2012 Toyota Camry Owner Complaints

The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed uphill during flooding conditions, the vehicle slipped and hydroplaned. The contact attempted to correct the steering but lost control of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to drive into a ditch and flip over several times before coming to a complete stop upside down. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated nor abnormal sounds coming from the vehicle prior to the crash. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained a laceration to the head, scrapes on both legs, an injury to the left arm, and an injury to the right knee. Medical attention was required, including an emergency room visit and doctor visits. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 255,000.

NHTSA ID

11750348

Incident

Jun 16, 2026

Mileage

255,000 mi

Recall was completed on 11/25/14 for a shudder when hitting 35 to 50. The recall was a software issue and they show that a torque converter may have been needed at a later date to further correct the issue. Looking for Toyota to follow up with a complete recall vs just the software.

NHTSA ID

11734130

Incident

Nov 25, 2014

I am noticing there is some wiggling and play with the driver’s seat. Every time I hop inside the car, I feel the seat wiggle back a little bit. I notice some movement back and forth when accelerating and braking and it is starting to get very annoying whenever I drive.

NHTSA ID

11719868

Incident

Feb 20, 2026

The "incident" is not a fault or flaw of my car in any way, but rather is caused by the auto industry's general shift to LED/HID headlights. In my opinion, they make driving unsafe for external observers because they are too bright and create a lot of glare, so that keeping my eyes focused and perceptive of features I need to see in the road directly ahead of me is becoming increasingly difficult, and therefore, by definition, more unsafe. Technology must be improved so that headlights can alter spectral output according to background illumination (dimmer means cooler,) and light output should have finer, adaptive directional control so that more light gets to objects in front that need to be illuminated, and less to oncoming drivers whose visual contrast range may be overwhelmed. I'm [XXX] , and I have the beginnings of cataracts. Older, halogen-based headlights don't interfere much with my vision, but modern headlights do, and quite badly so. This has to improve! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11719260

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the driver seat lumbar support mechanism found in multiple vehicle models across the industry. The lumbar support feature applies excessive, uneven, or unstable pressure to the driver’s lower back during normal driving conditions. This occurs even when the feature is set to its lowest or neutral position. The defect presents in the following ways: •The lumbar support protrudes too far forward, forcing the spine into an unnatural posture. •The mechanism shifts or changes pressure during , creating sudden discomfort or pain. •Extended use results in lower back strain, muscle spasms, or nerve irritation. Safety Risk This issue poses a significant safety hazard because it directly affects the driver’s ability to maintain proper posture, comfort, and control of the vehicle. This pain is not noticeable until you step out of the vehicle and it difficult to trace that to the lumber support button as most people do not observed when it is on. The defect can: •Reduce reaction time due to discomfort or restricted movement •Increase the risk of long term musculoskeletal injury •Create fatigue or numbness that compromises safe operation Because this feature is present in many vehicles and consistently causes injury, the problem appears to be systemic and design related, not limited to a single manufacturer. Frequency of the Issue •Occurs: (e.g., every drive / frequent / intermittent) •First noticed on: (2020) •Conditions: (e.g., highway driving, long trips, stop and go traffic) Additional Notes •No aftermarket modifications have been made to the seat. •It may not be limited to Toyota vehicle only. I guess any vehicle driver seat that has lumber support is a suspect. •The issue persists regardless of seat height, tilt, or recline adjustments. •The problem appears inherent to the lumbar mechanism’s design rather than wear and tear. •The defect affects driver comfort, posture, and safe vehicle operation.

NHTSA ID

11718947

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

I am reporting a safety-related issue involving the ECM / torque converter on my 2012 Toyota Camry. This issue can cause loss of power, hesitation, or stalling which presents a serious safety concern while driving. The issue impacts drivability and can result in sudden loss of acceleration or engine stalling, especially at higher speeds or during merging. This creates an increased risk of collision for myself, passengers, and surrounding vehicles. I have experienced some scary occurrences with shuddering at high speeds, hesitation while near other innocent vehicles and stalling. I was never notified by Toyota about this recall or service campaign while it was active. I maintain current registration information and would have had the issue addressed immediately. Toyota acknowledged the campaign but refused support due to expiration, despite my lack of notice. I contacted Toyota and was instructed to file a complaint with NHTSA. Toyota declined to repair the issue under goodwill or policy exception. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether this defect should have been classified as a safety recall and whether consumers were properly notified. Sudden loss of power or stalling presents a significant safety risk and may warrant additional remedies or extension of the campaign for affected owners who were not notified.

