TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0151-13. * Applicability has been updated to include 2016 - 2018 model year Avalon and Avalon HV and 2017 model year Camry and Camry HV vehicles. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0151-13 is obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. Some 2012 - 2017 model year Camry, Camry HV, and 2013 - 2018 Avalon and Avalon HV vehicles produced in North American may exhibit a knocking, popping, ticking, or snapping noise from the moonroof area while driving. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this conditi
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Toyota Camry visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Toyota Camry have filed 21 NHTSA complaints about the visibility, typically surfacing around 25,000 miles at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Camry | 273 |
| 2009 Camry | 82 |
| 2010 Camry | 58 |
| 2011 Camry | 101 |
| 2012 Camry (this page) | 21 |
| 2013 Camry | 10 |
| 2015 Camry | 5 |
| 2016 Camry | 7 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility 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.
Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received reports of customer concerns in which the power moon roof, power sliding doors or power hatch are inoperative from the overhead console switches or require excessive pressure on the overhead console switches to operate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"TSB: SOME 2012 2016 MODEL YEAR NORTH AMERICAN PRODUCED (NAP) CAMRY AND CAMRY HV VEHICLES AND 2013 2015 AVALON AND AVALON HV VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A KNOCKING, POPPING, TICKING, OR SNAPPING NOISE FROM THE MOON ROOF AREA WHILE DRIVING. THE REPAIR PROCEDURE INCLUDED IN THIS BULLETIN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2012 - 2016 model year North American produced (NAP) Camry and Camry HV vehicles and 2013 - 2015 Avalon and Avalon HV vehicles may exhibit a knocking, popping, ticking, or snapping noise from the moon roof area while driving. The repair procedure included in this bulletin has been developed to address this condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report sunroof glass spontaneously shattering while driving at highway speeds—loud explosions with no external impact visible and no prior warning. Multiple incidents occurred at 65 mph with visor closed, on interstate highways with light traffic, and during routine driving. After these failures, dealers claim something hit the roof, though owners found no evidence of impact. One repair history shows a prior rattle issue corrected by shimming.
Sunroof rattling and popping is widespread—creaks and pops over bumps, especially with uneven road surfaces. Toyota issued Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0151-13 for improper factory installation, but only covers vehicles under 3 years/36,000 miles. Dealers' repairs (cleaning welding debris, re-torquing, installing plastic shims) fail to permanently stop the noise; owners report issues returning within a year.
Rear window defrost lines and factory tint create severe optical distortion. Owners looking out the rear see a single following car's headlight multiplied into 20 distinct lights, or 2 cars as 40 lines—described as disorienting and impossible to see through clearly. Dealers confirm the tint is the source but call the design normal.
Rear windows have spontaneously shattered while parked and during highway driving, unrelated to visible impact. One incident produced a burning rubber smell. No coverage under warranty; owners repair out of pocket.
Wind buffeting with rear windows open creates uncomfortable pressure in ears and head, making conversation impossible due to echo.
Same Toyota Camry visibility reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Sunroof/moonroof spontaneous glass failure
Sunroof glass suddenly shatters or implodes while driving at highway speeds, without any external impact or prior warning. Owners report loud explosions and complete glass collapse.
When: Variable, ranging from early ownership (25k miles) to highway driving at 65 mph and routine freeway travel
Symptoms owners cite: Loud explosion or pop sound from roof; Sudden glass shattering into small pieces; Large hole or complete collapse of sunroof glass; Rushing wind sound following failure
Repairs/costs cited: Not covered under warranty per owner report; owners required to remove glass debris for safety
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers insist external impact caused failure despite owner claims of no visible cause or prior damage
Sunroof/moonroof rattle and popping
Persistent rattling, popping, or creaking noise from sunroof/moonroof area, especially over bumps and rough roads. Issues recur after repair attempts.
When: Present at low mileage and continues after repair; example given at 5 miles post-repair
Symptoms owners cite: Rattle or popping noise from moonroof; Creaking sound when making turns; Noise over bumps and rough roads; Loud knocking noise from moonroof; Rattling when chassis torques over uneven bumps
Repairs/costs cited: Initial repairs included cleaning welding debris from contact points, re-torquing mountings, and plastic shims; issues persist or return within a year
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0151-13 addresses improper factory installation defect; limited to vehicles within 3-year/36k-mile warranty window
Rear window defrost tint optical distortion
Rear window defrost heating lines and factory tint cause severe visual distortion and multiplication of headlights from following vehicles, creating safety and visibility hazards.
When: Present from very low mileage (5 miles, 11 miles reported)
Symptoms owners cite: Defrost lines visible and disorientating when looking out rear window; Single headlight appears as 20 distinct headlights; Cannot see clearly out of rear window; Very distracting visual effect; Multiplied light reflections when cars follow behind (single car appears as 20 lines, 2 cars as 40 lines)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs made; owners reported dealer said design is normal
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer confirmed factory window tint is the source; design deemed normal by manufacturer
Rear window spontaneous shattering
Rear side window or back windshield suddenly shatters into small pieces while parked or during normal driving without any identified external cause.
When: Parked and during highway driving; one incident on I-35
Symptoms owners cite: Back windshield shattered into small pieces; Rear passenger window shattered on driver side; Loud boom sound heard during incident; Burning rubber smell reported with one failure
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reported out-of-pocket repair costs; not covered under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer/Toyota showed no interest in addressing issue or taking responsibility
Wind buffeting with rear windows open
Excessive air pressure and buffeting noise when rear windows are open, causing discomfort and making conversation impossible due to echo.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Unbearable wind buffeting when rear windows open; Unsupportable pressure felt in ears and head; Voice echo and inability to speak clearly
Sun visor falling during driving
Driver-side sun visor drops down while vehicle is in motion, striking the driver's forehead.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Sun visor falls and hits driver's forehead
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports recall exists but their VIN does not match recall list
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued but limited to specific VIN range
Poor rear window factory tint clarity
Factory-applied rear window tint severely impairs visibility when looking out the rear, making it difficult to see clearly.
When: Present from very low mileage (11 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to see out of factory rear window tint; Reduced visibility through rear window
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs made
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer confirmed tint is factory defect but vehicle was not repaired by manufacturer
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had visibility 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 visibility problem on the 2012 Toyota Camry?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most visibility failures cluster between 12,000 and 31,007 miles, with the median around 25,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 12,000; a quarter make it past 31,007. 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 $350 for visibility 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 visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility 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.