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: other or unspecified
88 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Oct 12, 2015
VERY WET UNDER PASSENGER SEAT. INTERIOR FOGGING UP DURING TEMP CHANGES. WHERE THE AIR VENT COMES OUT TO THE BACK SEATS. ALSO WET CARPET ON DRIVERS SIDE UNDER DASH. ODOR AS WELL FROM AC, MOLDY SMELL. CAR STATIONARY. COULD THIS SHORT OUT THE HEATER OR ELECTRICAL ELEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC SEAT AS WELL AS MILDEW MOISTURE PROBLEMS.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2015
ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR WENT ABOUT 30 FOOT OR LESS THAN HESITATES. THE TRUCK THAT WAS BEHIND ME DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING THE CAR WAS NOT GOING TO MOVE AND CAME WITHIN INCHES OF MY BUMPER. IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY WIFE HAD IT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND A BIG RIG LAID ON HIS HORN BECAUSE HE HE MAY HAVE THOUGHT SHE HAD JUST TAKEN HER FOOT OFF THE GAS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON TO GIVE A WARNING THE CAR IS SLOWING DOWN. THIS IS GETTING TO BE A BAD SITUATION FOR ALL TOYOTA CARS. I HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE PLACE REGISTERED 124 OCCURRENCES ANOTHER 98. THAT IS JUST THE PEOPLE THAT REGISTERED A COMPLAINT. SOMEONE MAY GET KILLED BEFORE THIS IS CORRECTED. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ON MY CAR WHEN THE FACTORY INSTALLED A UPGRADE TO THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR. WE DID NOT HAVE THAT PROBLEM BEFORE THAT. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE TODAY AND THE MAN LAUGHED ABOUT IT AND SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. WHEN I RETURNED TO GET THE CAR I SHOWED HIM A COPY OF THE 124 PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE SAID HOW DO YOU THINK I KNEW WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU MENTIONED IT. THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2015
I HAD BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM BARON AUTO OUTLET (185 E SUNRISE HWY) FREEPORT, NY. THIS CAR WAS PAID IN CASH TOTAL ($14,995). THE DEALER SENT THE TITLE OF THE CAR AND THE RETAIL CERTIFICATE OF SALE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DMV TO REGISTER THE CAR THE DMV SEND ME BACK SAYING THAT THE PAPERWORK WAS NOT CORRECT AND I NEEDED TO TAKE THE PAPERS BACK TO THE DEALER SO THEY CAN CORRECT IT AND GIVE ME THE RIGHT ONE. WHEN I ASKED WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE PAPERS THEY SAID THE DEALER SHOULD KNOW. I HAVE TRIED OVER AND OVER TO GET THE NEW PAPERS FROM THE DEALER SHIP, BUT NO ONE IS WILLING TO HELP ME ON THIS ISSUE.
Other or unspecified, Jun 30, 2015
WHEN I USE THE RECIRCULATE ON MY AIR CONDITION THE SYSTEM DEVELOPS A HORRIBLE MOLDY SMELL. THIS WILL HAPPEN AFTER I DRIVE USING THIS AND COME BACK TO THE CAR AFTER IT WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF - THE SMELL WILL NOT GO AWAY UNLESS I STOP USING THE RECIRCULATE BUTTON - THIS WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO USE THE A/C ON THE COLDEST SETTING BECAUSE THAT SETTING TURNS THE RECIRCULATE BUTTON ON. RECENT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT APPROVED AGAINST TOYOTA FOR THIS. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT MY HEALTH WITH THE POSSIBLE GROWTH OF MOLD.
Other or unspecified, Jun 15, 2015
WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE AND THN PRESSING THE GAS SOON AFTER THE CAR HESITATES FOR A FEW SECONGS BEFORE PICKING UP SPEED. WHEN PRESSING THE GAS AFTER A COMPLETE STOP THE RPM'S WILL GO UP BUT THE CAR IS BARELY MOVING, IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT PICKS UP SPEED. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS, BUT IT STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, May 11, 2015, crash
THE ARE MAJER PRABLEMIN BREAK SYSTEM FOR MY CAR HAPPEN WHILE AGO BREAK PEDAL BECOME SO LOOSE CAUSING CAR ACCIDENT TI TOKE THE CAR TO MY OWEN MECHINIC INDECTING THIS PRABLEMHE SAY THAT BREAK BOOSTER PUMP ARE LEAKING INTERNIALY INSIDE THE PUMP MAKE AIR PRESSURE FORCE TO. LOOSE CONTROLL FOR THE CAR.