NHTSA ID

11709755

Incident

Nov 3, 2025

Vehicle is shuddering/stalling when trying to accelerate. Currently 150,000

NHTSA ID

11698853

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale from AJ Sales & Services in Houston, TX. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 101,375. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 245,980. Upon further investigation, the contact became aware that the vehicle was an Auction vehicle that was purchased by the dealer on 08/06/2024. The mileage after the auction sale was 101,294. The contact had also purchased two other vehicles from the same dealer, and there were also discrepancies with the mileages. The contact first purchased a 2014 Kia Optima. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 112,610, and it was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 214,175. The second vehicle purchased was a 2015 Hyundai Sonata. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 101,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 198,826. The contact stated that the engines seized in the first and second vehicles five months after purchasing the vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11693831

Incident

Sep 16, 2024

Mileage

245,980 mi

Steering wheel is hard to turn

NHTSA ID

11686177

Incident

Sep 8, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure worsened while merging onto a highway and the vehicle vibrated abnormally while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The contact was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11681409

Incident

Aug 1, 2023

Mileage

90,000 mi

My engine jumps when I accelerate so I looked on google if there were any recalls and it said there were so i called the Toyota dealership and they said there were no recalls on my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11676858

Incident

Mar 3, 2022

I removed the seat cover to clean it after an unfortunate stomach bug incident and discovered the styrofoam padding of the headrest was broken off on the left side. I do not know what date the styrofoam broke, but it was discovered July 22, 2025. My only guess is that my toddler could have done it himself because he liked the squeaky sound it made when he shook his head back and forth. Despite my best effort to redirect him when it happened, he would occasionally do this on car rides. We purchased the car seat from the Evenflo store on Amazon on August 31, 2023. My son was between 2 and 4 when the incident would have occurred.

NHTSA ID

11675370

Incident

Jul 22, 2025

I am filing this complaint regarding a known and documented issue affecting my 2012 Toyota Camry (VIN: [XXX] ), which has developed a transmission shudder and vibration between 20–50 mph. This problem is directly aligned with Toyota Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0079-15 and Customer Support Program ZF4, both of which describe issues with the torque converter and ECM software. My vehicle has 116,670 miles, which falls within the mileage eligibility of the support program (ZF4: 150,000 miles), though it is just outside the time limitation (8 years). I reached out to Toyota (Case #: [XXX]) to request goodwill assistance due to the safety-related nature of the defect and the fact that it is a well-documented product flaw, but they declined support solely based on time — not on mileage or vehicle condition. The vibration affects the transmission and drivability, particularly during city and highway acceleration, creating potential hazards when merging or navigating traffic. I believe this qualifies as a design flaw with potential safety implications. I respectfully request that NHTSA review Toyota’s handling of this issue and determine whether further consumer protection or a recall is warranted, especially for owners who were not adequately notified or who fall just outside the support window despite clear symptoms. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11670619

Incident

Jun 11, 2025

When I either: i) start the car and drive more than 20 ft OR ii) am at a stop light then accelerate..the car begins to jerk backward. Have changed the gasket and the throttle body and this issue still keeps happening. It started around the 90k Mile mark.

NHTSA ID

11668312

Incident

Jun 21, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact research and was made aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11664573

Incident

Dec 3, 2024

Mileage

90,000 mi

Hi I owned this car I had low miles on it 108404 I registered it start driving when I drive it start shuddering and vibration on car when I reach speet 30-40 I talk with Toyota they told me they had recall in past it was expired on 2021 they can not repair it if I want to repair it I have to pay from my pocket that was not our fault I talk with them no help lot of people had same issue with transmission we buy this car after warranty expired if some one can help us with this issue that will be appreciates thanks you

NHTSA ID

11664166

Incident

May 28, 2025

My VIN for my 2012 Toyota camry LE 4cyl was never listed for a recall that my vehicle should have been included on. 2012 Toyota Transmission U760e shuddering issue and ECM issue. By VIN there are no past or present recalls listed, but after extensive research my vehicle does qualify for this fix by the manufacture for faulty transmission parts. My vehicle is equipped with this transmission U760e confirmed by the label in the door jamb. My vehicle has been dealer maintained since I became owner in 2013 and never once did I get a recall letter or be made aware of a recall from the dealerships. The issue is this recall gave a specific timeline on when owners had to bring their car in for this fix and that timeline has passed. I believe im owed this recall fix on my vehicle and need it reviewed because my car shudders going 40-50mph, the Toyota dealership has inspected my car and quoted me for a torque converter replacement $4,500.00 my car only has 127,000 miles. Carfax report is available to show my consistent dealer maintenance and repairs along with the below average miles driven based on the year of my vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11659138

Incident

Jan 20, 2012

I recently was a passenger in my vehicle during a motor vehicle crash, and the air bags did not deployed for the driver or the passenger.

