2012 Toyota Camry

High concern

Owners filed 590 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the transmission. It has been recalled 2 times.

Not among the Toyota Camry years to avoid. Which Toyota Camry years to avoid →

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
40,000 milesMedian miles at failure

431 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 0–10,000 miles.

Most common 2012 Toyota Camry problems

123 of the 590 complaints (21%) are about the transmission.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train · transmission110
103
Air Bags · airbags65
34039
Unknown or Other59
511
Engine44
020
Electrical System44
220
Service Brakes · brakes41
1703
Steering38
305
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration36
1105
Structure › Body · body and frame34
807
Fuel/Propulsion System · fuel and propulsion system15
000

2012 Toyota Camry transmission problems

21% of all complaints

123 of the 590 complaints are about the transmission. This is what owners describe:

  • shudders or judders38% · 47
  • hesitates before moving or accelerating28% · 35
  • vibrates or shakes21% · 26
  • sets off warning lights on the dash15% · 19
  • jerks, lurches or bucks7% · 8
  • stalls5% · 6

Share of the 123 transmission complaints whose text describes each symptom. One complaint can describe several.

Typical mileage
88,000 mi
median of 88 reports
Peak year of filing
2021
23 transmission complaints that year
Crashes · fires · injuries
1 · 0 · 3
in these complaints
Recalls on the transmission
None
“Recall was completed on 11/25/14 for a shudder when hitting 35 to 50. The recall was a software issue and they show that a torque converter may have been needed at a later date to further correct the issue. Looking for Toyota to follow up with a complete recall vs just the software.”
Owner complaint, filed Apr 27, 2026
“The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact research and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired.”
Owner complaint, filed Jun 3, 2025 at 90,000 miles

Complaints and recalls over time

By year of filing
2011: 4 complaints, 1 about the transmission'112012: 37 complaints, 3 about the transmission2013: 62 complaints, 0 about the transmission'132014: 87 complaints, 12 about the transmission2015: 62 complaints, 10 about the transmission'152016: 40 complaints, 4 about the transmission2017: 46 complaints, 3 about the transmission'172018: 39 complaints, 7 about the transmission2019: 47 complaints, 15 about the transmission'192020: 36 complaints, 15 about the transmission2021: 40 complaints, 23 about the transmission'212022: 30 complaints, 12 about the transmission2023: 26 complaints, 8 about the transmission'232024: 8 complaints, 1 about the transmission2025: 18 complaints, 8 about the transmission'252026: 8 complaints, 1 about the transmissionRecall 13V014000 (seats)Recall 13V442000 (equipment)
All complaintsAbout the transmissionRecall (red: the transmission)

Complaints about the 2012 Camry peaked in 2014, with 87 filed that year. No recall on file covers the transmission, the subject of 21% of the complaints. In 2026 owners filed 8 so far.

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner13V442000
Filed Oct 17, 2013802,769 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Filed Jan 16, 20133,235 vehiclesSoutheast Toyota Distributors, LLC

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

All 2 campaigns on file, newest first.

Technical service bulletins

553 on file

Repair instructions the manufacturer sent its dealers for the 2012 Camry. Not recalls: the fix is usually free only while the car is under warranty.

equipment 211electrical system 86body and frame 74engine 40transmission 38airbags 17visibility 14steering 13
ZG5 Region EmailWarranty extensionMar 16, 2017electrical system

Region Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage on the Overhead Console Switch Assembly on Certain 2012 Model Year Camry, Camry Hybrid, and Certain 2011 ? 2013 Model Year Sienna vehicles.

ZG5 Dealer EmailWarranty extensionMar 16, 2017equipment

Dealer Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage on the Overhead Console Switch Assembly on Certain 2012 Model Year Camry, Camry Hybrid, and Certain 2011 ? 2013 Model Year Sienna vehicles.

ZG5 Dealer PackaWarranty extensionMar 16, 2017equipment

Dealer Package: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage on the Overhead Console Switch Assembly on Certain 2012 Model Year Camry, Camry Hybrid, and Certain 2011 ? 2013 Model Year Sienna vehicles.

