2012 Toyota CAMRY
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Toyota CAMRY has 807 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.2x the segment average of 373. The most common issue is transmission problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 toyota camry. the contact stated the transmission became stuck between second and third gear. when the failure occurred the contact had to pull over and restart the vehicle in order for the transmission to respond. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated paddle shi. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 7 fire reports filed.
807
Total Complaints
2
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
TRANSMISSION
142 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED PADDLE SHI
- • IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHIFT INTO NORMAL REVERSE. ON THESE OCCASIONS, WHEN YOU SHIFT INTO REVERSE ,IT WILL NOT MOVE OR CREEP SLOWLY BACK AS IT NORMALLY DOES. IT FEELS LIKE A BRAKE IS ON AND YOU MUST PUSH HARD ON THE GAS TO GET THE CAR TO BACK UP AT ALL. THE CAR THEN LUNGES BACKWARD UNTIL YOU TAKE YOU
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY SE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND WITHIN SECONDS THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED PADDLE SHI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2012 Toyota CAMRY
Based on 589 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 37K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
AIR BAGS
SPEED CONTROL
OTHER
BODY/STRUCTURE
BRAKES
ELECTRICAL
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (2)
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Above-average theft risk
The Toyota CAMRY was the #9 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 10,200 thefts reported to law enforcement.
Notes: High resale value + parts demand
Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2012 Toyota CAMRY
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Toyota CAMRY
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Toyota CAMRY Service Intervals
0W-20 synthetic oil recommended. ToyotaCare covers first 2 years / 25K miles of scheduled maintenance for new vehicles. Hybrid battery: 10 yr / 150K miles warranty.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Toyota New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
Hybrid battery is 10yr/150K miles for 2020+ hybrids. ToyotaCare (2yr/25K miles complimentary maintenance) is included.
These are the terms for a new Toyota. If you're buying a used 2012 CAMRY, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Toyota dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 807 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED PADDLE SHI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A CONCERN THAT IS PRIMARILY ONE OF SAFETY BUT WHICH ALSO INVOLVES POOR AND MISLEADING INFORMATION BY TOYOTA RELATED TO THE BLU-LOGIC CELL-PHONE CONNECTION SYSTEM INCLUDED AS A FEATURE ON MY NEW 2012 CAMRY HYBRID. MY CONCERN STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT THE BLU-LOGIC SY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: I WAS DRIVING APROX 30 MPH WHEN A FORD F150 TRUCK RAN A STOP SIGN AND I T BONED THEM. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IT HIT HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE WINDSHIELD. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: I ENTER INTO A PARKING LOT BEHIND A CLUSTER OF HOMES, A CAR WAS BEHIND ME AND THE DRIVER INDICATED THAT I WAS GOING AT LESS THAN 3-5 MILES PER HOUR. I PARK THE CAR AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED, WENT OVER THE PARKING BUMP AND OVER A WOOD SAFETY WALL, OVER SOME BUSHES AND LANDED 2 FEET D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Toyota dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Toyota CAMRY — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 807
- Recalls
- 2
- Fire reports
- 7
- Crash reports
- 96
- Injury reports
- 76
- Segment avg
- 373
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Toyota CAMRY