NHTSA ID

11655194

Incident

Mar 26, 2025

Abs light flashes randomly at me when driving and at a stop car shakes aggressively

NHTSA ID

11651976

Incident

Oct 16, 2024

The contact owns a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle hesitated while accelerating before slamming into gear. The contact stated that the vehicle was shuddering abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the Limited-Service Campaign: (LSC) LSCE03. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided contact with the diagnostic trouble code: P2109 that was retrieved when the vehicle was taken to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA ID

11649727

Incident

Feb 17, 2025

Mileage

105,000 mi

The transmission malfunctioned and is available for inspection upon request. The transmission failing while driving is a safety hazard and has put my safety and others on the road at risk. The problem has not yet been inspected by a dealer or third party. There were no warning lights or engine lights prompted during this malfunction. Please confirm that the dealership will take ownership of this malfunction and is obligated to perform an inspection and repair. The 2012-2014 Toyota Camry U760 ATM ECM Software update recall is related to a potential transmission shudder issue that can occur in these model years, particularly when accelerating; this shudder is caused by a combination of factors within the transmission system, and the recall aims to address this by updating the car's Engine Control Module (ECM) software to mitigate the problem.  Key points about this recall: •Affected vehicles: 2012-2014 Toyota Camry models with the U760 transmission. 
 •Issue: The car may experience a brief shuddering sensation when accelerating under light load, especially between 25-50 mph. 
 •Solution: Toyota dealers will update the ECM software through a recall service to address the shuddering issue.

NHTSA ID

11649086

Incident

Mar 18, 2025

I bought a 2012 Toyota Camry in December of 2014. The car had 8,666 miles at the time, it currently has 84,220 miles and a transmission shudder has presented itself. Toyota was well aware of this issue back when they sold me the car since there was a letter back then. Toyota also failed to send me a notice about this particular safety issue in due time. They claim THEY SENT THE LETTER TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER! No common sense there. What good was it to them if they didn't have the car? The car is in pristine condition with the exception of the shudder which is constant every single day, is worse when turning the steering wheel at any turn and it looses power making very dangerous to merge at the highway. There are so many complaints yet the NHTSA has not done anything. Toyota is not owning it and has pushed this burden on to its customers to resolve the matter on their own and making them deal with this. The customer service team is no help and like paid puppets keep saying over and over is at the owners expense. This very expensive problem caused by Toyota should be taken care by Toyota.

NHTSA ID

11647824

Incident

Mar 12, 2025

The contact owned a 2012 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while her [XXX] daughter was driving at 35 MPH during traffic, the vehicle suddenly accelerated while attempting to depress the brake pedal. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's daughter kept on depressing the brake pedal but the vehicle continued increasing its speed up to 39 MPH and the brakes failed to respond. As a result, the vehicle rear-ended a vehicle that was in front, then that vehicle crashed into another vehicle that was in front of her. The contact's daughter suffered from whiplash, but no medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center, where an appraiser deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11645309

Incident

Feb 26, 2025

Mileage

130,000 mi

Unknown

NHTSA ID

11639218

Incident

Jan 28, 2025

On October 22, I drove my daughter to her high school that is about 6 miles away from my house and dropped her off around 6:50 AM. On my way back, after driving around 2 miles, I was turning around a bend about 25 miles per hour when my car suddenly started accelerating. Startled, I stepped on the brake immediately, but the brake was not working to my surprise. I stepped a second time, and then a third time to no avail. In the meantime, the car was surging forward into the darkness at a higher and higher speed. I panicked; I remember uttering,” oh, my God, Oh, my God” a couple of times and then don’t remember what happened. According to the sheriff’s car crash report, the car veered off the road to the left, glanced off a tree and continued in a straight line and crashed into an electricity pole at about 65 mph and stopped. Obviously, I was in a state of shock and woken up by someone asking me repeatedly, “Are you okay?”. I was dazed. When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by blinking lights from an ambulance. I just sat there bewildered. The window next to me was utterly broken. My left leg was folded. I felt it with my palm and realized that it was broken. I felt my right leg and it was okay. I was asked if I could pull my self out of the car through the passenger’s side door, but I couldn’t move my left leg. So, I gave my back to first responders, and they dragged me out of the car and laid me on the tarmac. Two people held me by my legs and two others by my shoulders and picked me up to a stretcher of an ambulance. My t – shirt and pants were cut up and removed, and I was wrapped by blanket, and taken to the back of the ambulance. Preliminary checking suggested my left leg was indeed fractured, therefore, was wrapped carefully, and I was taken to an emergency room. X-ray of my leg and CT scan of my head and chest showed that my left leg had serious fractures. Surgery to stabilize the fractures was performed. And a second surgery will be performed in two days.

NHTSA ID

11624333

Incident

Oct 22, 2024