ZE5_WEP_Region LWarranty extensionOct 29, 2014transmission

Region Letter: In our continuing efforts to ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for repairs related a U760E Torque Converter Shudder. In these vehicles, Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit a brief intermittent shudder during torque converter …

ZE5_Toyota POL14Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsFeb 15, 2018transmission

Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit a brief intermittent shudder during torque converter flex lock up. This shudder may be observed while driving under light throttle conditions between approximately 25 ? 50 mph.

ZE5_Dealer PackaService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsFeb 15, 2018transmission

Dealer Package: Date 02/15/18 ZE5 previously stated that LSC E03 had to be completed prior to performing ZE5. LSC E03 is now expired and is no longer a prerequisite for ZE5. Language stating this requirement has been removed.

ZE5_Toyota POL14Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsFeb 15, 2018transmission

Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit a brief intermittent shudder during torque converter flex lock up. This shudder may be observed while driving under light throttle conditions between approximately 25 ? 50 mph.

ZE5_Dealer PackaService Bulletin/Repair InstructionsFeb 15, 2018transmission

Dealer Package: Date 02/15/18 ZE5 previously stated that LSC E03 had to be completed prior to performing ZE5. LSC E03 is now expired and is no longer a prerequisite for ZE5. Language stating this requirement has been removed.

ZE5_Toyota POL14Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsFeb 1, 2018transmission

Warranty Bulletin Policy: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit a brief intermittent shudder during torque converter flex lock up. This shudder may be observed while driving under light throttle conditions between approximately 25 ? 50 mph.

ZE5_Toyota POL14Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsFeb 1, 2018transmission

Warranty Bulletin Policy: Toyota has received some reports where vehicles may exhibit a brief intermittent shudder during torque converter flex lock up. This shudder may be observed while driving under light throttle conditions between approximately 25 - 50 mph.

Showing the newest 6 of 38 bulletins about the transmission, and any warranty extensions or service campaigns.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-star safety ratings
Version testedOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
2012 Toyota Camry 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★11.1%

New Car Assessment Program results for this model year. Ratings compare cars of similar size and weight only.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Oct 7, 2026TN

Two issues involving fuses at approximately 135,000 miles. The fuse for my backup camera has not worked since I bought the car at 130,000 miles. There is no light for this. I have tried any at home remedies to no avail. This could pose to be an issue as I cannot see if a small child is behind my car. A couple of months later (around 135,000 miles) the fuse for my tire pressure sensor stopped working as well. There is a light for the tire pressure system that actually interferes with the light for if the tire is low. I now have to go by sight because the light is always on due to the sensor malfunction. My tire was at 22 psi, but I did not know because the tire light flashed for the sensor rather than indicating it was low. This is only an issue because the sensor light is the same light as the pressure. No professional has checked either issue to my knowledge.

Engine
Filed Aug 18, 2026MA

2012 Toyota Camry LE developed severe transmission shudder/vibration during normal driving, especially around 25–35 mph and 45–60 mph. The vehicle also experienced noticeable vibration when shifting into Reverse and Drive. An OBD scan previously detected diagnostic trouble code P2716 related to transmission pressure control. The transmission fluid was serviced, but the shudder continued. While driving on the highway, the check-engine light came on again. The vehicle was subsequently returned to the seller and a $7,500 settlement was reached. I am reporting this to document the mechanical and powertrain problems experienced with this vehicle.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 14, 2026255,000 milesMS

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. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 255,000.

Power Train
Filed Apr 27, 2026IL

Recall was completed on 11/25/14 for a shudder when hitting 35 to 50. The recall was a software issue and they show that a torque converter may have been needed at a later date to further correct the issue. Looking for Toyota to follow up with a complete recall vs just the software.

