CSR

Toyota · NHTSA safety record

2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

55

Complaints

11

Crashes

0

Fires

15

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid have filed 55 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2012 and July 2019. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 9 of them (16%). The typical failure was reported at 27,000 miles, the median across the 41 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (1)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

13V014000 · January 16, 2013

The defect
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. 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.
The risk
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 deployment.
The remedy
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. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC · up to 3,235 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (3)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Brake Actuator Valve Wear

DP23005

Still open defect petition · opened November 22, 2023

the hydraulic brakes

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received a petition dated September 19, 2023 from the owner of a 2012 Toyota Prius V requesting that ODI reevaluate its decision to deny DP19-004. In the letter, the petitioner reported experiencing an unexpected and complete loss of brake power while driving, accompanied by multiple dashboard warning lights. This petition is based on the petitioner's direct experience and assessment that ODI closed DP19-004 because its prompting petition was withdrawn by that petitioner. ODI will review the work conducted during DP19-004 and a review of any additional related complaints and crashes via a new defect petition The petition and related materials can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ODI number:11553736.

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

Brake Actuator Valve Wear

DP19004

Closed defect petition · opened September 30, 2019 · closed January 21, 2021

the hydraulic brakes

On September 19, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Roger Hogan requesting that the Agency investigate and recall certain Toyota Prius, Prius PHV, Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid vehicles for a brake actuator valve wear condition covered under Toyota Customer Support Programs ZJB and ZKK (subject CSP?s). In support of his request, the petitioner identified 117 NHTSA complaints allegedly related to the subject CSP condition, including 60 reporting crashes. On September 30, 2019, ODI opened Defect Petition DP19-004 to evaluate the petitioner?s request for an investigation. In August 2020, the petitioner notified the Agency that he was withdrawing his petition. Because the petitioner has withdrawn the petition, we are denying the petition as moot and no further analysis of this petition is necessary.NHTSA is authorized to issue an order requiring notification and remedy of a defect if the Agency?s investigation shows a defect in the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle that presents an unreasonable risk to safety. 49 U.S.C. ?? 30102(a)(9), 30118. Because the petitioner has with withdrawn the petition, the petition is denied as moot. This action does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency notes that it is not required to receive a defect petition prior to opening a defect investigation and will take further action if warranted by future circumstances.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 55.

SERVICE BRAKES 9 16%
AIR BAGS 8 15%
STEERING 7 13%
STRUCTURE 7 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 11%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 11%
POWER TRAIN 4 7%
ENGINE 3 5%
EQUIPMENT 2 4%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 11.

2012 2014 2019
2012 to 2019

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed · 38,494 miles

TAKATA AIRBAGS: KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. AFTER TURNING RIGHT ONTO A STREET & ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 20 MPH OVER ABOUT 150 YARDS, I HIT A CAR THAT WAS STOPPED IN THE STREET. I HAD MY SEATBELT ON. THE AIRBAG KNOCKED ME UNCONSCIOUS FOR AT LEAST 10 SECONDS. (I WEIGH 122 LBS & I'M 5 FT 3.5 IN.) I DIDN'T REALIZE I'D BEEN KNOCKED OUT: I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE A PARTIALLY INFLATED AIRBAG. I DIDN'T REALIZE I' BEEN UNCONSCIOUS OR THAT MY EYEGLASSES HAD BEEN KNOCKED OFF. BASED ON WHAT I SAW, I THOUGHT THE AIRBAG HADN'T FULLY INFLATED. BUT MY 13-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WHO WAS IN THE BACK SEAT, SAID SHE HAD THOUGHT I WAS DEAD BECAUSE SHE REPEATEDLY CALLED TO ME AFTER THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND I DIDN'T ANSWER. I NEVER

NHTSA complaint 11058151, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 injured · crash · 170,000 miles

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 by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 injured · crash · 30,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND WALL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST PAINS FROM THE FORCE OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYING. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK PAINS FROM THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA complaint 10748195. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 41,107 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD AND BECAME AIRBORNE BEFORE LANDING ONTO THE GROUND. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CUTS FROM THE SEAT BELT AND UNSPECIFIED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, AND LEFT LEG. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY WOULD ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN

NHTSA complaint 11011147, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

towed · 190,000 miles

WE EXPERIENCED THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" MESSAGE ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST INCIDENT, ON APRIL 3, 2019, INVOLVED DRIVING EIGHT MILES AND THEN LEAVING THE CAR (OFF AND PARKED) FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. ON RETURNING AND ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, THE POWER CAME ON BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT AND THE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. IT WAS EVENING, SO WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR NORMAL REPAIR SHOP AND LEFT A DESCRIPTION OF THE ISSUE. THE NEXT DAY THE REPAIR SHOP CALLED TO SAY THAT THE CAR HAD STARTED UP RIGHT AWAY, SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THEY SUGGESTED WE CONTACT TOYOTA IF THE ISSUE RECURRED. WE RETRIEVED THE CAR, AND DIDN'T OBSERVE ANY FURTHER ISSUES, SO

NHTSA complaint 11231834, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

125,000 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. TOYOTA GOODWILL COVERED THE OTHER THREE DOORS BEYOND THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTICS. I FEEL THAT THEY ONLY COVERED THE COST IN DECEMBER OF 2016 TO PREVENT ME FROM ISSUING A

NHTSA complaint 11205034, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

102,000 miles

MY 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID'S DRIVER SEAT BELT LATCH MALFUNCTIONED. IT BUCKLED NORMALLY, HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT TO UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE SPRING INSIDE THE MECHANISM WRAPPED AROUND THE NOTCH IN THE METAL SEAT BELT LATCH. THE SPRING WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED WITH THE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AND WILL ONLY LATCH IF THE SEAT BELT FASTENER BUTTON IS DEPRESSED AND THEN RELEASED WHILE THE SEAT BELT IS INSERTED.

NHTSA complaint 11160711. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A 2012 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. IT HAS 105000 MILES. IT HAS A BAD VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. IT HAS BEEN TO THE MECHANIC, BUT NO ONE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint 11143546. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2012 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LOCKED CALIPER BREAKING BRAKE PADS AND IF A RECALL IS NECESSARY FOR THE MODEL. *AS *TR

NHTSA complaint 11131408. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

35,000 miles

AS I CRUISE ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, THE HYBRID TRACTION BATTERY STARTS TO MAKE MINI RAPID PROGRESSIVELY LOUD EXPLOSIONS LIKE THE BACK OF MY REAR SEAT IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE. TO ALLEVIATE THIS I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIPS BUT ARE UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE. THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint 11101125. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Toyota Camry Hybrid

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 116 3
2021 8 1
2020 9 2
2019 11 2
2018 28 0
2015 15 0
2014 25 1
2013 27 1
2011 23 2
2010 10 2

Other 2012 Toyota models

Every Toyota on this site — 272 vehicles, 370 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst