Most common 2012 Toyota Camry problems
Share of the 590 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Camry complaints by model year
Best Camry years: 2022, 2017, 2024. Years to avoid: 2009, 2018, 2007, 2002, 2008. Compare all years →
2012 Toyota Camry recalls (2)
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
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.
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.
Seats
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…
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.
What 2012 Toyota Camry owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 142 →
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving approximately 20-25 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently started shuddering. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while she was driving on the highway 40-50 MPH, the failure stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission had failed, and the torque converter needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under an unknown TSB as the extended warranty of the vehicle had expired. The contact stated that the vehicle was also taken to the independent mechanic who confirmed the dealer's diagnostic result. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving at 25-30 MPH. …
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that when the accelerator pedal was depressed the vehicle would shudder. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times and the failure was not diagnosed correctly. The contact then took the vehicle to Putnam Toyota (50 California Dr. Burlingame, CA 94010) where the failure was diagnosed as the torque converter. The contact stated that he was informed by the dealer and the manufacturer that the vehicle was outside of the extended warranty coverage mileage of 150,000. The contact was upset that the vehicle was no longer covered under the torque converter extended warranty since he had taken the vehicle to One Toyota of Oakland several times for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Air bags all 75 →
The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed uphill during flooding conditions, the vehicle slipped and hydroplaned. The contact attempted to correct the steering but lost control of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to drive into a ditch and flip over several times before coming to a complete stop upside down. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated nor abnormal sounds coming from the vehicle prior to the crash. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained a laceration to the head, scrapes on both legs, an injury to the left arm, and an injury to the right knee. Medical attention was required, including an emergency room visit and doctor visits. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …
"I was driving when the passenger airbag light came on and wouldn't turn off. At the same time, my steering wheel locked up, and my car started making a whining/humming sound. The lights began blinking on and off, and the battery light came on, even though the battery was brand new. Finally, my car completely shut off while I was driving in the middle of the street." A few years ago, I encountered a similar situation when a new computer component was installed, but they had trouble identifying the issues. It ended up costing me over a thousand dollars for problems they weren't certain about. Each time they added more parts, it turned out that it wasn't the solution. I'm hesitant to take it back to the dealership for fear of facing the same issues again. I plan to file a formal complaint and seek advice or assistance regarding this issue. …
Speed control & acceleration all 67 →
The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH and making a lane change, the vehicle started vibrating while depressing the accelerator pedal, but failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the hesitation lasted for approximately 10 to 15 seconds, before the vehicle jerked forward and accelerated as needed. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the mechanic could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure became a recurring failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact's fianc owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. While the contact's fianc was driving 55 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle shuddered and decelerated from 55 MPH down to 20 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.
2012 Toyota Camry engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 42 / 38 / 40 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 34 / 28 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Toyota Camry a good car?
Based on 590 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Camry rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Camry at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Toyota Camry?
The transmission & drivetrain — 142 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission › torque converter. Next are the air bags (75) and speed control & acceleration (67).
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Camry have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2012 Toyota Camry, the most recent from October 17, 2013 (air conditioner). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Camry?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2017 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009, 2018, 2007, 2002 and 2008. See the full Toyota Camry years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Camry problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 56% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.