IllustrationCar surging while going at low speeds turning to the right x 2. Stepped on brake and car would not steer either direction.
2012 Toyota Camry
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2012 Toyota Camry do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 295.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Camry years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1500–25K
9325–50K
6150–75K
4875–100K
60100–150K
19150K+
431 reports with mileage · 158 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 142 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
84 crash reports6 fire reports44 injury reports
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
23 reportsThe car shudders in lower gear while accelerating. Engine, steering wheel and the whole car vibrates at lower speed.
I bought this car used from a dealership. within 4 days and less than 40 driving miles on the first cold morning (42°f) the 6 speed automatic transmission slipped. the engine revved as i was backing out of my carport then in less than 50 yards i went to pull up on the street. again the engine revved and car was barely moving. it…
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I bought this car used from a dealership. within 4 days and less than 40 driving miles on the first cold morning (42°f) the 6 speed automatic transmission slipped. the engine revved as i was backing out of my carport then in less than 50 yards i went to pull up on the street. again the engine revved and car was barely moving. it did catch as i cleared that intersection and behaved normally till the next cold early morning. i have spoken to used car salesman and the sales manager. i have an appointment to take it in for evaluation soon!
I took delivery of this 2012 Camry SE on Friday 12-17-21. I have about 75 miles on it since purchase. It was cold here this morning (12-21-21) as I pulled out of my driveway at 9 am. I went up to the street to make a left turn. As I entered the intersection- the transmission slipped- the engine revved to about 3000 RPM and the c…
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I took delivery of this 2012 Camry SE on Friday 12-17-21. I have about 75 miles on it since purchase. It was cold here this morning (12-21-21) as I pulled out of my driveway at 9 am. I went up to the street to make a left turn. As I entered the intersection- the transmission slipped- the engine revved to about 3000 RPM and the car was barely moving. I drove the car about 5 miles and 15 minutes to get my first gas fill-up. The problem did go away with the warming of the transmission. I've been driving long enough to recognize what this is, a problem with the 6 speed automatic transmission. This problem did not show when I test drove the car on 12/16/21. The salesman made no mention of it. I know I bought the car 'As-Is' . I feel this is a safety problem that should be remedied sooner than later.
WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES ON THE HIGHWAY OR THE CITY, IT GETS ABOUT 15.4 MPG INSTEAD OF ~30MPG. I HAVE USED 87 OCTANE GANE FROM DIFFERENT STATION STILL YIELDING THE SAME RESULT. THE AUTOREPAIR SHOP HAS CHECKED FOR EVERYTHING THAT COULD AFFECT GAS MILEAGE, BUT THERE IS NO PROBLEM, WHAT IS GOING ON? I BOUGHT TOYOTA FOR RELIABILITY AND…
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WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES ON THE HIGHWAY OR THE CITY, IT GETS ABOUT 15.4 MPG INSTEAD OF ~30MPG. I HAVE USED 87 OCTANE GANE FROM DIFFERENT STATION STILL YIELDING THE SAME RESULT. THE AUTOREPAIR SHOP HAS CHECKED FOR EVERYTHING THAT COULD AFFECT GAS MILEAGE, BUT THERE IS NO PROBLEM, WHAT IS GOING ON? I BOUGHT TOYOTA FOR RELIABILITY AND FUEL EFFICIENCY, NOT TO BEHAVE LIKE A TRUCK.
I HAVE A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE MAKING A TURN THE CAR LOSES ACCELERATION. IF THE TURN IS LONG, AS IN A CLOVERLEAF EXIT, THE VEHICLE WILL ALMOST STOP. PRESSING THE GAS HAS NO EFFECT. THE VEHICLE WILL LAG UNTIL IT ALMOST STOPS OR UNTIL YOU COME OUT OF THE TURN. FROM WHAT I FIND ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2012…
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I HAVE A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. WHILE MAKING A TURN THE CAR LOSES ACCELERATION. IF THE TURN IS LONG, AS IN A CLOVERLEAF EXIT, THE VEHICLE WILL ALMOST STOP. PRESSING THE GAS HAS NO EFFECT. THE VEHICLE WILL LAG UNTIL IT ALMOST STOPS OR UNTIL YOU COME OUT OF THE TURN. FROM WHAT I FIND ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2012 AND LATER TOYOTA CAMRYS BUT DEALERS STONEWALL ABOUT IT. I HOPE YOU GET ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ON THIS TO ISSUE A RECALL.