Seats
Filed Feb 23, 2026CA

I am noticing there is some wiggling and play with the driver’s seat. Every time I hop inside the car, I feel the seat wiggle back a little bit. I notice some movement back and forth when accelerating and braking and it is starting to get very annoying whenever I drive.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 19, 2026AZ

The "incident" is not a fault or flaw of my car in any way, but rather is caused by the auto industry's general shift to LED/HID headlights. In my opinion, they make driving unsafe for external observers because they are too bright and create a lot of glare, so that keeping my eyes focused and perceptive of features I need to see in the road directly ahead of me is becoming increasingly difficult, and therefore, by definition, more unsafe. Technology must be improved so that headlights can alter spectral output according to background illumination (dimmer means cooler,) and light output should have finer, adaptive directional control so that more light gets to objects in front that need to be illuminated, and less to oncoming drivers whose visual contrast range may be overwhelmed. I'm [XXX] , and I have the beginnings of cataracts. Older, halogen-based headlights don't interfere much with my vision, but modern headlights do, and quite badly so. This has to improve! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Seats
Filed Feb 18, 2026NY

I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the driver seat lumbar support mechanism found in multiple vehicle models across the industry. The lumbar support feature applies excessive, uneven, or unstable pressure to the driver’s lower back during normal driving conditions. This occurs even when the feature is set to its lowest or neutral position. The defect presents in the following ways: •The lumbar support protrudes too far forward, forcing the spine into an unnatural posture. •The mechanism shifts or changes pressure during , creating sudden discomfort or pain. •Extended use results in lower back strain, muscle spasms, or nerve irritation. Safety Risk This issue poses a significant safety hazard because it directly affects the driver’s ability to maintain proper posture, comfort, and control of the vehicle. This pain is not noticeable until you step out of the vehicle and it difficult to trace that to the lumber support button as most people do not observed when it is on. The defect can: •Reduce reaction time due to discomfort or restricted movement •Increase the risk of long term musculoskeletal injury •Create fatigue or numbness that compromises safe operation Because this feature is present in many vehicles and consistently causes injury, the problem appears to be systemic and design related, not limited to a single manufacturer. Frequency of the Issue •Occurs: (e.g., every drive / frequent / intermittent) •First noticed on: (2020) •Conditions: (e.g., highway d

Engine
Filed Jan 8, 2026WA

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. I contacted Toyota and was instructed to file a complaint with NHTSA. Toyota declined to repair the issue under goodwill or policy exception. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this defect should have been classified as a safety recall and whether consumers were properly notified. Sudden loss of power or stalling presents a significant safety risk and may warrant additional remedies or extension of the campaign for affected owners who were not notified.

Engine
Filed Nov 11, 2025AR

Vehicle is shuddering/stalling when trying to accelerate. Currently 150,000

Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer
Filed Oct 16, 2025245,980 milesTX

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale from AJ Sales & Services in Houston, TX. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 101,375. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 245,980. Upon further investigation, the contact became aware that the vehicle was an Auction vehicle that was purchased by the dealer on 08/06/2024. The mileage after the auction sale was 101,294. The contact had also purchased two other vehicles from the same dealer, and there were also discrepancies with the mileages. The contact first purchased a 2014 Kia Optima. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 112,610, and it was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 214,175. The second vehicle purchased was a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 101,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 198,826. The contact stated that the engines seized in the first and second vehicles five months after purchasing the vehicles.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 10, 2025LA

Steering wheel is hard to turn

Power Train
Filed Aug 18, 202590,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure worsened while merging onto a highway and the vehicle vibrated abnormally while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The contact was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Engine
Filed Jul 29, 2025CA

My engine jumps when I accelerate so I looked on google if there were any recalls and it said there were so i called the Toyota dealership and they said there were no recalls on my vehicle.

