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
644 reports, newest first.
Engine, Sep 28, 2016
AC WOULD TAKE ITS TIME COMING ON, FELT LIKE IT WAS STRUGGLING TO BLOW. NOW ITS COMPLETELY BROKEN. FOUL SMELLING ORDER WHEN AC TURNED ON.
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
Structure, Aug 20, 2016
DOOR CHECK SPOT WELD FAILURE ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Aug 13, 2016, crash
I WAS IN MY GYM'S PARKING LOT AND HAD JUST TURNED LEFT INTO A PARKING SPACE. I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR TO A STOP AS IT MOVED FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SPACE. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND. INSTEAD, THE CAR CONTINUED DRIVING FORWARD ON ITS OWN, AND THEN I HEARD A SOUND OF ACCELERATION, AS IF THE CAR WAS REVVING ITSELF UP TO A HIGHER SPEED. THINKING THAT THE BRAKE HAD NOT ENGAGED, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND PLACED IT BACK ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, STEPPING HARDER, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. AT THIS POINT, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR JUMPED UP ONTO THE CURB WHILE STILL ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, RAN OVER THE SIDEWALK. ROLLED UP AND OVER A TWO-FOOT HEDGE THAT RAN PARALLEL TO THE SIDEWALK, THEN CRASHED INTO THE BRICK ENFORCED CONCRETE COLUMN AT THE CORNER OF THE GYM BUILDING. THE BRICK COLUMN STOPPED THE FORWARD MOMENTUM OF THE CAR, BUT LEFT A LARGE DENT IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR'S BUMPER THAT WAS EMBEDDED WITH CHUNKS OF CONCRETE. IT ALSO DENTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR, PUSHING IT OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND HAVE REPORTED MY ACCIDENT TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS. I AUTHORIZED THEIR REVIEW OF MY CAR'S EVENT DATA RECORDER AND AM AWAITING THEIR INVESTIGATION REPORT. THIS FRIGHTENING ACCIDENT LEFT ME VERY SHAKEN. IT FELT AS IF I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR AT ALL. IT SEEMED AS IF SOMETHING HAD TAKEN CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR AND MY ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE CAR'S FORWARD MOMENTUM BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE HAD ZERO IMPACT. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS ON THE SIDEWALK OR I WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY MALFUNCTION. THEY ARE LETHAL WEAPONS ON OUR CITY STREETS!
Air bags, Aug 7, 2016
"TAKATA RECALL" NOTHING HAPPENED SO FAR. JUST TO KNOW IF MY CAR AIR BAGS NEED TO BE REPAIRED
Power train, Seat belts, Vehicle speed control, Jul 30, 2016
TIRS GO DOWN BACKED SEAT BELT DON'T WORK SPEED DON'T WORK WELL
Suspension, Jul 29, 2016
SUSPENSION PROBLEM: STEERING NEEDS OVER-CORRECTING ON HIGHWAYS TO KEEP VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT. HITTING ANY DEFECT IN THE ROADBED CAUSES THE CAR TO BOUNCE AND JAR CAUSING DIFFICULTY WITH STEERING AND MAINTAINING SAFE FORWARD TRAVEL. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DIAGNOSIS WAS A LEAKING FRONT STRUT. SERVICE WANTED TO REPLACE LEAKING STRUT FOR $500. (NEW STRUT ONLY). VEHICLE HAS 38,163 MILES. VEHICLE WAS AN OFF-LEASE USED PURCHASE WITH 32,698 MILES. STRUT NOT COVERED BY WARANTY WHICH EXPIRED AT 36,00 MILES.
Wheels, Jul 27, 2016
EVER SINCE I GOT THIS CAR THE TIRES HAVE BEEN NOT HOLDING AIR IN THEM AND I HAD TO DO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS PUT AIR IN THEM SO I COULD FEEL SAFE AND ALL I GET FROM TOYOTA IS CALL THIS PERSON BECAUSE IT IS NOT ARE FAULT.
Other or unspecified, Jul 18, 2016
MOON ROOF EXPLOIT WHILE DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE 10
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jul 16, 2016
ABS, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON
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.
Seats, Jul 1, 2016, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE HEADREST WAS BURNING CAUSED BY THE SUNLIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 08/30/16*LJ *JS
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jun 22, 2016
THIS SITUATION HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR A MONTH. WHEN I HAVE SITTING AT A LIGHT OR ON IDLE. MY TRAC, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUE TO COME ON EVERY OTHER WEEK OR SO. I HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE FROM OTHER CAMRY'S OWNER ONLINE. WHEN THEY GO TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TELL THEM IT IS A SENSOR. BUT IT IS NEVER RESOLVED. CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CAR? I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR A YEAR. THIS IS SCARY FOR ME DUE TO ME HAVING 2 KIDS.
