Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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 owned a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while her [redacted] daughter was driving at 35 MPH during traffic, the vehicle suddenly accelerated while attempting to depress the brake pedal. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's daughter kept on depressing the brake pedal but the vehicle continued increasing its speed up to 39 MPH and the brakes failed to respond. As a result, the vehicle rear-ended a vehicle that was in front, then that vehicle crashed into another vehicle that was in front of her. The contact's daughter suffered from whiplash, but no medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center, where an appraiser deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
Brake, ABS, Traction control lights came on at the same time. Toyota replaced the brake light switch. The light still came on they said it is the brake actuator. The vehicle had 148-152k miles on it at the time. The brake actuator repair is really expensive and other Toyota Camry (non hybrid) have reported the same issue online forums.
December 29th at 3:00 a.m my wife and I was going to the atm in granger tx. As I approached a sharp curve I went to apply the brake to slow down and the car speeded up hit the culvert and went airborne. We came down on a boulder and somehow we managed to drive back to my brother in laws. The airbags did not go off. I have severe whiplash, I cracked my l1 and injured my side and back. My wife's head hit the side window so hard she had a concussion knots and bruises on her head. She has bruises on her right shoulder, hit her knee and leg. If we had not been wearing seat belts we would have died. If our airbags had worked we would not have been hurt as bad as we are. My wife's glasses are bent and my watch is broke. I am sending pictures to prove the airbags did not work. …
On two occasions, while driving, the engine turned off for approximately 1 or 2 minutes, leading to a loss of control of the vehicle, the brakes and the steering. Then it automatically turned back on, and I could continue driving. On both occasions I was driving at approximately 20kms per hour, and I was making a turn. On the 2nd occasion, the car went uponto the sidewalk and crashed into a tall step that proected the car from going through the display window. I took the car to the agency in cuernavaca, Mexico and they ran a scan that indicated that the engine had in fact turned off while going 19kms per hour, but they kept the report and refused to turn it over to me. This is the only 'proof' or supporting information that I would have had.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Toyota Camry. While driving 32 MPH, the brakes were applied and the vehicle accelerated rapidly without warning. The contact stated that she could not stop the vehicle and crashed into a trailer. The vehicle was destroyed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a fractured sternum and her husband had contusions in his rib cage. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 37,000. Updated 1/15/16
On the commute to work in stop and go traffic I was in line with several other cars. As they began to accelerate, I also began to accelerate up to about 20 MPH when one of the cars in the front of the line stopped to make a turn all the cars infront of me also stopped and as I went to also stop the brake pedal would not push down at all, failing to engage the brakes causing my car to drive into the back of the stopped car in front of me, resulting in major front end damage. The airbag did not deploy in the accident.
Tl contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving out of gas service station at approximately 10 MPH, the brake system failed to engage causing the contact to crash into a fence. There were no injuries reported and no police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,500.
3/31/2015 7:05 am after I pressed the gas pedal to turn in my driveway, the car just took off. I braked and it would not stop. I ran into the right front corner of my garage, through my neighbors front yard on the right of my house. As I sped through my neighbors yard I mowed down a small tree. I then crossed the street and went over the sidewalk and stopped short of the subdivision lake. The air bag did not deploy.
I was braking on turning into a parking spot? But instead of braking it was like I had hit the accelerator. I kept stomping the break but it would not slow down only accelerated. The car went up over the curb into a metal fence and almost hit a brick wall. I've never experienced anything like this with any car I've ever had and I've had quite a few Toyota's and a lot of them have been camrys.
On 5/24/18 at 1435 in chicago il, my 2012 Toyota Camry fully accelerated through ongoing traffic after lightly depressing the pedal to move forward the brakes did not work and I had to maneuver through oncoming traffic into a grass area across the street to slow down but coming down on the other side hitting another vehicle. Chicago police dept report #jb-282363
Brake complaints in other Camry years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2012 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA has 55 complaints about the brakes of the 2012 Toyota Camry, 9% of the model year's 590 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › abs warning light (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Toyota Camry brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes 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 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 28,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 23 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries to brakes 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.