Other or unspecified, Dec 1, 2014
I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR, WELL I WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF MY SITUATION A SINGLE MOM IN NEED OF A CAR WITH BAD CREDIT.... SO THEY TELL ME THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I CAN GET, IT WAS A RENTAL AND NOW I FIND OUT ABOUT THE RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. I DONT WANT THIS CAR.. I AM PAYING 435.00 A MONTH PLUS INSURANCE.MY GOD I COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE CAMARO I WANTED...THEY WOULD NOT LET ME DROP ANY WARRANTIES. THEY LIED ABOUT ALOT. WHAT CAN I DO.... *JS
Other or unspecified, Apr 25, 2014, fire
CPSC: I1440252A. 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER STATED AFTER USING THE DETAIL DOCTOR, HE ACCIDENTALLY LEFT THE RAG WITH THE PRODUCT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEN SEVERAL HOURS LATER, HE CAME BACK AND FOUND THICK DARK BROWN SMOKE. THE CAR WAS FACING THE SUN AND THE MIRROR REFLECTED ON THE RAG CAUSING A CHEMICAL COMBUSTION FIRE. *LN THE FIRE DEPT. INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS THE CHEMICALS IN THE PRODUCT, THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CONSUMERS INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *JB
Other or unspecified, Apr 15, 2014
SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT AND SOUND STARTED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALONE IN THE CAR. NOTHING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. 2 CARSEATS IN THE BACK. ONE CARSEAT IS INSTALLED VIA LATCH AND THE 2ND CARSEAT VIA SEATBELT. CHECKED BOTH AND THEY ARE STILL ATTACHED AS INTENDED, NOTHING HAS COME LOOSE
Other or unspecified, Mar 22, 2014
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA RALEIGH'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE BOUGHT 4 CARS WITH THIS DEALERSHIP, THREE OF THEM HAVE HAD MANUFACTURES DEFECTS. EVERY TIME I CALL, INCLUDING THIS LAST TIME FOR MY RECALL THEY TELL ME THAT NOT ONLY DO THEY NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE RECALL, IT WILL TAKE THEM "AT LEAST" 30 DAYS TO GET THE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS HORRIBLY RUN AND THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE REMEDIES FOR SERIOUS SAFETY RECALLS READILY AVAILABLE OR AT LEAST ON QUICK DELIVERY IS UNACCEPTABLE. ALSO, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST HOURS TO FIX THE PART WHEN IT FINALLY COMES IN BUT ONLY OFFER A RENTAL CAR IF THE FIX IS MORE THAN $400, WHICH OF COURSE, SINCE THIS IS FREE OF CHARGE THE CONSUMER HAS TO FIGURE OUT TRANSPORTATION TO MAKE UP FOR THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE SAFE CARS. IT IS MY OPINION THAT FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA RALEIGH'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD RATHER PUT ITS CUSTOMERS AT RISK THAN FIX THEIR RECALL SO THEY MAKE IT AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO GET THE FIX TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT MANAGER AND OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY BOTH IGNORE MY CALLS. ONE WOULD THINK THAT AFTER BUYING 4 CARS WITH THEIR COMPANY THEY WOULD HAVE SOME LEVEL OF CARE FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. THEY DON'T! *TR
Other or unspecified, Jan 8, 2014
2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NOT RECEIVING CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WARRANTY SUPPLEMENT FROM MANUFACTURER. *SMD
Suspension, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Nov 8, 2012
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A KNOCK/TAP/CLUNK SOUND COMING FROM THE ROOF IN MY 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V6 FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR. ITS GOT 11600 MILES ON IT AND I STARTED NOTICING THE SOUND AROUND THE TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THE 10000 MILE SERVICE. I HEAR THE SOUND EVERY TIME I DRIVE UP OR DOWN AN INCLINE AT AN ANGLE. *TR