TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Toyota Camry cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Toyota Camry have filed 48 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 30,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
48
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Camry | 136 |
| 2009 Camry | 243 |
| 2010 Camry | 137 |
| 2011 Camry | 50 |
| 2012 Camry (this page) | 48 |
| 2013 Camry | 22 |
| 2015 Camry | 8 |
| 2016 Camry | 16 |
16crashes
8injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 48 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TOYOTA: ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY INFORMATION REGARDING THE INSPECTION, REMOVAL, AND INSTALLATION, IF LUBRICATION OR OIL, IS APPLIED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2012 Camry shows a pattern of acceleration-control failures across 48 complaints. Most serious are unintended acceleration events where the vehicle surges forward while brakes fail to respond—owners report crashes into poles, structures, and other vehicles at speeds as low as 5 MPH, sometimes while foot was already on the brake. A few crashes deployed airbags; one totaled the vehicle. Several owners say brakes felt completely non-functional.
Acceleration hesitation and stalling are equally common complaints. Vehicle loses power for 1–10 seconds during turns or merging, with the engine sometimes restarting on its own. Owners report nearly being rear-ended and describe the hesitation as dangerous in intersections and on highways.
Transmission shudder between 20–50 MPH appears tied to Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0079-15 and Customer Support Program ZF4, which address torque converter and ECM software issues. One owner was denied goodwill coverage despite qualifying by mileage, excluded only by time.
Cruise control malfunction caused sudden acceleration at highway speeds. Accelerator pedal losses and engine over-revving (5,000–7,000 RPM) also surfaced. One owner reported rapid rollback on slight inclines when releasing the brake.
Most dealers could not diagnose these issues—particularly intermittent hesitation—citing lack of diagnostic codes or inability to reproduce. Some offered software updates without lasting fixes. Toyota assigned case numbers for some failures but many owners report stonewalling.
Same Toyota Camry cruise control reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration with brake unresponsive
Vehicle accelerates on its own, often reaching high RPMs, while brake pedal does not respond. Occurs during parking, low-speed maneuvers, and while stationary. Reported in multiple crashes into structures, poles, and other vehicles.
When: Typically low-speed (5–25 MPH) parking and maneuvering; also reported while stationary at stop signs/lights and with foot on brake. Failure mileage ranges from 1,300 to 116,670 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended acceleration independent of accelerator input; Brake pedal unresponsive despite firm application; RPMs increase unexpectedly; Vehicle surges forward uncontrollably; Engine racing/revving sounds
Repairs/costs cited: Software updates provided by dealers in some cases (complaint #8), but failures often persist. Multiple dealers unable to diagnose or reproduce intermittent conditions. One case (#23) cited throttle control replacement; reoccurred. Most failures not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota TSB T-SB-0079-15 and Customer Support Program ZF4 documented for torque converter/ECM software issues (complaint #3). Some cases assigned case numbers for investigation via event data recorder review. Many owners report Toyota service refusal citing no diagnostic codes or inability to replicate.
Acceleration hesitation, stalling, and loss of power
Engine loses power, hesitates, or stalls during acceleration, particularly during turns or when merging. Delays of 1–10 seconds reported. Vehicle may decelerate unexpectedly or fail to respond to throttle input.
When: Occurs during turns at low speed, merging onto highways, accelerating from stops, and on inclines. Reported across various mileages; some cases early (around 1,000 miles) and others much later.
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed response when pressing accelerator; Engine stalls or loses power for 1–10 seconds; Vehicle coasts without acceleration; Hesitation when accelerating from stop; Loss of power during turns; Engine restart after power loss
Repairs/costs cited: One case (#23) had throttle control replaced but failure recurred. One case (#30) had engine mount replaced ($890) without resolving the issue. Most cases had no repairs completed or attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota North America case opened in complaint #5 but was dismissed due to lack of diagnostic codes. Dealers repeatedly tell owners condition is 'normal' (complaint #2) or cite software delay/throttle response (complaint #2). No formal recall or TSB cited for this mode in these narratives.
Transmission shudder and vibration with ECM software issue
Transmission shudders and vibrates, particularly between 20–50 MPH during acceleration. Directly linked to torque converter and ECM software per Toyota TSB T-SB-0079-15 and Customer Support Program ZF4. Affects drivability and safety during merging and traffic navigation.
When: City and highway acceleration, typically 20–50 MPH. Reported at 116,670 miles (complaint #3) and other high mileages. One complaint (#11) mentions recall for 2012–2014 model years.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shudder and vibration; Loss of power during acceleration; Vehicle slows unexpectedly (55 MPH to 20 MPH reported); Check engine and traction control warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Complaint #3 references Toyota TSB T-SB-0079-15 and Customer Support Program ZF4 (eligibility up to 150,000 miles or 8 years). Goodwill assistance was declined for complaint #3 on time-limitation grounds despite clear symptoms.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0079-15 and Customer Support Program ZF4 acknowledge torque converter and ECM software defect. Complaint #11 references recall that dealership refused to cover. Goodwill support declined based on time limit despite mileage eligibility.
Cruise control malfunction—sudden acceleration
Cruise control engages unintended acceleration, causing vehicle to suddenly speed up. Reported at highway speeds (60–70 MPH) on interstates. Brake application halts the surge in some cases, but creates dangerous situations.
When: Highway speeds, 60–70 MPH on interstates. Occurs after cruise control is activated and while driver is not touching accelerator.
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control suddenly accelerates vehicle without driver input; Vehicle 'takes off like a jet'; Unexpected speed increase despite cruise being set; Brake application stops the surge
Accelerator pedal unresponsiveness or loss of function
Accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive or stops working entirely during driving, requiring release and re-depression to regain function. Occurs both at low and moderate speeds, and on inclines.
When: Highway speeds (40–50 MPH) and parking structures. One case (#46) reported three successive losses on highway; one case (#48) in parking structure ascent.
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal stops responding to input; Pedal requires full release and re-depression to restore function; No acceleration despite pedal depression; Speed capped at lower threshold (40 MPH reported)
Engine revving and loss of throttle control
Engine RPMs increase unexpectedly to high levels (5,000–7,000 RPM) while driving at normal speeds. Vehicle jerks violently and RPMs remain elevated even after foot is removed from accelerator. Pedal response becomes abnormal.
When: Highway speeds (35–60 MPH). One case (#19) at 60 MPH; pedal lift did not lower RPMs.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to 5,000–7,000 RPM unexpectedly; Violent jerking of vehicle; RPMs remain elevated after accelerator release; Loud revving noise
Repairs/costs cited: One case (#19) required tow truck; no repair noted.
Backup roll/rollback on incline
Vehicle rolls backward rapidly when foot is lifted from brake on even slight inclines, forcing driver to quickly press accelerator to prevent collision. Dealer confirms this is a 'common problem.'
When: When releasing brake on inclines in vehicles with 2012–2013 model years.
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid rollback when brake is released on incline; Vehicle moves faster than expected in reverse
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged this is a common problem (complaint #27).
Synthesized from 48 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2012 Toyota Camry?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2012 Toyota Camry?
It's a meaningful issue. 48 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 35 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 12,391 and 61,250 miles, with the median around 30,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,391; a quarter make it past 61,250. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Toyota/Camry.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.