Other/I Am Not Sure
Filed Jul 22, 2025AZ

I removed the seat cover to clean it after an unfortunate stomach bug incident and discovered the styrofoam padding of the headrest was broken off on the left side. I do not know what date the styrofoam broke, but it was discovered July 22, 2025. My only guess is that my toddler could have done it himself because he liked the squeaky sound it made when he shook his head back and forth. Despite my best effort to redirect him when it happened, he would occasionally do this on car rides. We purchased the car seat from the Evenflo store on Amazon on August 31, 2023. My son was between 2 and 4 when the incident would have occurred.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 1, 2025NJ

I am filing this complaint regarding a known and documented issue affecting my 2012 Toyota Camry (VIN: [XXX] ), 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 #: [XXX]) 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. The vibration affects the transmission and drivability, particularly during city and highway acceleration, creating potential hazards when merging or navigating traffic. I believe this qualifies as a design flaw with potential safety implications. I respectfully request that NHTSA review Toyota’s handling of this issue and determine whether further consumer protection or a recall is warranted, especially for owners who were not adequately notified or who fall just outside the support window despite clear symptoms. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Power Train
Filed Jun 21, 2025NJ

When I either: i) start the car and drive more than 20 ft OR ii) am at a stop light then accelerate..the car begins to jerk backward. Have changed the gasket and the throttle body and this issue still keeps happening. It started around the 90k Mile mark.

Power Train
Filed Jun 3, 202590,000 milesMD

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact research and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Power Train
Filed Jun 1, 2025NY

Hi I owned this car I had low miles on it 108404 I registered it start driving when I drive it start shuddering and vibration on car when I reach speet 30-40 I talk with Toyota they told me they had recall in past it was expired on 2021 they can not repair it if I want to repair it I have to pay from my pocket that was not our fault I talk with them no help lot of people had same issue with transmission we buy this car after warranty expired if some one can help us with this issue that will be appreciates thanks you

Power Train
Filed May 6, 2025TX

My VIN for my 2012 Toyota camry LE 4cyl was never listed for a recall that my vehicle should have been included on. 2012 Toyota Transmission U760e shuddering issue and ECM issue. By VIN there are no past or present recalls listed, but after extensive research my vehicle does qualify for this fix by the manufacture for faulty transmission parts. My vehicle is equipped with this transmission U760e confirmed by the label in the door jamb. My vehicle has been dealer maintained since I became owner in 2013 and never once did I get a recall letter or be made aware of a recall from the dealerships. The issue is this recall gave a specific timeline on when owners had to bring their car in for this fix and that timeline has passed. I believe im owed this recall fix on my vehicle and need it reviewed because my car shudders going 40-50mph, the Toyota dealership has inspected my car and quoted me for a torque converter replacement $4,500.00 my car only has 127,000 miles. Carfax report is available to show my consistent dealer maintenance and repairs along with the below average miles driven based on the year of my vehicle.

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Apr 17, 2025NC

I recently was a passenger in my vehicle during a motor vehicle crash, and the air bags did not deployed for the driver or the passenger.

Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2025CT

Abs light flashes randomly at me when driving and at a stop car shakes aggressively

Power Train
Filed Mar 21, 2025105,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating before slamming into gear. The contact stated that the vehicle was shuddering abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the Limited-Service Campaign: (LSC) LSCE03. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided contact with the diagnostic trouble code: P2109 that was retrieved when the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

Power Train
Filed Mar 18, 2025CA

The transmission malfunctioned and is available for inspection upon request. The transmission failing while driving is a safety hazard and has put my safety and others on the road at risk. The problem has not yet been inspected by a dealer or third party. There were no warning lights or engine lights prompted during this malfunction. Please confirm that the dealership will take ownership of this malfunction and is obligated to perform an inspection and repair. The 2012-2014 Toyota Camry U760 ATM ECM Software update recall is related to a potential transmission shudder issue that can occur in these model years, particularly when accelerating; this shudder is caused by a combination of factors within the transmission system, and the recall aims to address this by updating the car's Engine Control Module (ECM) software to mitigate the problem. Key points about this recall: •Affected vehicles: 2012-2014 Toyota Camry models with the U760 transmission. •Issue: The car may experience a brief shuddering sensation when accelerating under light load, especially between 25-50 mph. •Solution: Toyota dealers will update the ECM software through a recall service to address the shuddering issue.

Power Train
Filed Mar 12, 2025CT

I bought a 2012 Toyota Camry in December of 2014. The car had 8,666 miles at the time, it currently has 84,220 miles and a transmission shudder has presented itself. Toyota was well aware of this issue back when they sold me the car since there was a letter back then. Toyota also failed to send me a notice about this particular safety issue in due time. They claim THEY SENT THE LETTER TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER! No common sense there. What good was it to them if they didn't have the car? The car is in pristine condition with the exception of the shudder which is constant every single day, is worse when turning the steering wheel at any turn and it looses power making very dangerous to merge at the highway. There are so many complaints yet the NHTSA has not done anything. Toyota is not owning it and has pushed this burden on to its customers to resolve the matter on their own and making them deal with this. The customer service team is no help and like paid puppets keep saying over and over is at the owners expense. This very expensive problem caused by Toyota should be taken care by Toyota.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Abs Warning LightCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 27, 2025130,000 milesLA

The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while her [XXX] 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. The failure mileage was 130,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 28, 2025CA

Unknown

Unknown or OtherCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 9, 2024FL

On October 22, I drove my daughter to her high school that is about 6 miles away from my house and dropped her off around 6:50 AM. On my way back, after driving around 2 miles, I was turning around a bend about 25 miles per hour when my car suddenly started accelerating. Startled, I stepped on the brake immediately, but the brake was not working to my surprise. I stepped a second time, and then a third time to no avail. In the meantime, the car was surging forward into the darkness at a higher and higher speed. I panicked; I remember uttering,” oh, my God, Oh, my God” a couple of times and then don’t remember what happened. According to the sheriff’s car crash report, the car veered off the road to the left, glanced off a tree and continued in a straight line and crashed into an electricity pole at about 65 mph and stopped. Obviously, I was in a state of shock and woken up by someone asking me repeatedly, “Are you okay?”. I was dazed. When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by blinking lights from an ambulance. I just sat there bewildered. The window next to me was utterly broken. My left leg was folded. I felt it with my palm and realized that it was broken. I felt my right leg and it was okay. I was asked if I could pull my self out of the car through the passenger’s side door, but I couldn’t move my left leg. So, I gave my back to first responders, and they dragged me out of the car and laid me on the tarmac. Two people held me by my legs and two others by my shoulders and

Power Train
Filed Jul 16, 2024120,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating and downshifted unexpectedly. The contact stated that the vehicle was shuddering abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure with an unknown recall; however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 15, 2024240,000 milesMA

The contact's fiancé owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. While the contact's fiancé 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.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 13, 2024PA

"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. Upon reviewing previous complaints, I noticed several similarities. I was never contacted by anyone regarding the recall on the airbag issues, and I would like this to be rectified immediately.

Steering
Filed Jun 4, 2024TX

I own a 2012 Camry LE with about 70,000 miles which is in excellent condition and well-maintained. Recently I began to hear a rattle, tapping or knocking sound apparently from somewhere in the left engine or cabin area. I feel confident its sources is possibly a steering column issue. You sort of feel it whenever you have some rough road surface; and if it’s a bump you hear the metal knock. While it doesn’t appear to cause a steering malfunction. The issue or noise does seem to come from the steering column. Independent research on the web has indicated that countless queries have been reported about this same year vehicle and issue. Described as a small $10 plastic part that degrades thereby allowing the vibration or knocking noise to appear. Cost to repair again is $10 for part and 7-8 hour labor roughly $950 from the actual dealer to repair. Damper Electric Power Steering Motor Shaft, 48254‑28040 Steering Motor Coupling Gear Replacement for Camery 2012-2014 is the questioned part that is inferior or of poor design that breaks down and causing the noise

Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 2024GA

Steering bushing broken.

Engine
Filed Mar 25, 2024MD

My 2012 Toyota Camry has started shutting off If I do a hard stop or quick stop by pressing on the breaks. My car will be on, in drive and completely turn off. The lights on the dashboard will all flash on then it turns off. I will have to quickly put the car in park, take the key out then put the key back in and turn the car on for it to start again. There are no warning lights that appear on the dashboard before the car turns off. They all flash suddenly and then it stalls out. It has stalled out while driving multiple times with vehicles behind me in my lane. This is very unsafe as I have reduced driving on highways in case it occurs. This has been reproduced by my mechanic who has said it is burning oil very quickly. He confirmed there were no leaks. I’ve only used synthetic oil and bought my car brand new in 2012. Once my oil is changed the problem seems to go away for awhile until the oil gets low again however my oil changes do not last as long in between and I usually need another oil change 20K miles before it is “due”. Since my car has started burning oil so quick my oil change light does not come on to notify me it is low or needed so I’ve been advised to check my oil every 1,000 miles.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 17, 2024FL

Transmission is shuddering skipping. Causing the car to shake. Happens during acceleration.

