2012 Toyota Camry: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Toyota Camry: 2 recalls, 590 owner complaints and up to 28 mpg combined.

Recalls
2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seats, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V014000 · 2013 · 3,235 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: 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.
Equipment, Airbags Vehicle recall #13V442000 · 2013 · 802,769 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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…
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 6 mention a fire, 65 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (142): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (64), noise or vibration (25), warning light on (24).
- Other / unknown (81): the most common themes are noise or vibration (11).
- Airbags (75): the most common themes are fails to deploy (30), warning light on (8).
- Speed control / throttle (67): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (9), sudden acceleration (9).
The 2012 Toyota Camry has 590 owner complaints, ranking #12 of 35 Camry model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 511). Complaints peaked in 2014 (87 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 40,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (600 complaints, 5 recalls), 2013 (274 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 34 | 28 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 24 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Toyota Camry.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Toyota Camry have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Toyota Camry. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Toyota Camry problems?
Owners have filed 590 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (142), other / unknown (81), airbags (75).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Camry get?
EPA ratings run up to 28 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Toyota Camry repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.