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: structure
68 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Suspension, Structure, Feb 21, 2023
On 2/18/23 I took my car into the repair shop to investigate a clunking sound upon braking. The control arm was broken and the level of corrosion is extensive. I am the original and only owner and the car has never been out of Florida or on the beach or immersed in water. Toyota of North America in Plano, TX said they could not receive my pictures and that there was no one at Toyota that I could send documents to. They said if there was a recall I would be notified.
Structure, Sep 28, 2022
Small accident
Structure, Dec 27, 2021
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the front driver’s side door handle was fractured, and she was unable to access the vehicle through the driver’s side door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the driver’s side door handle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who advised the contact that the door handle was easily fractured due to the plastic-based material. The contact stated that the independent mechanic replaced the door handle; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
Structure, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Nov 3, 2020, crash
I WAS BRAKING ON TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT? BUT INSTEAD OF BRAKING IT WAS LIKE I HAD HIT THE ACCELERATOR. I KEPT STOMPING THE BREAK BUT IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN ONLY ACCELERATED. THE CAR WENT UP OVER THE CURB INTO A METAL FENCE AND ALMOST HIT A BRICK WALL. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH ANY CAR I'VE EVER HAD AND I'VE HAD QUITE A FEW TOYOTA'S AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN CAMRYS.
Air bags, Structure, Mar 17, 2020, crash
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 12/14/19 . I WAS HEADING OUT ON DRIVEWAY IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX, SITTING OUT IN STREET A LITTLE BIT IN BIKE LANE WAITING ON TRAFFIC TO PASS ON A BUSY STREET (BELLFLOWER BLVD.) CAR FROM FAR LANE CHANGED OVER AND HIT MY CAR ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE BY FRONT TIRE KNOCKED INTO PARKED VEHICLE. CAR LOST ALL FLUIDS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. I SUFFERED FRACTURED RIB, BRIDES, SWOLLEN HAND AND FINGER. I LOVED MY CAMRY NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEM. I FELT LIKE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. AND YES I DID TAKE IT IN FOR THE RECALL.
Seat belts, Structure, Dec 7, 2019, crash
CAR WAS REAR ENDED AND I HIT MY HEAD ON DASHBOARD DUE TO THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER AND RETRACTOR NOT ENGAGING. CAR WAS STATIONARY AT A RED LIGHT. NYC POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT: MV-2019-100-000731 REPORT 731
Structure, Jul 1, 2019
BUMPER CLIPS BREAK EASILY RESULTING IN BUMPER COVER NEEDING REPLACEMENT. SEEN ON MANY CAMRYS
Structure, Mar 11, 2019, crash
I HAVE BIG CAR ACCIDENT ON 1/30/2019. IT HAPPENED ON FREEWAY 22EAST IN ORANGE COUNTY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. MY CAR IS BETWEEN THE 3RD AND 5TH CAR. IT WAS TOTAL LOSS BUT THE AIR BAG WASN'T DEPLOY.*DT*JB
Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 23, 2018
TOYOTA FAILS TO DISCLOSE THAT SUNROOF HAS DRAINS DESIGNED TO DISCHARGE WATER FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. IF ONE OF THESE DRAINS GET CLOGGED (AND COULD HAPPEN VERY EASY) WATER GETS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WATER INFILTRATION CAN START WITH A VERY SLOW AMOUNT SO THE ISSUE IS NOT DISCOVERED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE UNDERNEATH THE CARPET IS A MATERIAL THAT ABSORBS THIS WATER. MOLD CAN BE DEVELOPED, AS WELL AS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS DURING DRIVING. MY SPOUSE ACCUSED BREATHING ISSUES AND PSORIASIS AND WE DISCOVERED THAT OUR VEHICLE IS GETTING RAIN WATER INSIDE.COULD BE FOR MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS, AS WELL AS SINCE WE PURCHASED IT - THERE IS NOT WAY TO ASSUME OR