2012 Toyota CAMRY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
589 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
40,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 431 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 129 of 589 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 119 | 20.2% |
| Braking behavior | 90 | 15.3% |
| Steering behavior | 64 | 10.9% |
| Engine operation | 24 | 4.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 129 |
| Unknown Or Other | 81 |
| Air Bags | 75 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 65 |
| Electrical System | 60 |
| Engine | 59 |
| Steering | 58 |
| Service Brakes | 52 |
Power Train: 129; Unknown Or Other: 81; Air Bags: 75; Vehicle Speed Control: 65; Electrical System: 60; Engine: 59; Steering: 58; Service Brakes: 52
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 150 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 93 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 61 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 48 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 60 |
| 150,000 and above | 19 |
Under 25,000: 150; 25,000 to 49,999: 93; 50,000 to 74,999: 61; 75,000 to 99,999: 48; 100,000 to 149,999: 60; 150,000 and above: 19
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (150). 158 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 37 |
| 2013 | 62 |
| 2014 | 87 |
| 2015 | 62 |
| 2016 | 40 |
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2018 | 39 |
| 2019 | 47 |
| 2020 | 36 |
| 2021 | 40 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 26 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2011: 4; 2012: 37; 2013: 62; 2014: 87; 2015: 62; 2016: 40; 2017: 46; 2018: 39; 2019: 47; 2020: 36; 2021: 40; 2022: 30; 2023: 26; 2024: 8; 2025: 18; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 119 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 90 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 64 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10433125 · 2011-10-28 (October 28, 2011)
IF THE CAR SITS FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND I GO FOR A DRIVE, THE FIRST DIP IN THE ROAD THAT I HIT AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH WILL MAKE MY FRONT SUSPENSION MAKE A LOUD SOLITARY HOLLOW METAL CLUNK NOISE. IF I DRIVE AROUND AND HIT THE EXACT SAME DIP AGAIN, THERE WILL BE NO UNUSUAL NOISE. IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR, I WILL OCCASIONALLY HEAR THE NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, THOUGH NOT AS LOUD, WHEN I DRIVE OVER DIPS AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH. THIS HAPPENS THE MAJORITY DAYS THAT I DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY TWO TOYOTA …
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10437950 · 2011-12-01 (December 1, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED PADDLE SHIFTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT AGREE BECAUSE THE PADDLE SHIFTING WAS NEVER USED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439753 · 2011-12-13 (December 13, 2011)
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND SLOWING TO A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A LOUD HOLLOW CLUNK NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NORMAL SUSPENSION REBOUND NOISES. WE NOTICED THE NOISE AT 158 MILES AND WE ARE WELL OVER 2000 MILES ON THE CAR AND WE STILL ARE HEARING THE NOISE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10439753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440070 · 2011-12-15 (December 15, 2011)
I ENTER INTO A PARKING LOT BEHIND A CLUSTER OF HOMES, A CAR WAS BEHIND ME AND THE DRIVER INDICATED THAT I WAS GOING AT LESS THAN 3-5 MILES PER HOUR. I PARK THE CAR AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED, WENT OVER THE PARKING BUMP AND OVER A WOOD SAFETY WALL, OVER SOME BUSHES AND LANDED 2 FEET DOWN, DAMAGING THE HOMES AND A COUPLE OF HEATING UNITS. I PRESSED THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR KEPT ON ACCELERATING. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE IN THE MARKET. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10440070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10443547 · 2012-01-12 (January 12, 2012)
THE REAR WINDOW REFLECTS ALL THE DEFROSTER LINES WHEN A CAR IS BEHIND YOU. SO WHEN LOOKING OUT THE REAR WINDOW AND THERE IS 1 CAR YOU SEE 20 LINES OF LIGHTS AND IF THERE IS 2 CARS YOU SEE 40 LINES OF LIGHTS AND SO ON. THIS CLEARLY DOES NOT LET YOU SEE OUT OF REAR WINDOW CLEARLY. IT IS ALSO VERY DISTRACTING AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SINCE YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF YOUR REAR WINDOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10443547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446378 · 2012-02-03 (February 3, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE INCREASED RPMS UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,306.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10447765 · 2012-02-13 (February 13, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED AND NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS INADEQUATELY ILLUMINATED THE ROAD. THE FAILURE LED TO REDUCED VISIBILITY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD POSSIBLY BE ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155.
Owner-reported narrative. 155 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10448495 · 2012-02-19 (February 19, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING APROX 30 MPH WHEN A FORD F150 TRUCK RAN A STOP SIGN AND I T BONED THEM. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IT HIT HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,754 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448495 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V014000 · Seats | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Reported: 2013-01-16 (January 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗13V442000 · Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | Air Bags | Electrical System
Reported: 2013-10-17 (October 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