Is the 2012 Toyota Camry a bad year?
591 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 142, 7.9× a quiet Camry year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 7.9× the complaints of a quiet Camry year, spread over 39k–111k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 Camry owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 82,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 142 (24%) | 39k–111k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 63 (11%) | 15k–107k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 62 (10%) | 18k–99k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 20 (3%) | 33k–82k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 75 (13%) | 16k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 67 (11%) | 12k–61k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 61 (10%) | 10k–40k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Steering | 59 (10%) | 2k–58k miles · mostly behind | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 55 (9%) | 13k–52k miles · mostly behind | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel system | 26 (4%) | 12k–67k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 16 (3%) | 10k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 16 (3%) | 7k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Seat belts | 12 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 82,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 591 complaints: 84 mention a crash · 6 mention a fire · 44 report an injury · 29 say the car was towed.
10 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
This 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.
Torque converter is faulty. There was a recall for this on my 2012 Toyota Camry that I was unaware of. The recall was acknowledged by Toyota and only covered 5 years 60,000 miles.
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.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 82,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Toyota Camry: 2
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. 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.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 240
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Toyota Camry. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Non-electric water pump leak inspection and diagnostic tips for some 2008 - 2025 model year Toyota vehicles
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The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power…
Neighbouring years
2011 Camry: 602 complaints, keep it · 2013 Camry: 272 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Toyota Camry year
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Questions
Is the 2012 Toyota Camry a bad year?
591 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 142, 7.9× a quiet Camry year. At 82,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 7.9× the complaints of a quiet Camry year, spread over 39k–111k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Toyota Camry?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (142), engine (63), electrical system (62), visibility and wipers (20), air bags (75). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 39k–111k miles.
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Camry have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 13V-442), Seats (NHTSA 13V-014). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.