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 26, 2023KY

I got the shudder from the description online that affects the transmission upon accelerating. . It's from a ecm software recall? When placing the transmission in park, it rolls forward some. I have had this car for a couple yrs. Put only 30, 000 on it. it just reached 100,000. Bought it at 69, 000 miles. Will be taking the car in the Toyota shop friday. When I purchased the vehicle; there was no recalls as stated!

Air Bags
Filed Dec 24, 2023WI

I hit a curb while I was turning and I my air bag light and seatbelt light turned on. My passenger air bag won’t turn back to on even when someone is sitting in and my seatbelt light won’t turn off. Nothing was deployed when I hit the curb just the lights turning on.

Power Train
Filed Dec 3, 2023OH

Car surging while going at low speeds turning to the right x 2. Stepped on brake and car would not steer either direction.

Engine
Filed Nov 21, 2023IL

Toyota has a recall for 2012 camry torque converter issue. The recall was issued with a timeframe and/or mileage limit. My camry never experienced these issues until after the recall expired. i reached out to toyota about the recall and they state they aren't going to fix the issue.

Engine
Filed Nov 4, 2023NJ

I purchased my car about 4 years ago. Less than a year later after I purchased the vehicle, I took it back to the dealer informing them of the shaking or vibration. They gave the car back to me telling me there’s nothing wrong with the car. Months later I called them again for the same thing and they said the same. Not long ago, I was driving the car with my 2 year old granddaughter and my daughter, taking a turn, the lights in the dash came on and the wheel became so hard that I almost crashed because I couldn’t hardly turn the wheel. I pulled over on a very busy road Hooper Ave TR NJ. We almost got hit by the traffic because there’s no place to pull over and waited to see if it was safe to drive the car. Took the car to a mechanic and doing research he mentioned the torque converter is bad and that’s the reason why it vibrates and shakes. All along, the dealer knew about the problem and they ignored the issue. “The 2012-2014 Toyota Camry shudder that can potentially happen in these Toyota models made during these years. The 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.” Perhaps maybe now because I h

Power Train
Filed Oct 1, 2023TN

The 2012 Camry has a known problem with its Torque Converter. At low throttle (less than 1500 RPM), the torque converter exhibits a shudder while changing gears, most often going from 4th to 5th gear. Toyota initially released a service advisory in 2017 and attempted to fix the problem with a software update. A few years later, Toyota released an extended warranty covering the defect for 8 years of first use or 150,000 miles; whichever came first. Toyota claims that this defect may eventually result in transmission failure. My car exhibited this problem in 2016. A local Toyota dealership confirmed the problem and performed the software update. This temporarily resolved the torque converter shudder. In early 2022, the shudder returned. By this time, the extended warranty period had expired and Toyota refused to repair the defect since more than 8 years had passed since first use. The issue persists, and this defect should be placed under a recall instead of a time-limited warranty.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 27, 2023TN

When accelerating transmission is hesitated to almost car dies. When pulling out into traffic cars almost run over you due to this or go to take off at red lights when you accelerate it hesitates then takes off.

Engine
Filed Sep 1, 2023FL

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.

Steering
Filed Aug 11, 2023FL

The steering column u joint is loose and needs to be replaced. This is going to require the entire steering shaft to be replaced and taken apart.

