The Lemon Index2012 Toyota Camry.
The 2012 Toyota Camry is better than average by owner complaints: 288 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 66, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 24 to 40 mpg combined. The best Toyota Camry year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 95 YouTube videos about the 2012–2017 Toyota Camry, 14.6M views. The 2012 is the same car.
- Infotainment, battery & electrical525K views
2015-17 Toyota Camry touchscreen unresponsive not working and broken cracked screen replacement fixexp · 239K views · 4 videos - Timing chain & engine453K views
2015-2017 Toyota Camry Buying guideThe Car Care Nut · 231K views · 2 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring320K views
How to Replace Headlight Bulbs 2012-2017 Toyota CamryTRQ · 139K views · 3 videos - Oil changes & service283K views
How to Change Engine Oil 2012-2017 Toyota Camry (2.5L / 2AR-FE)1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know · 175K views · 2 videos
Show 4 more
- Transmission & shifter282K views
2014 Toyota Camry Transmission Fluid Change with the U760E737mechanic · 118K views · 3 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door248K views
Toyota Camry 2013, 2014, 2015 Air Mix motor // Blend door motor AC or Heat Control ActuatorRB The Mechanic · 100K views · 3 videos - Starter, alternator & belts243K views
2012-2014 Toyota Camry serpentine belt replacementNutzAboutBolts · 158K views · 2 videos - Brakes & ABS139K views
2012 – 2014 Toyota Camry - Replacing Front Brake Pads - Easy DIY!Dan the Fix it Man · 86K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
2015 Toyota Camry XSE V6 Start Up, Test Drive, and In Depth ReviewSaabkyle04 · 773K views
2015 Toyota Camry Review - First DriveAutoGuide.com · 469K views
2016 Toyota Camry Start Up, Road Test, and Review 2.5 L 4-CylinderCamerons Car Reviews · 343K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 645 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota Camry year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 13K to 80K miles on the car (472 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 35K–110K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 16K–59K miles
- speed control complaints mostly came at 8K–60K miles
Recalls 2
- electrical 2013
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.
- airbags 2013
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…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 566 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Warranty Policy Bulletin: Toyota has received reports of customer concerns in which the power…
- Had the Door Control Receiver replaced, which
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenBrake actuator valve wear2023
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
- ClosedBrake actuator valve wear2019–2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota Camry HV 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1600–2700 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
While waiting on a red light, car was struck head on. Car was moved back 300 feet. Airbags failed to deploy. As a result bodily injury resulted. ...updated 05/11/15
2012 Toyota Camry owner · NHTSA complaint 10704574
More owner reports
Persistent moderately loud knocking noise coming from the roof. As soon as you start driving, the knocking sound occurs, stops, and stops again. It is most persistent while driving over uneven street pavement.
NHTSA complaint 10537565
To the point, trunk will not stay open on incline. Closed on my head while I was going to retrieve items. Called it in and Toyota told me they never heard of this complaint. The local dealer said they can not fix it.
NHTSA complaint 10767329
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Toyota Camry reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.5× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 66; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota Camry year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Camry problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (17%), body structure (17%) and speed control (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Camry have?
2 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Camry get?
24 to 40 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Toyota Camry safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Toyota Camry problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 13,200 and 80,000 miles. The middle report was at 38,500 miles, from 472 complaints.
Does the 2012 Toyota Camry have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2012 Toyota Camry cost in fuel a year?
About $1600 to $2700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Toyota Camry have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota Camry year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2017 and 2016.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works