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: power train
146 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Aug 28, 2017
VEHICLE SHUTTERS DURING LIGHT ACCELERATION AROUND 15MPH-30MPH. IT DEVELOPS A MILD SHAKE AND LASTS A FEW SECONDS UNLESS ACCELERATION IS STOPPED.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Aug 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COLONIAL TOYOTA IN MILFORD, 470 BOSTON POST RD, MILFORD, CT 06460, (203) 878-7401 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE TIE NEEDED TO BE CUT BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO COLONIAL TOYOTA IN MILFORD IN MILFORD, CT 06460, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A ZE5 TORQUE CONVERT AND STATED TO THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 10/05/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED DEALER FIXED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AT NO COST. *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, May 13, 2017
SHIFT LEVER LOCKED IN PARK POSITION. SHIFT LEVER RELEASE BUTTON HAD TO BE PRESSED TO RELEASE LEVER AND REVERSE OUT OF PARKING STALL. ONCE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE STABILITY CONTROL, ABS, AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, May 13, 2017
SHIFT LEVER LOCKED IN PARK POSITION, COULD NOT SHIFT TO REVERSE OUT OF PARKING STALL. HAD TO PRESS SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON TO SHIFT TO REVERSE. THEN ONCE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE STABILITY CONTROL, ABS, AND PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS​ REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE SHIFT LEVER LOCKED ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THAT DAY. THE RELEASE BUTTON HAD TO BE PRESSED EVERY TIME. THE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHENEVER VEHICLE WAS RUNNING.
Power train, Engine, Mar 27, 2017
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.
Power train, Mar 21, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,250.
Power train, Oct 14, 2016
TAKATA RECALL LESS THAN 4 YEARS ALTHOUGH WITH LITTLE HIGH MILEAGE, MY BRAND NEW 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY MAKES NOISES WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO BALISE TOYOTA SCION OF WARWICK TO CHECK AND SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED THAT THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AT MY OWN COST. AND THE NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. WHY IS A BRAND NEW LESS FOUR YEARS OLD CAR NEED REPLACING TRANSMISSION? I HAVE 2 FRIENDS WHO OWNED THE SAME CAR AND MODEL AND YEAR, AND THEY HAVE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION. THEY HAD THEIR TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE OF LOWER MILEAGE. THEREFORE, I THINK 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY'S TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEM.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 11, 2016
VERY BSD HESITATION ON ACCELERATION VERY DANGEROUS
Power train, Sep 12, 2016
2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER, VEHICLE TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *SMD TOYOTA HAD NO OTHER PROBLEM FOR THE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND THE CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVED ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION. *JB
Power train, Seat belts, Vehicle speed control, Jul 30, 2016
TIRS GO DOWN BACKED SEAT BELT DON'T WORK SPEED DON'T WORK WELL
Power train, Jul 4, 2016
WHEN I AM DRIVING BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 35 TO 55 THERE IS A VIBRATION AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GRINDING, I TOOK IT TO THE CAR DEALER SHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS HAS BEEN A ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR MODEL AND THAT WE CAN EITHER CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THREE SEPARATE VISITS OR ADD A VIBRATION STABILIZING ADDITIVE. THE ADDITIVE WORKED FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS BUT IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE NOW THEN BEFORE. I BELIEVE IF TOYOTA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM THEY SHOULD FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER I STILL OWE 13,000.00 ON MY CAR AND DO NOT FEEL IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSABILITY TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT MAKES YOU FEEL AS IF IT IS GOING TO BREAK DOWN AT ANY MOMENT NOT SAFE FOR A WOMAN.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 19, 2016
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.
Power train, Nov 23, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,103.
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Oct 5, 2015
FIRST, THE TRANSMISSION IS REALLY JERK WHEN ACCELERATE AT STOP LIGHT. IT ALSO JERK REALLY HARD WHEN DOWN SHIFT. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS DELAY. SECOND, THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL. THE RADIO JUST SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME, AND THEN THE LIGHT CAME OFF AND THE RADIO RESTARTED BY ITSELF AGAIN. I FEEL LIKE THE ELECTRIC HAS SOME PROBLEM.
Power train, Sep 22, 2015
EXPERIENCE A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF STOP AND GO I'M HAVING ACCELERATING ISSUES WHERE THE CAR STALLS WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP. HAS HAPPENED PROBLEM 5-10 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEB. 2015. VERY DANGEROUS. HERE ARE A COUPLE OF LINKS WHERE MANY OTHER CAMRY AND TOYOTA OWNERS SPEAK OF THE SAME ISSUES. BUT IT SEEMS THAT TOYOTA IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED ASAP. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/AUTOMATIC-TRANSMISSIONS-MAY-HESITATE-WHEN-ACCELERATING-072 HTTPS://FOURWHEELDRIFT.WORDPRESS.COM/2007/01/16/TOYOTA-AVALON-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS-EXPOSE-TOYOTAS-PROBLEM-REPORTING-PROBLEMS/
Power train, Sep 22, 2015
WHEN RE-APPLYING THE GAS WHILE STILL MOVING (20-40 MPH) OUR 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY SE (4-CYL, AUTOMATIC) SOMETIMES HESITATES. IT FEELS LIKE A SHUTTER IN THE GAS PEDAL, BUT I AM UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS IN THE TRANSMISSION OR IN THE ACCELERATOR/FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM. IT LASTS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN THINGS SMOOTH OUT AND THE CAR OPERATES NORMALLY. IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT IN RECENT WEEKS (NOW 3 MONTHS SINCE THE ISSUE WAS FIRST NOTICED).
