2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid most often describe brakes that lose power or fail to stop the car, and unintended acceleration that some say happened even while they pressed the brake. Steering that wanders or needs constant correction, air bags that did not deploy in collisions, and trunk, door, and lock faults are also described. Where mileage is recorded, complaints range from a few hundred miles to about 170,000 miles, and most brake and acceleration complaints involve lower mileage.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brakes lose power or fail to stop the car

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 40,247 mi at 4.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2018

   Owners describe a brake pedal that goes loose or brakes that fail suddenly, with no power braking, and in some cases the vehicle does not stop when the pedal is pressed. Some describe ABS or brake warning lights coming on, and one describes repeated episodes before a failed ABS actuator was found. According to complaints, the dealer in some cases found nothing wrong, and in others a failed brake booster or incorrect brake fluid was identified. Where mileage is recorded, these complaints range from about 9,000 to about 170,000 miles, and several describe the problem at low speed on local roads or in parking lots.

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether the brake booster, ABS actuator, and brake fluid were checked, and whether the fluid type was correct after any service. On a test drive, check the pedal feel and stopping at low speed, and ask for the brake and ABS repair history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The are majer prablemin break system for my car happen while ago break pedal become so loose causing car accident ti toke the car to my owen mechinic indecting this prablemhe say that break booster pump are leaking internialy inside the pump make air pressure force to. Loose controll for the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10715632, filed 2015-05, 170,000 miles

   “When driving on local roads, the ABS, slip and warning lights would come on suddenly. I would experience a severe decrease in brake function (I would need to slam on the brakes to get them to apply properly). This happened four times before the service center was able to diagnose a failed ABS actuator. This is apparently a known issue for the camry hybrids, as Toyota issued an extended warranty for 2006-2011 camry hybrids for this very problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11003054, filed 2017-07, 42,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected acceleration, sometimes with no brake response

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 28,500 mi at 3.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2018

   Owners describe the car accelerating or lurching unexpectedly while parking or pulling into a space, sometimes with the brake pedal not responding. In some accounts the car struck another vehicle, a garage wall, or a person. According to complaints, the failure was not diagnosed or repaired in some cases, and in one case the owner found nothing obvious afterward. Where mileage is recorded, these complaints range from about 9,000 to about 48,000 miles, and several describe the problem while parking or pulling into a space.

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether stored fault codes or event data were checked for any unintended acceleration, and whether any throttle or shift software update was applied. On a test drive, confirm that the brake pedal slows the car promptly at low speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was slowly accelerating into a parking space when I felt the gas pedal move away from my foot and the car lurched forward. I immediately stepped on the brakes and the car stopped. I sat for a minute to see what could have caused this unintended acceleration. Nothing was evident, so I backed into the parking space and shut the car off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10637839, filed 2014-09, 27,000 miles

   “I was in my gym's parking lot and had just turned left into a parking space. I placed my foot on the brake to slow the car to a stop as it moved forward into the parking space. However, the brake pedal did not respond. Instead, the car continued driving forward on its own, and then I heard a sound of acceleration, as if the car was revving itself up to a higher speed. Thinking that the brake had not engaged, I took my foot off the pedal and placed it back on the brake pedal, stepping harder, but there was no response. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10895714, filed 2016-08, 48,036 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering wanders or needs constant correction

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 5,250 mi at 1.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2016

   Owners describe a car that wanders or drifts on straight highway sections and needs frequent steering corrections to stay in lane. Some describe stiff steering that makes them over-correct, and some say dealers checked or adjusted the alignment without resolving the problem. According to complaints, the dealer in one case described the behavior as characteristic of electronic steering. Where mileage is recorded, these complaints range from about 1,000 to about 50,000 miles, and several describe the problem at highway speed.

