CarBrief

NHTSA has 645 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Camry, and the largest group is about the power train[1][2]. The car has two recalls, with fixes that the recall records say began in 2013 and 2014[3][4].

645owner complaints[1]
2recalls[5]
24–40MPG combined (EPA)[6]
5★NHTSA overall rating[7]

Most reported problems

Owners have filed 645 complaints with NHTSA for this model year[1]. Of those, 95 mention a crash, 6 mention a fire and 80 mention an injury[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one part of the car.

Here are the biggest component groups:

Component group Complaints Crashes Injuries
Power train[2] 146 1 3
Unknown or other[8] 88 6 4
Air bags[9] 83 46 49
Speed control[10] 73 26 14
Structure[11] 68 15 11
Electrical system[12] 68 6 3
Engine[13] 66 5 3
Brakes[14] 65 25 9

We read a small sample of complaint texts for four of these groups. It is a sample, so it shows what owners describe and not how often a problem happens.

Power train. Owners describe gear trouble such as a transmission stuck between gears, jerking, shuddering and a car that was slow to move in reverse. Some describe hesitation when they press the gas, and in several texts the dealer could not find or repeat the fault. The median mileage at failure for this group is 80,000[2].

Speed control. In the sample, owners describe the engine revving or the car speeding up on its own, in some cases while they were braking. Others describe the car briefly losing power or the gas cutting out, often at low speed. The median mileage at failure is 29,450[10].

Air bags. Some owners in the sample say the air bags did not deploy in a crash. A few describe odd passenger air bag or seat sensor warning lights. This group has 46 crashes and 49 injuries among its 83 complaints, and the median mileage at failure is 37,000[9]. Recall 13V014 below covers a passenger sensor calibration issue on certain cars.

Structure. Several owners describe the trunk lid dropping on them when the car is parked on a slope. A few describe knocking or cracking noises from the roof or frame area. The median mileage at failure is 19,700[11].

Brakes, engine and electrical complaints were not part of the sample, so we do not describe them beyond the counts above[12][13][14].

Recalls

NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2012 Camry, newest first.

Owners can contact Toyota or Southeast Toyota about these recalls[3][4].

Fuel economy

EPA lists four versions. The hybrids get the best mileage by a wide margin[15][16][6][17].

Version City / highway / combined MPG EPA annual fuel cost
2.5L 4-cylinder, Automatic (S6)[15] 24 / 34 / 28 $2,400
3.5L 6-cylinder, Automatic (S6)[16] 21 / 30 / 24 $2,800
Camry Hybrid LE[6] 42 / 38 / 40 $1,700
Camry Hybrid XLE[17] 40 / 37 / 39 $1,700

All four are front-wheel drive and use regular gas. The annual cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new[15]. Compared with the 4-cylinder, the V6 costs $400 more per year in EPA's estimate[15][16].

Safety ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star ratings for the 4-door front-wheel-drive Camry are 5 stars overall, 4 stars for frontal crash, 5 stars for side crash and 4 stars for rollover[7]. NHTSA puts the rollover risk at 11.1%[7].

Engine and size

EPA lists two engines for this year. The 2.5L 4-cylinder is rated 154 to 178 hp depending on version[18]. The 3.5L 6-cylinder is rated 268 hp[19].

The sizes below are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada and can differ slightly from US cars[20][21][22]. All variants share the same length, width, height and wheelbase.

Variant Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
LE, SE, XLE 4-door sedan[21] 189 in 72 in 58 in 109 in 3,177 lb
SE V6, XLE V6 4-door sedan[22] 189 in 72 in 58 in 109 in 3,358 lb
LE Hybrid, XLE Hybrid 4-door sedan[20] 189 in 72 in 58 in 109 in 3,417 lb

How 2012 compares with other years

1995: 303 complaints, 1 recalls19951996: 417 complaints, 2 recalls1997: 555 complaints, 3 recalls1998: 600 complaints, 2 recalls1999: 585 complaints, 1 recalls19992000: 520 complaints, 2 recalls2001: 325 complaints, 2 recalls2002: 1,013 complaints, 4 recalls2003: 806 complaints, 1 recalls20032004: 799 complaints, 3 recalls2005: 813 complaints, 5 recalls2006: 435 complaints, 5 recalls2007: 3,616 complaints, 10 recalls20072008: 1,178 complaints, 7 recalls2009: 1,412 complaints, 10 recalls2010: 614 complaints, 9 recalls2011: 624 complaints, 5 recalls20112012: 645 complaints, 2 recalls64520122013: 301 complaints, 2 recalls2014: 480 complaints, 3 recalls2015: 286 complaints, 1 recalls20152016: 189 complaints, 3 recalls2017: 153 complaints, 3 recalls2018: 778 complaints, 8 recalls2019: 410 complaints, 7 recalls20192020: 284 complaints, 3 recalls2021: 165 complaints, 1 recalls2022: 65 complaints, 1 recalls2023: 66 complaints, 2 recalls20232024: 52 complaints, 1 recalls2025: 172 complaints, 6 recalls2026: 144 complaints, 3 recalls
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Camry model year. The 2012 is highlighted[5].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19953031
19964172
19975553
19986002
19995851
20005202
20013252
20021,0134
20038061
20047993
20058135
20064355
20073,61610
20081,1787
20091,41210
20106149
20116245
20126452
20133012
20144803
20152861
20161893
20171533
20187788
20194107
20202843
20211651
2022651
2023662
2024521
20251726
20261443

