURN IT OFF. AS FAR AS THE SHAKING IT ONLY DOES IT WHEN THE ECO LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE LIGHT WILL FLICKER AND TURN OFF AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR WILL STOP VIBRATING.
Electrical system, Jul 10, 2019
THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER DOOR LOCKS/UNLOCKS INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES, I HAVE TO LOCK/UNLOCK MANUALLY, OTHER TIMES IT WORKS WITH THE KEY FOB. THERE IS NO RHYME, REASON OR PATTERN TO WHEN IT DOES OR DOESN'T WORK. THE DOORS NORMALLY LOCK WHEN I SHIFT OUT OF PARK, IT NOW DOES IT INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL. I HAVE CHECKED THE FUSE, SWITCH, AND WIRING. THEY ARE ALL IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. WHEN I PUSH THE LOCK BUTTON, BOTH DOORS CLICK, BUT DO NOT ALWAYS LOCK/UNLOCK.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 5, 2019
TAKATA RECALL THE DRIVER DOOR IS NOT LOCKING OR UNLOCKING WHEN BUTTON IS PUSHED ON THE REMOTE OR ANY BUTTONS IN THE CAR AT ANY TIME. THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK OR UNLOCK IS TO USE THE KEY IN THE DOOR OR TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK ACTUAL LOCK. IT'S NOT SAFE AS THE CAR SOUNDS AS IF IT'S LOCKING BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR IS NOT AND GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO GET IN MY CAR THAT IS NOT TO BE IN MY CAR. HAS BEEN ON AND OFF SINCE ABOUT JANUARY 2019 BUT STOPPED WORKING 6/3/2019.
Electrical system, Jun 15, 2019
WHEN LOCKING MY VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB ALL DOORS LOCK EXCEPT PASSENGER SIDE SO I HAVE TO LOCK IT MANUALLY. WHEN UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB THE PASSENGER SIDE WILL NOT UNLOCK. I HAVE TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE OR THE REAR SEAT TO UNLOCK THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN INCASE I NEED TO ACCESS THIS DOOR IN A HURRY. THIS ALSO APPLIES WHEN USING THE LOCKS MANUALLY. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 107,000 MILE ON IT.
Electrical system, May 1, 2019
OVER THE COURSE OF MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR, TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID 2012, ALL 4 LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AT LEAST ONCE. RECENTLY, THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE LOCK ACTUATOR STOPPED WORKING FOR THE SECOND TIME AND THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THIS DOOR, IS TO DO SO MANUALLY. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR THE FIRST TIME IN JANUARY OF 2016, $642, PAID TO RUN THE DIAGNOSTICS FOR THE OTHER THREE DOORS THAT WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME, DECEMBER 2016, AND WAS QUOTED $656 TODAY, MAY 2019, TO REPAIR THE SAME DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR AGAIN. TOYOTA GOODWILL COVERED THE OTHER THREE DOORS BEYOND THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTICS. I FEEL THAT THEY ONLY COVERED THE COST IN DECEMBER OF 2016 TO PREVENT ME FROM ISSUING A COMPLAINT. THIS IS ONLY AN ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. SAFETY ISSUES COULD ARISE WHEN YOU NEED TO QUICKLY ENTER THE CAR IN AN UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Electrical system, Sep 25, 2018
NO SOUND IN RADIO/CD/BLUETOOTH/PHONE BUT THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WORKS OK
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Interior lighting, Sep 10, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE FAILURES WERE INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Electrical system, Jul 24, 2018
TAKATA RECALL - PURCHASED CAR IN 2015. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PERFORM DOT RECALL COMPLETED. AND CHECK TO SEE WHY CAR DOES NOT HAVE AC OR THE OUTSIDE TEMP DISPLAY DOES NOT REGISTER. ONE DAY SUMMER OF 2017 CAR TURNED ON BUT THE CLIMATE CONTROL WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. AND COULD NOT ADJUST THE TEMP OF FAN SPEED. TURNED CAR OFF, THEN BACK ON 2 TIMES. THEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL ILLUMINATED, BUT I NO LONGER HAD AC. AND CANNOT CHANGE THE FAN SPEED. CAR WAS PARKED IN RESIDENCE PARKING LOT WHEN ISSUE OCCURRED. QUOTED $10,487 PLUS TAX TO BEGIN REPAIRS. NEED 2 ELECTRICAL HARNESSES AND A/AC AMPLIFIER TO BEGIN REPAIRS. NEEDING PARTS # 82115 -06F30, 82121-06C80, & 88650 - 06501. TOTAL COST TO BEGIN REPAIRS $ 10.487 PLUS TAX. THIS IS NOT A GUARANTEED FIX BUT IS A MUST STARTING POINT. DUE TO BOTH HARNESSES HAVING TOO MUST RESISTANCE FOUND 15 CODES STORED IN 8 DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. 6 CODES CURRENT AND 9 ARE HISTORY. MANY CAN BE RELATED BUT FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC IS REQUIRED. FOUND SHORT TO GROUND ON ONE CIRCUIT BUT NEED FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE EXACT LOCATION. AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR SHORT TO GROUND I77 PIN 13
Electrical system, Jul 19, 2018
POWER CAR LOCKS WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE WHEN USING THE SWITCHES OR THE REMOTE KEY. CAR ALARM WON'T ACTIVATE BECAUSE THE DOORS WON'T LOCK. ALSO, THE DRIVER SWITCH DOES NOT UNLOCK THE REAR DOOR ANYMORE. THIS COULD BE A REAL DANGER IF YOU HAVE A SMALL CHILD IN THE REAR SEAT AND NEED TO GET THEM OUT IN A HURRY.