Severe Issues

2012 TOYOTA CAMRY Problems

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota Camry. This model year has 642 NHTSA complaints β€” top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.

642
Complaints
94
Crashes
6
Fires
79
Injuries
β€”
Deaths
2
Recalls

Before you buy β€” check the actual VIN

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.

Worst 2012 Toyota Camry Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1
145
complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Crash-related:1
Injuries:3
#2
88
complaints

Uncategorized Issues

Crash-related:6
Fires:2
Injuries:4
#3
82
complaints

Airbag Malfunctions

Crash-related:45
Injuries:48

Considering a 2012 Toyota Camry?

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Toyota Camry. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Transmission / Drivetrain1451β€”β€”
Uncategorized Issues8862β€”
Airbag Malfunctions8245β€”β€”
Unintended Acceleration7326β€”β€”
Structural Problems6815β€”β€”
Electrical Faults6763β€”
Brake System6625β€”β€”
Steering Defects654β€”β€”
Engine Problems6552β€”
Fuel/Propulsion System25β€”β€”β€”
Suspension Failures18β€”β€”β€”
Visibility18β€”β€”β€”
Wheel Issues172β€”β€”
Seat Belt Issues141β€”β€”
Seat-Related Issues13β€”1β€”
Headlight/Taillight Failures103β€”β€”
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)82β€”β€”
Equipment8β€”β€”β€”
Tire Issues6β€”β€”β€”
Hydraulic51β€”β€”
Visibility/Wiper5β€”β€”β€”
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB3β€”β€”β€”
Door Lock Issues3β€”β€”β€”
Fuel System3β€”β€”β€”
Gasoline3β€”β€”β€”
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility3β€”β€”β€”
Traction Control System2β€”β€”β€”
Insert1β€”β€”β€”
Padding1β€”β€”β€”
Other/I Am Not Sure1β€”β€”β€”
Back Over Prevention1β€”β€”β€”
Interior Lighting1β€”β€”β€”
Child Seat1β€”β€”β€”

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Toyota Camry. Type a keyword (e.g. β€œtransmission”, β€œstalling”, β€œbrakes”) to filter.

πŸ”

Showing 400 most recent complaints of 642 total. View all on NHTSA β†—

Transmission / DrivetrainApr 27, 2026

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 softwa…

Electrical FaultsFeb 23, 2026

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.

Uncategorized IssuesFeb 19, 2026

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 e…

Seat-Related IssuesFeb 18, 2026

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…

Steering DefectsJan 8, 2026

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 ac…

Transmission / DrivetrainNov 11, 2025

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

Electrical FaultsOct 16, 2025

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 tha…

Steering DefectsSep 10, 2025

Steering wheel is hard to turn

Transmission / DrivetrainAug 18, 2025

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 abnormall…

Engine ProblemsJul 29, 2025

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.

InsertJul 22, 2025

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…

Unintended AccelerationJul 1, 2025

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 Cus…

Transmission / DrivetrainJun 21, 2025

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.

Transmission / DrivetrainJun 3, 2025

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 cont…

Transmission / DrivetrainJun 1, 2025

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 repai…

Transmission / DrivetrainMay 6, 2025

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 qua…

Airbag MalfunctionsπŸ’₯ CrashApr 17, 2025

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.

Transmission / DrivetrainApr 1, 2025

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

Transmission / DrivetrainMar 21, 2025

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 d…

Transmission / DrivetrainMar 18, 2025

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 li…

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Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2012 Toyota Camry.

Recalls for 2012 Toyota Camry

2 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2012 Toyota Camry. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

13V014000Invalid Date
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

13V442000Invalid Date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2012 Toyota Camry β€” FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Toyota Camry reliable?β–Ύ

Severe Issues. The 2012 Toyota Camry has 642 NHTSA owner complaints, 94 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (145 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Camry?β–Ύ

#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (145 complaints). #2: Uncategorized Issues (88 complaints). #3: Airbag Malfunctions (82 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Toyota Camry?β–Ύ

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2012 Toyota Camry?β–Ύ

The 2012 Toyota Camry has 94 crash-related complaints and 6 fire reports out of 642 total NHTSA complaints. 79 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2012 Toyota Camry have any recalls?β–Ύ

Yes β€” 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2012 Toyota Camry. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

Should I buy a 2012 Toyota Camry?β–Ύ

The 2012 Toyota Camry has severe issues β€” review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Toyota Camry reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Check Your Specific 2012 Toyota Camry

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car β€” accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.