IllustrationTHIS VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND VIBRATES AS IT ACCELERATES BETWEEN 20 TO 30 MPH AND ALSO FROM 40 TO 50 MPH. TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND I TOOK THE CAR IN. THE FIX HAS NOT WORKED AND THE ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE. WHAT DO I DO? *JS
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
Power Train complaints
142 reportsBEEN HAVE SHIFTING AND SHUDDERING PROBLEMS FOR OVER 15 MONTHS AND 20K MILES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO DEALERSHIP 2 DOZEN TIMES FOR TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE SYMPTOMS, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP, SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AND TOYOTA CORPORATE HAVE ALL DENIED THERE'S ANY PROBLEM AT ALL. WELL, TSB 008612 WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 11, 2012 BEFORE I EVEN …
Read full complaint
BEEN HAVE SHIFTING AND SHUDDERING PROBLEMS FOR OVER 15 MONTHS AND 20K MILES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO DEALERSHIP 2 DOZEN TIMES FOR TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE SYMPTOMS, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP, SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AND TOYOTA CORPORATE HAVE ALL DENIED THERE'S ANY PROBLEM AT ALL. WELL, TSB 008612 WAS ISSUED ON JUNE 11, 2012 BEFORE I EVEN PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE SERVICE BEING PERFORMED ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED SEVERAL MONTHS BEFOREHAND. ON OCTOBER 31, 2014 A LSC FOR A TORQUE CONVERTER SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS ISSUED. HMMM, IF NO PROBLEM EXISTS, THEN WHY KEEP ISSUING TSB'S AND LSC'S? EASY ANSWER IS TO AVOID A SAFETY RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE PERFORMED THIS FOR ME WEEKS BEFORE TOYOTA NOTIFIED THE PUBLIC. THIRD PARTY MECHANICAL ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT NONE OF THESE CORRECTIONS HAVE EVER BEEN PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA IS MOST CERTAINLY COVERING UP ANOTHER EXPENSIVE SAFETY ISSUE FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO THE MECHANICS TO THE ENGINEERS.... ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH THE CORPORATE OFFICE. THEY'VE EVEN IGNORED MY ATTEMPTS TO MEDIATE A BUYBACK AS PER THEIR WARRANTY COVERAGE EVEN THOUGH I CLEARLY HAVE A VERY WELL DOCUMENTED LEMON. I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, WILL HAVE TO SETTLE THIS IN A COURT OF LAW. *TR
AS MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING IN THE CAR WE FELT A BRIEF SHUDDER... WE THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE FROM THE ROAD.... AS TIME WENT ON WE FELT IT ON DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES.... THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUT THE SHUDDER FELT LIKE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE DOWN SHIFTED.... WE STARTED SEARCHING THE W…
Read full complaint
AS MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING IN THE CAR WE FELT A BRIEF SHUDDER... WE THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE FROM THE ROAD.... AS TIME WENT ON WE FELT IT ON DIFFERENT ROAD SURFACES.... THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUT THE SHUDDER FELT LIKE A STANDARD TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE DOWN SHIFTED.... WE STARTED SEARCHING THE WEB TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYONE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WAS DIRECTED TO TOYOTA WEBSITE AND FOUND OUT ABOUT 5 WEEKS LATER THAT TOYOTA WAS ISSUING A SERVICE TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE FOR U760E TORQUE CONVERTER SHUDDER.... WE HAD THIS UPGRADE PERFORMED AT HOFFMAN TOYOTA ON NOV.26,2014 BEFORE RECEIVING ANY INFO FROM TOYOTA CORP ... THE SHUDDER HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED...I WILL BE CALLING THEM TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS SERVICE UPGRADE HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM... *TR
THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEELS OR WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE, IT MAKES A CLICKING SOUND THAT CAN BE HEARD INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. DEALER HAS CHECKED IT OR LISTENED TO THE NOISE AND SAYS IT IS NORMAL. IT IS STILL WORRIED SOME AS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A EMERGENCY. *TR
TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A PROBLEMATIC TORQUE CONVERTER FOR 2012 THRU 2014 TOYOTAS CAMRYS, I WENT TO THE DEALER TODAY. A SIMPLE COMPUTER DOWNLOAD WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER DID NOT. IM JUST WONDERING IF THIS SHOULD BE A REGULAR RECALL, AND TOYOTA IS HIDING THIS PROBLEM FROM YOU AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AGAIN…
Read full complaint
TOYOTA HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR A PROBLEMATIC TORQUE CONVERTER FOR 2012 THRU 2014 TOYOTAS CAMRYS, I WENT TO THE DEALER TODAY. A SIMPLE COMPUTER DOWNLOAD WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER DID NOT. IM JUST WONDERING IF THIS SHOULD BE A REGULAR RECALL, AND TOYOTA IS HIDING THIS PROBLEM FROM YOU AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC AGAIN. *TR
WHEN I ACCELERATE THE CAR WHEN THE RPM'S ARE BETWEEN 1,500 AND 2,500 RPM, THERE IS A SHUDDER AND DELAY IN ACCELERATION. THE CAR SHAKES UNTIL I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VERY HARD. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO APPLE VALLEY TOYOTA DEALER (MARTINSBURG, WV) FOR ANALYSIS ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE (JANUARY 3, 2103). THEY DID NOT FIND ANY…