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Jul 21, 2023CA

I WAS GOING TO PARK MY CAR SO I WAS SLOWING HEADING TOWARD THE PARKING SPOT. I SLOWED DOWN AND TRIED TO PARK MY CAR; HOWEVER, AS I WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELARATED ON ITS OWN AND JUMPED THE CURB. MY CAR HIT THE BUILDING BREAKING SEVERAL WINDOWS. I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS ACCIDENT WAS A CASE OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELARATION DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF MY CAR.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 11, 2023MA

N/a

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 10, 2023FL

Transmisión problem when acelerate my car

Steering
Filed Jun 9, 2023MA

Drivers side steering wheel has a clicking clunking sound and appears this is a well-known issue with this year car that Toyota has never addressed some type of silicone, bearing or washer war wears out, but the whole column must be removed to replace it from what I see it’s like $1000 I have Toyota do it for a $20-30 part

Engine
Filed Jun 9, 2023TX

Odometer fraud. Tampered odometer and tried to sell the car and the tampering is huge 100K miles.

Power Train
Filed Jun 5, 2023VA

2012 Toyota Camry has Torque Converter Shudder issues and they knew about it. They also ran the Warranty Enhancement program but failed to notify its owners. I never received about this Warranty from them. I had this wired noise for brief seconds when driving at a speed of 50-65MPH and told the Toyota authorized repair and maintenance center about it when I took my car for regular maintenance. They checked my car and also failed to update me on this extended warranty and could not find the issue. They knew that this was an ongoing issue but did not bother to correctly update me on this. I only happen to know about this when my transmission started to slip and was searching if there was any recall and found about their Warranty Enhancement program as mentioned https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10129984-9999.pdf but it was too late. I also called the Toyota Engagement Center to discuss this but they said they can't do anything as the program expired. The car now slows down itself when driving either in 20-25MPH or 55-60MPH and this could lead to unforeseen situations and could be a safety issue for the roads and highways I would like NHTSA to step in and make this a safety recall. It looks like almost all 2012 Camry are affected by this issue.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 18, 2023NC

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

Complaints 1-50 of 590, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202452100Routine
202365220Do not drive
202265110Routine
2021158121Fatalities reported
2020275320Above average
2019400610Above average
2018754840Above average
2017148350Routine
2016184220Routine
2015271131Fatalities reported
2014455341Fatalities reported
2013274211Fatalities reported
2012 — this page590260High concern
2011602570High concern
2010604910High concern
20091,29410192Fatalities reported
20089338130High concern
20072,88810644Fatalities reported
2006317542Fatalities reported
20057215106Fatalities reported
20046383115Fatalities reported
20037821105Fatalities reported
200295342012Fatalities reported
20012724113Fatalities reported
20004544283Fatalities reported
19995012422Fatalities reported
19986003310High concern
19975554273Fatalities reported
1996417785Fatalities reported
19953035111Fatalities reported
19942873108Fatalities reported
19932602102Fatalities reported
19925652190Above average
19911491101Fatalities reported
1990134230Routine

Compare every Camry year →

2012 Toyota Camry: questions buyers ask

Is the 2012 Toyota Camry a good car?

It is not among the Camry years to avoid. Owners filed 590 complaints, against about 417 for a typical Camry year. The most common complaint is about the transmission (21%). In NHTSA crash tests it scored 5 stars overall.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Toyota Camry?

The transmission: 123 of the 590 complaints (21%) are about it. Owners most often say it shudders or judders (38%), hesitates before moving or accelerating (28%) and vibrates or shakes (21%). The typical report comes at 88,000 miles.

How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Camry have?

2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA, the most recent filed Oct 17, 2013. The largest, 13V442000, covered 802,769 vehicles. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Camry problems start?

Half of the complaints that record an odometer reading came in before 40,000 miles. For the transmission the midpoint is 88,000 miles.

Are there service bulletins for the 2012 Toyota Camry?

The manufacturer filed 553 technical service bulletins and other notices for it with NHTSA, most of them about the electrical system (86), the body and frame (74) and the engine (40). They include a warranty extension, ZG5 Region Email, filed Mar 16, 2017. A bulletin is a repair instruction to dealers, not a recall: the fix is usually free only under warranty.

Reading this record

A high number of complaints describe fires or crashes.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 17, 2013. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.