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.
Exterior lighting, Nov 5, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OTHER DRIVER INFORMED HIM THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEITH PIERSON TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 6501 YOUNGERMAN CIR, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244, (904) 207-7065) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,119.
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.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 16, 2019
ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES MOVE ABOUT 10 FEET AND THEN HESITATE FOR ABOUT 1 TO 2 SECONDS. IT WILL THEN ACCELERATE NORMALLY. THE INTERMITTENT HESITATION COULD BE DANGEROUS.
Tires, Aug 16, 2019
2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAND NEW TIRE EXPLODING ON VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS BADLY DESTROYED RENDERING IT TOTALED. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH LESS THAN 200 MILES ON THE NEW SET OF TIRES. *JS *JS
Steering, Aug 9, 2019
HAVE NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE.STEERING IS HARD AND DANGEROUS.
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.
Other or unspecified, Aug 3, 2019
AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING WATER TO DRIP INSIDE THE CABIN UNDER THE FRONT SEATS. AS A RESULT, THE CARPET UNDER THE FRONT SEATS GETS WET AND MOLDY, CREATING A FOUL SMELL IN THE CABIN AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BREATHE NORMALLY. THE FAULT IN THE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM CAUSES HEALTH PROBLEMS. THIS IS A KNOWN AND LONG-STANDING DEFECT AND IS MENTIONED ON DISCUSSION WEBSITES, SUCH AS CAR.COMPLAINTS.COM. TOYOTA STATES THAT MY CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2013 FOR AN AIR-CONDITIONING PROBLEM AND WAS REPAIRED. AS A CONSUMER, IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW, WHETHER THIS CURRENT ISSUE IS CAUSED BY THE SAME MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT THEY REPAIRED IN 2013. BUT AS IT IS NOW, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE I FEAR FOR MY LONG-TERM HEALTH.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2019
WHILE DRIVING THE CAMRY IN AUTOMATIC THE TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO DOWNSHIFT SLOWLY AND DRAG
Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2019
THE TRANSMISSION FILLS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING WHEN I GET BETWEEN 25 -50 MPH. AND IT IS GETTING WORSE
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2019
WHILE DRIVING AND RUNNING MY VEHICLE AC, I BEGAN HEARING A "LIQUID SWISHING" NOISE, OFTEN WHEN TURNING OR COMING TO A STOP. LATER, WHEN PARKED, I NOTICED THE MAT/CARPET UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS WET. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION A FEW DAYS LATER, THE MAT WAS STILL SOAKED AND THERE WAS STANDING WATER THERE, AS WELL SOAKED CARPET BEHIND THE PASSENGER SEAT. FROM RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A MORE COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2012 CAMRY IF THE AC COMES LOOSE OR BECOMES CLOGGED.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 14, 2019
WE EXPERIENCED THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" MESSAGE ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST INCIDENT, ON APRIL 3, 2019, INVOLVED DRIVING EIGHT MILES AND THEN LEAVING THE CAR (OFF AND PARKED) FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. ON RETURNING AND ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, THE POWER CAME ON BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT AND THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. IT WAS EVENING, SO WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR NORMAL REPAIR SHOP AND LEFT A DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE. THE NEXT DAY THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED TO SAY THAT THE CAR HAD STARTED UP RIGHT AWAY, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THEY SUGGESTED WE CONTACT TOYOTA IF THE ISSUE RECURRED. WE RETRIEVED THE CAR, AND DIDN'T OBSERVE ANY FURTHER ISSUES, SO WE CONTINUED DRIVING IT 20-25 MILES DURING THE WORK WEEK. ON APRIL 28, 2019, TWENTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR ALONG A STRAIGHT SECTION OF A FOUR-LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE CUT OFF AND THE THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" MESSAGE CAME ON. THE ELECTRONICS REMAINED ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF OTHER CARS NEARBY, BUT FORTUNATELY I WAS IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE AND WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES (UNSUCCESSFULLY). I HAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. AT FIRST THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A QUICK REPAIR, BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS OF TROUBLESHOOTING AND ESCALATING ITS ISSUES TO HIGHER LEVELS AT TOYOTA, THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A PROBLEM WITH THE INVERTER AND THE BATTERY: A REPAIR OF NEARLY $8000. I ASKED THE SHOP TO DOCUMENT THE REPAIRS WITH PHOTOS AND GIVE ME THE BROKEN PARTS. THE TECH AGREED TO DO SO, BUT (DESPITE FOLLOWING UP MULTIPLE TIMES) I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING EXCEPT AN INVOICE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. I DO NOT HAVE THE INVOICE NEAR AT HAND, BUT CAN LOCATE IT IF NECESSARY.