The 2012 Camry has 645 complaints and 2 recalls on file[5]. Eight model years have more complaints: 2002 (1,013), 2003 (806), 2004 (799), 2005 (813), 2007 (3,616), 2008 (1,178), 2009 (1,412) and 2018 (778)[5].

The 2011 model has 624 complaints and 5 recalls[5], which is close to 2012. The 2013 model has 301 complaints and 2 recalls[5]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so treat them as a rough guide. Because they come from the same model, comparing years is fairer than comparing different cars.

Should you buy a used 2012 Camry?

The record is mixed but not alarming. The 2012 Camry has 5-star overall and side crash ratings, solid fuel economy, and a hybrid that EPA rates at 39 to 40 combined MPG[7][6][17]. The model year has 645 complaints on file and no deaths reported, and eight other years have more complaints[1][5].

Before you buy, ask for the recall history, since the 13V442 fix is free of charge[3] and 13V014 has a dealer remedy[4]. On the test drive, pay attention to how it shifts and how it responds to the gas pedal, because power train is the largest complaint group and speed control also has a notable number of crash reports[2][10]. Owners in the sample we read describe trouble with both. Also check that the air bag warning light behaves normally[9].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA lists 645 complaints[1]. The largest group is power train with 146, followed by unknown or other with 88 and air bags with 83[1][2][8][9]. In the complaints we read, owners describe shifting trouble, hesitation and sudden speed-ups[2][10].
Does the 2012 Toyota Camry have any recalls?
Yes, two. Recall 13V442 covers a clogged air conditioner drain that can leak onto the air bag control module, and 13V014 covers passenger seat sensor calibration on certain vehicles[3][4]. The 13V442 fix is free of charge[3], and the 13V014 remedy is a dealer sensor test and recalibration[4].
How many miles per gallon does a 2012 Camry get?
EPA rates the 2.5L 4-cylinder at 28 combined MPG, the V6 at 24, and the hybrids at 40 (LE) and 39 (XLE)[15][16][6][17].
How safe is the 2012 Toyota Camry?
NHTSA gives the 4-door front-wheel-drive version 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover[7].
Is the 2012 Camry a bad year?
Not by complaint count. Eight model years have more complaints than its 645, and 2007 has the most at 3,616[5].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 645 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Toyota Camry (95 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 80 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 146 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Recall 13V442, filed October 17, 2013: Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner. NHTSA recall database
  4. Recall 13V014, filed January 16, 2013: Seats. NHTSA recall database
  5. Owner complaints and recalls for every Toyota Camry model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  6. EPA rating for Camry Hybrid LE, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 42 city / 38 highway / 40 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  7. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 11.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 88 complaints name the unknown or other component group (6 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 53,120). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 83 complaints name the air bags component group (46 crashes, 0 fires, 49 injuries, median mileage at failure 37,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 73 complaints name the speed control component group (26 crashes, 0 fires, 14 injuries, median mileage at failure 29,450). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 68 complaints name the structure component group (15 crashes, 0 fires, 11 injuries, median mileage at failure 19,700). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 68 complaints name the electrical system component group (6 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 54,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. 66 complaints name the engine component group (5 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 48,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  14. 65 complaints name the brakes component group (25 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  15. EPA rating for Camry, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 34 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for Camry, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for Camry Hybrid XLE, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 40 city / 37 highway / 39 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA Test Car List, 2012 Toyota Camry with 2.5L 4-cylinder: rated 154 to 178 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
  19. EPA Test Car List, 2012 Toyota Camry with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 268 hp. www.epa.gov
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAMRY LE HYBRID/XLE HYBRID 4DR SEDAN: length 189 in, width 72 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,417 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  21. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAMRY LE/SE/XLE 4DR SEDAN: length 189 in, width 72 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,177 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  22. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAMRY SE V6/XLE V6 4DR SEDAN: length 189 in, width 72 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,358 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.