The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 146 of 646 complaints (23%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (53) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 625 in 2011 to 646 in 2012.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 646
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,550–$2,600
- Combined MPG
- 24–40
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,850–2,700 | 1,900–2,700 | 1,550–2,600 | 1,550–2,500 | 1,550–2,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 23–34 | 23–33 | 24–40 | 25–40 | 25–40 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–33 / 28–34 | 20–31 / 29–35 | 21–42 / 30–38 | 21–42 / 30–38 | 21–42 / 30–38 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 261–386 | 269–386 | 222–370 | 220–361 | 220–361 | |
| Complaints filed | 614 | 625 | 646 | 301 | 480 | |
| Recalls issued | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 101 | 111 | 95 | 46 | 67 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 60 | 94 | 80 | 29 | 46 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Camry have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Toyota Camry?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 146 of 646 NHTSA complaints (23%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Camry get?
EPA rates it 24–40 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Toyota Camry?
EPA estimates $1,550–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 24 mpg | 34 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,200 | 317 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 370 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 42 mpg (high) | 38 mpg (high) | 40 mpg (high) | $1,550 (low) | 222 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 40 mpg | 37 mpg | 39 mpg | $1,600 | 228 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 66 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 146 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 68 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Brakes | 70 | 25 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Steering | 66 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 36 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 92 | 47 | 0 | 53 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 75 | 26 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 82 | 15 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 100 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
- Defect
- Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Avalon, Avalon HV, Venza, Camry, and Camry HV vehicles. 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. The accumulated water may then leak through a seam in the housing onto the air bag control module potentially resulting in a short circuit of the module.
- Consequence
- 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. An inoperative airbag can increase the risk of injury in a severe crash. The power steering assist could also become inoperable resulting in increased steering effort and can increase the risk of a crash at low speeds.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will seal the air conditioning condenser unit housing and install a protective cover on the airbag control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE; SEATS
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.