Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Toyota Camry owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
I am filing this complaint regarding a known and documented issue affecting my 2012 Toyota Camry (VIN: [redacted] ), which has developed a transmission shudder and vibration between 20-50 mph. This problem is directly aligned with Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0079-15 and Customer Support Program ZF4, both of which describe issues with the torque converter and ECM software. My vehicle has 116,670 miles, which falls within the mileage eligibility of the support program (ZF4: 150,000 miles), though it is just outside the time limitation (8 years). I reached out to Toyota (Case #: [redacted]) to request goodwill assistance due to the safety-related nature of the defect and the fact that it is a well-documented product flaw, but they declined support solely based on time - not on mileage or vehicle condition. …
I am reporting a safety-related issue involving the ECM / torque converter on my 2012 Toyota Camry. This issue can cause loss of power, hesitation, or stalling which presents a serious safety concern while driving. The issue impacts drivability and can result in sudden loss of acceleration or engine stalling, especially at higher speeds or during merging. This creates an increased risk of collision for myself, passengers, and surrounding vehicles. I have experienced some scary occurrences with shuddering at high speeds, hesitation while near other innocent vehicles and stalling. I was never notified by Toyota about this recall or service campaign while it was active. I maintain current registration information and would have had the issue addressed immediately. Toyota acknowledged the campaign but refused support due to expiration, despite my lack of notice. …
There was a recall on this Camry model 2012 to 2014 that the Charlotte, NC dealership refused to cover. I am having a transmission issue that causes my car to shudder and vibrate at regular speeds. "shudder comes from the transmission, especially during the acceleration of the Camry models. It can be alarming for the driver and be a safety concern when the gears do not properly change during operation. When this problem persists over a significant period of time, it has the poetry to cause long-term damage to your transmission. Damage to your transmission can be costly and affect the overall performance of your Toyota..." -Toyota of west county website
Computer system failure ABS system not functioning causing driving functions not working. Problem continuously reproduced by independents and finally by Dealer. Dashboard lights on, engine, tracking, ABS, Brak and other lights. MPG reduced with speedometer down to zero while driving.
I was driving about 70 mph on interstate 95 and all of a sudden my car shut off while going 70 mph my check engine light and the traction control light came on the car came back on while still going 70 mph picked up where it left off it was a bit Scary
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. While attempting to park in reverse with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated on its own and the steering wheel locked. The vehicle crashed into a wall, fence, and bushes. The vehicle landed with the rear end on the ground and the front end in the air. The air bags had not deployed. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000. ...updated 05/17/17 updated 08/30/2017
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. Manufacturer was contacted.
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.
Acceleration complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2012 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 67 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2012 Toyota Camry, 11% of the model year's 590 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Toyota Camry acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2012 Toyota Camry, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Camry acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 46% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 21 crashes, 0 fires and 10 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.