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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 →
589Owner complaints

Model-year median: 295

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1,293
2009602
2010599
2011589
2012274
2013455
2014271
2015
Compare all Camry years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
142Unknown Or Other
81Air Bags
75Vehicle Speed Control
67Electrical System
61
All reported categories
Structure
61Engine
59Steering
58Service Brakes
52Fuel/propulsion System
23Suspension
16Visibility
16Wheels
16Seat Belts
12Seats
11Electronic Stability Control (esc)
8Exterior Lighting
8Equipment
6Tires
6Engine And Engine Cooling
4Visibility/wiper
4Equipment Adaptive/mobility
3Forward Collision Avoidance
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Latches/locks/linkages
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Traction Control System
2Back Over Prevention
1Insert, Padding
1Interior Lighting
1Other/i Am Not Sure
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Suspension complaints

16 reports
Clear category filter
30 miles · Nov 14, 2012
Suspension

THIS AUTO IS THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE AND LEAST SAFE CAR THAT I HAVE EVER DRIVEN AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 60 YEARS, EVERY SLIGHT IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD IS FELT AND LOUD NOISES COME FROM UNDER THE CAR.WHEN IT HITS A BUMP THE CAR BOUNCES AND MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES (PENN TOYO…

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THIS AUTO IS THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE AND LEAST SAFE CAR THAT I HAVE EVER DRIVEN AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 60 YEARS, EVERY SLIGHT IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD IS FELT AND LOUD NOISES COME FROM UNDER THE CAR.WHEN IT HITS A BUMP THE CAR BOUNCES AND MAKES ME FEEL UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES (PENN TOYOTA) , THE FIRST TIME I DROVE WITH A TECHNICIAN HE SAID" THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE SOLD ME AN AVALON AS THEY DRIVE BETTER", AND THEY HAVE OTHER SHOCKS THAT THEY CAN INSTALL", WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE AGENT ([XXX]) STATED ALL WAS UP TO SPEC AND IT WAS ONLY MY OPINION THAT THE CAR DID NOT DRIVE SMOOTHLY. I CONTACTED TOYOTA HQ AND SPOKE TO MR. ASHBY AND HE ARRANGED A VISIT WITH THE SERVICE MGR. (JIMMY MIGA ) , WE TOOK A RIDE IN ANOTHER CAMRY ON THE PREMISES AND THEN DROVE MY CAR AND FOUND THE OTHER CAR TO DRIVE MUCH SMOOTHER THAN MINE, HE LOWERED THE TIRE PRESSURE IN ALL FOUR TIRES AND SAID IT MIGHT HELP, IT DOESN'T. THE LOWERING OF THE TIRE PRESSURE CREATES OTHER PROBLEMS,SUCH AS LESS GAS MILEAGE, TIRE WEAR AND COULD CAUSE A BLOWOUT, HE SAID HE WOULD ARRANGE FOR A TOYOTA ENGINEER TO COME AND CHECK MY CAR. I HAVE AN APPT WITH ONE ON 11/20/12. I HOPE THAT TOYOTA CAN DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE LITTLE HOPE AS ALL I EVER HEARD FROM ANYONE I SPOKE TO IS THAT " IT IS UP TO SPEC OR IT IS NORMAL AND IT IS ONLY MY OPINION THAT THE RIDE IS NOT UP TO PAR WITH OTHER NEW CARS THAT I HAVE DRIVEN." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484619

9,800 miles · Nov 8, 2012
SuspensionUnknown Or OtherWheels

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A KNOCK/TAP/CLUNK SOUND COMING FROM THE ROOF IN MY 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY SE V6 FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR. ITS GOT 11600 MILES ON IT AND I STARTED NOTICING THE SOUND AROUND THE TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THE 10000 MILE SERVICE. I HEAR THE SOUND EVERY TIME I DRIVE UP OR DOWN AN INCLINE AT AN ANGLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483782

100 miles · Sep 6, 2012
SteeringSuspension

I WENT TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2012. ON THE WAY I FOUND THE VEHICLE WAS RIGID AND THE SUSPENSION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN CAR HIT VARIOUS IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD THERE WAS A BANGING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE. I FELT DIZZY AS DURING MY TIME SPENT DRIVING CAR. THE CAR SEEMS UNSAFE TO USE. THIS SHOULD NO…