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.
Steering, Suspension, Wheels, May 9, 2016
FEELS LIKE I AM ALWAYS TRAVELING ON A HEADWIND WITH MY STEERING ALWAYS FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO WANDER SOMEWHERE ELSE. IT IS TIRING AND DANGEROUS BECAUSE SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THE CAR GOES ONE WAY, WHILE I WANT IT TO GO ANOTHER WAY. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE A FEW DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO NO RESOLVE. I ALSO HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HERE IS THE LINK... HTTP://WWW.TOYOTANATION.COM/FORUM/310-7TH-GENERATION-2012/420139-CAMRY-2012-STEERING-PROBLEM.HTML PLEASE HELP! I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND I AM SURE OTHERS WHO DRIVE MY CAR FEEL THE SAME WAY.
Fuel/propulsion system, May 6, 2016
LEFT FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. PLACING RIGHT FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. ACCELERATION STARTS HOWEVER, IMMEDIATELY HESITATES FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. TRAFFIC IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING VEHICLE ARE FORCED TO IMMEDIATELY BACK OFF ACCELERATION CAUSING NEAR TERM COLLUSION. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.
Vehicle speed control, May 5, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO HIT A TRAFFIC POLE. THE CONTACT APPLIED FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.
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.
Wheels, Apr 22, 2016
ALUMINUM TIRE RIMS BIND TO THE STEEL BRAKE DISKS THEY MOUNT ON MAKING THEM IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OFF IF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE. MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO INCLUDE A LEVER OR HAMMER OR SOME WAY TO PREVENT THIS. I HAD A FLAT ON A BUSY FREEWAY, THE STICKING TIRE MADE A DANGEROUS MOMENT A LOT WORSE.
Other or unspecified, Apr 16, 2016
ONCE MY CAR APPROACH 40 TO 45 MPH REGARDLESS IF IM ON THE CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY IT HAS A VIBRATION. NOT SURE WHEN IT STARTED BUT I KNOW IT WAS LIKE IN BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2015 TO CURRENT.
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.
Engine, Apr 5, 2016
I AM GETTING A FLUTTER WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL AS I AM DRIVING ON THE ROAD. I THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE WHEEL, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. WHEN I CONTACTED TOYOTA THE SECOND TIME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, A MECHANIC RODE WITH ME TO HEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON. HE STATED IT WAS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED A FEW OF THEM. HE SAID THEY WOULD DO A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND THEN REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER LATER THAT WEEK. I RECEIVED A CALL BACK LATER THAT DAY STATING MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL OF THE TORQUE CONVERTERS AND HE WOULD CONTACT TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD STILL COVER IT, BECAUSE THEY HAD COVERED OTHER VEHICLES. I RECEIVED A CALL BACK OVER A WEEK LATER TO STATE TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD ONLY COVER HALF OF THE COST. THIS DEFECT IS SOMETHING TOYOTA IS FULLY AWARE OF AND SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THE COSTS FOR THE CUSTOMER. I HAVE GOOGLED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND A LOT OF 2012 CAMRY'S ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COVER THE COSTS OF A MALFUNCTION THAT TOYOTA CAUSED. IF THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS, THEY MOST DEFINITELY SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS. MY CAR WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED AND I HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. TOYOTA DIDN'T SELL DEFECTIVE ENGINES BEFORE, BUT NOW THEY DO. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. REGARDLESS IF MY VIN NUMBER DIDN'T FALL IN LINE WITH THE RECALL LIST, I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM SO SOMEONE NEEDS TO INCLUDE IT AND HAVE TOYOTA FIX MY CAR. I'M IN THE LAST YEAR OF PAYING FOR MY CAR AND I HAVE TO PUT OUT ALMOST $5,700.00 OUT FOR AN ENGINE? THIS IS NOT HAPPENING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND COVER THEIR DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER AND TRANSMISSION.
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.
Steering, Mar 9, 2016
IN SPITE OF NEW BRAKES, 2 ALIGNMENTS AND 2 DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES THE CAR, PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED TOYOTA IN DEC 2015, CONTINUES TO WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD/TRACK POORLY AND WILL PULL QUICKLY TO THE RIGHT WHEN I BRAKE ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD TWO CLOSE CALLS OF NEAR HITTING THE CAR IN THE LANE NEXT TO ME DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE PULL. THIS CAR WAS IN TENDED FOR MY TEENAGER BUT IN ALL GOOD CONSCIOUS THE ISSUE IS OF SUCH CONCERN I DO NOT FEEL IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR HER TO DRIVE. I HAVE THE TOYTOTA DEALER I PURCHASED FROM THAT MY ONLY RECOURSE IS TO TRADE IT IN AND ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER STATING THAT IT IS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE.
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.