Power train, Jul 20, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT THE DEALER THE MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE ECU MODULE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, IT INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,148.
Power train, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 15, 2015
WHEN I START TO DRIVE MY CAR FROM A REST POSITION IT STARTS TO DRAG FOR APPROXIMATELY 30-50 FEET BEFORE IT STARTS THE DRIVE NORMAL.
Power train, May 8, 2015
START IN TO TRAFFIC ANIT WILL STOP ACCELERATING FOR 2OR 3 SECONDS , PEOPLE BEHIND YOU WILL ALMOST HIT YOU AFTER YOU START WHEN IT HESITATES
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Apr 15, 2015
WHEN A LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND I TRY AND GO FORWARD MY TOYOTA CAMRY WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR 2 TO 7 SECONDS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR SOFTWARE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE ISSUE, HOW EVER IT IS STILL HAPPENING. THE ISSUE IS INTERMITTENT OCCURRING ABOUT EVERY 1000 MILES. IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS ANOTHER ISSUE HAS HAPPENED WHERE I WILL BE GOING ALONG AT ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR AND SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL STALL OUT FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS, THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES NOW. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS THE FIRST ONE REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT WITHOUT ME PAYING A DIAGNOSTIC FEE, THE OTHER TOYOTA KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. I CALLED TOYOTA NATIONAL SERVICE CENTER AT 1 888 2709371 AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MY ISSUE IS THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE, THEY SENT ME A LETTER STATING THAT THERE MIGHT BE PROBLEMS AND THEY VOLUNTARILY EXTENDED MY WARRANTY ON THE SPECIFIC PARTS THEY KNOW CAN CAUSE ISSUES. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY, AND HAVE TRIED TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVED. WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS I CAN TAKE TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED. *TR
Power train, Mar 26, 2015
VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING AND CHANGING TO SECOND GEAR. IT JUST STARTED LAST MONTH. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE CORRECTED WHEN I HAD THE TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL REMEDIATED BUT TRANSMISSION STILL HESITATES. TRANSMISSION ISSUES???? *TR
Power train, Feb 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Power train, Feb 8, 2015
THIS VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES AS IT ACCELERATES BETWEEN 20 TO 30 MPH AND ALSO FROM 40 TO 50 MPH. TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND I TOOK THE CAR IN. THE FIX HAS NOT WORKED AND THE ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE. WHAT DO I DO? *JS
Power train, Dec 12, 2014
BEEN HAVE SHIFTING AND SHUDDERING PROBLEMS FOR OVER 15 MONTHS AND 20K MILES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO DEALERSHIP 2 DOZEN TIMES FOR TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE SYMPTOMS, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP, SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AND TOYOTA CORPORATE HAVE ALL DENIED THERE'S ANY PROBLEM AT ALL. WELL, TSB 008612 WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 11, 2012 BEFORE I EVEN PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE SERVICE BEING PERFORMED ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED SEVERAL MONTHS BEFOREHAND. ON OCTOBER 31, 2014 A LSC FOR A TORQUE CONVERTER SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS ISSUED. HMMM, IF NO PROBLEM EXISTS, THEN WHY KEEP ISSUING TSB'S AND LSC'S? EASY ANSWER IS TO AVOID A SAFETY RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE PERFORMED THIS FOR ME WEEKS BEFORE TOYOTA NOTIFIED THE PUBLIC. THIRD PARTY MECHANICAL ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT NONE OF THESE CORRECTIONS HAVE EVER BEEN PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA IS MOST CERTAINLY COVERING UP ANOTHER EXPENSIVE SAFETY ISSUE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO THE MECHANICS TO THE ENGINEERS.... ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH THE CORPORATE OFFICE. THEY'VE EVEN IGNORED MY ATTEMPTS TO MEDIATE A BUYBACK AS PER THEIR WARRANTY COVERAGE EVEN THOUGH I CLEARLY HAVE A VERY WELL DOCUMENTED LEMON. I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, WILL HAVE TO SETTLE THIS IN A COURT OF LAW. *TR
Power train, Nov 26, 2014
AS MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING IN THE CAR WE FELT A BRIEF SHUDDER... WE THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE FROM THE ROAD.... AS TIME WENT ON WE FELT IT ON DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES.... THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUT THE SHUDDER FELT LIKE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE DOWN SHIFTED.... WE STARTED SEARCHING THE WEB TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WAS DIRECTED TO TOYOTA WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT ABOUT 5 WEEKS LATER THAT TOYOTA WAS ISSUING A SERVICE TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE FOR U760E TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER.... WE HAD THIS UPGRADE PERFORMED AT HOFFMAN TOYOTA ON NOV.26,2014 BEFORE RECEIVING ANY INFO FROM TOYOTA CORP ... THE SHUDDER HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED...I WILL BE CALLING THEM TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS SERVICE UPGRADE HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM... *TR