TO NOTICE HOW MUCH WATER YOU HAVE IN WHICH TIME BECAUSE YOU DISCOVER IT WHEN IS TOO LATE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE, CLAIMING THAT ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY OUTSIDE ELEMENTS. BUT IN THE TOYOTA OWNER MANUAL THIS DRAIN IS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE CUSTOMER, SO IT COULD TAKE A PERIODIC CHECK.ALSO LUSTINE TOYOTA FROM WOODBRIDGE VA WHERE WE SERVICE THE CAR AT EVERY SIX MONTHS SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATION, WRITTEN OR NOT, ABOUT THESE DRAINS BUT INSTEAD CAN DIAGNOSE VERY QUICK THAT THE WATER IN THE CARPET COMES FROM CLOGGED DRAINS. HOW COME THAT TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT IS NOT RAISING ANY AWARENESS ABOUT IT, SO THE CUSTOMER CAN BE PREPARED IN ADVANCE INSTEAD OF HAVING THE VEHICLE FULL WITH WATER AND TO POSE DANGERS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE FOR HIMSELF AND OTHERS AROUND? TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE LIKE ANY OTHER MANUFACTURERS ARE (SEE WW, CHRYSLER, VOLVO) FOR FAILURE TO DISCLOSE IMPORTANT CAR FEATURES. WE WILL NEED TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE ISSUE TO BE CORRECTED ON THEIR EXPENSE BUT THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE, REPRESENTED BY MRS. KRISTEN, REFUSES. OUR CASE NUMBER WAS 1802171412 PLEASE HELP
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jan 22, 2018
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK AND UNLOCK STOPS WORKING. MY CAR HAD JUST PASSED 60K WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN OR LOCK BY PRESSING THE KEY FOB. AFTER COUPLE MONTH ALL 4 DOORS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL 4 DOORS BY MANUALLY UNLOCKING USING THE KEY. AFTER RESEARCH FOUND OUT THE DOOR ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED ON ALL 4 DOORS AND MULTIPLE TOYOTA AND LEXUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Dec 8, 2017, crash
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.)
Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 7, 2017
SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY COMING HOME, WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION FROM ABOVE. WE THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD DROPPED FROM THE SKY AND FELL ON OUR CAR. THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND GLASS WAS FALLING ONTO US AS I WAS DRIVING. I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 5 MILES(GOING ABOUT 40 MPH) UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. UPON OBSERVATION THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE IN THE SUNROOF WITH GLASS CONTINUING TO FALL AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME.
Structure, Jun 30, 2017
THE DOORS OPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION ALTHOUGH THEY ARE LOCKED. BY MISTAKE I PULLED THE HANDLE WHEN IT WAS IN MOTION AND THE DOOR OPENED IT T HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET. TOYOTA EMPLOYEES SAID THAT IT IS NORMAL, BUT ANY CAR SHOULD OPEN THE DOORS WHEN IT IS MOTION.
Structure, Feb 8, 2017
WHILE DRIVING AT 80 MPH ON FREEWAY THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THE VISOR WAS CLOSED BUT WHEN OPENED TO INSPECT SAW A LARGE HOLE IN THE GLASS AND GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE WAS ABOUT 39 DEGREES F PARTLY CLOUDY AND THE TIME WAS ABOUT 4:30 PM. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND NOR OVERPASSES OR OVERHANGS.
Visibility, Structure, Jan 6, 2017
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON OK HWY 412, AND I HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND SHATTERED GLASS FALLING INSIDE THE SLIDING COVER. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. *TR
Structure, Aug 20, 2016
DOOR CHECK SPOT WELD FAILURE ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR
Structure, Apr 25, 2016
JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND THE FRONT BUMPER RIVETS CAME A LOOSE WHILE DRIVING CAR CAUSING THE PLASTIC COVERING IN THE FRONT THE PROTECTS CAME APART. AND I WAS ON 35 COMING FROM DALLAS TEXAS TO AUSTIN TEXAS.