Power train, Jul 11, 2019
VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXTREME DELAY IN ACCELERATION, PARTICULARLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. GAS CAN BE TO THE FLOOR AND THERE IS LITTLE TO NO RESPONSE FOR AT LEAST ONE MINUTE, NOT EVEN A JUMP IN RPM AAA A RESULT OF THE INCREASED THROTTLE. TRYING TO MERGE ON TO THE HIGHWAY IS DANGEROUS WHEN THE VEHICLE REMAINS STUCK AT 40MPH FOR AT LEAST ONE MINUTE, IF NOT LONGER. EVEN ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO SPEED, TRYING TO CHANGE LANES OR PASS IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE AS THERE IS LITTLE TO NO RESPONSE TO ENGAGING THE THROTTLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.. I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. TRANSMISSION HAS A GENERALLY DELAYED RESPONSE, VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN TRANSITIONING FROM BRAKE TO GAS, EVEN ON FLAT GROUND. THIS IS YET ANOTHER HAZARD SEEMINGLY BROUGHT ON BY THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AND IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT IS ON THE VERGE OF FAILING DESPITE THE VEHICLE STILL BEING 'YOUNG' AND WELL-CARED FOR. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY A DEALERSHIP THAT CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL. THE AMOUNT OF HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT AND CAN NOT BE NORMAL. THE CAR DRIVES LIKE ITS HALF ASLEEP. IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE RECENTLY AND I FEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FAIL, OR THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTION IS GOING TO RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
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.
Air bags, Jul 5, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
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.
Structure, Jul 1, 2019
BUMPER CLIPS BREAK EASILY RESULTING IN BUMPER COVER NEEDING REPLACEMENT. SEEN ON MANY CAMRYS
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.
Engine, Jun 10, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUDDERED AND VIBRATED WHILE IN SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Power train, Jun 10, 2019
VEHICLE SHUTTERS DURING LIGHT ACCELERATION AROUND 10MPH-30MPH. IT DEVELOPS A MILD HESITATION AND LASTS A FEW SECONDS UNLESS ACCELERATION IS STOPPED. I CONTINUE ACCELERATING AND IT PASSES. THIS JUST STARTED AFTER 100,000 MILES AND IS CONSISTENT -HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
Engine, May 27, 2019
I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE IS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE ENGINE BURNS HALF A QUARTER OR MORE OF OIL IN BETWEEN THE OIL CHANGES. IT IS EXHIBITING ABNORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION. MY MOST RECENT OIL CHANGE WAS ON 03/02/19 AND MY VEHICLE IS ALREADY LOW ON MOTOR OIL. I HAVE ATTACHED A PHOTO OF WHERE IT IS TODAY 05/27/19.
Power train, May 9, 2019
THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS SHUTTER AND VIBRATION BETWEEN 25 AND 50 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR TRANSMISSION WAS PERFORMED. TECHNICIANS SAID VEHICLE WAS SHUTTER FREE. THE SHUTTER DID NOT IMPROVE ANY AFTER THIS UPDATE. VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FLUSHED TWICE. MECHANIC NOTED THAT FLUID WAS EXTREMELY DIRTY REQUIRED 2ND FLUSH TO FULLY CLEAN SYSTEM. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. MECHANIC NOTED THAT TRANSMISSION LIKELY NEEDED REPLACED BUT NEW FLUID WOULD HELP WITH THE ISSUE. VEHICLE IMPROVED AFTER FLUID CHANGE BUT THE SHUTTER HAS NOW RETURNED WITH 125,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. THE SHUTTER FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS RUNNING OVER A RUMBLE STRIP IN BETWEEN THE 25-50 MPH RANGE AS THE CAR SHIFTS GEARS.
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.
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 22, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, CRASHED THROUGH A GATE, AND LANDED ON TOP OF A POOL COVERED BY A TARP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. *BF MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*JB
Steering, Apr 10, 2019
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GOES OUT DURING DRIVING, CAUSES LOSS OF POWER AND INABILITY TO STEER.