THE FUEL PUMP.OFNTHE CAR STOPPED WORKING WHILE THE CAR WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY WAS IN THE RIGHTMOST LANE SO WAS ABLE TO MANOEUVR TO THE SHOULDER, BUT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STALLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS CLUELESS AND TOOK COUPLE DAYS TO.FIGURE OUT THAT THE FUEL PUMP BLEW UP, WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTI…
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THE FUEL PUMP.OFNTHE CAR STOPPED WORKING WHILE THE CAR WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY WAS IN THE RIGHTMOST LANE SO WAS ABLE TO MANOEUVR TO THE SHOULDER, BUT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STALLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WAS CLUELESS AND TOOK COUPLE DAYS TO.FIGURE OUT THAT THE FUEL PUMP BLEW UP, WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL AND THE CAR WORKED FINE. IT IS LIKELY THAT THE CURRENT PROBLEM OF.FUEL.PUMP.ON NEWER MODEL MAY ALSO.BE RELEVANT TO.OTHER.OLDER MODELS
CAR HESITATES AND LOOSES POWER WHILE MOVING FORWARD AND WHILE EXITING AND OR STARTING UP FROM AN INTERSECTION. REAR CARS AND MYSELF ARE IN DANGER. THIS PROBLEM IS FROM A DEAD STOP AS WELL AS FROM SLOW SPEED WHILE TURNING AND LEAVING AN INTERSECTION.THIS CAMERY WAS PURCHASED IN 2015, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE…
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CAR HESITATES AND LOOSES POWER WHILE MOVING FORWARD AND WHILE EXITING AND OR STARTING UP FROM AN INTERSECTION. REAR CARS AND MYSELF ARE IN DANGER. THIS PROBLEM IS FROM A DEAD STOP AS WELL AS FROM SLOW SPEED WHILE TURNING AND LEAVING AN INTERSECTION.THIS CAMERY WAS PURCHASED IN 2015, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM SINCE FIRST REPORTED, WHICH WAS IN 2015. OVER 300 TOYOTA CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM OVER THE PAST 5-7 YEARS.
PLEASE DETERMINE IF THE FUELRAIL END CAPS THAT ARE MADE BY ARSEN ARE DEFECTIVE. PRE. REQUISITES OF ONE REPORTED MAY BE ENOUGH TO START A INVESTIGATION ADVISING TOYOTA TO RECALL THE 2012 FUEL RAILS ON THE 6 CYLINDER TOYOTA CAMERY.THESE FUELRAILS ARE PROBABLY DEFECTIVE IN THE KIA AND HYUNDAI IF MADE BY THE SAME COMPANY USING THE …
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PLEASE DETERMINE IF THE FUELRAIL END CAPS THAT ARE MADE BY ARSEN ARE DEFECTIVE. PRE. REQUISITES OF ONE REPORTED MAY BE ENOUGH TO START A INVESTIGATION ADVISING TOYOTA TO RECALL THE 2012 FUEL RAILS ON THE 6 CYLINDER TOYOTA CAMERY.THESE FUELRAILS ARE PROBABLY DEFECTIVE IN THE KIA AND HYUNDAI IF MADE BY THE SAME COMPANY USING THE SAME MATERIAL. PLEASE CROSS CHECK THE INFO TO DETERMINE A CAUSE. IF OVER 400 VEHICLES B4 A NOTICE WAS PUT OUT AND NO SPECIFIC CAUSE WAS NOTED . I WANT TO BELIEVE TOYOTA DOES WHATS CORRECT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE AS DID KIA AND HYUNDAI ONLY AFTER 400 PLUS ISSUES AROSE. THAT IS STRAIGHT NEGLIGENCE UPON THE NHTSA WHY SO MANY FIRES BEFORE SOMETHING WAS DONE UNREAL.
FUEL RAIL WITH ENDCAPS HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE AND NOT SEALING PROPERLY. CONSEQUENTLY, GASOLINE AND FUEL VAPORS ARE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WILL EMISSIONS AND DEALERS IS EQUESTING $762.00 TO FIX.
Official recalls
213V442000 · Air Bags; Electrical System; Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
Oct 17, 2013
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Additional source detail variants (3)
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. 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.
Consequence: 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.
Air Bags
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.
Consequence: 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.
Electrical System
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.
Consequence: 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.
13V014000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Seats
Jan 16, 2013
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
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 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.
Consequence: 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.
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
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.
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.