Structure, Apr 15, 2016
ON 4/15/16 DEALER DIAGNOSED MY 2012 CAMRY WITH 28K MILES WITH THE MOON ASSEMBLY STRUCTURE RATTLE. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $1300. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SUBJECT OF TSB 0151-13. I ONLY HEARD THE POP WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS WORSE ON SUNNY/HOT DAYS. I WOULD HEAR THE POP WHEN DRIVING AND TURNING AT LOWER SPEEDS.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Mar 21, 2016, crash
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.
Structure, Mar 8, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. SUNROOF/MOONROOF MAKES A POPPING, THUMPING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND WHEN TURNING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AS IF SOMETHING IS LOSE. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 23K MILES AND NO LONGER COVERED UNDER MFG WARRANTY. AFTER RESEARCHING, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.
Suspension, Structure, Seats, Oct 3, 2015
CAR HAD EXTREMLY POOR QUALITY IN INTERIOR MATERIAL. REAR BUMPER, RIMS AND SEAT COMING APART FOR A LESS 40K MILES SUPENSION FEEL UNSAFE WHEN UN DRIVE ON HIGHWAYS VIBRATION ON THE VEHICULE TOYOTA JUST SAID VEHICULE WAS DESIGN LIKE THAT. ANY PROFESSIONAL REPORT ABOUT THAT CONDITION
Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 22, 2015
TO THE POINT, TRUNK WILL NOT STAY OPEN ON INCLINE. CLOSED ON MY HEAD WHILE I WAS GOING TO RETRIEVE ITEMS. CALLED IT IN AND TOYOTA TOLD ME THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS COMPLAINT. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THEY CAN NOT FIX IT.
Structure, Aug 21, 2015
WHEN DRIVING THE SUNROOF AREA CRACKS AND POPS. IT HAPPENS ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THERE IS ALSO A TSB0151-13 ISSUED.
Electrical system, Structure, Wheels, Aug 7, 2015, crash
I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF MY CAMRY AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE CAR ON THE THIRD LEVEL OF A PARKING GARAGE. THE CAR HAD BEEN OPERATING NORMALLY UNTIL I RELEASED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PULL INTO THE PARKING SPACE. SUDDENLY THE CAMRY STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. SINCE I DID NOT WANT TO CRASH INTO ONGOING CARS OR GO OVER THE EDGE UNTO THE STREET BELOW, I CHOSE TO CRASH INTO THE PARKING SPACE. THE CAR WENT OVER THE ABUTMENT INTO THE CINDERBLOCK WALL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A GENTLEMAN TRIED TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE ABUTMENT BUT SAID THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING NOR COULD HE GET THE CAR TO MOVE. HE WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. TWO HOURS LATER THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR COULD REMOVE THE CAR FROM ITS SPOT WITH THE BRAKES WORKING. THE BODY SHOP CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CORPORATE TOYOTA HAD AN EDR RUN. THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED: "AFTER ROAD TESTING YOUR VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CONDUCTING ACCELERATION AND BRAKING TESTS, WE FOUND NO ISSUES." TOYOTA DID NOT ADDRESS THE FACT THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT MALFUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS DANGEROUS SINCE IT GIVES NO WARNING OF AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM; THEREFORE, I DONATED THE CAR TO AN INSTITUTION WITH THE STIPULATION THAT IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON PUBLIC ROADS. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AND WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR, I ALSO HAD PURCHASED THE PLATINUM VEHICLE SERVICE AGREEMENT THAT HAD A 0 DEDUCTIBLE AND AN EXPIRATION OF 75,000 MILES. I THOUGHT WE HAD LEMON LAWS IN PLACE FOR THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS. ULTIMATELY I HAVE HAD TO ASSUME THE FINANCIAL BURDEN CAUSED BY WHAT IS REALLY A TOYOTA PROBLEM.
Structure, Apr 4, 2015
THE TRUNK FALLS ON YOUR HEAD, NOT ENOUGH TENSION TO HOLD THE TRUNK STEADY. *TR