   What to check: Ask the dealer for a documented steering and alignment check, including whether the electric power steering was tested. On a test drive, check whether the car tracks straight on a flat highway without frequent corrections.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2012 camry xle hybrid with 33000 miles. It has a problem with on center feel steering, it needs constant wheel movements to stay in lane. I have been experiencing this many times since I purchased vehicle in may 2012. I have had many close calls to having an accident since owning the car due to this steering problem. The second you turn your head, then returning your attention straight ahead, my car is starting to veer to the left or right. Almost any distraction causes this to happen very quickly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10706636, filed 2015-04, 1,000 miles

   “Vehicle will not track in a straight line. Requires steering correction every 1-2 seconds to keep from veering out of lane. Dealer has checked twice. Indicates nothing wrong, simply characteristic of electronic steering. Vehicle requires unacceptable amount of attention to drive safely.”

   NHTSA complaint #10632923, filed 2014-09, 2,500 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Air bags fail to deploy or warning light stays on

   • 8 complaints (15%)
   • median 44,571 mi at 5.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2018

   Owners describe air bags that did not deploy or inflate in collisions, including a crash at about 45 mph and a car that left the road at about 60 mph. In another case a major front-end collision left the air bags not inflated, and one brake-failure crash also had no deployment. Another owner describes a passenger air bag off light that came on repeatedly at highway speed, and the dealer checked it and reported it fine each time. Where mileage is recorded, these complaints range from about 6,000 to about 65,000 miles, and where speeds are given, the crashes were at about 20 to about 60 mph.

   What to check: Ask the dealer to scan for stored air bag and occupant classification fault codes, and to confirm the passenger air bag off indicator behaves normally with an adult seated. Ask whether any open recall notices for the air bags or seats have been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 1/8/13 I was going down highway at 60 MPH and I noticed passenger side air bag off light was on ,with an adult in passenger seat. I took to dealer and they said it checked ok. On 12/23/13 I was on highway at 60 MPH and I noticed passenger side air bag off light was on ,with an adult in passenger seat once again I took it to the dealer,and they said it checked ok. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10557975, filed 2013-12, 6,319 miles

   “Vehicle was involved in an accident but no airbags deployed even at speed of approximately 45 MPH. My vehicle t-boned another vehicle that illegally and neglectfully crossed my way. My vehicle's front was was damaged, from middle part all the way to the driver side part. Bumper, hood, driver side fender, front frame metal, and other parts were needed to be replaced. All those damages and not a single airbag deployed causing more injury to occur....updated 12/29/15 updated 2/23/2016 updated 04/24/18”

   NHTSA complaint #10783575, filed 2015-10, 63,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Trunk lid, door, and lock mechanisms fail

   • 11 complaints (20%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2019

   Owners describe a trunk lid that will not stay open when parked on an incline, and in some accounts the lid closed suddenly and injured the owner. Other complaints describe doors that open while the car is moving even though they are locked, a rear child lock that froze, and lock actuators that failed repeatedly. According to complaints, the dealer in some cases could not fix the trunk problem, and in others the owner was asked to pay for lock repairs. Where mileage is recorded, these complaints range from a few hundred miles to about 125,000 miles, and the trunk complaints describe the lid not staying open on an incline.

   What to check: Ask the dealer to check the trunk hold-open support and the door lock actuators, and whether any lock fault codes were stored. On a test drive, confirm the trunk stays open on a slope and that all doors lock and unlock with the key and the handle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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, filed 2015-09, 750 miles

   “Over the course of my ownership of this car, Toyota Camry Hybrid 2012, all 4 lock actuators have malfunctioned at least once. Recently, the driver's front side lock actuator stopped working for the second time and the only way to lock and unlock this door, is to do so manually. I paid for the repair the first time in january of 2016, $642, paid to run the diagnostics for the other three doors that went out at the same time, december 2016, and was quoted $656 today, may 2019, to repair the same driver side front door again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11205034, filed 2019-05, 125,000 miles

Buying note. For someone considering this model year, the complaints point to brake performance, unintended acceleration, and steering feel as the main areas to check, along with air bag warning lights and trunk or lock operation. A pre-purchase inspection should include a low-speed brake test, a steering check on a straight highway, and a review of any brake, ABS, or steering repair records.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.