Read full complaint
WHEN I ACCELERATE THE CAR WHEN THE RPM'S ARE BETWEEN 1,500 AND 2,500 RPM, THERE IS A SHUDDER AND DELAY IN ACCELERATION. THE CAR SHAKES UNTIL I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VERY HARD. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO APPLE VALLEY TOYOTA DEALER (MARTINSBURG, WV) FOR ANALYSIS ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE (JANUARY 3, 2103). THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THERE WAS A RECENT CAMPAIGN BY TOYOTA TO UPDATE TORQUE CONVERTER SOFTWARE. THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS DONE AT APPLE VALLEY TOYOTA IN MARTINSBURG, WV (NOVEMBER 12, 2014). THE SOFTWARE DID NOT CHANGE THIS BEHAVIOR. I TOOK IT IN TO BACK TO APPLE VALLEY TOYOTA (NOVEMBER 17, 2014) AND THEY RE-EVALUATED THE CAR AND THEY STATED THAT IT "OPERATES AS DESIGNED BY TOYOTA." I FIND THIS CAR DANGEROUS TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN ACCELERATION THROUGH INTERSECTIONS. I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER FAMILY MEMBER DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. ALSO, MY WARRANTY WILL SOON EXPIRE AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS CAUSING TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. *TR
I GOT A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY FROM A DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS NOW AND IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. WHILE I AM DRIVING AND PRESSING ON THE GAS WHEN I GET BETWEEN 10-20MPH THE CAR HESITATES/JERKS. I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECOMMEND THAT I TAKE TO THIS PLACE THAT THEY HAVE WORK ON THERE CARS. AND THAT IS …
Read full complaint
I GOT A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY FROM A DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS NOW AND IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. WHILE I AM DRIVING AND PRESSING ON THE GAS WHEN I GET BETWEEN 10-20MPH THE CAR HESITATES/JERKS. I TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RECOMMEND THAT I TAKE TO THIS PLACE THAT THEY HAVE WORK ON THERE CARS. AND THAT IS ALL THEY COULD DO. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH A CAR THAT I JUST GOT AND IS MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON IT. *TR
I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IS NORMAL NOW FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR TO PERFORM A TEST ONCE THE CAR CHANGES GEARS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE ACTUATOR MAKES A GRINDING/ODD NOISE NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU HIT THE BRAKES OR GO INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. I DEMONSTRATED THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA IN PERSON AND THEN WAS LEFT FOR 3 DAYS. AFTER…
Read full complaint
I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT IS NORMAL NOW FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR TO PERFORM A TEST ONCE THE CAR CHANGES GEARS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE ACTUATOR MAKES A GRINDING/ODD NOISE NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU HIT THE BRAKES OR GO INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. I DEMONSTRATED THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA IN PERSON AND THEN WAS LEFT FOR 3 DAYS. AFTER THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP OPENED A TICKET WITH TOYOTA TECHNICAL SUPPORT, IT IS NOW DEEMED "NORMAL" EVERYDAY YOU START YOUR CAR AND WHEN THE CAR SWITCHES TO SECOND GEAR, "IT IS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR PRESSURIZE AND PERFORMING IT'S TEST". THE SOUND HEARD IS NORMAL. GIVEN THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY ISSUES WITH TOYOTA AND THEIR ACTUATORS. I HOPE THEY HAVE DEEMED MY BRAKE ACTUATOR AS SAFE BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IN THE NEWS, A FAULTY BRAKE ACTUATOR IS VERY UNSAFE. I HAVE CALLED UP TOYOTA CARE WHO SAID "WE ONLY RELY AND TRUST WHAT ARE TECHNICIANS SAY". TOYOTA BETTER HAVE THEIR STORY STRAIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD A BAD RECORD IN THE PAST WITH SAFETY ISSUES. *TR
THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS. I WAS DRIVING AT 20MPH AND NEEDED TO PICK UP SPEED TO MAKE A PASS AND THE CAR JUST KEPT ON REVVING AND THE SPEED DID NOT INCREASE AT ALL AND WHEN IT FINALLY PICKED UP SPEED, IT WAS A HARD JERK. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. ANOTHER INCIDENT AT A YIELD SIGN HEADING INTO THE HIGHWAY. A…
Read full complaint
THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS. I WAS DRIVING AT 20MPH AND NEEDED TO PICK UP SPEED TO MAKE A PASS AND THE CAR JUST KEPT ON REVVING AND THE SPEED DID NOT INCREASE AT ALL AND WHEN IT FINALLY PICKED UP SPEED, IT WAS A HARD JERK. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. ANOTHER INCIDENT AT A YIELD SIGN HEADING INTO THE HIGHWAY. AS I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, I HIT BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AND HAD TO GAS UP TO GET INTO THE LANE AND THE CAR JUST DIDN'T MOVE. I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. I ALREADY CHANGED THE TORQUE CONVERTER WITHIN THE WARRANTY BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEY HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO PARK IN ORDER TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIO…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE KEY HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO PARK IN ORDER TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
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.