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I WENT TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2012. ON THE WAY I FOUND THE VEHICLE WAS RIGID AND THE SUSPENSION WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN CAR HIT VARIOUS IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD THERE WAS A BANGING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD VIBRATE. I FELT DIZZY AS DURING MY TIME SPENT DRIVING CAR. THE CAR SEEMS UNSAFE TO USE. THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A VEHICLE THAT COST $31K AND ON THE FIRST DAY THAT I AM DRIVING VEHICLE. IN ADDITION THE STEERING FELT MORE WEIGHTED ON THE LEFT AS OPPOSED TO THE RIGHT. WHEN I TURNED LEFT THERE WAS GREATER RESISTANCE. I CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER THAT SAME DAY AND HE INDICATED HE FELT IT MAYBE A TIRE PRESSURE PROBLEM. HE THEN STATED THAT I SHOULD BRING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE RADIO SOUND FLUCTUATED. I HAD CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO CONFIRM MY APPOINTMENT AND DISCOVERED THAT AN APPOINTMENT WAS NEVER MADE. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA MAIN OFFICE AND THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A CASE # [XXX]. THE MAIN OFFICE AT TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER. I WILL BE GOING TO ADVANTAGE TOYOTA IN VALLEY STREAM, NY ON 9/8/12. PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE REGARDING THE SUSPENSION ON THESE VEHICLES. I DON'T WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO INCUR THE SAME ISSUES I HAVE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474094

650 miles · Jun 8, 2012
SuspensionWheels

CAR SHAKES VERY AGGRESSIVELY ON FREEWAY WITH GROOVES. IT IS MAJOR SECURITY CONCERN AS CAR DOESN'T FELL SAFE AT ALL. BEING A FAMILY CAR, WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE USING THIS CAR ANYMORE. TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO LOOK INTO THIS AND TOLD US THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. I HAVE DRIVEN 7 DIFFERENT CARS OF DIFFERENT MAKE AND MODELS AND NON…

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CAR SHAKES VERY AGGRESSIVELY ON FREEWAY WITH GROOVES. IT IS MAJOR SECURITY CONCERN AS CAR DOESN'T FELL SAFE AT ALL. BEING A FAMILY CAR, WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE USING THIS CAR ANYMORE. TOYOTA IS NOT WILLING TO LOOK INTO THIS AND TOLD US THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. I HAVE DRIVEN 7 DIFFERENT CARS OF DIFFERENT MAKE AND MODELS AND NONE OF THEM BEHAVE IN THIS MANNER ON FREEWAY. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10461022

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2011
Suspension

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND SLOWING TO A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A LOUD HOLLOW CLUNK NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NORMAL SUSPENSION REBOUND NOISES. WE NOTICED THE NOISE AT 158 MILES AND WE ARE WELL OVER 2000 MIL…

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND SLOWING TO A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THERE IS A LOUD HOLLOW CLUNK NOISE FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. WE'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS NORMAL SUSPENSION REBOUND NOISES. WE NOTICED THE NOISE AT 158 MILES AND WE ARE WELL OVER 2000 MILES ON THE CAR AND WE STILL ARE HEARING THE NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439753

100 miles · Oct 28, 2011
Suspension

IF THE CAR SITS FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND I GO FOR A DRIVE, THE FIRST DIP IN THE ROAD THAT I HIT AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH WILL MAKE MY FRONT SUSPENSION MAKE A LOUD SOLITARY HOLLOW METAL CLUNK NOISE. IF I DRIVE AROUND AND HIT THE EXACT SAME DIP AGAIN, THERE WILL BE NO UNUSUAL NOISE. IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR, I WILL OCCASION…

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IF THE CAR SITS FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND I GO FOR A DRIVE, THE FIRST DIP IN THE ROAD THAT I HIT AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH WILL MAKE MY FRONT SUSPENSION MAKE A LOUD SOLITARY HOLLOW METAL CLUNK NOISE. IF I DRIVE AROUND AND HIT THE EXACT SAME DIP AGAIN, THERE WILL BE NO UNUSUAL NOISE. IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR, I WILL OCCASIONALLY HEAR THE NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, THOUGH NOT AS LOUD, WHEN I DRIVE OVER DIPS AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH. THIS HAPPENS THE MAJORITY DAYS THAT I DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY TWO TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND A TOYOTA ENGINEERING TEAM. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE VISUALLY INSPECTED THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF THE CAR. THEY HAVE SAID EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. I HAVE USED MY CELL PHONE TO VIDEO RECORD THE EVENT HAPPENING AND HAVE SHOWED THIS TO THEM. THEY ARE UNABLE TO SAY WHAT IS CAUSING THE NOISE AND NO ONE HAS CHANGED OUT ANY PARTS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433125

Official recalls

2

13V442000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Toyota Camry problems

Toyota Camry electrical problems →Toyota Camry transmission problems →