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2012 Toyota Camry problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
39% of relevant owner complaints on the 2012 Toyota Camry are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 55% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 96 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 33%).
Does the 2012 Toyota Camry have transmission problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 213 of 548 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Camry concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (39%), and the largest group is filed under power train (146). For comparison, the 2011 scores 17% and the 2013 scores 37%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Toyota Camry years
Of the 14 Toyota Camry years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 5th-worst on engine and transmission share (39%). The worst is the 2019 (58%), the best the 2011 (17%). By volume, the 2012 drew 644 complaints (213 drivetrain), against 623 for the 2011 and 301 for the 2013.
Toyota Camry years to avoid and best years →
2010 Camry problems · 2011 Camry problems · 2012 · 2013 Camry problems · 2014 Camry problems · 2015 Camry problems · 2016 Camry problems · 2017 Camry problems · 2018 Camry problems · 2019 Camry problems · 2020 Camry problems · 2021 Camry problems · 2022 Camry problems · 2023 Camry problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Toyota Camry
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Toyota Camry said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 213 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Toyota Camry engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Toyota Camry, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Toyota Camry? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Toyota Camry have transmission problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 213 of 548 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Toyota Camry concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (39%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Toyota Camry?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Toyota Camry is power train: 146 of 644 complaints (23%) name it, followed by air bags (83) and vehicle speed control (73). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2012 Toyota Camry reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 39% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 55% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Toyota Camry years we score, it ranks 5th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Toyota Camry?
No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2012 Toyota Camry, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Toyota Camry years are better?
Among the Toyota Camry years we track, the 2011 (17%), the 2017 (18%) and the 2010 (19%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (39%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/toyota-camry
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.