Toyota Camry problems
642 owners have filed defect reports on this one. That's not a small number. No active recalls — patterns come from the complaint record.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
- Steering: 65 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 5,049–62,000 mi
- Electrical system: 53 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 18,000–99,000 mi
- Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
December 29th at 3:00 a.m my wife and I was going to the atm in granger tx. As I approached a sharp curve I went to apply the brake to slow down and the car speeded up hit the culvert and went airborne. We came down on a boulder and somehow we managed to drive back to my…
Takata recall. Vehicle was stationary, car would not start, received some electrical codes when went to local shop (merchant auto and tire, md). Car was parked and next time, when trying to start did not start. Battery is good. I had passenger side seat airbag recall fixed…
On 1/8/13 I was going down highway at 60 MPH and I noticed passenger side air bag off light was on ,with an adult in passenger seat. I took to dealer and they said it checked ok. On 12/23/13 I was on highway at 60 MPH and I noticed passenger side air bag off light was on…
While driving on any road between 20 and 40 MPH, 3rd and 4th speed, the transmission shudders and while pressing the gas, the vehicle hesitates. Sometimes it is somewhat clear to accelerate, other times it feels like you are fighting a wall that will not move. I believe from…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2012 Toyota Camry reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 642 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Toyota Camry is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2012 Toyota Camry?
The 2012 Toyota Camry is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Steering: 65 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 5,049–62,000 mi; Electrical system: 53 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 18,000–99,000 mi; Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2012 Toyota Camry?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 143 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 84,008 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 84,008 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Toyota Camry has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Toyota Camry?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 642 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.